Traynham offered city manager position: Redistricting committee formed

Councilwoman Sandra Bryant read off the criteria that required a minimum education with a bachelor’s degree, or the preferred master of public administration or equivalent degree, 10 years of progressive management experience as a division manager, department head that will go higher with a small to medium-sized municipal government organization is required. Bryant also read that five or more years of experience at the level of department head assistant city manager or city manager experience was also preferred.

Councilman Wayne Smith said he felt he has seen Traynham’s qualifications and motioned to approve, offering her the city manager position pending a contract. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Carl Ferebee and unanimously approved by the council.

Board attorney Geoffrey Davis said it is not official until the contract is signed and the council only offered her the position, which a contract will be prepared and presented soon at a later date.

In other news, Gorham Spencer, who said she has been a resident in the City of Roanoke Rapids for 19 years, provided public comment. Spencer said she had concerns surrounding the redistricting map which was discussed at the Oct. 5 council meeting. Spencer questioned if public hearings will be held before and after maps were drawn. She also talked about selecting community members to be on the committee tasked with drawing the maps and if those members would be involved in developing the maps’ criteria. Spencer also asked if the public would be educated on the redistricting criteria.

“Next, I would like to address that it was stated also in that same work session that the numbers from the 2000 census might be used in the redistricting,” she said. “I implore you not to do this as it will give you a chance to excuse yourself.”

During the meeting, an agenda item to consider a 2020 Census Redistricting Advisory Committee was discussed.

Traynham said she has been working on getting preliminary numbers on the census, but a projection indicated that district two has grown in population as well as district three. She mentioned there was a slight loss in population of district one, which could have been contributed by the development of N.C. Highway 125 area.

“I have gone through and block by block, done the population numbers to get these rough estimates for it,” Traynham said. “And so we’re getting somewhere — we’re very close. But I do still believe that a committee is necessary.”

She said with the map change, a public hearing is required prior to the adoption of the new map. Traynham said the city must notify the Halifax County Board of Elections by Nov. 12, if they let them know that there will be a new map in place by Nov. 17, with the possibility of requesting an extension to Dec. 17.

Davis mentioned the extension would change the filing period for the March 8 election next year for the city.

Traynham said if extended, the filing period would be Jan. 3-7. She provided a list of appointees to the advisory committee, which the council appointed Ferebee as an ex officio member.

The council approved the committee.

Chief Bobby Martin gave comments to the council and public to praise the community support for the Roanoke Rapids Police Club cornhole tournament held on Saturday. Martin said the tournament raised $3,300, but with donations, the money raised was $9,075.78.

“Now, that is absolutely — it’s unbelievable,” he said. “I don’t know how to really express it other than to say, wow, and thank you, Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County, for your support and for supporting our efforts to help these children at Christmastime.”

Martin said the funds will be used to help nearly 40 children for “Christmas for The Kids” to buy clothing and other items to meet the children’s needs.

News Editor Richard Holm can be reached at rholm@rrdailyherald.com or 252-410-7054.