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Fairview council approves $4,500 grant to Piedmont High School Booster Club over mayor's public-purpose concern
Summary
Joey Gamble, Booster Club president, requested $4,500 to replace a stolen Club Car. Mayor Elizabeth Long said tax funds must serve a public purpose and expressed concern; the council voted 3–1 to grant $4,500 ($4,499.51 quoted).
The Fairview Town Council approved a $4,500 grant on March 12 to the Piedmont High School Booster Club to replace a stolen Club Car, despite the mayor's public-purpose concern.
Joey Gamble, the Booster Club president, told the council the club sought $4,500 to replace the stolen vehicle, citing a vendor quote of $4,499.51 for a 2008 Club Car Turf 2. Mayor Elizabeth Long read language from the North Carolina Constitution and guidance from the UNC School of Government, asserting that tax revenues may be appropriated only for a public purpose and stating that "The Town should not fund this request because it did not follow the State Statute Requirement for Public Purpose." The mayor's remarks were recorded in the minutes as advisory to the council.
Councilman B.B. Haigler moved to grant the $4,500 to the Booster Club; Bradley Purser seconded. Councilmen Haigler, Purser and Arnold Price voted yes; Jerry Clontz voted no, saying the amount was too high. The motion passed 3–1.
The minutes do not record any conditions on the grant or additional ballot language about how the funds will be tracked. The record does not show a mayoral vote in the minutes for this item.
