August 16, 2006

Published in Wake Forest, NC

            The vote was 5 to 0, but Commissioner Margaret Stinnett, who had emotionally explained the conflict between her loyalty and her convictions, did not answer either yes or no.

            The town will begin writing checks early in 2008 after the commissioners see that other groups – Wake Forest University and/or the alumni – have pledged at least a million dollars. The amount the town will give the Birthplace will be based on the amount the group has raised in that previous year on a two-to-one ratio. If the Birthplace has raised $220,000, the town’s check will be for the full $110,000.

            Susan Brinkley, chairman of the board for the Birthplace, was euphoric Wednesday, praising the commissioners and looking forward to the construction. “I felt there was a real leap of faith for the future. I left feeling high. It feels so good to me to hear the town say we want to count too. That board squared their shoulders and said this story needs to be told and we’re going to help equip” the museum to do that.

            “I feel pretty good about it,” Ed Morris, the executive director of the Birthplace, said. “It’s stretched out a little longer than we’d hoped for. It’s going to make private fund-raising a lot easier.”

            Morris said the group does not know exactly how the university plans to make their contribution. Some of the Birthplace directors will meet soon with university officials “to work out the details of how much over what period of time.”

            The society wants to raise $3 million for construction of the museum annex at the North Main Street site and its endowment. The building, now planned for 7,000 square feet, will cost about $2 million.

            Stinnett and Mayor Vivian Jones voiced objections to funding the project.

            “There is nothing dearer to my heart than Wake Forest College and the town of Wake Forest,” Stinnett said, “but I’ve been sitting on the fence on this one. I truly think that it’s a wonderful project. They’ve worked hard, and if I had half a million dollars I’d write them a check.”

            However, she went on, “We have a commitment to the twenty thousand other people in this town to spend their money on a project that will benefit the majority of the citizens and I can’t with all conviction say this is a project that is going to benefit the majority of the citizens of Wake Forest.

            “I think we’re spending taxpayers’ money, and we have to really consider if this is the best use of half a million dollars,” Stinnett said.

            Jones said she had always been a supporter of the Birthplace and her concern is whether the group can raise all the money. “If they don’t raise the money they need to build this and run this, this board [town board] is going to be hit up again and again for the money to run this museum. I think we’re making a real big mistake to make this commitment for this amount of money.” Jones said she had received a number of e-mails “from people who are very concerned about spending this amount of money.”

            Both Jones and Commissioner Velma Boyd-Lawson said they wanted to see Finance Director Aileen Staples’ five-year financial forecast before making a decision.

            Staples gave the board the projection Tuesday night. It shows that, based on a conservative estimate of receiving $9.2 million in property tax plus other revenues for a total of nearly $20 million this fiscal year, the town will have no money left after paying budgeted expenses. However, Staples does project a transfer of $350,000 to capital reserves (savings). And she does foresee a surplus of $101,304 next year and $311,092 in the 2008-09 fiscal year when the county revalues all property and the town tax rate may drop back to 50 cents.

            A discussion about the Birthplace was not on the agenda, but it was added after Brinkley, Morris and a number of other board members arrived before the meeting began, saying they were told last month it would be discussed Tuesday.

            Commissioner Stephen Barrington began the discussion by moving to commit the money, and Commissioner Frank Drake added the further conditions that were approved.

            Drake said he understood the mayor’s concern and the conditions were an effort to address them. He referred to the $150,000 the town will spend for the land use plan update consultant. “There are boondoggles in every town budget.”

            Drake’s final argument was that the museum will be “just another form of education. It’s as educational at least as valuable as two miles of paved greenway.” He was referring to the $200,494 contract with Nu-Tech Paving for half a mile of the Olde Mill Stream Greenway.

            “All the taxpayers need to be protected,” Commissioner David Camacho said, adding that the current board cannot bind future boards. “I think that it would be not only an asset to the town but it would be building on our historic past.” Some people in town are urging an emphasis on heritage tourism. “I think it fits in very nicely with that.”

            Barrington said the museum would be an excellent opportunity to really tell the story of Wake Forest as well as the current town and the small-town charm people cite as a reason for moving here.

            He agreed with Boyd-Lawson that the museum should tell the story of the entire town, including the African-American community, the Harricane and the mill village.

            Since she spoke out during the retreat about the need for the African-American experience to be represented in the museum, Boyd-Lawson said, she had a chance to speak to the Birthplace board members and has received a lot of interest from individuals. “

            Brinkley said Wednesday she has met with George Jones Sr., the interim director of the DuBois Center, and has the names of people who are willing to donate artifacts, photographs and memories about the African-American community.