Steve Mensing, Editor

♦ “Let them eat fake” Salisbury’s notorious city hall.

Salisbury’s city hall well known for its lack of tangible veracity and apparently a lack of ethical business practices among some of its department heads. Do we need to mention their inflated hokum about Fibrant turning the corner and making a profit. Salisbury is getting a well-earned rep as the “City of the Lie” throughout the state. Let’s cut to the chase. It’s non-competitive fiber optic network is outmanned and outgunned in the symmetrical Fiber Department by AT&T Gigapower and TWC Business Dedicated Ethernet with its symmetrical speeds up and down up to 10 gigs.

For starters AT&T Gigapower is already up and running in Salisbury. It offers 1 gig symetrical fiber to business or home at $70 a month compared to Fibrant’s overpriced $105. TWC Business Class offers up to 10 gigs with its highly regarded Dedicated Ethernet. (Also TWC Maxx Residential and Business offers more than enough high-speed internet (up to 300 mbps down and 20 up for speed happy small business folks and residents at budget prices).

Does anyone actually believe Fibrant can attract much if any hightech business here with runaway violent crime/property crime that the city is cooking the stats on or is flat out denying that murders and violent break-ins are happening? 27.2% poverty. A public school system with D and F schools? The middle and upper class pulling out for more liveable and safer environs elsewhere.

City Hall’s latest publicity ruse to distract Salisbury residents from Fibrant’s immense debacle and Salisbury’s continued freefall is called “America’s 10 gig city”. Anybody who has paid remote attention to Salisbury knows the following:

• Extremely poor public schools within the city limits (Our schools got either a D or an F). High Levels of illiteracy in the schools.

• 11 unsolved murders. No doubt 12. The murder of Sylvia Seebeck was no accident.

• Salisbury suffers from 27.2% poverty according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Poverty appears to be growing. Heaven help Salisbury if a recession hits, those stats could go flying up like a sledge hammer pounding the gong at a sideshow.

• Spendable income in the Bury is below what many retailers and businesses want to see in a city.

• Salisbury’s downgraded bond status with Moody’s and Fitch bond rating services due to $7.6 million big gulped from the water and sewer funds. Today that bond rating has become even more precarious owing to recent discoveries in the audit of the 2014-15 budget.

• Runaway violent and property crime with an understaffed and underpaid police department who seek better paying jobs elsewhere. Our police department was guided by Chief Rory Collins who moonlighted as security at the Housing Authority and couldn’t  count or name the 11 unsolved murders.

• The city’s lack of meaningful and well-paying jobs forcing many of our workforce to commute to Concord, Mooresville, Charlotte, and Greensboro.

• Most of our educated young have fled Salisbury. They are not coming back.

• A crumbling water and sewer system is dire need of millions in upgrading. They sure could use that $7.6 million dollars Fibrant “borrowed” and hasn’t pay back.

• Fibrant’s utter failure at selling 1 gig (Fibrant only sold a few subscriptions) and the “audited” 2014-2015 budget shows immense multi-million dollars losses. Fibrant is the DEBACLE city council has tried desperately to hide from the public with “magic math” and now the 10 gig publicity ruse.  We know that over 2,800 subscribers left since it rolled out and with the competition offering better deals more will jump ship.

• The Downtown with its South Main Badlands, the decrepit Empire Bat-Tel in dire need of bulldozing, and an expanding array of vacant storefronts is an unappetizing picture of blight. An extremely unhealthy musical chair business climate exists Downtown.  Spendable income will only support so many restaurants and retailers.

• Somewhere in the vicinity of 800 abandoned and crumbling houses exist in the Bury. Large portions of Salisbury’s Downtown would make the perfect set for the movie version of “Grand Theft Auto”.

• Dead-in-the-water economic development due to poverty, lack of spendable income, lousy public schools, and FBI crime stats.  You simply can’t sell used beds crawling with bedbugs.

• A city overwhelmed by a mushrooming heroin, meth, crack, and alcohol epidemic. A lot of our folks can’t even pass a drug test to get a job if one existed.  Even the city’s former police chief Rory Collins admitted during a deposition he was under the influence of the powerul narcotic Oxycotin AKA “Hillbilly Heroin” on a twice a day basis.  Running a police department, driving a vehicle, and toting a gun on a twice day dose of heavy duty Hillbilly Heroin?  And this guy is still collecting a check as a police “advisor”?

There is no help on the way for Fibrant.  It will continue flounder and lose millions.  Their competitors are genuine corporate businesses and are well organized.  If you profess to love your hometown you’ll drop your Fibrant subscribership like a hot potatoe and move to one the area’s private internet and TV providers. Maybe even cut the pay TV cord.

It is very likely that the FCC will okay TWC’s buyout by Charter and things will get even worse for Fibrant.  Charter sells its internet and TV packages at bargain basement prices which is great for the consumer–but super bad for non-competitive municipal broadband shell games.

Time for city council to take off the blinders.  High-tech businesses will take their businesses to far more livable places.  Does anyone really believe that Salisbury can compete with Cary, Apex, Huntersville, Mooresville, Chapel Hill, or the better parts of North Carolina’s large metro areas?  Not happening.

The way back for Salisbury is cutting Fibrant loose either by selling it (highly unlikely at this stage of the game) or bundling up and dumping on its certificates of participation lender.

RowanCountyNC.gov

♦ 2016 Rowan County Annual Report: A Treasure Trove of Information about Rowan County, N.C. (PDF.):

http://www.rowancountync.gov/Portals/0/Government/Departments/County%20Manager/documents/2016RowanCountyAnnualReport.pdf

RFP Staff

♦ Cameron Mack Thompson, 38, repeat felon living on the 500 block of Cedar Street in Salisbury, apparently slid through his “background check” at Harbor Freight at 705 East Innes Street in Salisbury. On Thursday evening Salisbury Police arrested Thompson, sporting a tat reading “Money Problems”, and charged him with embezzlement of property by virtue of employment (misdemeanor). Under a secured $1000 bond, Thompson was detained at the Rowan County Detention Center and released on bail.

Harbor Freight’s security cameras allegedly caught Thompson helping himself to 5 video recorders valued at over $600. It was reported he planned to sell the recorders.

Harbor Freight a favorite among home handypersons in search of inexpensive, but sturdy tools is also a huge favorite among Salisbury’s legion of freedom loving homeless outdoorsmen dwelling in the Bury’s “tarp cities” near the Town Creek and other secure spots away from the po po’s prying eyes. Harbor Freight’s bargain tarps are the first choice among our homeless outdoorsmen. Pictured below:

Cameron Mack Thompson’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0405681&searchLastName=thompson&searchFirstName=cameron&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

RFP Staff

♦ Downtown Salisbury suffered yet another loss of a mainstay retailer and restaurant as “O.K. Wigs” announced their closing after 42 years at the corner of South Main and West Innes.  Since 1974, when the Yang family opened O.K. Wigs, the leading wig shop in Salisbury has serviced thousands of fashion conscious shoppers, teenagers desiring hair extensions for the “goth look”, and persons dwelling near the city’s toxmap wastelands and  struggling with hair loss due to chemotherapy and radiation.

“O.K. Wigs” will be missed.  Sadly it joins Bellisima (across the Square from O.K. Wigs), Uncle Bucks, Romo’s Pizza and others ending their dreams after the recent harsh shopping season.  It is reported the Yangs will attempt to rent their space.  Presently O.K. Wigs is having a clearance sale where bargains can be had.  Best of luck to the Yangs!

Life goes on in the “Paris of the Piedmont”.

O.K. Wigs Immortalized in “Downtown Salisbury Masterplan” by Artist Marina Bare:

O.K. Wigs at the Corner of South Main and West Innes:

O.K. Wigs Exemplified Why “Salisbury is the PLACE”:

O.K. Wigs the Number One Choice of Salisbury’s Fashion Conscious, Goths, and Temporary Hair Loss Patients for 42 years:

O.K. Wigs Among the Vacant Store Fronts Pockmarking South Main:

A Photo Safari: Survival of the Fittest Amid the Growing Vacancies in Downtown Salisbury, N.C.

RFP Staff

♦ Rory Collin’s deposition features some very curious answers by Collins on pages 206 through 211.

On page 206 line 11 Collins states Sergeant Mahaley was terminated for striking a subordinate officer. (Officer Lancaster happens to be a minority policeman) Officer Lane reported his memorandum showed Sergeant Mahaley appeared to target minorities and females. When Collins was asked what he reported to the Post he initially claims, “I don’t have any idea — what are you talking about” (Page 206 line 13).

Collins then goes on through the rest of page 206 and all of page 207 first claiming memory problems, then blaming a group decision before finally settling on the determination striking a subordinate was in fact merely inappropriate reprimanding (lines 9 -10). Then Collins, who recalled truthfulness, proclaims again in line 13 – 14 he can’t remember again. When asked directly if he reported Lancaster was assaulted (lines 19 – 22) his memory again fails.

On page 208 lines 11 – 17 Collins admits it is plausible Mahaley would bully other officers in training. This was exactly what Officer Lane reported in the initial memorandum concerning the TASER training where Collins “determined” he was untruthful.

On page 209 lines 6 – 9 Collins was asked if Lt. Efird instructed officers to “get together and get their stories straight”. Collins stated directly “I don’t know what you’re talking about” Copies of an email obtained under Freedom of Information Act (before the city began refusing to obey statute regarding FOIA) were produced which showed this had in fact happened. Suddenly Collins recalls this after the copies are shown to him.

(page 210 lines 2 -3) How many of Collins “don’t recalls” and claims counter to other officers’ accounts might be cleared up by paper copies? During Officer Garry Mills disability lawsuit against the city Collins had a similar “memory failure” where he testified under oath Mills had not submitted a memo concerning being injured. The memo was produced, with Collin’s signature at the bottom, and Collins was able to recall it. Collins’ story continues on page 210, lines 16 -23, where he testified that, after Lt. Efird instructed officers to “get their stories straight” on an official Internal Affairs investigation. Efird remains in his Internal Affairs role. Collins states his role has ‘changed now’.

On page 211, lines 3 – 6, Collins explains he now has captains doing the major investigations. Further down, line 13 – 15 he states Efird is doing “data entry and stuff like that”. If Efird is entering the data doesn’t he control what goes into the report? If he has a past history of instructing folks to “get their stories straight” why would he have ANY contact with an Internal Affairs document? Why is he being paid to head Internal Affairs if his responsibilities could be met by a secretary and allow additional manpower on the understaffed streets? Is his position a reward for praising Collins? What investigative history does Lt. Efird have? He is in one of the most sensitive positions in the department; has he ever worked a major case before?

Lt. Andy Efird’s Internal Affairs critical duties are detailed on the City of Salisbury’s website:INTERNAL AFFAIRS: The Administrative Lieutenant investigates or assigns investigations of allegations against department members that are of a serious nature. These allegations may include excessive force, civil rights violations, corruption, criminal misconduct, etc. Other command personnel normally investigate complaints of a minor nature (discourtesy, misfeasance of duty, etc.). The Administrative Lieutenant controls and directs these complaints by assigning them for investigation, providing them to the Chief of Police for review and maintaining complaint files. He conducts an analysis of citizen complaints annually.”

Chief Collins email to Officer Lancaster:

RFP Staff

♦ Donald Clair Reynold, 28, of Salisbury was arrested early Saturday night and was charged with taking indecent liberties with a child. Under a secured $20,000 dollar bond, Reynolds was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center. Prior to his arrest, Reynold’s was the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office MOST WANTED LIST.

Donald Clair Reynolds:

Donald Clair Reynolds’ Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1299448&searchLastName=Reynolds&searchFirstName=Donald&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

Rowan County Sheriff’s Office MOST WANTED LIST:

http://ossip2c.rowancountync.gov/p2c/mostwanted.aspx

RFP Staff

♦ Rowan County Commission Meets Monday February 15th at 6 P.M. in the J. Newton Cohen, Sr. Room at County Administration Building on 130 West Innes Street in Salisbury, N.C.

ROWAN COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA

Call to Order
Invocation
• Provided By: Chaplain Michael Taylor
Pledge of Allegiance
Consider Additions to the Agenda
Consider Deletions From the Agenda
Consider Approval of the Agenda
Board members are asked to voluntarily inform the Board if any matter on the agenda might present a conflict of interest or might require the member to be excused from voting.
• Consider Approval of the Minutes: February 1, 2016
1 Consider Approval of Consent Agenda
A. Library Sale of Withdrawn Books
B. Out of County Transportation Fare
C. Period of Performance Extension for FY-16 5310 Grant
D. Authorization of Temporary Positions
E. Set Public Hearing for STA 01-16 for March 7, 2016
F. Refunds for Approval
G. Health Link Grant Opportunity
H. Rowan County Airport Airfield Maintenance Contract
I. Declaration of Official Intent to Reimburse Expenditures for Tax Assessment Software and Vehicles
J. Sale of Surplus RTS Vehicles
K. Purchase Utility Tractor for Airport
L. Sale of Surplus Equipment for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office
M. Purchase of Six Vehicles
N. Designated Parking Spaces for Veteran Services Office
O. Set Quasi-judicial Hearing for CUP 01-16 for March 21, 2016
2 Presentation of Plaque for Peter Kern House
3 Public Comment Period
4 Financial Report
5 Consider Approval of Budget Amendments
6 Reports
A. Annual Report of the Community Child Protection Team
7 Closed Session
• To Consider Approval of Closed Session Minutes for October 19, 2015, November 2, 2015, December 21, 2015, January 7, 2016, January 8, 2016 and January 19, 2016
• For Attorney-Client Privileged Communication Regarding Pending Lititgation
8 Adjournment

Additional Agenda Information Here:

http://agenda.rowancountync.gov/DisplayAgendaPDF.ashx?MeetingID=190

Citizens with disabilities requiring special needs to access the services or public meetings
of Rowan County Government should contact the County Manager’s Office three days prior
to the meeting by calling (704) 216-8180

Bugs and the RFP Staff

♥ Happy Valentine’s Day from Buggsy and the Rowan Free Press Staff!

RFP Staff

♦ Video: City Council Honors Former Salisbury Police Chief Rory Collins:

♦ In the deposition of Kenneth S. Lane v. the City of Salisbury former police chief Rory Collins appeared to be beset by difficulties remembering when he frequently responded with “I forget” and “I don’t remember”.

P. 34 lines 20 -25 continued. P. 35 lines 1 – 9 Collins claims Lane never advised of any problems with the way cases were being handled. Collins stated “not as I recall.”

Attachment 2410 Stokes Ferry Rd reports problems at 2410 Stokes Ferry Rd and 216 S Craige St.:

Attachment warrant service:

RFP Staff

Attachment Flores murder reports problem with homicide investigation:

P 205 line 11 – 24 Collins states I was untruthful in stating I reported concerns with TASER training. This was reported in memorandum to PD. It was confirmed by polygraph Collins refused to provide one as policy states will be done:

He “waived” it then can’t remember if it was requested P 153 lines 5 – 6, can’t remember if employee can request it P 153 line 16 – 21. Then states “likely so” and then goes into confused rambling P 153 lines 22 – 25 continued 154 lines 1 – 9:

Polygraph administered at own expense by Kenneth Andrews who is NC Polygraph Association member. He is a retired FBI agent with 22 years experience and holds FBI Advanced polygraph since 1989. He is a certified expert witness in polygraph by US District Court of NC Middle. Attachment memo 1 and 2:

Attachment polygraph front and back:

P. 38 lines 17 – 25 continued P. 39 lines 1 – 4 Collins states I requested transfer and he granted it.

Attachment transfer request:

Attachment Evidence email 1:

Attachment evidence email 2:

P 27 lines 10 – 21 Rory testifies I was capable but “didn’t take much initiative” I had the highest number of arrests in the PD. When I went to Mooresville for 9 months the chief visibly noticed warrant service had declined and sent memo to command staff. Captain Harrison sent memo stating I was gone and the rest of the PD would have to step up and pick up on warrant service. FOIA request for total arrests I had made and Collins had made was unanswered.

RFP Staff

♦ Have you noticed the City Council of Salisbury, NC has not posted a code of ethics online? In 2010, as required by the State of North Carolina, City Council approved a policy taken from the Model Code developed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government (SOG). Atty. Rivers Lawther stated the policy was fine as far as the law is concerned because the SOG approved it. This was not exactly the thorough discussion and examination by the public and the elected officials as is encouraged by the SOG’s guiding document, which can be downloaded here, but at its very least the result was that the Council does have an existing code.

What if a council member violates the code of ethics?

The NC School of Government notes that “North Carolina law provides very few remedies for local governing boards that believe one of their members has violated a local code of Ethics”.  Apparently, the best protection is for voters to be very careful about who they elect to local office. That said, a common law approach exists to removal from office known as amotion, in NC General Statute 14-230, which Little (2009) defines as the power of the governing body of a municipal corporation to remove an elected official for reasonable and just cause due to misconduct or unfitness to hold office. Find out how that remedy can be used here or going to http://www.law.campbell.edu/lawreview/articles/32-1-75.pdf.

The real question is how can a council be held to a code they don’t share with the people? We thought voters and taxpayers would like to see it. Should City Council choose to publish what they approved, it was taken from this text from the SOG’s Model Code of Ethics for Local North Carolina Elected Officials, as follows: (We filled in blanks for the names of the council and jurisdiction in bold lettered words)

Code of Ethics for the City Council of

Salisbury, North Carolina

PREAMBLE

 WHEREAS, the Constitution of North Carolina, Article I, Section 35, reminds us that a “frequent recurrence to fundamental principles is absolutely necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty,” and

WHEREAS, a spirit of honesty and forthrightness is reflected in North Carolina’s state motto, Esse quam videri, “To be rather than to seem,” and

WHEREAS, Section 160A-86 of the North Carolina General Statutes requires local governing boards to adopt a code of ethics, and

WHEREAS, as public officials we are charged with upholding the trust of the citizens of this city and with obeying the law, and

WHEREAS, __[other clauses that jurisdiction may desire]_

NOW THEREFORE, in recognition of our blessings and obligations as citizens of the State of North Carolina and as public officials representing the citizens of the City of Salisbury and acting pursuant to the requirements of Section 160A-86 of the North Carolina General Statutes, we the City Council of Salisbury, NC do hereby adopt the following General Principles and Code of Ethics to guide the City Council in its lawful decision-making.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING THE CODE OF ETHICS

• The stability and proper operation of democratic representative government depend upon public confidence in the integrity of the government and upon responsible exercise of the trust conferred by the people upon their elected officials.

• Governmental decisions and policy must be made and implemented through proper channels and processes of the governmental structure.

• Board members must be able to act in a manner that maintains their integrity and independence, yet is responsive to the interests and needs of those they represent.

• Board members must always remain aware that at various times they play different roles:
  • As advocates, who strive to advance the legitimate needs of their citizens
  • As legislators, who balance the public interest and private rights in considering and enacting ordinances, orders, and resolutions
  • As decision-makers, who arrive at fair and impartial quasi-judicial and administrative determinations.

• Board members must know how to distinguish among these roles, to determine when each role is appropriate, and to act accordingly.

• Board members must be aware of their obligation to conform their behavior to standards of ethical conduct that warrant the trust of their constituents. Each official must find within his or her own conscience the touchstone by which to determine what conduct is appropriate.

CODE OF ETHICS

The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to establish guidelines for ethical standards of conduct for the City Council of Salisbury, NC and to help determine what conduct is appropriate in particular cases. It should not be considered a substitute for the law or for a board member’s best judgment.

Section 1.

Board members should obey all laws applicable to their official actions as members of the board. Board members should be guided by the spirit as well as the letter of the law in whatever they do. At the same time, board members should feel free to assert policy positions and opinions without fear of reprisal from fellow board members or citizens. To declare that a board member is behaving unethically because one disagrees with that board member on a question of policy (and not because of the board member’s behavior) is unfair, dishonest, irresponsible, and itself unethical.

Optional Addition to Section 1. [Board members should endeavor to keep up to date, through the board’s attorney and other sources, about new or ongoing legal or ethical issues they may face in their official positions. This educational function is in addition to the day-to-day legal advice the board may receive concerning specific situations that arise.]

or

Optional Addition to Section 1. [Board members should endeavor to keep up to date, through the board’s attorney and other sources, about the most pertinent constitutional, statutory, and other legal requirements with which they must be familiar to meet their legal responsibilities. The board should consider adopting a list of applicable laws and regulations, with appropriate commentary, as a reference document  accompanying this Code.]

Section 2.

Board members should act with integrity and independence from improper influence as they exercise the duties of their offices. Characteristics and behaviors consistent with this standard include the following:

• Adhering firmly to a code of sound values
• Behaving consistently and with respect toward everyone with whom they interact
• Exhibiting trustworthiness
• Living as if they are on duty as elected officials regardless of where they are or what they doing
• Using their best independent judgment to pursue the common good as they see it, presenting their opinions to all in a reasonable, forthright, consistent manner
• Remaining incorruptible, self-governing, and unaffected by improper influence while at the same time being able to consider the opinions and ideas of others
• Disclosing contacts and information about issues that they receive outside of public meetings and refraining from seeking or receiving information about quasi-judicial matters outside of the quasi-judicial proceedings themselves
• Treating other board members and the public with respect and honoring the opinions of others even when the board members disagree with those opinions
• Not reaching conclusions on issues until all sides have been heard
• Showing respect for their offices and not behaving in ways that reflect badly on those offices
• Recognizing that they are part of a larger group and acting accordingly
• Recognizing that individual board members are not generally allowed to act on behalf of the board but may only do so if the board specifically authorizes it, and that the board must take official action as a body

Section 3.a.

Board members should avoid impropriety in the exercise of their official duties. Their official actions should be above reproach. Although opinions may vary about what behavior is inappropriate, this board will consider impropriety in terms of whether a reasonable person who is aware of all of the relevant facts and circumstances surrounding the board member’s action would conclude that the action was inappropriate.

Section 3.b.

If a board member believes that his or her actions, while legal and ethical, may be misunderstood, the member should seek the advice of the board’s attorney10 and should consider publicly disclosing the facts of the situation and the steps taken to resolve it (such as consulting with the attorney).

Section 4.

Board members should faithfully perform the duties of their offices. They should act as the especially responsible citizens14 whom others can trust and respect. They should set a good example for others in the community, keeping in mind that trust and respect must continually be earned.

Board members should faithfully attend and prepare for meetings. They should carefully analyze all credible information properly submitted to them, mindful of the need not to engage in communications outside the meeting in quasi-judicial matters. They should demand full accountability from those over whom the board has authority.

Board members should be willing to bear their fair share of the board’s workload. To the extent appropriate, they should be willing to put the board’s interests ahead of their own.

Section 5.

Board members should conduct the affairs of the board in an open and public manner. They should comply with all applicable laws governing open meetings and public records, recognizing that doing so is an important way to be worthy of the public’s trust. They should remember when they meet that they are conducting the public’s business. They should also remember that local government records belong to the public and not to board members or their employees.

In order to ensure strict compliance with the laws concerning openness, board members should make clear that an environment of transparency and candor is to be maintained at all times in the governmental unit. They should prohibit unjustified delay in fulfilling public records requests. They should take deliberate steps to make certain that any closed sessions held by the board are lawfully conducted and that such sessions do not stray from the purposes for which they are called.

[Optional Censure Procedures.

If a majority of the board has reason to believe that one of its members has violated a provision of this  Code of Ethics, it [shall] [may] open an investigation into the matter to determine whether probable cause exists to initiate censure proceedings against the member. All information compiled, including the grounds for any finding of probable cause, shall be shared with the member when it is received. All information pertaining to the case shall be open to public inspection and copying pursuant to the North Carolina public records statutes. If upon investigation the board concludes that a violation of a criminal law may have occurred, it shall refer the matter to the local district attorney.

Should the board determine that it wishes to proceed further with censure proceedings, it shall call for a hearing, to be held at a regular meeting or at a special meeting convened for that purpose. Notice of the hearing stating its time, place, and purpose shall be given once a week for two successive calendar weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in  the jurisdiction. The notice shall be published the first time not less than 10 days nor more than 25 days before the date fixed for the hearing. In computing such period, the day of publication is not to be included but the day of the hearing shall be included. Alternatively, the hearing shall be advertised on the jurisdiction’s website for the same period of time, up to and including the date of the hearing. The notice shall state that a detailed list of the allegations against the member is available for public inspection and copying in the office of the clerk or secretary to the board.

The hearing shall be convened at the time and place specified. The hearing and any deliberations shall be conducted in open session in accordance with the North Carolina open meetings statutes.

The accused board member shall have the right to have counsel present, to present and cross-examine expert and other witnesses, and to offer evidence, including evidence of the bias of any other board member or the presiding officer. An audio or video and audio tape of the proceedings shall be prepared. Any and all votes during the hearing shall be taken by the ayes and noes and recorded in the board’s minutes.

Once the hearing is concluded, it shall be closed by vote of the board. The presiding officer shall next entertain a motion to adopt a nonbinding resolution censuring the member based on specified violations of the code of ethics. Any motion made must be an affirmative one in favor of adopting a nonbinding resolution of censure. If the motion or resolution does not state particular grounds for censure under the code of ethics, the presiding officer shall rule it out of order.

If a motion to adopt a nonbinding resolution of censure stating particular grounds under the code of ethics has been made, the board shall debate the motion. The accused member shall be allowed to participate in the debate [but shall not] [and shall also be allowed to] vote on the motion to adopt the resolution.

At the conclusion of the debate, the board shall vote on the resolution. If the motion to adopt the nonbinding resolution of censure is approved by a [majority] [two-thirds] [three-fourths] vote of those present and voting, a quorum being present, the motion passes and the nonbinding resolution of censure is adopted.

The text of the nonbinding resolution of censure shall be made a part of the minutes of the board. Any recording of the board’s proceedings shall be approved by the board as a permanent part of the minutes. The proceedings shall then be considered concluded, the board having done all it legally can with respect to the matter in question.]

RFP Staff/Rowan-Salisbury Citizens Committee for Transparent and Ethical Government

♦ FREE and DOWNLOADABLE: The Complete PDF. Deposition of Kenneth S. Lane v. the City of Salisbury AKA “The Rory Collins Meltdown”

https://app.box.com/s/p1ulo9tlvogcknxvczh3tlgo52op96ro

RFP Staff

♦ According to United Auto Workers, employed at Freightliner the Daimler Truck Manufacturing Facility in Cleveland, N.C., the company held a Monday morning meeting to forewarn employees that approximately 490 of the facility’s employees would be laid off by Friday.  This came as no surprise because truck orders at the facility were shrinking since the end of 2015.

In January approximately 900 employees were let go with few being able to land comparable skilled manufacturing jobs in Rowan County.  The wages and benefits of United Auto Workers, are far and above what non-union manufacturing jobs offer.

This latest layoff represents not only a  tragic blow to the families involved, but a major blow to Rowan County’s economy.

RFP Staff

♦ Brittany Mykal Bishop, 29, sharing an apartment with Jasmaine Allison, 23, on the 1100 block of Bringle Ferry Road in Salisbury, was arrested Sunday for allegedly for stabbing Allison during escalating domestic violence.

Bishop was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury (felony). Under a secured $20,000 bond, she is being held in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Suffering a stab wound to her upper arm, Allison allegedly called 911 never knowing when her roommate might erupt again. Salisbury Police arrived a short time later to find Allison bleeding from the wound to upper arm and had her transported to Novant Health Rowan Regional Medical Center where she received treatment and had her wound stitched.

The victim was preparing herself for bed when her roommate Bishop allegedly began arguing with her then started hurling objects. Allison fled into the bathroom where she remained until she thought her roommate quieted down. When Allison emerged, Bishop came at her with a kitchen knife and stabbed her in the upper arm.

RFP Staff

♦ Friday a young Black male walked up to the counter just before midnight at the D-Mart 3, a convenience store on 1600 South Main Street in Salisbury and asked for a pack of Newports. The clerk, a female, obliged, handing the man the Newports and rung him up. When she looked up to request payment, she faced a pistol.

“Gimme all the money,” said the gunman.

When he spotted the clerk hitting the counter alarm, he gruffly uttered “f**k” and fled the store with only the pack of Newports.

The gunman was described as a Black male about 5’8″ wearing a scarf over his face and a dark coat with a hood.

If you have any information about the robber, please call the Salisbury Police Department at 704-638-5333 or Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

RFP Staff

♦ NEW: Rowan County Sheriff’s Office MOST WANTED LIST:

http://ossip2c.rowancountync.gov/p2c/mostwanted.aspx

CEDMagazine.com/Diana Goovaerts

♦ AT&T Phasing Out U-Verse TV in Favor of DirecTV:

http://www.cedmagazine.com/news/2016/02/t-phasing-out-u-verse-favor-directv

RFP Staff

♦ North Rowan High School and Salisbury High School Basketball Teams were banned from post season competition after Friday’s bench-clearing scrap between the players and some spectators. The melee broke out in the third quarter and caused officials to halt the game. Big deal–adolescents act like adolescents. At least nobody got shot, stabbed, or rocked. Sportsmanship is ideal, but in the heat adolescent competition, tempers flair.

Friday night after the “bench clearer” both teams were taken to their respective locker rooms and were kept there until North Rowan was loaded onto buses.

Talk about overreaction: The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) banned North Rowan and Salisbury from post-season competition and each school has to pay a $1000 fine.

Allegedly the NCHSAA claimed that in accordance with the association’s handbook policy the penalty for the violation is the loss of 2016 basketball playoff privileges and a $1,000 fine. Both schools appealed the decision, but were denied.

Please note that both high school teams had outstanding records: North Rowan High School went 20-2 and Salisbury High School owned an 18-5 record.

(Editor’s note: Haven’t these alleged officials ever viewed NCAA bench-clearers at basketball and football games? Even in NBA and NFL Contests? Get real. During my high school days when I played football at Germantown High we regularly scrapped with other schools during the game and after the game. I vividly recall my teammates and I putting on our helmets and ducking down in our seats as the window glass went flying on our team bus. We got “rocked” by Simon Gratz High school students as we pulled out of their field. Nobody got sanctioned or fined. This was Philly sports back in the day. It still is. (We romped Gratz 50 to zip so I guess they were sore)

Overreaction NCHSAA.

Sun-Sentinel.com

♦ The Amazing Dr. Robinson: Alleged Teenage Quack Opens a Gynocology Clinic. Perhaps Dr. Robinson Might Find the “City of Make Believe” Salisbury, N.C. a Cozier Fit?:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-west-palm-fake-doctor-20160216-story.html

A book and a movie?  There’s a wide audience for imposters.

RFP Staff

♦ In probably the zaniest and longest lasting parade (over an hour) of well gathered evidence by NIMBYs in Salisbury or anywhere, the local NIMBY’s urinated on the Firehouse Brew Pit Special Use Permit (SUP). If Todd Littleton felt the deck was stacked yesterday–it was.  Overwhelmingly so.

In honor of the single most display of evidence by a well organized group of NIMBYs anywhere, the Rowan Free Press will air this historic city council video segment as soon as its available.

(Editor’s note: Let me say this on Todd Littleton’s behalf and on the behalf of “Bench Warmers” AKA “Club Tyvek”.  “Bench Warmers” is Salisbury’s number one “drinking bar”.  They don’t water down their drinks and the service is rapid.  They top off drinks to lip of the glass.  The atmosphere of “Bench Warmers” is friendly, hail, and hardy.  It was my favorite watering hole in all of Salisbury.  EZ comradeship.  Lots of hardcore sports talk.  It felt like a Philly bar.  I saw their bartenders and management “88” folks if they appeared to hit their limit.  In all my visits to “Bench Warmers” I never saw anyone murdered there.)

The NIMBYs, mostly all from the neighboring “Firehouse Lofts Membership Association” were under the leadership of Judy Kandl.  She trotted out person after person in their well-evidenced assault on the Firehouse Brew Pit’s safety concerns. They were convincing about the public urination, defecation, fights, unleashed dogs, loud talking, hollering, letters from the Salisbury Police, public sex acts, foul language, vomiting, and Brew Pit customers passed out on the concrete.  Nightly loud disturbances.

In any event we will show the video when it is available.