Special meeting leaves local mayor questioning

FAIRVIEW, N.C. — A local mayor is raising questions about a special meeting of Fairview Town Council members she worries was illegal.

Mayor Elizabeth Long of Fairview emailed a long list of concerns to Eyewitness News about the meeting on Aug. 20.

Long said the town clerk notified council members there would be a special meeting -- but did not notify the people listed on the town's Sunshine List, nor did the clerk post the proper date on the meeting notification, as required by law.

Only three council members -- B.B. Haigler, Arnold Price and Bradley Purser -- attended the meeting, to discuss awarding a contract with a Charlotte-based design firm, Site Solutions.

The contract, worth more than $9,000, is for the design of the future town park, planned for a 17-acre plot of land off Highway 601 in Fairview.

Long questioned why other firms were not considered in the bidding process and listed other problems as "...no notices of the special meeting were sent to the sunshine list; motions were made and passed at an invalid meeting; and no 'good faith' efforts in soliciting minority firms."
"Just how does this benefit the taxpayers of Fairview?" Long said.

The town clerk admitted he mistakenly omitted the special meeting's date from the notification posted at Town Hall, but he chalked it up to a "simple mistake."

Residents told Eyewitness News they were excited about the park, but concerned about the meeting.

"I feel that it's not fair to the people who are representing Fairview, they should have been there ... they just need to go through the right venues to do it," said resident Kathy Williams.

Arnold Price declined comment to Channel 9, calling it a "bunch of rumors."

Bradley Purser did not return a phone call from Eyewitness News seeking comment.

Channel 9 also wanted to talk to B.B. Haigler, who called for the meeting, but was told he was busy playing golf and unavailable for comment. A followup phone call was not returned.

WSOC