Wilmington City Council convenes Tuesday to vote on overriding Mayor Dennis Williams’ veto of its plan to cut more than 511,000 dollars allocated to fill eight currently vacant positions with the city’s fire department.
City Council President Theo Gregory called the special meeting of council last week, suggesting he had the support needed to override.
The original vote on the budget amendment making the cuts earlier this month was 8-5. Nine votes are needed to override.
Councilwoman Sherry Dorsey Walker was one of the five “no” votes. She’s on the record saying she will not change her vote.
"Well, I can only speak for myself. Public safety for me is key," said Dorsey Walker. "When you have a city the size of Wilmington and some of the issues we’ve experienced, we need to look to other departments to trim the fat, if you will. And public safety is not an area where that needs to happen.”
Three other council members, Robert Williams, Samuel Prado and Justen Wright have also said they will not support an override. Councilman Ernest “Trippi” Congo, who cast the other “no” vote on the cuts, has not indicated what he will do,
Tonight’s City Council meeting begins at 6pm at the City/County building in Wilmington.