EDENTON — The Edenton Town Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, April 27, 2026, that includes candidate interviews for the Edenton Preservation Committee, presentations from two community organizations, a proclamation for Fair Housing Month, and a committee meeting on a new economic development utility incentive.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. April 27, in council chambers, 504 S. Broad St., Edenton. 6:00 p.m.

Remote Video Access Available via
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2524822155?pwd=T0NFUEJ0MXlnV3B2UFA1S0R0aj gzUT09

Meeting ID: 252 482 2155 Passcode: 458434
Dial in Option: 301-715-8592 (Meeting ID & Password same)

Preservation Committee Candidates

Council members will interview four candidates seeking appointment to the Edenton Preservation Committee, the advisory body charged with safeguarding the town’s historic character.

Edward Ross, a retired UPS operations manager, is perhaps best known locally as the person responsible for growing the flower baskets that hang throughout downtown Edenton. In his application, Ross cited his personal stake in the town’s heritage.

“I love Edenton,” Ross wrote. “Our house is in the historic district and we take great pride in preserving and maintaining our property. I just want to give back to the town.”

Cheryl Orr, a well-known local chef and restaurateur, emphasized her community ties in her application, noting she has “always been a strong supporter of the communities where I have lived.”

Lucas Belton, owner of Rustic to Reclaimed, brings hands-on experience restoring older homes — a background that closely aligns with the committee’s mission to preserve Edenton’s historic building stock.

Hal Murray rounds out the candidate field. A retired Exxon Mobil Research and Engineering scientist with a doctorate and a 28-year career, Murray is active with the Edenton Yacht Club and is described as well-informed on Town Council matters.

Assistant Town Manager Dewayne Whealton will facilitate the interviews.

St. Vincent de Paul Presents Community Impact

Lisa Salomon will deliver a special presentation on behalf of the St. Ann Edenton Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, outlining the organization’s work across Chowan County and four surrounding counties.

According to figures the organization is expected to present, SVDP provided $75,002 in total aid across five counties between July 1, 2025, and April 20, 2026. Of that total, $38,676 went to Chowan County residents alone. Utility assistance — a core service — accounted for $33,810 across the five-county area, including $13,986 directed specifically to Town of Edenton utility customers. In that period, 48 families received aid at an average of $291 per family.

Beyond utility bills, the organization’s services include rent assistance, food, clothing, transportation, medication, vision assistance, employment guidance, temporary lodging, mentoring, and direct advocacy on behalf of clients.

SVDP distinguishes its model from transactional social services, emphasizing personal relationships through home visits by volunteer Vincentians. The organization is funded entirely through private and public donations, including contributions from St. Ann parishioners, the Town of Edenton, and in-kind gifts. Its annual overhead is roughly $1,425, and fundraising events include a King Cake and Coffee gathering, a National Pi Day event, and the annual Friends of the Poor 5K Walk/Run in Historic Edenton, scheduledfor Sept. 26.

The organization said it is seeking additional volunteers and continued financial support to meet growing demand.

Historic Commission Presentation

Robert Leath will present on behalf of the Edenton Historic Commission. Details of his presentation were not included in the meeting agenda, but the EHC oversees many buildings in Edenton’s historic district, including the Penelope Barker House, the oldest house in North Carolina, and the Edenton Trolley. It is often confused with the Edenton Historic Preservation Commission (even by use) which conducts certificate-of-appropriateness review for properties within the town’s local historic district.

Fair Housing Proclamation

Mayor Hackney High Jr. is set to issue a proclamation declaring April 2026 Fair Housing Month in Edenton, marking the 58th anniversary of the federal Fair Housing Act.

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 broadened those protections and strengthened enforcement mechanisms. The Edenton Proclamation reaffirms the town’s commitment to equal housing opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, gender identity, familial status, or national origin.

Utilities Committee on Rate Incentive

The Council’s Utilities Committee will discuss an Economic Development Credit Rider, designated EDCR-1.

The rider, if approved, would create a tiered utility rate discount for new commercial or industrial customers taking service at previously unoccupied buildings — defined as having carried minimal load for at least 12 consecutive months — beginning service after July 1, 2026. Eligible accounts must reach a peak monthly demand of at least 250 kilowatts during at least four months in a 12-month period.

Qualifying customers would receive a 25 percent discount on their total monthly electric bill — including basic facilities charges, demand charges, and energy charges — during the first year of service. The discount would step down to 20 percent in year two, 15 percent in year three, 10 percent in year four, and 5 percent in year five, before expiring after month 60.

---

Editor’s note: This story was corrected at 12:35 p.m. April 27, 2026, to reflect the accurate activities of the Edenton Historic Commission. This story was edited at 11:29 a.m. April 28, 2026, to clarify the donations given to St. Vincent de Paul.