Council hears proposal to allow city manager to initiate evictions for city‑owned housing

City staff asked the council to adopt a resolution delegating to the city manager (or designee) authority to initiate summary ejectment proceedings for properties owned by the city and to permit the housing department to appear in small claims court as allowed under North Carolina law.

"This is a request for a resolution to amend the city manager's delegation of authority, to more efficiently use the city's resources when it's necessary to evict from properties owned by the city," Ryan, a city staff member, told the council. He said the change is intended to reduce delays that occur when eviction actions are brought to the full council for approval.

Councilmembers sought clarification on current practice and frequency. One councilmember asked whether housing staff currently initiate the action and whether every eviction had to be voted on by council; Ryan confirmed that staff begin the process now but that final approval currently rests with council, which can delay the timeline. Council discussion noted that public‑housing evictions are typically a multi‑month process often tied to multiple missed payments unless the issue is a criminal matter, and asked staff to report whether comparable municipalities handle delegation similarly.

The transcript records the presentation and council questions but does not include a recorded vote on the proposed resolution; staff said they would answer additional questions at a follow‑up meeting.