ONLY ON 3: Wilmington City Attorney “too tired” to answer tough questions after council meeting

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — City Attorney Carolyn Johnson must have had a long day Tuesday.

Last night during a city council meeting, Mayor Bill Saffo moved to spend $700,000, which was originally approved by voters back in 2006 to be used as seed money to build a natatorium, on helping finish the cross-city trail.

We asked the mayor, because voters approved the bond money five years ago, if he thought it was OK to use it for something else. He said he does, even though the bond language never specifies it be used on a “trail.”

Councilman Charlie Rivenbark asked the mayor during the meeting if the trail was in the bond.

“Yes it is,” replied the mayor.

But when we took him the bond language and asked him to show it to us, he told us the only person that could answer that question was City Attorney Carolyn Johnson.

So, we went to Johnson to ask her, but she rudely responded that she was “too tired” to answer our question.

“Too tired” to explain to voters what the city is doing with their money. “Too tired” to tell taxpayers why it’s OK to switch to a project no one voted for.

Hopefully Johnson got some rest last night and will be able to address those questions today.