BY NICOLE LAYTON

Staff Writer

Edenton Town Council hopes to renegotiate a proposed $125 per month lease agreement between the town and Harbor Towns Cruises for 500 S. Broad St..

On Monday, Council held a special meeting to approve a few agreements before holding  a committee meeting in council chambers, 504 S. Broad St., Edenton. Council Member Sambo Dixon was absent.

Council voted to table the agreement with Harbor Towns so Town Manager Corey Gooden could reach out to the nonprofit to see if they would be willing to pay more to lease the 2,000-square-foot facility that will be used as the central office and shop.

A five-year lease agreement was originally proposed, but it was changed to one year.

Several council members, including Mayor Hackney High, questioned the low rental cost.

Gooden noted that the lease agreement was based on the town’s previous arrangement with the Edenton Chowan Partnership and Edenton-Chowan Chamber of Commerce.

Council Member Aaron Coston, 3rd Ward, noted that private entities can’t find a place in Edenton at $125 a month. “I’m sorry, I just can’t wrap my head about this.”

Mayor Hackney High noted that he shares Coston’s concern but feels better about a one-year lease.

“It is someone that we’re partnering with,” he said of Harbor Town Cruises. “I’m also aware that substantial funds from this group are gonna come in the form of $2 million to help refurbish and do some projects here on our waterfront. So with that in mind, and the fact that it’s a one-year lease, and we can maybe take a look at their financials for year two through five, I feel better about it than I did before.”

At-Large Council Member Patrick Sellers asked how many times the cruises have actually gone out since the ribbon-cutting. A few council members chimed in noting that there haven’t been many cruises.

Sellers noted that at $125 a month, that’s less than what his family leased their property to him for his law office.

A council member noted that he would like to explore a rent amount that gives the town something it can use to its benefit.

Gooden noted that Edenton was named the Harbor Town Cruises hub from the get-go. He noted that at first, the town didn’t have a space to really welcome “them completely with their office needs and the employment needs. I think this is kind of our first opportunity to do that.”

High said he has not been “impressed one bit” with Harbor Town’s roll out. “I’ve not been impressed one bit with their organizational skills. I think we’ve got to make some changes in the order that’ll help us out with that. “

Council then unanimously voted to table the matter and to have Gooden attempt to renegotiate the price of the lease.

In other matters, Council approved a memorial bench request for a bench to be placed in the Waterfront Park playground in honor of Raines Simenson, a resident that Edenton lost too soon to cancer, according to High.

Raines was able to united the community in the fight against cancer.

“In his short time with us, Raines brought together individuals, families, and organizations to a cause far greater than any of us. His legacy of compassion and community will resonate for generations to come,” Gagnon said. “A park bench placed in a peaceful and meaningful location is a simple yet fitting way to honor Raines’ memory. It serves as a place for reflection, for visitors to pause and appreciate the unity and goodwill he fostered in his time with us.”

Gooden said the memorial bench will replace one of the wooden ones on the interior playground area.

“It’s a lot longer lasting (than the current wooden benches) and it doesn’t require so much maintenance and upkeep,” he said.

Also during the special meeting, council passes a Memorandum of Understanding with Destination Downtown Edenton. The agreement is renewed annually.

During the Committee meeting, Council moved the following issues out of committee to the full council for approval:

• Police Department Salary Review — Council looked at proposed salary increases for some of the positions at the agency. Police Chief David LaFon said the pay hikes will help the town attract and retrain employees.
• Northeast Regional Airport Engineering Professional Services Agreement — Gooden said only one company responded to the request. Council will vote on the agreement at an upcoming meeting.
• Wolfstein Group Professional Services Agreement and Jones Street Consulting Professional Services Agreement — Edenton will look to approve two agreements, one of each company, for lobbying services. Each two-year contract will be for $1,500 per month. The contract length coincides with the state legislative session. Council asked Gooden to ask representatives from both companies to come to a council meeting to discuss their accomplishments.
• Mainstreet Edenton economic development and parking lease agreements — Both related to Destination Downtown Edenton, the annual agreements are up for renewal.
• Budget Amendment Mainstreet Edenton — Will appropriate $289,500 to Destination Downtown Edenton for Project Teapot.

Edenton Town Council is scheduled to meet from 6-7 p.m. Dec. 10 at council chambers, 504 S. Broad St., Edenton.