New Greensboro fire chief named
Gregory H. Grayson will be the new chief of the Greensboro Fire Department, interim City Manager Bob Morgan announced earlier this month. Grayson has previously served as fire chief in Asheville and Burlington, according to his resume. Grayson will resign from his position with the city of Asheville on May 25, and begin his new job in Greensboro the following day. The new chief’s starting salary will be $127,637. Former Chief Johnny Teeters retired last year, following allegations of favoritism. The Newnan Times-Herald reports that Teeters took over the Coweta County Fire Department in Florida in January. — JG
Greensboro’s lobbyist exposed
Some council members appear to have been unaware that the city of Greensboro has a hired lobbyist working in Raleigh, although High Point gadfly Keith Brown discovered as much through a public records request last summer. At council’s request, interim City Manager Bob Morgan compiled some information about the city’s secret lobbyist, Camilla B. Cover. Cover is employed by Brooks Pierce law firm, which also employs Derek Allen, who frequently argues rezoning cases on behalf of developers before the council. A search of the state lobbyist database revealed that Cover represents the NC Petroleum and Convenience Marketers, the NC Association of Broadcasters, the NC Cable Telecommunications Association and United Healthcare Services in addition to the city of Greensboro in the NC General Assembly. Working at an hourly rate of $135, Cover billed the city for $25,668 in 2008 and $47,146 in 2007. Morgan told council members last month that Cover’s duties included sitting in committee hearings to monitor the status of bills of interest to the city. Among the bills monitored by Cover this year were bills to disapprove the Jordan Lake Rules, restore the protest petition to Greensboro and legalize marijuana for medical purposes. — JG
Greensboro College budget woes
President Craven Williams released a Greensboro College Recovery Plan earlier this month, which calls for a temporary 20 percent reduction in faculty and staff salaries, suspended sabbaticals, elimination of temporary labor and elimination of retirement match and dental insurance. “The number-one focus has been on identifying savings that will not directly affect the instructional program,” he said in a prepared statement. “Our ability to stand together and assure students that we are still the college they have known us to be is the key element of this plan.” — JG
Tenant rights workshop
A new rental inspection ordinance passed by the Greensboro City Council last year requires all residential rental property in the city to be inspected prior to renting or leasing. The city will host a public forum will be held on April 27 at the Warnersville Recreation Center in Greensboro for those who want to learn more about the ordinance, responsibilities of tenants and landlords and fair housing rules. The panel will include Dan Reynolds, the city’s code enforcement manager; Jason Austin of the Greensboro Landlords’ Association; Lisa Dellinger, residential property manager for the Koury Corp.; and representatives of the Greensboro Housing Coalition. — JG
Final Greensboro budget input meeting
District 4 Councilman Mike Barber hosts a budget input meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Lindley Recreation Center in Greensboro. Interim City Manager Bob Morgan is scheduled to present his final budget recommendations to the Greensboro City Council on May 19. — JG
Battle over law enforcement funds rages on
The Forsyth County Commissioners instructed County Manager Dudley Watts to send a letter to Winston-Salem City Manager Lee Garrity in support of Forsyth County Sheriff Bill Schatzman’s request for a 50-50 split of the Justice Assistance Grant funds the city applied for through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act during a briefing session on April 16. The commissioners’ action came in response to comments from members of the Winston-Salem Public Safety Committee during its April 13 meeting. South Ward Councilwoman Molly Leight said the city might have to make an end run around Schatzman and deal directly with Watts to reach a resolution. Winston-Salem Police Chief Scott Cunningham told the committee he believes the Winston-Salem Police Department deserves the lion’s share of the $1.1 million in federal economic stimulus money because the city generates the bulk of the revenue and the crime in the county. With the application deadline of May 18 rapidly approaching, Cunningham warned the committee that if the city and county can come to an agreement by the deadline, the funds will revert to the federal government. — KTB
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