Walk of Fame proposed for downtown
By Matt Shaw
Published in News on February 8, 2005 2:13 PM
Wayne Community College officials asked the Goldsboro City Council on Monday night for permission to build a Hollywood-style "Walk of Fame" downtown.
If the council approves, stars would installed next month in the sidewalk outside the Paramount Theater on Center Street to honor actress Anne Jeffreys and Johnny Grant, Hollywood's honorary mayor. Both are Goldsboro natives.
WCC President Dr. Ed Wilson showed the council pictures of how the stars would look. They would be in-laid in 30-inch-square sections that would replace the sidewalk.
The college's foundation would pay for the stars, Wilson said. The city's only cost would be in the sidewalk reconstruction.
The stars would be unveiled in April when Jeffreys and Grant are scheduled to perform during the foundation's "From Tinsel Town to Hometown" event.
Council members did not object to the current plans, but several wondered if the walk would end up being only two steps. Councilman Bob Waller asked if there were any plans to recognize other people.
"I think we need to see how this works first," Wilson replied. "It's up to the city to decided if they'd like to be involved. It takes money obviously to put these in."
Regardless of who will pay, the council needs to review future nominees, Waller said.
"The city ought to have the final say, yea or nay, as to who's inducted," he said.
The council promised Wilson a quick decision.
Other business
After a closed-door session, the council voted to make a change in the city's personnel ordinance. New city employees will now be allowed to join the local government employees retirement system immediately after starting work, Attorney Tim Finan said. Previously, they were required to wait for six months.
Many other municipalities allow new employees to begin contributing immediately, Finan added.
Also Monday, the council:
*Gave Cannon' Management Services vested rights to build a 5,100-square-foot office building on Gracie Place, near Wayne Memorial Drive.
*Gave Eastern Aluminum permission to build a 6,000-square-foot shelter that would be attached to one of its existing buildings on Oak Forest Road.
*Condemned dilapidated houses at 803 Carolina St. and 913 Bethune St. and set aside money for their demolition.
*Heard an update on the Exodus House Community Development Corp. from Donald Wilkerson.
*Gave an extension to Vernon Mangum to repair a house at 302 S. John St.
*Approved revised plans for the W.F. Spence Apartments, located at the corner of Cashwell Drive and Malloy Street.
*Received a $639 payment from the state to be used for the Goldsboro Police Department's anti-drug activities.
*Set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21, for Douglas and Carolyn Core's request that Goldsboro annex their property on Piedmont Airline Road.