Here's the first in a series of reports on the Washington City Council meeting | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

    The Washington City Council met Monday (11-14-11) in its regular monthly meeting and as usual, heard some good news and some bad news. The good news included a report on a recent program to encourage school children to consider jobs in the transportation industry. Mr. Alvin Powell gave a report and recognized a number of people who participated in the Transportation Career Day.

    The first video clip contains that segment of the meeting, along with the opening formalities.



    The second video clip is an "update" from Jason Briley, the developer of the Northgate subdivision off Cherry Run Road. A bit of background is helpful in understanding this clip.

    Mr. Briley approached the City shortly after Hurricane Fran came through with a proposal to apply for a low income housing grant from the State of North Carolina. The City agreed to participate and actually was the recipient of the grant although the funds were to be used to "buy down" the cost of houses sold to low-income families. The money was

contingent on Northgate Development selling 32 houses to qualifying families.

    Time has dragged on and Mr. Briley has not sold the requisite number of homes required by the grant. Thus, he and the City face the prospect of having to refund a substantial sum of money to the State, depending on how many houses are actually sold that qualify. Mr. Briley has received an extension of the deadline and what you hear in the presentation is that the current deadline is December 31, 2011. He reports that he has sold 24 homes and a 25th that has been sold if the buyer qualifies. That would leave him seven homes short which need to be sold by the end of the year, unless as he alludes to, he gets an extension.

    The problem, for the City and its taxpayers, is that they may be on the hook to have to return the funds that Mr. Briley may not end up meeting the requirements.

    It's not quite as bad as it may sound, because the City previously obtained a Letter of Credit from Mr. Briley that he would cover any refunds rather than the City's taxpayers having to do so. Thus, that is what the report in the following video clip deals with.



    We'll have more reports on the Council meeting in future editions so check back for more. In the meantime, if you wish to review the meeting materials click here.