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Residents accuse CRA leadership of impropriety; council asks staff for legal review
Summary
During public comment, residents alleged that the CRA executive used the CRA attorney for personal matters and that CRA actions lacked transparency. Council members raised concerns about the Doctor Phillips/OCPS matter and asked the CAO and town attorney to gather facts and present options to the council.
Several residents used the public-comment period to accuse the Community Redevelopment Agency’s leadership of overreach and improper use of town resources. One commenter said the CRA executive had effectively operated as the 'CRA mayor' and alleged the CRA attorney had been used as a personal attorney for that official. Speakers asked the council to review bylaws, public records and contracts and to consider removing the attorney from matters where there is a perceived conflict.
"We have allowed Mister Johnson to become the CRA in the head," a resident said, urging council action and more transparency from the CRA and its attorney. Another resident asked the council to heed the bylaws, request records and stop 'unchecked power.'
Council members responded with concern about transparency and accountability. Several members said they felt left out of previous discussions about school-property negotiations and that the town needed a clear record of promises and agreements. The CAO (speaker 12) told the council he would coordinate with town counsel (Shepherd) to assemble facts and a recommended course of action; council members asked for a special session or workshop to review options.
Separately, the Southern Poverty Law Center and other actors were referenced in relation to litigation over a school-property matter; council members and staff agreed they would gather documents, clarify whether the town or other entities are party to any suits, and report back so the council can consider legal steps as a body rather than through individual comment or media statements.
The discussion closed with a directive that staff assemble the necessary records and legal analyses so the council can decide whether to pursue action, seek outside counsel or take other measures to protect the town’s interests.
