By Nicole Bowman-Layton

EDENTON — A renewed threat of legal action over Edenton’s Confederate monument, long-awaited pedestrian safety improvements and a wide-ranging presentation on public school support efforts dominated Tuesday night’s Edenton Town Council meeting.

The meeting also included discussion of ADA accessibility concerns, economic development incentives and ongoing infrastructure planning throughout town.

The meeting was held in Council chambers on South Broad Street. Information about the Council’s approval of a Harbor Towns funding amendment that would help move Martinique, a historic home in northern Chowan County, to Edenton’s waterfront, appears in a separate story.

Confederate monument dispute resurfaces

Michael Dean, representing the Sons of Confederate Veterans’ Edenton Bell Battery chapter, warned council Tuesday that the organization is prepared to continue legal action over the Confederate monument dispute if a new agreement cannot be reached.

The dispute has remained unresolved since the Confederate monument was removed from the end of South Broad Street during Labor Day weekend in 2025, following a court order allowing Edenton to remove the statue as part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the town and Chowan County. According to the MOU, the governments had 30 days to re-erect the statue at its proposed new site near the intersection of Court and East Queen streets, after it was removed from its Broad Street location. The Sons of Confederate Veterans agreed to support the MOU, allowing the relocation to move forward.

Dean told council the local chapter recently rescinded the vote of confidence in the agreement after what he described as months of inaction by the town and county.

“We took another vote at our April 27 meeting, and it was a unanimous vote to rescind the previous vote of confidence,” Dean said.

Dean said the group conducted an informal poll that overwhelmingly favored returning the monument to its original location on the courthouse green.

“The results came up over 30 to one in favor of putting the memorial back in its original 1906 position,” Dean said.

Dean argued that resolving the issue could spare local governments additional legal expenses.

“The town will no longer spend thousands of dollars in legal fees fighting this in the court of appeals,” he said.

He also warned the organization is prepared to continue appeals if necessary.

“We will take it all the way to the state supreme court if necessary,” Dean said.

Town Manager Corey Gooden later noted during his report that council has taken no additional action on the monument issue since earlier public comment discussions in April.

Chowan County has had designs for the new site made. With a lawsuit challenging the statue’s relocation to Veterans Park still pending in the court system, the statue remains in the courtyard of the Chowan County Detention Center.

Crosswalk projects

Gooden also announced Tuesday that several long-discussed pedestrian safety projects are finally moving toward construction after the North Carolina Department of Transportation received funding approval Monday for multiple crosswalk improvements in Edenton.

According to Gooden, the projects include planned crosswalk improvements at:

• Granville Street and Virginia Road,
• Broad Street and Virginia Road,
• and West Queen Street near Twiddy Avenue.

Gooden said design funding is expected to be released in July, with construction funding anticipated in August or September.

Mayor Hackney “Hack” High specifically highlighted the planned crossing near Dollar General along West Queen Street, describing it as an area heavily used by young pedestrians.

“We have a lot of our youth crossing there,” High said.

Council members also discussed future pedestrian infrastructure planning throughout town, including additional crosswalks, sidewalk inventories and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance improvements.

Gooden said town staff have been mapping sidewalks, ADA ramps and pedestrian crossings to help prioritize future infrastructure work.

School support

The Edenton-Chowan Education Foundation delivered its annual presentation to council Tuesday, outlining grant programs, teacher support initiatives and student enrichment efforts throughout Chowan County Schools.

Executive Director Brooke Rich said the organization’s mission centers on supporting both students and teachers through community partnerships and financial assistance.

“Our main mission is to raise awareness of educational needs in Edenton-Chowan Schools and to garner support for our teachers and students through financial means,” Rich said.

Rich said the foundation supported roughly 400 students through additional field-trip opportunities this year while also funding classroom supplies, STEM programs, scholarships and professional development opportunities for teachers.

Among the programs highlighted were:

• fifth-grade trip to Colonial Williamsburg,
• middle school STEM learning days,
• CNA certification assistance for high school students,
• and classroom supply support for special education and life-skills programs.

Rich said one of the foundation’s primary goals is reducing the amount teachers personally spend on classroom materials.

“One of my goals is for our teachers to not really have to spend anything out of their pocket,” Rich said.

Rich also highlighted attendance improvements tied to middle school STEM programming.

She said attendance on STEM half-days increased from roughly 70% to 95% because students were more engaged by hands-on learning opportunities.

At-large Councilman Craig Miller asked Rich what local residents could do to improve teacher morale and support students.

“Go out there and help read with children,” Rich replied.

Rich also encouraged residents to volunteer in classrooms and mentorship programs or contribute financially to help offset anticipated budget reductions within the school system.

ADA concerns

Resident David Litman returned to council Tuesday night to revisit concerns about the town’s handling of Americans with Disabilities Act compliance — an issue he first raised with officials roughly a year ago.

Levin said he has seen little meaningful progress since his earlier conversations with town leaders and questioned how the town plans to handle ADA coordination following the upcoming retirement of Fire Chief Billy Bass, who also serves as the town’s safety coordinator.

“When I look at the job description for the fire chief, there’s no mention about being ADA coordinator,” Levin told council. “Sometimes it feels like it’s an add-on to their already responsibilities.”

Levin argued that ADA oversight should become a dedicated standalone position focused on accessibility planning, community engagement and compliance efforts rather than being assigned as a secondary responsibility to another department head.

“It needs to be a standalone position,” Levin said.

Levin also questioned how the town plans to address upcoming federal accessibility requirements, including updated digital accessibility standards set to take effect in 2028.

Gooden responded that the town has made some improvements, including adding live text captioning during meetings and continuing accessibility work tied to sidewalks, ramps and public infrastructure projects.

Gooden also said the town’s incoming fire chief would continue serving as the town’s safety and ADA coordinator during the transition process.

Utility incentive

Council also unanimously approved a new Economic Development Rider designed to help attract businesses into several large vacant commercial properties within town limits.

The utility-related incentive would provide temporary electric demand charge credits for qualifying businesses occupying buildings that have remained vacant for at least 12 months.

Officials said the incentive is intended to help recruit tenants into several large empty or partially vacant commercial spaces throughout Edenton.

Gooden said the proposal was developed in partnership with Electricities after months of discussions focused on economic development opportunities and utility strategies.

Infrastructure concerns

Council members also discussed stormwater drainage concerns, sidewalk conditions and deteriorating private streets during the meeting’s closing discussion period.

Councilman Elton Bond raised concerns about drainage issues along Johnson Street, where residents have reported water collecting beneath homes during rain events.

Gooden said staff are continuing stormwater mapping work and evaluating possible infrastructure improvements in the area.

Councilman Patrick Sellers also raised concerns about a deteriorating house within the historic district that neighbors have repeatedly complained about.

Planning Director Dwayne Whealton said the property is currently tied up in foreclosure and title complications, slowing enforcement and demolition-by-neglect proceedings.

Councilman Aaron Coston discussed concerns about potholes near the apartment complex off Luke Street. Bond asked about future discussions on natural gas expansion involving Piedmont Natural Gas.