DKR elects Stephen Hill chair, adopts transition plan after city eliminates director position

Downtown Kinston Revitalization’s board elected Stephen Hill chair and adopted a working transition plan Oct. 7 as the nonprofit prepares to hire its own director following Kinston’s decision to eliminate the city-employed position.

Hill said the special meeting was held in response to the City Council’s action. Every board member and every ex officio member attended the meeting.

The board approved an executive director transition plan as a working draft to guide an interim director search and negotiations with the city. It also accepted a budget, with the understanding that it could change.

Hill was elected chair for the transition period. Votes on other officers and additional board members were deferred until the next meeting.

The meeting followed the council’s decision to dissolve the DKR director position from city government. That vote came after public discussion and a closed session and did not commit the city to funding a future director employed by DKR.

City Manager Jon Mendenhall told the board the city’s Main Street director position had been defunded and abolished. Any new director would work for the DKR board.

“Any new director will work for the DKR board, not the city,” Hill said.

Mendenhall encouraged the board to develop options and bring them back to the council for a collaborative, grassroots approach. The transition plan outlines approximately six months of work, including appointing an interim executive director while searching for a permanent, full-time replacement. The working draft targets a permanent director’s start around April 2027.

The board plans to advertise nationally for a part-time interim director to stabilize operations and help DKR regain full Main Street North Carolina and Main Street America status, according to the meeting summary.

Funding a permanent position remains unresolved.

Hill said DKR has enough money budgeted for the interim position, but the nonprofit cannot afford the permanent position on its own. Discussions with the city will continue during the transition.

“There’s an ongoing negotiation,” Hill said.

The meeting summary lists approximately $421,748 in cash on hand. It also identifies annual city revenue of roughly $92,000 in municipal service district funds and $43,000 in operating support.

The working draft calls for the board to lead recruitment, screen candidates and select a finalist, with a final approval step by the city manager. The board adopted the document as a guide for continued negotiations.

Hill said the board also discussed increasing representation from downtown property and business owners. It will seek nominations for additional members, potentially adding two people.

Elections for vice chair, secretary and treasurer are expected at the next meeting, which Hill said would take place in two weeks.

Holiday events also remain a priority. Hill said the board appointed a Christmas parade committee, with Bill Ellis handling logistics and Cathy Reese helping carry them out. The Christmas parade is scheduled for Dec. 5, and the tree lighting is scheduled for Nov. 20. Hill said the turnout and engagement at the special meeting left him optimistic about DKR’s direction.

“I left that meeting feeling really energized,” Hill said. “Every board member came. Every ex officio member came.”