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Fayetteville council asks state auditor to review stalled CIP projects, agrees to closed‑session review of DA video
Summary
The Fayetteville City Council unanimously requested the State Auditor perform a forensic/performance audit of stalled capital projects and agreed to view a video from District Attorney Billy West in closed session after the city attorney advised it contains sensitive investigative material.
Councilmembers voted unanimously Thursday to ask the North Carolina State Auditor to conduct a forensic or performance audit of stalled capital improvement projects that residents and candidates raised on the campaign trail.
"I move that we require we formally council formally requests the state auditor to come in and do a forensic or, performative, audit as they see fit regarding the stalled CIP projects that are listed in the request," Councilmember Ray said before the motion was seconded by Councilmember Davis. The clerk announced the motion carried unanimously.
The request, filed as agenda item 6.01, lists projects including Firehouse 4 on Bragg Boulevard and the Hay Street parking deck. Ray and other councilmembers said the goal is transparency after repeated constituent concerns about delays.
Separately, the council debated whether to view a video sent by Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West that the mayor had received. City Attorney Michelle Pulliam told the council she had not received the video directly from the district attorney and recommended viewing it in closed session because "there are sensitive details in there about the investigation and the different agencies investigating," and she did not feel it was proper to release it at this time.
Some councilmembers pressed to watch the video in open session or to have the mayor telephone the district attorney for clarification; others agreed with Pulliam that a closed‑session review would protect investigative work while still allowing council members to ask questions of the attorney afterward.
After disposing of the audit request, the mayor said council could move into closed session later in the evening to view the video and continue discussion. The work session adjourned with plans to reconvene upstairs for a dinner meeting and then the closed session.
The council did not announce any further details about the DA's video during the public work session; the attorney said she would consult with the district attorney and that council could view the material in closed session and then determine whether any parts may be released publicly.
