2017-09-26 MinutesAGENDA
New Hanover County / City of Wilmington
Community Relations Advisory Committee
City Hall
Lord Spencer Compton Meeting Room
September 26, 2017
5:30PM
Members present:
Ron Sparks Florence Warren Evelyn Bryant
Owen Wexler Emily Cottrell Kristen McKeithan
Lori Wainwright Walter Samuels Melanie Franks
Jeff Horvis
I.Call to Order
a.Chairman Ron Sparks
II.Approve July minutes
a.Motion to approve: Owen Wexler
b.Second: Melanie Franks
III.Comments
a.Councilmen Earl Sheridan
Explained why the committee was formed and what the initial intention was for the
committee. They felt there was a need in the community for a place where the citizen could
express themselves and would bring back advice to the City Council and the County
Commissioners. He described his vision for the committee. He had hoped this committee
would bring back reports to the elected official regarding what they are doing and what they
would recommend to improve human relations. He acknowledged his appreciation to
committee members for serving on the committee. He talked about how he would expect
the committee to address specific issues. He recommended responding to these issues on a
broad level
b.Commissioner Jonathan Barfield
Talk about his initial intention in forming this committee. He recognized the ongoing race
relations efforts. He talked about his concerns with the make-up of the board. Barfield
noted existing challenges in the community that he felt this committee can be a part of.
They opened the follow for questions of them:
1.They discussed member attendance and reappointments
2.Melanie Franks expressed that the committee is struggling to move forward. She
explained there are challenges in getting there name out. She felt the committee needed
some type of budget. Sheridan responded that there was money available for reasonable
request via the committee÷s budget.
3.Florence Warren expressed concerns with the speed that committee has been moving.
4.Lori Wainwright mentioned that there were already activities going on that she was not
aware of. There was some conversation about how this committee should be interacting
with all aspects of the committee.
5.Evelyn Bryant expressed her concern about the committee not being as involve with
committee as it should. She was concerned with not having the event that was planned
for this meeting.
Commission Barfield expressed the need for the committee to get to know each other.
IV.Action Items/ Follow-up
a.Ron Sparks stepped down as the Chairman and as a member of the board
b.The committee went through an election of officers.
i.Motion by Jeff Hovis to open the floor for nominations
Second by Melanie Franks
c.Elected Chairman:
i.Motion by Walter Samuels to make Owen Wexler as Chair
Second by Jeff Hovis
d.Elected Vice Chairman
i.Motion by Florence Warren to make Evelyn Bryant
Second by Melanie Franks
e.Election Secretary
i.Motion by Melanie Franks
Second by Owen Wexler
V.Committee Reports
a.Crisis Management
i.They are still having their regular meeting
b.Public Education
i.The Chairman would like to speak at the next City Council and County
Commissioner÷s meetings. This would give an opportunity be on the local TV
program. Lori stated the committee has done a lot and would need to make a year-
end report. Florence Warren expressed the need to broadcast the meeting
everywhere. They would like to have a community meeting in conjunction with
from 5:30PM-7:30PM in the gym at the
their next regular meeting on October 24
th
Martin Luther King Center. Erris will prepare an agenda for regular meeting.
c.Programming
i.The programming committee will meet prior to the meet and greet. Florence
Warren expressed concerned about meeting as an entire committee prior to the
meet and greet.
ii.They had further discussion about having business cards. They also have brochures
to pass out to the community. They had more discussion about having a business
card. Owen and Melanie were desiring having cards.
iii.Evelyn Bryant expressed concern about having a press release for the Meet and
Greet event. Emily will write the press release and Erris will send it out.
iv.The programming committee would like to meet Tuesday October 3 at 4PM. Find
rd
a room.
VI.Closing Comments
a.Evelyn Bryant asked that since the committee is going into a new year, each committee
member would bring back at least one issue that they would like to work on as a way to keep
the committee focused. She will looking for a way of prioritizing that list to a few action
items for the year
VII.Adjournment
Motion to adjourn: Owen Wexler