SCDN sat down with Portsmouth’s brand leader, Second Ward Council Representative Charlotte Gordon. Mayor Gordon and Vice Mayor Lyvette Mosely braved the freezing temperatures for a lengthy conversation about some of the biggest issues facing the city in 2024.
Gordon Denies Dunne’s “Ugly Accusations”
Mayor Charlotte Gordon Mayor Gordon dismissed former Mayor Sean Dunne’s claims that Ohio’s Open Meetings Act had been violated in the week before the organizational meeting where he was voted out and replaced with Gordon.
Gordon said, “As far as I know, there wasn’t. The term of mayor is two years. In two years, there will be another vote. He’s still on the council, and he can still participate. I’m really sorry this is causing a rift. I really value that we can all work together.”
Mosely said, “We didn’t talk to one another. I did not lobby for vice mayor. I just said ‘Lord whatever you have me to do, I’m willing to do it.”
“And if I can just take this moment in time,” Gordon said, “As a woman, so often I’ve been told there’s no seat at the table. And Lyvette, as a black woman, so to even insinuate that we don’t belong there, or aren’t qualified, or had to cheat to get there, I think that’s ugly insinuations.”
Gordon said she’d received lots of support from other women and believed she and Mosely may be the first female Mayor and Vice Mayor in the city’s history. With Police Chief Debby Brewer, Gordon said, “We got a trifecta going.”
Water Issues
The mayor said the city is undertaking several large projects now. At the top of that list is the water plant. She said the project has been under discussion for years. “We’ve gotten an amazing amount of grant money. We desperately need a new water plant.” Gordon said that there were other water issues tied into that. “Sciotoville had a big water issue. We’ve done all the design work and gotten grants to fix all of that.”
Vice Mayor Mosely said that Greenup was now buying water from Portsmouth due to issues with their system.
Mayor Gordon said the city would soon be supplying water via a pipeline under the river.
City Building
Gordon said Portsmouth is also making progress on its new city building. “It’s funny when you’re doing a big project like that, because a lot of the things that have gone on you just don’t see.”
She said the building had been rewired for fiber optics, and the city had signed a contract to fix the roof. “That’ll start when it warms up. The next council meeting we’ll be looking over the final drawings.”
Gordon said the plan is to sell the current historic city building to a developer who will provide plans and proof of financing.
“I think that piece of property is prime,” Mosely said.
Rehab Bans and Housing Shortages
SCDN asked Gordon about the current moratorium on new rehabs and the effect the influx of sober living facilities has on the housing market, and how the city could address it.
Gordon didn’t address those questions specifically but did say, “The city has collaborated with the Scioto Foundation and PMHS to fund a really specific housing study.” She said the study would find out if it’s true that students are graduating, wanting to stay in Portsmouth, but unable to find housing. “From there, there’s been a couple of ideas. Responsibly, we should wait until that study comes back. It’s an opportunity to solve this problem and grow the quality of our population base.”
Downtown Development
Gordon said she’s excited about the possibilities for revitalizing Chillicothe Street. “I know developing old buildings is slow. It takes a lot of money.”
She said the city’s decision to redevelop the new city building had encouraged other developers to invest in downtown. “Marting’s is beautiful and almost all the way open. We’ll have the city building open. I’ve met with several of the building owners. It takes time and it takes money.”
She said Portsmouth is a town with two downtowns. “We have the 19th Century Downtown, which was built prior to the invention of the elevator. The buildings are small, 3-story brick walkups. The Gallia/Chillicothe area is the 20th Century Downtown built after the elevator. The buildings are larger. To me, it’s a tree growing straight. It’s growing as it should go.”
Help for the Homeless
Mosely said helping the area’s homeless population can be difficult. “We know that a lot of the people still do not want to come in for shelter. We know it’s a mental health issue. I don’t know if it’s the city’s responsibility to make sure these people are off the streets. As much as we want to be able to do it.”
“It’s heartbreaking to see that a city,” Mayor Gordon said. “We do have a lot of social issues we’re dealing with. We do have warming stations. It’s hard and it’s tragic. It’s a countrywide problem. Homelessness and housing, if someone had that magic answer it would have been solved already. There’s not one answer.”
Gordon said the city could use more mental health facilities.
Strong Supporters of Sutherland
When asked if they supported keeping Sam Sutherland as City Manager, both women answered enthusiastically yes.
“We would not be where we are without Sam Sutherland, “ Gordon said. “He’s a whiz. We are so close to getting off of fiscal watch. He is brilliant. When he looks at a street, he’s not looking at just the street. He knows every layer under that street.”
Gordon said Sutherland gets along with everyone. “He’s a no-drama guy. It’s nice to have someone who enjoys a steady ship.”
Art District Looks To The Future
Gordon said it’s important to extend the development energy you see in the Boneyfiddle area out onto Chillicothe and Gallia Streets. “I’ve gotten that commercial group together with the restaurants and the businesses. It’s kind of been a city/museum collaboration project to do the art walks. We’ve named this area the Art District. “We’re trying to attract people to come in from out of town. In developing the art district, we’re trying to fill up some of those empty buildings. We’re a town of small businesses. That steel mill is not coming back.”
She encouraged residents to shop local. “When you spend your money locally that is turn given to the Little League and to River Days, it goes right back into our city.”
Mosely and Gordon also said they are working on developing Early Town and Bannon Park, as recreational areas are vital to neighborhoods.
“And to Mound Park as well,” Mosely said. “They just had the surface of the pickleball court redone. There’s playground equipment on order.”
Working Together
Mosely said the key was working together. She said that each council member is able to bring their ideas to the table and work with each other as well as the Scioto County Commissioners to help make Portsmouth a better place.
“When I first came onto council,” Gordon said. “There was this wall, and city council and commissioners just weren’t working together. When Scottie Powell came on, I said, ‘C’mon we’re getting a cup of coffee.”
SCDN is proud to bring you this special feature report. We thank Ms. Gordon and Ms. Mosley for taking the time to answer our detailed questions.
Use this link to view the entire interview on our FB page. https://fb.watch/pCT8SGlLCX/
