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Charlotte council adopts revised MPT appointment timeline; Councilmember Molina recuses
Summary
Council voted to place and adopt changes to the municipal transit authority appointment schedule, moving nominations and interviews into November to align partners; Councilmember Marjorie Molina was recused from the process by a unanimous vote before discussion.
Mayor Pro Tem Dante Anderson opened the Oct. 20 Charlotte City Council zoning meeting with procedural business, then the council took up a late addition: a proposal to change the municipal transit authority (MPTA) appointment process. Councilmember James Mitchell moved to place the item on the agenda so the body could consider an amended schedule, and the motion passed unanimously.
Before discussion began, the council considered whether Councilmember Marjorie Molina should participate. Interim city attorney Anthony Fox noted the recusal related to an appearance-of-impropriety concern rather than a disqualifying financial interest. Councilmember Mitchell moved to recuse Molina from the appointment process; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Molina left the dais before the discussion proceeded.
Mitchell proposed a revised timeline: defer voting until Nov. 6 so partner organizations could complete their processes; hold interviews Nov. 12–15; nominate candidates by category on Nov. 17 at the zoning meeting; and make final appointments Nov. 24. Council discussion focused on whether to require a fixed number of nominees per category or to allow flexibility. The council amended the language to read that the council "is encouraged to nominate 1 applicant per category" on Nov. 17 rather than mandating a specific per-category count.
The body then voted to adopt the modified timeline and language. The motion carried with one recorded opposition: Councilmember Brown voiced concerns about delaying the process but did not block adoption. The council noted that the revised schedule was intended to allow coordination with partner organizations and to ensure the city’s interviews and appointments align with others’ timelines.
Next procedural steps called for staff to publish the timeline and for council members to prepare nominee lists in advance of Nov. 17. The adoption was procedural; no appointments or candidate selections were made at the Oct. 20 meeting.
