Board of Commissioners Special Meeting

The following is a staff-prepared summary of key discussion points and decisions from this meeting. For the complete official record, please refer to the approved minutes above.

Commissioner Doug Moore — Well-Wishes The board opened the meeting by acknowledging that Commissioner Doug Moore was unable to attend due to injuries sustained in the line of duty as a firefighter.

• Town Manager Charlotte Hansen shared that Commissioner Moore was fighting a fire in a nearby jurisdiction when the structure collapsed while he and another firefighter were still inside. Both were pinned, rescued via a mayday call, and transported to the hospital.
• Commissioner Moore has since returned home and was reported to be in good spirits. The board offered prayers for his recovery.

Public Comment — Committee Interest One member of the public addressed the board regarding interest in serving on a town advisory committee.

• Jerica Robertson introduced herself, noting her background as a Tuskegee University accounting graduate with 25 years of tax and audit experience and five years of notary public service. She expressed primary interest in the Ranlo Experience Committee and a desire to help plan town events and strengthen community life.

New Public Safety Committee — Police Cadet Pipeline Program Commissioner Chevette Hill proposed forming a new advisory committee to support the Ranlo Police Department, particularly around recruiting and developing future officers.

• Commissioner Hill described conversations with the Police Chief in which a mentorship-style cadet pipeline program was discussed — targeting Ranlo residents ages 19 and up, guiding interested young people through the steps to enter law enforcement and connecting them with available state funding to help pay their way through school.
• The Police Chief confirmed the department has not previously had a cadet program and noted that state grant funding for new officer recruitment exists and is underutilized, as reported from a recent chiefs’ conference.
• The board voted unanimously to direct staff to begin developing a formal framework for this new public safety committee before the next regular meeting. A motion was made and seconded; the vote was unanimous.
• Staff indicated they would begin advertising for committee members and work with the board and the new committee to build out the program structure, explore partnerships (including potentially with nearby Gaston County community resources), and pursue available grant funding.

Ranlo Experience Committee — Member Appointments The board moved to appoint members to the newly established Ranlo Experience Committee, which focuses on town events, quality of life, and community engagement. The committee may seat up to seven members; a quorum of four is required to conduct business.

• Drew Horine was appointed to the Ranlo Experience Committee. Motion made and seconded; vote was unanimous.
• Zion McKenzie was appointed to the Ranlo Experience Committee. Motion made and seconded; vote was unanimous.
• Amber Spicer was appointed to the Ranlo Experience Committee. Motion made and seconded; vote was unanimous.
• Jerica Robertson was appointed to the Ranlo Experience Committee. Motion made and seconded; vote was unanimous.
• With four members appointed, the committee has reached quorum and may begin scheduling meetings. Three seats remain open; staff will continue advertising for applicants.
• The board noted the committee will need to elect a chair, vice chair, and treasurer at its first meeting, and will be guided by Robert’s Rules of Order and applicable local government procedures. The Town Manager will assist with onboarding and meeting logistics.

Planning Board — Member Appointments The board took up appointments to the Town of Ranlo Planning Board, which advises on zoning requests, land use planning, and the long-term development of the town. The board appoints five members on staggered terms; Gaston County separately appoints two members representing the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).

• Term structure: two members serve three-year terms, one member serves a two-year term, and two members serve one-year terms.
• Diana Palmer was appointed to a three-year term, recognized for her prior planning board service and involvement in town ordinance revisions. Motion made and seconded; vote was unanimous.
• Mark Williams was appointed to a three-year term, recognized for his experience in commercial real estate portfolio management and prior service on the Gaston County Planning and Zoning Board. Motion made by a commissioner, seconded by Commissioner Hill; vote was unanimous.
• For the single two-year term seat, the board considered Jessica Holtz (geography degree with urban planning coursework) and Daryl Hayes (20 years with the New York City Police Department, military service, and extensive civic and community organization experience). After discussion, the board moved toward appointing Jessica Holtz to the two-year term. Voting was ongoing at the point the transcript ends.
• Daryl Hayes introduced himself during the meeting and was added to the list of candidates under consideration for the remaining planning board seats.