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Public speakers urge help for people experiencing homelessness; council introduces new police chief
Summary
During public comment a resident urged repeal of a law criminalizing sleeping in vehicles and criticized a $72,000 allocation to police for homelessness response; council members praised recent police work and Vice Mayor Dawson introduced William (Bill) Kelly as the town’s new police chief, who accepted the appointment.
During the public-comment period, Melinda Musick told the council she attended to raise concerns about the number of people sleeping on town streets and in vehicles. Musick criticized a town law she described as making sleeping in a car a class 4 misdemeanor and urged the council to repeal the law rather than task officers with addressing homelessness. She questioned allocating $72,000 to police to respond to homelessness, saying officers are already stretched thin.
Shortly after, Marty Dowdy praised the Town of Pulaski Police Department and the Claytor Lake Drug Task Force for a recent methamphetamine enforcement action and urged the town to retain strong personnel. Several council members publicly thanked officers for their service.
Vice Mayor Dawson introduced William (Bill) Kelly as the town’s new police chief. Chief Kelly spoke briefly to accept the appointment and said he was humbled and grateful, and that he inherited a well-staffed department; council members congratulated him.
No council vote or ordinance change was made during public comment; several council members said they appreciated the feedback and that staff would consider concerns and operational implications.
