Hertford council adopts speed-limit ordinance, OKs $20,000 move for theatre study and hears Harbor Towns update

The Town of Hertford Council on Monday adopted an ordinance formalizing changes to posted speed limits, approved a $20,000 budget amendment for a theatre feasibility study and heard citizen proposals to renovate a long-unused building on South Edenton Road.

Mayor Ashley Hodges called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. and the council unanimously approved the evening’s agenda and consent minutes before hearing public comments.

Pastor Ann Barber of New Birth Christian Ministries told the council her congregation wants to make a former church building on South Edenton Road habitable again. "They would like to renovate the building and hold ministry services there," Barber said, adding that the group has been doing community outreach in Hertford. Her husband, Kennedy Barber, a retired police officer and bishop at New Birth Ministry, said cleanup and major removal work are already underway and that he will "have the Building Inspector come out and provide guidance" on structure and foundation needs. Mayor Hodges directed the Barbers to work with Town Manager Doris Walton on permitting; Walton told them she can "walk [them] through the permitting process."

On formal business, the council adopted Ordinance FY26-10 to establish and amend speed limits on town- and NCDOT-maintained streets. Town Manager Doris Walton said the ordinance is needed to correct discrepancies between posted speed limits and NCDOT records and to repeal outdated local ordinances. Councilwoman Sara Winslow moved for adoption and Mayor Pro Tem Connie Brothers seconded; the motion passed 5-0. Winslow said the ordinance will "correct any discrepancies in posted speed limits with the DOT."

Council members also approved Budget Amendment FY26-12 to shift $20,000 from a grant-match line (10-5610-571) to professional services (10-5610-511) to pay for the Hertford State Theatre feasibility study. The amendment passed 5-0 on a motion by Councilman Evan Copeland and a second from Mayor Pro Tem Brothers.

Manager Walton updated the council on Harbor Towns waterfront work after seeing an article in the Albemarle Observer. Walton said she has contacted Pete Thomson for details and that Harbor Town/Harbor Cruises has conducted surveys and had engineers visit the site, but that written plans and final permitting steps remain outstanding. Walton said the developer must complete geotechnical studies and obtain CAMA permits and that Harbor Town LLC, rather than the town itself, is holding the $2 million per-town allocation from the regional grant. She warned that the funds must be spent or encumbered by June or they will revert to the state. Councilwoman Winslow asked whether the necessary studies and permitting could be completed by that deadline and noted that some funds originally earmarked for a larger regional ferry network have not resulted in built service; Councilman Keith Rouse said he hopes to see tangible progress by spring.

In other business Manager Walton reported outreach to Don Davis’s office to seek state funding for priority infrastructure projects (including a substation delivery point, road work in and out of the Marina Industrial Park, and remaining wastewater treatment plant work), circulated a draft newsletter on repaving timelines, and said the town’s audit is delayed briefly while a new partner at the auditing firm completes a review. Walton also summarized the town’s storm response: power was restored quickly during a wind-caused pole failure and only one household reported frozen pipes.

Council members raised local operational concerns: Councilman Rouse identified water leaks on Dobbs Street and ongoing efforts to develop youth programming; Councilman Copeland thanked Public Works Director Chad White for facility upgrades and expressed concern that the town’s main power grid sits next to a property with piles of dry wood pallets that create a fire risk. Mayor Pro Tem Brothers and others thanked staff and volunteers for storm preparation.

The meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m. Manager Walton said she will follow up with Harbor Town/Harbor Cruises and provide further updates to council as information becomes available.