New Bern's Ward 2 can make its voice heard during Feb. 6 town hall
West New Bern residents will have a chance to speak out about the issues that affect their communities during a town hall meeting with city officials next month.
Ward 2 New Bern Alderwoman Hazel Royal will hold the third in her ongoing series of town hall meetings on Feb. 6 at the West New Bern Recreation Center, 12225 Pinetree Dr.,New Bern, beginning at 6 p.m.
The meeting is open to Ward 2 residents of west New Bern neighborhoods including Monterey Circle, Woodland Avenue, Egret Circle, Pinetree Drive, Longview Drive, Thomas Avenue, Lori Drive, Hightree Lane and connecting communities.
In addition to Royal, town officials including Mayor Jeffrey Odham, City Manager Foster Hughes, Director of Public Works George Chiles, Stormwater Superintendent Avery Smith, and Police Chief Patrick Gallagher will be on hand.
According to Royal, her goal is to “bring city hall to the people” by providing an opportunity for citizens to voice their concerns with members of New Bern’s governing body and city staff.
Royal said she feels community engagement is among her most important responsibilities.
“When I was on the campaign trail engaging residents one of the first things that they said was that once a candidate is elected you never see them again. And I said to every person, ‘That is not me,’” Royal commented. “I took the names of residents and their issues and the concerns they had and made a commitment I would be back. This is me keeping true to my word.”
The Feb. 6 event will be Royal’s third town hall event since being seated as New Bern’s Ward 2 alderwoman last August. Royal defeated local businesswoman Jennell Reddick in a runoff after both women finished ahead of incumbent Jameesha Harris in the May 2021 election.
Royal held her first town hall meeting in the Pembroke community and second in the Southgate/Trent Blvd. corridor. She said she is attempting to reach as many of the more than 5,000 residents of Ward 2 as she can.
“I believe every voice has value,” Royal said. “What are your concerns? What are your issues? How can we make communities better?”
Royal said the common thread among the issues she has heard during the town hall meetings is the problem of drainage.
“It’s flooding in the yard, it’s overgrowth of the ditches. There have also been issues with beavers,” she said. “I didn’t know the magnitude and the damage that can be done when water is blocked because dams are being built.”
Royal said she has been pleasantly surprised at the city’s response to those complaints. She said American Rescue Plan and Community Development Block Grant funding is being used to help pay for the drainage-related improvement, such as the stormwater pipe upgrades underway at Union Point Park.
“I am very pleased that the city has been responding to those needs, and that is noteworthy,” she said. “Whether it’s ditches that need to be cleaned, sidewalks needing to be installed or tree limbs needing to be cut, residents are calling and the city is showing up. That’s unusual.”
Royal said there is no single solution to the issues of affordable housing, infrastructure and other needs within New Bern. In addition to drainage, she said the Feb. 6 meeting will cover issues such as safety and stormwater problems.
“There is not a cookie cutter plan for every community, each one has different needs,” she commented. “Let’s listen to the voices of the residents so they can articulate what they feel is most important.”
Royal is executive director of the nonprofit organization Abundant Life Community Services. She also serves as administrative pastor of Abundant Life Ministries alongside her husband, Pastor George E. Royal. Having been “boots on the ground” in local communities for 40 years, she said she has worked with the city government to affect positive change.
“The citizens are taxpayers. They deserve to have not only resources and services but they have a right to be heard,” she said.
New Bern’s Ward 2 extends from Longview Dr. off of Neuse Blvd. south to Foxhorn Rd., and from McCarthy Blvd. east to Queen St. Royal said she hopes to schedule her next town hall meeting for March in either the Deaver Circle or Craven Terrace community.
Once she makes the rounds in Ward 2 Royal said she would like to host a city-wide meeting.
“It’s a large space to cover,” she admitted. “But this is a wonderful opportunity to hear the voice of the people and for them to know city government values the residents.”
For more information about the town hall meeting, contact Hazel Royal at 252-639-0451 or royalh@newbernnc.gov.
Reporter Todd Wetherington can be reached by email at wwetherington@newbernsj.com.
This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: New Bern's Ward 2 can make its voice heard during Feb. 6 town hall
