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GREENSBORO - Two City Council members are at odds over whether one behaved improperly in representing a property owner whose land could receive incentives from the city government.

Councilman Mike Barber is asking whether his colleague, Robbie Perkins, either used or appeared to use his elected office to seek financial incentives for property that Perkins, a real-estate broker, is representing.

"It appears a council member factored incentives into a land deal, went directly to staff which creates the appearance of inappropriate influence, lobbied other council members and made no disclosure until we get the presentation and set a public hearing," Barber said in a memo to City Manager Mitchell Johnson.

Perkins said he did no such thing. He followed proper procedures, including abstaining from any discussion or consideration of the matter, he said.

"I had a direct, financial conflict of interest and I abstained," Perkins said. "I stayed out of the meeting."

Johnson said Perkins followed the council's standard procedure in line with state conflict-of-interest law.

At issue is the old Pilot Life headquarters on High Point Road and a $100 million retirement community under consideration for the site.

Perkins represents the owner of the land, Lincoln Financial Group, which hopes to sell it to the retirement-community builder.

If the sale goes through, Perkins would earn a commission from Lincoln.

Perkins said he introduced the potential buyer to Jim Westmoreland, assistant city manager for economic development, to help the company figure out how to get sewer services to the property that's in a difficult location.

Later, Westmoreland suggested the possibility of incentives from city government to offset the sewer lines' high cost, realizing the project's significant financial impact makes it eligible, Perkins said.

Perkins said he did not lobby Westmoreland or any council members.

He did call Councilwoman Trudy Wade to tell her about the project because it is in her district, Perkins said.

Perkins declined to say who the would-be developer is, but said it's "a major national company."

The council learned about the retirement community, the proposed incentives and Perkins' abstention in a closed session June 17.

It took no action on the project, which presumably will be considered in public next month.

Perkins said he is offended Barber took the issue to the city manager without asking him about it first.

Barber said he did not mean his letter as an attack on Perkins, but simply to make sure the council conducts its business in an aboveboard way.

"The letter was not about Robbie," he said. "It was about a remedy and about us being above the feeling of impropriety."

He said council members should disclose a conflict-of-interest not just before the council considers the matter, but if and when they first take it to city staff.

City Manager Johnson said that Perkins did not pressure city staff to do or change anything for the project.

"The thing that would make the difference to me as a matter of public policy would be if the council member was pushing staff to do something they felt was weird or improper," Johnson said.

He said the council has the power to change its policy if it feels the need.
Mayor Yvonne Johnson said this was not the first time a council member has been involved with an incentives request.

"Sometimes, people will bring good things to council, and they may have some interest," she said. "If they excuse themselves and do something properly, that is all we can do. I don't think Mr. Perkins is someone who would do something illegally or underhandedly."

Contact Taft Wireback at 373-7100 or taft.wireback@news-record.com

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert
@news-record.com