On September 16, 2025, I stood before the Board of Supervisors to address a growing list of concerns about how information is shared and how our public buildings are maintained. As a resident of the North River District, I believe that if we can’t get the small details right, like posting meeting minutes, it’s hard to trust the big decisions.
The “Invisible” Agenda
The meeting started with a confusing display of additions to the consent agenda. While the supervisors discussed items up to item 19, the physical agendas available to the public in the audience didn’t go past item 16. This disconnect makes it nearly impossible for citizens to follow along in real time.
Furthermore, the Finance Audit Committee continues to be a “black hole” for information:
- Missing Minutes: As of this morning, no minutes have been posted for this committee since April.
- Lack of Video: While the town records and posts their committee meetings, our county relies on audio recordings that aren’t easily accessible. I’ve requested that these meetings be hosted on Swagit so residents can watch from home.
- Agenda Gaps: Updated agendas from these meetings are rarely made available to the public.
I did, however, speak in support of Dr. Jamieson’s appointment to the committee, noting that he has been proactive in putting citizen concerns on the agenda.
Infrastructure in Disrepair: The Senior Center
My advocacy isn’t just about spreadsheets; it’s about people. As a volunteer at the Senior Center, I’ve seen firsthand the frustration caused by ongoing maintenance issues.
- The Flooring: For months, the seniors have had to deal with a floor that was improperly installed. It’s disheartening for them to walk into a building they rely on and see it in such a state.
- The Government Center: Even as I spoke, the ceiling in the Board’s own meeting room continues to show signs of neglect.
A Delayed Response
Because the meetings often run late into the night, I had to leave during the public hearings for conditional use permits. I later learned that Supervisor Cheryl Cullers addressed my concerns in her board report, noting that a building committee meeting had been held and that the flooring contractor is expected to “make it right.”
While I appreciate the update, these issues have lingered for months. Transparency shouldn’t be something we only hear about after a citizen complains—it should be the default setting of our government.
Watch the Testimony
- 0:43 – Addressing the disconnect between the Board’s agenda and the audience’s copies.
- 1:26 – Highlighting the four-month gap in Finance Audit Committee minutes.
- 2:03 – Advocating for the Senior Center flooring and the Government Center ceiling.
- 2:38 – Supervisor Cullers’ response regarding the building committee’s progress.
Transcript (auto-generated)
Chapter 1: Agenda changes
0:00additions. One being uh item N1, Contract for Services, Brute LLC.
0:13
13 secondsAnd M17, appointment of board supervisor representative to the RSW jail board.
0:24
24 secondsOkay.
0:24
24 secondsM8, Highway Safety Grant Law Enforcement, uh, for year 2026, traffic services.
0:35
35 secondsM19, Highway Safety Grant Law Enforcement, uh, for year 2026, alcohol.
Chapter 2: Lewis Moten, disconnect audience agendas.
0:43
43 secondsHello, Lewis Motton, North River. Um, first off, there are two agendas floating out in the audience, and
0:50
50 secondsneither of them go past 16. Um, so it’s quite interesting what you guys are talking about up there. Um,
0:59
59 secondsso, um, I appreciate you, uh, the, uh, doc, Dr. Jameson coming to
1:07
1 minute, 7 secondsthis, uh, finance audit committee meeting and actually putting something on the agenda that I’ve been concerned
1:14
1 minute, 14 secondsabout for quite a while. Um, I thought Mr. understand me would be there with his economics degree, but I think you’re you’re pretty good on on that board as
1:23
1 minute, 23 secondswell. Um, we’re still missing minutes for May and June,
Chapter 3: Finance Audit Committee minutes.
1:30
1 minute, 30 secondsand we don’t have the updated agenda that was uh changed during that meeting available to us.
1:38
1 minute, 38 secondsUm, I don’t know if the audio recordings are available.
1:43
1 minute, 43 secondsI I saw like a recording device on the table every time I go. I would prefer to see that on Snag It and just watch the
1:50
1 minute, 50 secondsvideos and not have to come in. Um it’s like the town can do it with all their committee. I don’t know why we can’t do
1:56
1 minute, 56 secondsthe same. Um in addition to that, um I I did see the ceiling still falling
Chapter 4: Senior Center flooring
2:05
2 minutes, 5 secondsapart, but there’s also the senior center flooring. Uh I volunteer many different places and the senior center
2:13
2 minutes, 13 secondsthey were very disheartened coming in there when uh they couldn’t come into their building at first and now their
2:21
2 minutes, 21 secondsflooring has had an issue for months now and my understanding is you own the building. There’s some kind of
2:29
2 minutes, 29 secondsissue with who’s responsible. I don’t know the details. All I know is our seniors don’t like it. So, thank you very much.
Chapter 5: Supervisor Cullers’ response
2:38
2 minutes, 38 secondsUh, later that day, we had a building committee meeting and to address um I think you left uh Louise question on the
2:47
2 minutes, 47 secondssenior center floor. Um, we are working on that. It seems like the floor wasn’t
2:55
2 minutes, 55 secondsput down correctly and um the company is going to make that right. It’s in the works to have them come in, take it up,
3:04
3 minutes, 4 secondsthen redo it and do it right the second
