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The City Council is the governing body of the City of Salisbury. The Council is comprised of five members who are elected on a non-partisan basis for two-year terms. Each Council member serves at-large and represents the entire City.

The City Council meets every first and third Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. Council meetings are open to the public.

To speak during public comment:

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Anyone who wishes to speak virtually via Zoom during public comment must sign up by 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting. To sign up, contact City Clerk Connie Snyder at Connie.Snyder@salisburync.gov or (704) 638-5234. Those who wish to speak in-person can sign up in Council Chambers. All speakers will have three minutes. The same guidelines apply for those who wish to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Written comments received by 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting will be shared with City Council but not read out loud during the meeting. Additional information on audio access will be shared closer to the meeting date.

Though the meeting will be held in a hybrid format, to remain consistent with limiting physical interactions and the potential spread of COVID-19, the public is invited to attend the meeting virtually.

Watch the meeting via:

To view the full City Council agenda, visit salisburync.gov/agendas.

City Council meetings are recorded and archived using an online video hosting service called Vimeo. Recorded meetings are broadcast on WSRG-TV starting the following Thursday and are posted online to Vimeo as soon as possible.

Visit Video Archive

Upcoming Meetings

Contact Us

City Manager's Office:
132 North Main Street
Salisbury, NC 28144

City Clerk's Office:
217 South Main Street
Salisbury, NC 28144

adminteam@salisburync.gov
(704) 638-5224

Portrait of Mayor Karen Alexander in front of city seal

MAYOR

Karen K. Alexander

Karen.Alexander@salisburync.gov

PO Box 479 Salisbury, NC 28145-0479​

Portrait of Mayor Pro Tem Tamara Sheffield in front of city seal

MAYOR PRO TEM

Tamara Sheffield

Tamara.Sheffield@salisburync.gov

PO Box 479 Salisbury, NC 28145-0479

Portrait of Council member David Post in front of city seal

COUNCIL MEMBER

David Post

David.Post@salisburync.gov

P.O. Box 1666 Salisbury, NC 28145

Portrait of Council Member Anthony Smith

COUNCIL MEMBER

Anthony Smith

Anthony.Smith@salisburync.gov

PO Box 479 Salisbury, NC 28145-0479

Portrait of Council Member Harry McLaughlin

COUNCIL MEMBER

Harry McLaughlin

Harry.McLaughlin@salisburync.gov

PO Box 479 Salisbury, NC 28145-0479

MISSION STATEMENT

To enhance Salisbury’s status as a great HISTORIC CITY that provides a safe, livable environment for present and future generations.

City Council's 2021-22 priorities are:

  • Public Safety: City that exceeds service standards to create a safe and secure community.
  • Infrastructure and Human Capital: A City that maintains infrastructure to reduce waste and promote efficiency and that cares for its employees in order to be an organization of choice.
  • Economic Prosperity and Mobility: A City that leverages assets for economic developments to support a vibrant downtown, livable neighborhoods and a healthy, active community.
  • Community Partnerships: A City that builds partnerships and value fiscal responsibility and creative solutions.

VISION STATEMENT

  • To complete all strategic plans successfully and effectively
  • To remain a livable community – with its own identity and sustainable growth
  • To be a model of neighborhood revitalization – using a holistic approach with quality facilities and services
  • To be a City and an organization which is free of discrimination and is inclusive
  • To be a place where children choose to return to live when they become adults – a place with a future, where things are done right
  • To be a City that promotes a positive business climate and economic opportunities for its citizens

CORE VALUES

  • Culture of excellent customer service
  • Quality services for all citizens
  • Honesty and Integrity
  • To be a City and an organization which is free of discrimination and is inclusive
  • Inclusion and Diversity (in all municipal activities)
  • Fairness and Equality
  • Commitment to a team of creative problem solvers

City Council FAQs

Council-Manager Form of Government

What is a Council-Manager form of government?

The City of Salisbury has had a council-manager form of government since 1927.

The Mayor and City Council are the "board of directors" for the City of Salisbury. City Council sets policy, approves the financing of City operations and enacts ordinances, resolutions and orders. Their responsibilities also include appointing the city manager, city attorney, city clerk and members of various boards and commissions.

The City Manager, functioning as the chief operating officer, administers the policy and decisions made by city council and oversees the day-to-day operations of City government. It is the City Manager's responsibility to ensure that all City services are delivered in an efficient and cost-effective manner and to provide vision and leadership to the City organization.

​Duties and Responsibilities

What is the Mayor's role in governing the city?

The Mayor presides at all City Council meetings and officially represents the City at special ceremonies and events. It is the mayor's role to represent the City in an official capacity at the state capital in Raleigh, in Washington and internationally.


What does the Mayor Pro Tem do?

The Mayor Pro Tem is elected by a vote of the City Council members. He or she assumes all duties, powers and obligations of the Office of Mayor in the Mayor's absence.

What are the duties of the Mayor and Council?

Together, the Mayor and City Council members are responsible for establishing the general policies under which the City operates.

These include:
  • appointing the city manager, city attorney and members of various boards and commissions enacting ordinances, resolutions and orders;
  • reviewing the annual budget, setting the tax rate and approving the financing of all City operations; and
  • authorizing contracts on behalf of the City.

What does the City Manager do?

The City Manager is the chief administrative officer of the City. The City Manager directly supervises key members of the management team. 

​Elections and Voting

How often are council members elected?

Council members are elected every two years in November. Elections take place in odd-numbered years.

How many council members are there?

The Mayor and four at-large council members are elected by a citywide vote.

Where can I get more information about local elections?

Visit the Rowan County Board of Elections website for official information about who's running for office, filing deadlines, voter ID requirements, absentee ballots and more.

​Meetings

When does the City Council meet?

The City Council of Salisbury meets at City Hall (217 South Main Street) every first and third Tuesday of the month. The date of the next upcoming meeting is listed further upon this page.

Can I speak at a City Council meeting?

Citizens have the opportunity to address the mayor and council regarding agenda and non-agenda items, as well as during public hearings. Every City Council meeting opens to public comment at 6:00 p.m. or as close to that time as the agenda allows.

Learn more about how to sign up to speak, the rules of procedure, meeting dates and how to make special accommodations here. It is important to review this information carefully before signing up to speak at a council meeting.

​General Information

How do I contact my Council representative?

Further up on this page is listed all the city council members' contact information. Please note that all correspondence to and from elected officials is considered public information.
Graham Corriher

CITY ATTORNEY

Graham Corriher

The City Attorney serves as a full-time attorney to manage legal matters in the city.

Corriher, a Rowan County native, is an honors graduate of N.C. State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. At UNC, he was a Chancellors’ Scholar, a member of the Broun National Trial Team, and articles and notes editor for the law school’s First Amendment Law Review. Prior to attending UNC, he was a social studies teacher at North Rowan High School.

He began his law career with Tharrington Smith, LLP, in Raleigh. In 2014, he moved back to Salisbury, joining Koontz, Smith, & Corriher, as a staff attorney. Corriher has been a partner with The Woodson Firm since 2015. He has previously performed contract work on the city’s behalf.

(704) 638-5309 | Graham.Corriher@salisburync.gov

Minority woman in business suit, with blurred images of other people and minorities in business wear standing in background

Minorities and Women in Business

Discover what options Salisbury provides to assist minority- and women-owned business enterprises in providing goods and services to the city

Learn More

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