Howard, Lewis clash over raises for city employees
The Greensboro City Council voted August 25 to send two of Mayor Ralph Howard’s pay proposals to a workshop, over the mayor’s objection, after a heated exchange between Howard and Councilmember KaTerriaeial Lewis.
Howard moved to reduce the hours of the City Council assistant clerk position to 20 hours a week at a pay rate of $25 per hour.
“Y’all are going to have to hire somebody,” said longtime clerk Lorrie Cook.
Councilmember Ashley Kyser moved to hold a workshop on the assistant clerk position. Lewis seconded, and the motion passed with Howard voting no.
Howard then moved to raise the salaries of the Technology Center director and the court clerk magistrate to $42,000 a year each. The court clerk magistrate, Makaila Howard, is the mayor’s daughter.
Lewis said the council should hold a workshop to review budget concerns before granting raises to city employees. Howard disagreed sharply and asked where Lewis’ financial concerns had been before Howard took office. The two raised their voices and repeatedly spoke over one another before the discussion resumed.
Kyser seconded Lewis’ motion to hold a workshop on raises for city employees. The motion passed with the rest of the council in favor and Howard again voting no.
The council scheduled the workshop for Wednesday, September 2, at 6 p.m.
Ebony O’Brien, a partner with Banks, Finley, White & Co., updated the council on the firm’s audit of the city’s 2025 fiscal year.
“This was a great audit year. The city received a clean opinion,” O’Brien said.
She said the firm issued an unmodified opinion on the city’s financial statements and supplementary information and found no instances of fraud or noncompliance during the audit. The firm is already preparing for the next audit, she said.
Councilmember Mary Bragg moved to accept the audit findings. Councilmember Pearl Shepherd seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Kyser moved to approve a resolution authorizing a lease-purchase agreement with Bank OZK for a boom truck. Shepherd seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Howard proposed charging residents outside the Greensboro city limits a $25 fee for pickup of debris and other non-household trash. He said city employees have been making numerous pickups outside the city limits and the city should be paid for the labor. The fee does not apply to residents inside the city limits.
Kyser moved to adopt the fee resolution. Shepherd seconded, and it passed unanimously. The fee takes effect September 1.
Lewis moved to adjourn. The rest of the council voted in favor, with Howard voting no.
