Goldsboro City Councilman Bevan Foster steps down as mayor pro tem, cites differences with mayor and council
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on November 7, 2017 12:16 PM
Foster ---- Dist. 4
Goldsboro Councilman Bevan Foster stepped down from his post as mayor pro tem Monday citing disagreeing views from the mayor and council.
Foster, appointed to serve in the post during 2017, made the motion to relinquish his role during the council's regular meeting.
As mayor pro tem, Foster could be called on to serve in a temporary council-leadership role during the mayor's absence.
"It's hard for me to do that," Foster said. "It's hard for me to fill those shoes. I don't believe in the decisions that this board makes. I don't believe in the decisions the mayor makes."
The council voted in favor of Foster's request, which allows him to return to his role as a councilman. Mayor Chuck Allen said the council will appoint a mayor pro tem during its next meeting.
The decision follows other disagreements Foster had with the majority of the council Monday night.
At the start of the regular meeting, the council was asked to approve its July 17, Sept. 18 and Oct. 2 meeting minutes. Foster objected, but his move to delay the vote was denied by the council.
"Those minutes, I think, some things are missing out of those minutes, and I need some time to review those," Foster said. "I want to actually hear the actual minutes from the actual meeting and to compare them to the actual notes that we received in an email."
Allen told Foster that he is welcome to review the meeting minutes during his own time.
Allen then moved to take a council vote.
"Hold on . . .," Foster said. "How can we approve minutes that we don't know for sure what's in them?"
After the vote, Foster said, "Ya'll guys are terrible, man."
During its 5 p.m. work session, the council also discussed whether to require a certain level of education for city jobs.
The educational requirements for city department leaders has been discussed by council several times this year, with Foster asking if the city can hire a consultant to update the job requirements.
Bernadette Carter-Dove, Goldsboro's human resources director, said her staff could complete the work in house.
"With all due respect, we can do that," Carter-Dove said.
Foster said city jobs should place a greater focus on education instead of work experience.
Councilman Gene Aycock disagreed.
"When I graduated from college, I didn't know how to teach, but it gave me some of the insights of teaching," Aycock said.
Aycock then made a motion that the council vote to keep the job requirements where they currently are. The council voted 5-2, with Foster and Councilman Antonio Williams voting against Aycock's motion.
"Here we go again," Foster said. "I wasn't even finished talking, and you're making motions.
"This is ridiculous. Everything stays the same. Nothing changes around here."
After the discussion, the council asked Council Carter-Dove to review city job descriptions and suggest changes, as needed.
During Monday's meeting, the council also:
• Approved a site and landscape plan for the former Goldsboro Fire Station, at 109 E. Ash St., a 11,338-square-foot building that will be converted into a fitness center on the first floor and an event center on the second floor. The parking lot was approved to include 53 spaces, instead of the required 102 spaces.
• Accepted a $285,000 Golden LEAF Foundation grant that will pay for the replacement of hurricane-damaged stormwater infrastructure on Glenwood Trail.
• Approved a $106,900 contract with A/K Grading for the abatement and demolition of nearly 20 condemned properties.
• Delayed a decision on transferring four city properties to the Downtown Goldsboro Development Association.