With conflict gone, Vaughan to re-enter landfill deliberations : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

GREENSBORO — Add another voice — and vote — to the brouhaha over reopening the White Street Landfill.

City Councilwoman Nancy Vaughan, who previously abstained from voting because of a conflict of interest, plans to be a part of the ensuing discussions, now that the company with which she has ties is no longer in the running.

Vaughan, the mayor pro-tem, sought an opinion from the city’s acting attorney after the council last week awarded a contract to Gate City Waste Services to reopen the landfill to household waste.

Thomas Pollard, the acting city attorney, could not be reached for comment this morning. But in a written response to Vaughan dated Aug. 22, Pollard said he came to his conclusions based on a review of state law and prior council conduct: “In my opinion there is no basis to excuse you from voting on the contract award to Gate City,” he wrote.

Vaughan would not say how she would vote on future landfill matters, but she has the potential to tie up any future actions. The prior vote, which did not include Vaughan or council member Zack Matheny, was 4-3 for Gate City Waste Services.

She did express concern about the board’s rush to a vote on the landfill.

“I think the process has been deeply flawed,” Vaughan said. “The surrounding neighborhoods were never given a seat at the table.”

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin@news-record.com

buzzman

August 23, 2011 - 3:20 pm EDT

This is nothing more than political posturing! Vaughan should be ashamed of herself!

citywatcher

August 23, 2011 - 3:52 pm EDT

buzzman its over. If Nancy votes, the landfill will not re-open.

Bosco

August 23, 2011 - 4:23 pm EDT

They voted. Move on

August 23, 2011 - 4:45 pm EDT

yes they did. but they have to have a final vote in which Nancy can participate in. If she votes, its over for the tea party four on city council and their dirty scheme to open the landfill back up.

August 23, 2011 - 3:49 pm EDT

Looks like we might see some GOP dirty style politics from Mayor Bill Knight, Mary Rakestraw, Danny Thompson and Trudy Wade. Word is they may reverse their decision and bring the company back into discussion that led to the conflict of interest with Nancy. It would seem to be a dirty political ploy to prevent Nancy from voting and spoiling their plans to open White Street Landfill.

rmacz

August 23, 2011 - 6:08 pm EDT

All indications are that she would have voted to reopen the landfill, since she a potential profit to gain.

August 23, 2011 - 6:47 pm EDT

based on what she has been saying on other blogs, I don't get the vibe she wants to open up that landfill.

August 23, 2011 - 9:14 pm EDT

I'll have to agree with you on the present, but the fact is she declined to vote. If she had voted no, there would be no discrepancy. What this leads me to think, you do not approve of the landfill...ha!

GsoFan

August 23, 2011 - 10:11 pm EDT

Vaughan voted to close the landfill in 2001. The conservatives on council could have put this whole thing to rest by choosing the most responsive bidder, Advanced Disposal, and the whole Council could have voted. No conflict with Gate City or Waste Industries.

Ronnie1964

August 23, 2011 - 10:22 pm EDT

When Vaughn had a conflict she disclosed it and recused herself. Unlike others on council ie Zack Matheny who took part in the process before he finally admitted that there was a conflict. Robbie Perkins, who knows? Trudy Wade, she's up to her eyeballs. Now that council has decided on Gate City, there is no conflict for Vaughan -- except that she's made other council members mad. Sounds like sour grapes.

jeaniegnc

August 23, 2011 - 4:38 pm EDT

Nancy Vaughn is an at large councilmember and is supposed to represent ALL of Greensboro and she needs to remember that. Estimates are that the Greensboro taxpayers have already spent more than $25. million dollars to have our garbage hauled to another county because Nancy Vaughn and the other councilmembers made a very poor decision years ago. Voters please remember Nancy Vaughn and her vote in regard to using the landfill or hauling our garbage to another county since she is representing all of you and not just a small segment of approximately 150 people.

I still do not understand how Robbie Perkins does not have a conflict of interest in this matter and would question the legal advice that is being given.

August 23, 2011 - 4:44 pm EDT

represent "ALL"? How do you know what everyone in Greensboro thinks about the landfill? I don't see people coming to city hall clamoring about opening it back up.

rooster8786

August 23, 2011 - 6:20 pm EDT

citywatcher, FYI, the only ones coming to city hall are the same old same old with the same old tired arguments of: racism, stagnated economic development, and "health concerns" The only alternative these people offer is NIMBY.

August 23, 2011 - 6:49 pm EDT

exactly and everyone else could care less. Thats why you don't see people in favor of opening up the landfill coming to speak. at council meetings.

imblessed

August 23, 2011 - 7:38 pm EDT

No they don't come to the City Hall Meetings, they hide behind the computer screens. If there are so many that want the landfill open - WERE THEY AT?

August 23, 2011 - 7:56 pm EDT

They don't come, because they'll be shouted down for having FACTS to back up their positions. Rather than put up with the nonsense that is a city council meeting, they let their council member know their opinion on the subject, and expect the council member to vote according to the council members constituency. Sort of like it is EXACTLY working right now on the WSL, except for a few community activists with their falsehoods and fallacies.

August 23, 2011 - 10:26 pm EDT

I live in District 4. I don't support opening the landfill and many of my neighbors, and friends throughout the city feel the same way.

multigrain

August 23, 2011 - 7:25 pm EDT

They care, but they are afraid to come because of the unruly crowd in the chambers.

August 23, 2011 - 8:30 pm EDT

oh I get it...they are scared of black people. The most that happens in the chambers is applause. What do they have to be afraid of?

August 23, 2011 - 9:33 pm EDT

There is much more than applause going on in the chambers and if you have been to any of the meetings you would know what I am talking about. Are you scared of black people? Black people were not mentioned in my comment.

August 23, 2011 - 8:06 pm EDT

I am so thankful that I have enough heart and courage to stand and speak what I believe without fear of MAN! I will continue regardless of what anyone thinks, KKEP THE WHITE STREET LANDFILL CLOSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's not over yet, the Fat Lady has not sung.

August 23, 2011 - 9:48 pm EDT

folks...Mayor Knight is pissed about Nancy being able to vote now. I guess it becomes clearly obvious why we need a new mayor now. Can you believe his childish behavior? we expect more from our leaders.

http://yesweeklyblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/discussions-begin-about-region...

"Prompted by a recent development allowing Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Vaughan to have a vote in the city of Greensboro’s contentious solid waste process, Councilman Robbie Perkins sought in vain to get the city to open up talks with Randolph County to explore the possibility of sending the city’s solid waste to a planned regional landfill there.

Perkins said he asked Mayor Bill Knight to put the proposal on the agenda for a briefing meeting this afternoon at city hall, and the mayor refused, saying the timing was “premature.” So Perkins raised his proposal during the half-hour segment at the beginning of the meeting set aside for members of the public to address council.

But the topic came up at the end of the briefing anyway. After brief and unremarkable presentations from Downtown Greensboro Inc. and an executive search firm contracted to help the city council find a new city attorney, members held a candid and sometimes contentious discussion about solid waste options and Vaughan’s role in the process. Knight declared the briefing over, stated that people could speak whenever they felt like it and left before the discussion was through. "

August 23, 2011 - 10:05 pm EDT

Wake Up People! This is a council who has ramroded their agenda through while ignoring council members and residents who don't agree with them. With Vaughan involved they may be forced to engage in a meaningful discussion.

jocelynm

August 23, 2011 - 10:38 pm EDT

Staff has to negotiate the terms of the contract and then council has to approve it. All this has to happen in a very short window. If Nancy plays her cards right, she can straddle the fence and postpone the approval until after the elections to see which way the "wind" is blowing

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