By Miles Layton

PLYMOUTH — A Plymouth Town Council meeting that opened with a prayer for unity dissolved into shouting and a five-minute recess Monday night as members quarreled over a food pantry lease, a waterfront property swap, and whether a colleague should be disqualified from voting on a key real estate matter. The session went long, touching on a rejected sweepstakes permit, a museum lease, a Juneteenth contribution, and honors for a fallen council member.

Monday’s meeting went long, very long, heated at points — lot to unpack there, so this is the Cliff Notes version. For more, please see next week’s Roanoke Beacon.  

The meeting began on a somber but warm note, with Councilman Jerry Rhodes presenting a memorial plaque to the family of the late Councilman Danny Wobbleton Sr., who held Ward Two’s seat and died of cancer in April while still serving.

Rhodes recalled a friendship stretching back nearly three decades — Cub Scout meetings, summer camp, and shared service as assistant scoutmasters with Troop 383.

“Danny was a very kind person,” Rhodes said. “He had a kind heart. Always had a smile. He always had something positive to say when I was around him.”

Toward the end of his life, Wobbleton became a pastor of a church in Martin County, even as he battled cancer. His family made sure he could attend meetings throughout his illness.

“It’s absolutely my joy and pleasure to present this to you,” Rhodes told Wobbleton’s family. The plaque read: Town of Plymouth, in appreciation of Danny Wobbleton, for his outstanding personal commitment, sacrifice and dedication as a Town Councilman, Ward Two, December 2013 to April 2026.

Sweepstakes Permit Denied

Earlier in the evening, the council sat as the Board of Adjustment for a quasi-judicial public hearing on a special use permit application from George Fahjad, who sought to open a video sweepstakes business at 404 U.S. Highway 64 East, inside the shopping center that also houses Roses and Pickwick Bakery.

Fahjad’s grandson Nick served as translator, explaining that the family already operates two similar establishments in other cities without criminal incident. “He never had any problem,” Nick said. “He got the security companies working all the business hours.”

The application promised 10 new jobs and described a “significant economic boost” to the U.S. 64 corridor by filling a vacant storefront. Councilman Rhodes questioned both claims.

“I still don’t understand or see — I don’t think you presented enough information about the economic impact that this will have on our town,” Rhodes said. “We have three others that are already operating in the town, and I’ll be honest with you, I have not seen any economic benefit for the town from those three.”

Councilman Kim Williams argued that part-time jobs could still help residents with limited options. “Some people cannot work full-time jobs because of maybe a disability, maybe a family matter,” Williams said. “So it would help the community.”

Mayor Crystal Davis said she liked the location — a struggling commercial corridor — but acknowledged the town already had ample gaming options. “You know my motto,” she told the applicant. “Some things you got to try, and if it don’t work, we will shut you down.”

The motion to approve the permit failed. Davis gently broke the news through the translator: “Mr. Fahjad, the motion failed, so they will not be opening your sweepstakes. We’re sorry.”

Museum Lease Approved

The council voted unanimously to approve a lease with the Washington County Historical Society for the Port of Plymouth Museum at 302 East Water Street, after curator Scott Liverman updated members on plans to transform the institution well beyond its Civil War focus.

Liverman announced that a $10,000 donation from a Colorado visitor would help stabilize the museum’s rare 1840s American flag — which hung over the town until the Civil War — bringing the preservation fund to roughly $13,000.

“We want to become well known to the community, extremely relevant to the community,” Liverman said, describing plans for at least two rotating exhibits per year covering Plymouth and Washington County history across all demographics.

The council also asked Liverman to return in six months with a progress update.

Property Swap Sparks Recusal Demand

Tension had been building well before the food pantry fight, during a debate over a proposed exchange of town-owned property at 108 West Water Street for a privately held waterfront parcel at 101 West Water Street — a strip the town has long coveted to extend a nearby park.

Councilman John Shelton raised financial objections, noting the town spent $35,000 demolishing a structure on the 101 West Water Street parcel in 2022 and had never recovered that money through a lien on the property.

“My math is the building appraises at seventy thousand, just for round numbers, and our tax rate at fifty-four, fifty-five cents on a hundred,” Shelton said. “You are talking roughly three hundred and sixty bucks a year in taxes. So it’s going to take a hundred years to make that thirty-five thousand dollars back.”

Mayor Davis countered that the swap would deliver two benefits no other option could — property tax revenue on a renovated building and ownership of the waterfront strip. “It’s like a two for one,” she said repeatedly.

Then the debate lurched into pointed territory. Davis invoked a conflict-of-interest challenge, citing a Facebook post she attributed to Shelton referencing another property investor and the same address.

“Per your Facebook page, you would like this building — you said, ‘I don’t want to sell this building to Wayne Pittman,’” Davis said. “So how do I know that you’re not working with Preservation North Carolina, and you want to get this building with them and give it to him?”

Shelton pushed back firmly. “I did not say that I wanted to give it to Pittman,” he said. “Read it directly.”

Davis pressed: “I said anyway. What do you mean? Under Robert’s Rule of Order, I call the question.”

Town Attorney Arnita Dula found no legal basis for the challenge. “I don’t see a conflict,” Dula said. “You have to show some direct financial interest in the matter.”

The council ultimately voted to authorize public notice of its intent to consider the property exchange at the July 13 regular meeting.

Food Pantry Fight Triggers Recess

The night’s most combustible exchange came during a debate over a lease the town had signed with a church group to operate a food pantry at a building on Washington Street — a building that turned out to be uninhabitable.

Councilman Rhodes framed the issue in stark legal terms. “We, as council, are now in breach of a contract,” he said. “We need to find somewhere for the food bank. If you cannot put it in 118, then we need to find some place for the food pantry to go so that we will not be sued for breach of contract.”

Mayor Davis acknowledged the problem. “We gave a lease out to someone, and we told them in their lease that this building was operable. We’ve already established that it was not.”

Attorney Dula confirmed the council’s exposure. “You did enter into that agreement,” Dula said, advising council to either terminate the lease or find a new location for the food pantry operation.

Davis floated purchasing a shed and having public works install it on a cleared lot as a stopgap. Councilwoman Micah Weathersbee pushed back hard.

“You can’t just have your in-house stuff do things like that,” Weathersby said. “You’re looking at twenty-five, thirty thousand dollars” once electricity and plumbing are factored in.

“It’s public works,” Davis replied. “That’s what they do. It’s our property.”

The exchange grew personal. Voices rose, accusations flew about who was and wasn’t listening, and both women talked over each other until Councilman Williams intervened.

“Can we take five minutes?” Williams said, and the motion for a recess carried unanimously.

After the break, the council voted unanimously to table the food pantry discussion and return to it at a future meeting.

Other Business

In other action, council approved a $4,500 contribution to Washington County Pride for its Juneteenth celebration on June 20 — trimmed from an initial $7,000 request after Finance Director Dorenda Wallace confirmed that figure would exceed available promotional funds. Basically, Shelton found money in another town account to pay for this celebration.

Members also voted unanimously to authorize a planning and zoning services contract with the Mid-East Commission, to leave the bunting flags donated by the National Black Bear Festival in place along downtown streets, and to direct code enforcement to investigate an unpermitted house placed on a commercial lot at the corner of Washington Street and Main Street.

The council will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2026–2027 fiscal year budget on Monday, June 22, at 7 p.m. Council will also consider applicants for the Ward Two vacancy left by Wobbleton’s death; the application deadline is June 19.

The meeting concluded with the council going into closed session to discuss a personnel matter.