“If any vote has a direct substantial financial impact on a member, you will not be able to vote.” – Tom Carruthers
Newly elected Mayor Jeffrey Odham sales manager for a paint company. It turns out, he’s involved in the construction, real estate and a land management business.
NewBernNow.com realized this after seeing an item on the amended version of the New Bern Board of Aldermen meeting agenda for August 15, 2022 that was published late Friday afternoon. The initial consent agenda didn’t have any items on it, now there are three. One of them includes adopting a resolution to call for a public hearing to rezone parcels that are Craeberne Forest subdivision that is owned by McCullough Farms LLC. P & J of New Bern was listed as an adjacent property. According to the NC Secretary of State’s website and Craven GIS Maps website, both companies list Patrick O. McCullough as the manager and Jeffrey Odham’s home address is listed as the principal office address.
Patrick McCullough has publicly disclosed that he lives in the Philippines. On Aug. 4, 2022, he asked the Planning and Zoning Board to recommend that the Board of Aldermen approve the rezoning of identified as Craven County parcel ID 8-210-11002, 8-210-11003, 8-210-11004, 8-210-11006, 8-210-11009, 8-210-11010, 8-210-23000, off Trent Creek Road in New Bern, NC. They were proposed to be part of the Craeberne Forest subdivision. He also talked about the NC 43 Connector.
The parcels are the same that were added to tonight’s consent agenda for the board meeting. The owner wants to rezone the property from Agriculture Forestry district and Residential District, to Residential.
Mayor Odham has not recused himself from participating in discussions and/or voting on issues where it appears that he may have a business stake.
There has been much discussion about the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction. This is a process that brings higher income neighborhoods into the city and relinquishing the ETJ of other properties that have a lower tax assessment. If passed, it may impact residents whose families have lived in New Bern for 100+ years. They would lose their identification with the city as their properties would be relinquished to Craven County. They would also be required to seek certain utilities.
When he was the aldermen of Ward, Jeffrey Odham discussed and/or voted on the following:
Jan. 26, 2021 – Voted for a bill to be brought to the state legislation to allow developers the option to pay the city for the cost of constructing sidewalks in their subdivisions and commercial properties.
July 14, 2020 – Voted to adopt a resolution encouraging the NC Department of Transportation proceed with the Highway 43 Connector Project. According to the Board of Aldermen meeting minutes, then Alderman Odham said, “developers always ask when the road will be completed, and its completion will bring more businesses.”
May 22, 2018 – Discussed the Highway 43 Connector.
June 12, 2018 – Voted to adopt a resolution in support of the Highway 43 Connect — projected to affect Craeberne Forest subdivision.
NewBernNow.com asked the Board of Aldermen and Mayor Odham for a comment. Jeffrey Odham said, “Patrick McCullough is the sole member and owner of those entities you mentioned. Pat spends the majority of his time in the Philippines with his new wife. He asked me a few years ago if I would help him my signing documents on his behalf since he is often out of the county, which I have done since 2019. I have no ownership or financial interest in his businesses. It’s simply a transaction support function.”
If McCullough’s the sole property owner, why was Odham’s address listed as the principal office street address? Please provide the power of attorney and/or other documents to support your claim. Who runs McCullough’s business while he’s away?
Learn about Ethics at a local level by watching Tom Carruthers, Senior Assistant General Council with the NC League of Municipalities presentation here:
Alderman Odham said he had received annual ethics training.
Editor’s note: The article was updated to correct Board of Aldermen meeting date to Aug. 15, 2022, not Aug. 16. We also added more details.
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By Wendy Card, Editor