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Goldsboro council directs staff to study metal detectors and other safety measures for City Hall
Summary
After hearing a staff report on past incidents and costs, the council unanimously directed staff to prepare a proposal exploring the feasibility and cost of installing a metal detector at the main entrance and other measures to improve security for employees and the public.
The Goldsboro City Council voted 7–0 to instruct staff to study potential security upgrades at City Hall, including the cost and feasibility of a metal detector at the main public entrance and other safety measures.
City staff and the police chief reviewed prior concerns about security, noting a 2022 incident in which an individual filmed inside City Hall and disrupted staff. The chief outlined logistical and staffing tradeoffs: he cited a prior estimate of about $4,600 for a single walk‑through metal detector and roughly $152 for wanding equipment, and said staffing a checkpoint could require two officers per entry point and carry significant labor costs. Staff estimated callback pay for one officer assigned to City Hall detail at about $71,000 per year.
Councilmembers discussed alternatives and how policies would affect staff: some favored a bag‑size/clear‑bag policy similar to sports arenas while others said metal detectors might be more effective. Councilmember Weeks amended a motion to allow staff to research a broader set of safety options, not just metal detectors; the amended motion — to study a metal detector at the main entrance and any other feasible entrance safety measures and report back — passed unanimously.
What’s next: Staff will return with a cost‑benefit proposal that outlines capital costs, staffing implications, potential funding sources and recommended policy language for bag or entry rules.
