Residents and advisory commissioners press Greenville Utilities for more transparency; council seeks follow-up

Several residents and members of Greenville advisory groups used the April 14 joint meeting to press Greenville Utilities Commission for greater transparency and clearer public communication.

Don Cavallini, co‑chair of the Pitt County Coalition Against Racism, told the council the utility is a public service and urged greater accountability after what he called a “secrecy” episode related to crypto‑mining negotiations earlier in the decade. Cavallini said the company involved, Compute North, at one point planned a facility near Bellahore Elementary School and that “this is a publicly owned utility” whose board “need[s] to be accountable to the whole council and to the public.”

Resident Greg Rubell urged improved contact information and oversight of contractors, saying, “There is no contact information for the board of commissioners or the GUC management on the website.” He recommended clearer line‑attachment standards, stronger agreements with communications firms and designated contact staff with mapped areas of responsibility.

Yoshi Newman, vice chair of the Greenville Environmental Advisory Commission, commended recent GUC water‑quality work but said land‑use choices can affect runoff and water quality. Newman also referenced the Compute North episode and said the commission seeks “increased transparency from GUC.” Newman added, “I think this is a really fine way to ensure good water quality for the city of Greenville.”

Councilmember Candice Willis (referred to in the record as Councilwoman Willis) moved that GUC develop a strategic plan addressing accountability and transparency and bring it back by the next joint meeting. Several council members supported exploring ways to improve public outreach and to extract transparency actions from an existing GUC strategic plan. Legal counsel advised it was procedurally inappropriate to add an unbriefed agenda item at the joint meeting after the agenda had been approved; counsel said council could instead direct staff to bring a formal agenda item to a future council meeting (the city’s main meeting) or schedule a future joint session.

GUC staff said the utility already publishes agendas and minutes online and holds public meetings. Mr. Cannon, a GUC staff member who answered questions at the meeting, said the GUC strategic plan would be shared with council. Council members emphasized that public perception matters even when procedures and materials are publicly posted; several asked staff to present clearer information or forums so residents better know how to engage.

No formal policy action on transparency was adopted at the April 14 joint meeting; councilmembers and GUC representatives discussed options for placing a focused transparency item on a future agenda so it can be properly briefed and considered.