Mount Olive Commissioners clash over building naming proposal

MOUNT OLIVE — A few implied accusations of racism were made at the Mount Olive Board of Commissioners meeting held Feb. 5.

The first insinuation came during the board’s discussion of a recommendation to name a building associated with the town hall complex in memory of the late Jammie Royall, the first Black town manager for Mount Olive.

After town commissioners Vicky Darden and Harlie Carmichael spoke in favor of the proposal, praising Royall’s work and dedication to his position, Commissioner C.J. Weaver responded by recommending other names for consideration.

“Weights and measures,” Weaver said. “Are we motivated to recognize someone because we think he was wronged, or do we want to recognize someone for what they’ve done?”

Weaver said he believed the decision should be based on accomplishments rather than emotion

Mayor Pro Tem Delreese Simmons responded to Weaver’s comments defending Royall’s dedication to the town.

“Yes, the first Black town manager,” Simmons said. “You two new commissioners don’t know there was a piece of paper that people voted on to stop him from doing his job. It ain’t emotions for me, it’s the truth.”

Simmons said the list of suggested alternatives was largely white.

The board took no action on the request to name the building. It is expected to be placed on the March agenda for a public hearing on the proposal.

The board also discussed a request made to remove the reversionary clause from the deeds issued to nonprofit organizations ALDA Inc and the Carver Alumni High School & Friends Association for the former Carver High School building, now being used by the two groups for offices and other activities.

An attorney representing ALDA said the group invested heavily into renovating the building after a fire and paving the parking lot, and feared the reversionary clause could jeopardize eligibility for several million dollars in grants.

Town Attorney Carroll Turner advised the board the reversionary clause was required under state law. Turner said any publicly owned property conveyed to a nongovernment entity must be used for public purposes and revert to the local government if that purpose is no longer met. Turner cited court precedent supporting the requirement.

Turner said all groups involved had identical reversion clauses and agreed to meet with ALDA’s attorney to discuss possible solutions.

During the town manager report, interim town manager Glenn Holland said they were reinstating the town’s water disconnect policy. Customers who fail to pay or arrange an approved payment plan by Feb. 27 will have water service disconnected and restored only after full payment. Holland said the action was necessary due to a large number of past-due accounts.

“As of Jan. 31, I had 335 residential accounts past due,” Holland said, adding 19 commercial accounts were also past due. He said the town had $149,128 in unpaid water bills.

Also during the meeting, Wayne County ABC Board Manager Darnae Barefoot presented the town a check for over $18,000 for the town’s share of proceeds from the local ABC store.