At large Greensboro City Councilmember Michelle Kennedy resigned by email at the Tuesday, August 17 virtual City Council meeting.
After taking role for the virtual meeting Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan said, “I have a letter from Michelle she is not on the Zoom call tonight but she did send me an email to share with City Council.
“Dear Mayor Vaughan and my fellow citizens,
“It has been my great honor to represent the people of Greensboro as an at large member of the Greensboro City Council.
“I have worked hard over these last few years to live up to the expectations that voters had when they elected me that is why it is bitter sweet that I submit my resignation from Council effective today August 17, 2021.
“I am sorry to be leaving before the end of my term. However I am excited to continue the work of building a better community for all Greensboro residents.
“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve.”
After reading the letter of resignation, Vaughan said, “We must accept Ms. Kennedy’s resignation.”
Councilmember Yvonne Johnson made the motion to accept the resignation and it passed on an 8-0 vote.
There was no discussion about why Kennedy resigned by email before the meeting and also no comments by councilmembers about how much they had enjoyed working with her or how much she would be missed.
After the vote Vaughan said, “We will talk about how that position will be filled at a later date.” And that was the extent of the discussion about Kennedy who was elected to the City Council in 2017.
The City Council will have to vote to appoint someone to fill Kennedy’s position for the remainder of her term that ends after the 2022 general election which will either be April 26, 2022 or May 17, 2022. The date of the general election won’t be known until after the March 8, 2022 City Council primary.
Several knowledgeable sources confirmed before the City Council meeting that Kennedy would be resigning in order to accept the position as the Director of the Neighborhood Development Department. If Kennedy accepts that position she will go from being, as a member of the City Council, Interim City Manager Chris Wilson’s boss to being Wilson’s employee.
Kennedy did give a hint in her resignation letter about her future when she stated, “However, I’m excited to continue the work of building a better community for all Greensboro residents.”
Will the new position benefit form the step plan the city council just voted on? Was the application already submitted at the time of the vote?
It feels like she may be maneuvering to be able to abuse the system in light of the state’s discussion of updating the not-for-profit conflict of interest law.
1 down 7 to go hurry and get the next election started
One down! Lets get some more new blood!
Resigned by email? A coward to the end! At least face the board and any speakers that might have comments.
Once a snowflake always a snowflake this one is just a little lite in the loafers
This resignation and the hiring as the Director of the Neighborhood Development Department does not pass the smell test.
Lets see here. The employer of the City Manager applies to the City Manager for a position with the City. The City Manager hires her and roles are reversed. He is suddenly the employer and she is the employee. Seems like an extreme conflict of interest when the employer applies to her employee for a job. What are the ramifications if the Manager decided to not hire her? Would he dare turn her down? Was there some collusion there? Some influencing of the system. Was the position posted on the City Job Site? I couldn’t find it. Sounds like there is something rotten in Denmark.
Disrespectful to those she is supposed to have served. Car seat included with this new position?
Now if a few more would follow her example.Agree that resigning by e-mail or letter tells you all you need to know about her.She will not be missed.