Robbinsville – Tempers quickly flared during the Robbinsville Board of Aldermen meeting on Oct. 2, forcing the meeting to be recessed until Wednesday.
Midway through the meeting, Alderman Shaun Adams requested some missing credit card statements for three different town credit cards from January through July 2016.
When fellow Alderman Brian Johnson pointed out that the completed audit only went back to July 2016, Adams said, "They never gave us a set time. That's just what they did; they just scratched the surface, actually. You shouldn't be trying to hinder the investigation."
Johnson asked, "How am I trying to hinder the investigation, Shaun?"
"You're trying to stop me from getting the statements," Adams said.
"I'm not stopping you from getting nothing. I'm just saying we need to concentrate on the (time frame of) the audit," Johnson responded. "I've actually offered to help."
"I don't need your help," Adams shot back. "You're one of the people being investigated."
At this point, Johnson made a motion to recess the meeting until the following week, which took place after The Graham Star's press deadline.
During the abbreviated Oct. 2 meeting, the town council did address the following items:
* Maintenance worker Chadd Carpenter discussed some ongoing water and sewer improvements. The Snider Circle culvert repair was awarded to Michael Phillips, who outbid Darren Stewart $875 to $1,300.
"It's definitely a pressing matter," Carpenter said. "A quarter of the road is sunk about a foot."
* Additionally, Carpenter informed the board that the Collins Trailer Park drainage repair just needs two joints and reconstruction of the sidewalk to complete.
* Adams volunteered to take courses that would certify being a backup sewer worker, which would save around $58,000 in salary, since he would then work on a volunteer basis. The classes Adams will need to complete occur in March and the motion passed 2-1, with Johnson voting against it.
* New GREAT (Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team) Director Michelle Shiplet told the board that Sybil H. Argintar of Southeastern Reservation Service is willing to lead the historic downtown redistricting at a reduced rate of $5,000.
The town would pay for Argintar's work in three installments. The council voted unanimously to accept the contract.