By Jessica Coates
jessica.coates@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A new year, a new council.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the newly elected council will discuss potential changes to the traditional meeting structure, such as having interpreters for Spanish-speaking and deaf or hearing-impaired citizens.

Mayor Al Heggins requested that the items be put on the agenda, according to the released agenda.

Heggins had a Spanish-language translator at the Council’s swearing-in ceremony Dec. 5. The translator, Flora Calderon-Steck, translated consecutively at the ceremony, meaning that Heggins would speak and then Calderon-Steck would translate into Spanish.

But Heggins has said that, if translators were used at every meeting, they would translate simultaneously so that the translations would not make meetings longer.

According to the agenda, Heggins also requested that the Council consider its current Rules of Procedure for Council Meetings and consider implementing a moment of silence.

The council’s meeting procedure is established, in part, by state law. But state law says that, when it comes to parliamentary procedure, municipalities are generally allowed to adopt their own rules.

Other items on the Council’s agenda include:

• The council will honor the retirement of Finance Director Teresa Harris and Assistant City Manager John Sofley and will administer an oath of office to Shannon Moore.

Harris began working with the City of Salisbury in 1990 and has retired after 27 years of service.

Shannon Moore, who was previously the city’s budget and performance manager, will take Harris’ position as finance director. Moore has been with the city for eight years.

Sofley began working with the city in 1987 and has retired after 30 years of service.

• The Council will consider issuing a pool hall permit to allow the operation of a pool hall at 612 S. Main Street.

The request for the permit was submitted by April Anglin for The Shark Tank Bar and Billiards.

Before the council votes on whether to issue the permit, there will be a presentation from city staff and a public hearing.

• City Manager Lane Bailey will give updates on the Empire Hotel, the Julian Road and Henderson Grove Church Road projects and the Catawba College stormwater grant.

• The Council will consider making appointments to city boards and commissions.

The City Council meeting will take place at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the City Council chambers, located at 217 S. Main St.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.