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Gaston County Board of Commissioners to discuss ordinance requiring 24 hours notice before protests
Gaston County commissioners discuss changes to protest ordinance By Paige Pauroso | February 23, 2021 at 6:05 PM EST - Updated February 23 at 6:58 PM
GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Gaston County commissioners will discuss a proposed ordinance on Tuesday night that would implement rules and regulations for public protests in the county.
The latest draft of the ordinance states that notification of county officials would be required for gatherings of 25 people or more, a notification form would need to be completed, protests within 50 feet of any county buildings would be prohibited and 24 hour notice would be required prior to a protest.
Gaston County commissioners again failed to approve an ordinance which would require those planning mass gathering events on county property to first register with the county sheriff or other county officials.
The five commissioners present at Tuesday s meeting voted unanimously to approve the mass gathering ordinance, which would require groups of 25 or more people to notify county officials ahead of assembling on county property.
Commissioners Tracy Philbeck, Bob Hovis, Chad Brown, Kim Johnson and Board Chairman Tom Keigher voted to approve the measure.
Two commissioners, Vice Chairman Allen Fraley and Commissioner Ronnie Worley, were absent Tuesday night, which means the ordinance will be considered again at the board s March 23 meeting. It will need a simple majority on that date to pass.