Response to the African Americans for the Recall Mailer – August, 2007
There is no place in the serious business of representing as an elected official for mean spirited, vicious, hidden agenda attacks. The question must be asked if when other persons were the representative, why did he or she not take care of some of the business he or she now feel should fall solely on the watch of the current representative. My record is clear, I have and will advocate for the best I know to do for District 1 and the city as long as I am in office. I am open to hearing concerns and trying to address them with the help of staff. I can be reached at 373-2286 or call 373-2723.
A&T’s Homecoming
In September 2003 one of the regular A&T Homecoming vendors contacted then Council Member Claudette Burroughs-White with a concern regarding the management at River Walk Apartments charging $100 space fee for each space located in the park area on the corner of
During the investigation of this vendor’s concern, Community Relations staff discovered that River Walk Apartments located at
They also stated that during the previous year, the vendors had gotten very unruly and were at times fighting over spaces to the extent of pulling weapons on each other. Other vendors as well the Police verified that this was the case and in fact the person that had been involved with disturbing behavior and reportedly threatening other vendors with weapons was the complaining vendor. It was also reported to City staff and Police that the vendor in question had been selling the spaces along
After conferring with Police, Zoning and the City Manager’s Office, it was determined that City staff would remove all of the stakes and markers along Lindsay and Sullivan St. and continue to monitor the location to help control the chaos reported in former years by residents and Police. We also received a large influx of calls from vendors that wanted to know why their stakes were removed. It was determined during these conversations that they had already paid the complainant vendor for their spaces. City staff also instructed the vendors that they would not be allowed to set up on the right of way or the park area prior to Wednesday night at midnight. Community Relations staff along with the Police were on site in the evening hours of Wednesday prior to homecoming and the vendors were trying to set up prior to the permissible time and were quite upset with one another as well as staff.
This particular year, 2003 was not monitored by the Privilege License Division or by Guilford (GCHD) County Health Dept. Vendors were located along
The following year, it was determined that due to concerns for Public Health and Safety that Guilford County Health Department, Greensboro Fire Department and the City Business License Division would regulate vendors. GCHD made the City aware that the vendors did not have the amenities (running water and electricity) available to meet health regulations from the State which the GCHD enforces. It was at this time that the City determined that we would find a way to assist the vendors and provide the necessary utilities and services. After much discussion and investigation of the areas surrounding the Aggie stadium for availability of electrical and water supplies, the City determined that the Memorial Stadium parking lot was the only suitable place that we could locate the utilities for vendor use to be in compliance with State regulations.
Meetings have been held every January or February of the following year with the vendors of the A&T Pavilion to get input from the vendors to better serve the vendors needs. I attended this year’s meeting and heard the positive dialogue between staff and the vendors. In October 2004, several vendors came before City Council requesting support from Council for staff to continue to manage the Vending Pavilion after that first year’s event. The city continues to have regularly scheduled meeting with A&T to coordinate events. A&T did not want the city to pull out of the event in 2005 and allow another entity to take over. What started out as an uneasy relationship brought together by necessity was working and has worked for 3 years now and planning is currently going on for this October 2007.
Summary of Support for 2004-2006 from the City of
Amenities that were furnished in 2004 included
- A Park and Ride Shuttle Service – A service that the homecoming’s attendees had not been offered in the past
- Grease Containers
- Containers for disposal of waste water
- Trash Pickup Support staff on-site
- On-site registration
- Portable Lights
- Water to all Food Vendors
- Electrical support
- Parking for Vendors only
- 24 hour security
- Portable Restrooms
- Dumpsters
- Assistance with loading, unloading and restocking – which required the rental of golf carts and gators
- Millennium show wagon featuring WNAA playing music
- On-site management to assist in any issues that arose
Vendor Breakdown: Food-38, Merchandise-82 Total 120
City Expenses and Revenue: Expenses - $39,915 Revenue- $11, 789 (Privilege License Fee - $100)
In 2005, I paid the vendor’s fee and set up as a vendor to be an ambassador for the city. I spoke to vendors, had the police chief and Ben Brown address concerns on the spot. I was on site from Friday morning until mid night Saturday. I distributed city materials and information. No other council member or the city manager came to the pavilion.
I encouraged vendors to come to the city council and express their concerns and need Vendors expressed satisfaction with the way the pavilion was run and the improvement from the first year. Several sent emails and 3 vendors came to the next council meeting.
City of
- Installed permanent water supply
- Paved the lot at the Memorial Stadium as a result of requests from vendors and customers
- Installed power pedestals throughout the pavilion so that all vendors would have power supply
- A Fire Extinguisher Company on-site for the convenience of the vendors
- All of the amenities listed in 2004 were supplied again in 2005, with the exception of adjusting to managing the GTA shuttles, shuttle contract and shuttle route (not supplying payment for shuttles)
Vendor Breakdown: Food-36, Merchandise-60 Total-96
City Expenses and Revenue: Expenses - $44,561 Revenue- $10,525
In 2006, I paid the vendor’s fee and set up as a vendor to be an ambassador for the city. I distributed city materials and information. I visited every vendor requesting input. I participated for the 2 days.
City of
- The shuttle service was managed by GTA as well as the shuttle route.
- Picnic tables were scattered throughout the pavilion for customers to sit and eat or relax.
- WNAA scheduled student musical groups all day on Saturday
- Improvements were made in waste water removal
- The Health Department provided consultation to food vendors to assist them in meeting food preparation standards.
- Installed water lines, wiring, and overhead lighting
- 50% of space fee earned by the Sponsoring Partner-A&T Alumni Association ($5,150)
Vendor Breakdown: Food-45, Merchandise-58 Total-103
City Expenses and Revenue: Expenses - $89,070 Revenue- $20,600 (Privilege License Fee - $100 and Space fee)
Police Review Board
A police review board with subpoena power can not be done by current state law. I suggested a review of Citizens’ Complaint Committee which is a sub committee of the Human Relations Commission in December, 2006 at the request of Earl Jones. I encouraged citizens to utilize the CCC in February, 2007 to access the effectiveness of it after being concerned about an incident I had with a police officer. I met with Chief Bellamy in the Spring, 2007 to suggest a different strategy for a Police Review Board. I presented my proposal at the August 6th Council meeting.
My proposal is a citizens’ police review board made up of a representative from each district, a member from the Human Relations Commission, Commission on the Status of Women, ESL Community, 2 members from the Police Department (1 line officer, 1 supervisor) and a liaison from the City Council. The Human Relations Department would provide staff support to this board. The board would chose its own chair and vice chair.
The board would be convened when a citizen is not satisfied with the results from a police internal affairs investigation of the initial complaint. The findings of the board would be sent to the city manager for appeal when necessary if the board’s findings are different from the IA findings. If the board finds in favor of the citizen, a written report would be sent to the citizen with corrective action taken. The board would report quarterly to the manager on types of complaints received and if there seems to be a pattern in types of complaints. I recommend these board meetings be televised, this would help citizens see the process and hopefully that it works.
According to the Greensboro President of the NAACP in August 2007, if a request for a police review board with subpoena power was made it would not be to a single council person but to the entire Council.
Warnersville – JC
At a request made of me in January 2006 by Otis Hairston of the Warnersville community to obtain information about a sign that had been placed on the JC Price campus facing Freeman Mill Road announcing Greensboro College’s plans to build a sports complex on that site, I asked Bob Morgan, Asst. City Manager over the Planning Department to assist Mr. Hairston. I asked Mitch Johnson, the City Manager, to contact Mr. Hairston personally to assure him that the city would provide any information requested.
I requested that the Legal Department give Mr. Hairston any information on legal redress for the community to express their concerns about the plans of
When this issue came before the Council in December, 2006 and Warnersville was not prepared to present, I helped Mr. Hairston ask for a 60 day continuance. The Council wanted the community and the college to sit down, talk and try to come to a win – win. In January 2007, members of the Warnersville community came before the Council at my suggestion as speakers from the floor to give the Council a sense of the community, what the community had endured during the urban renewal and its historical significance. In February, 2007, this zoning case came before the Council. At that time it was indicated that there had not been a resolution between the two parties; I tried to get a second continuance and got no support from the Council. I tried to move approval of the zoning case and got no support from any member of the Council. My efforts on the part of the community that let me know their concerns were as much as I could do. I never heard from an opposing side of the community supporting what
Response to Constituents
I refer to my Response to the Recall 5/15/07 “I have served the duties of my office with integrity, dignity and diligence. I have kept my constituents informed through annual reports, mailings, phone calls, forums, special events and personal visits. I have used staff assigned to assist with citizens’ concerns to make sure that those concerns were address expeditiously, professionally and effectively. I have represented my district and the city of
Other communication tools I am using are a blog since May, 2007 www.triadblogs.com/tdiannebellamysmall and a website since August, 2007 www.bellamysmallforcouncil.com .I have been on radio call in talk shows – WNAA, WQMG, WJAMZ, WSJS. My Council phone number is 336/373-2266 email: bellamy.small@greensboro-nc.gov
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