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INSIDE ▼ Hurricane season is weeks away
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PAGE 2A Friday, May 8, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 18
thecharlotteweekly.com/mmhweekly
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Finance director explains late audit by Justin Vick justin@charlottemediagroup.org
MATTHEWS – The Town of Matthews has approved a corrective action plan to ensure that future audits are submitted on time to the Local Government Commission. Jill Vang, an accountant with Martin Starnes & Associates, reported last month that the town had a clean audit but that it was
not submitted to the LGC in a timely manner. As a result, the town had to come up with a plan within 60 days to prevent that from happening again. “The only finding we had was that we were late submitting the town’s audit for FY25 due to a number of circumstances, which included staffing, capacity and a major GASB update,” Finance Director Teresa Fulk told commissioners April 27. “This is a timing issue, not a financial
issue.” When Fulk mentioned GASB, she was referring to the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, which issued Statement No. 103: Financial Reporting Model Improvements in April 2024 for the following fiscal year. Melinda Cruanes, principal at CLA, described Statement No. 103 on her firm’s website as “the most significant update to governmental financial reporting
since 1999.” GASB would go on to issue Statement No. 104: Disclosure of Certain Capital Assets in September 2024 and Statement 105: Subsequent Events in December 2025. “As you were presented with the audit by Martin Starnes & Associates a couple weeks ago, it was a clean audit as far as all the financial information goes,” Fulk told commissioners. “That is always our goal, to make sure that
everything is in good order.” The town outlined five steps to prevent late audits: • Staffing Stabilization: The town has taken steps to rebuild and stabilize the finance department staffing levels to ensure adequate capacity for routine financial operations and audit preparation. • Improved Documentation and Cross-Training: Key financial processes and reconciliations are see AUDIT, Page 3A
History buffs remain busy
WHAT'S INSIDE:
Sounding off County leaders wary of state legislation, 3A
by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
Outreach Heritage museum sees rising interest, 4A
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offered a tease of its future May 1 on Facebook. “See how we will transform, for a new experience that’s fresh and modern but still holds true to everything you love about Charlotte Mecklenburg Library,” the system posted. CMG file photo
Library offers a
Let's rock See who is performing at popular venues, 2B
Elevate bagels Recipes offer playful twist on staple, 3B
PLACE OF BELONGING by Justin Vick
justin@charlottemediagroup.org
CHARLOTTE – Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is coming off National Library Week (April 19 to 25) with a renewed sense of mission. Interim CEO Angie Myers describes it as improving lives and building a stronger community. “We do that through our 21 physical branches in the community, as well as outreach efforts,” Myers said. “We go into the hard-to-reach places. We go to visit the seniors at
senior centers. We go into pre-K. All ages, all stages of life.” People of all ages also visit the library. There’s more than books or places to study. Branches offer programming that supports STEAM skills, college and career education, workforce development and continuing learning. “Your libraries are the place where any member of this community can go for free and be welcomed,” Myers said. “In this day and age, that is more important than ever.” She also described libraries
as the place to go where people can get one-on-one help. Staff helps make all this happen. “We have 500 library employees who bring their hearts to work every single day across those 21 branches, support areas, outreach and others, and they make the magic happen there,” Myers said. “They’re the MVPs.” Mecklenburg County commissioners observed National Library Week (April 19 to 25) by reading a proclamation into the record see LIBRARY, Page 3A
Grant may add amenities to park MATTHEWS – The Town of Matthews plans on applying for a grant through the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to add a playground and picnic shelter to Purser-Hulsey Park. Corey King, parks and recreation director, showed town commissioners a site plan April 27 that was going to be included in the grant application. The site plan depicts a pour-in place playground surface, accessible playground equipment and a 24by-30 picnic shelter. “As we move forward in
design, certainly the site plan may be adjusted,” King told the board. “We’ll bring it back to the board if it does do that.” King explained further in a memo that the grant program provides a dollar-for-dollar match up to $500,000. He estimates the project will cost $100,000. The town has already earmarked improvements to Purser-Hulsey Park through the 2022 Parks and Recreation bond referendum. The idea is to maximize those dollars with the grant funding.
Purser-Hulsey Park, located at 13201 Phillips Road, is planned to have an amphitheater, splash pad, playground and pond. Photo courtesy of Town of Matthews
MATTHEWS – For an organization focused on the past, the Matthews Historical Foundation has been very busy lately. The foundation partnered with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission and Christ Covenant Church to clean headstones April 18 at Historic Matthews Cemetery. History buffs then cleaned themselves up for the third annual Fine Art and Craft Show on April 24 and 25 at the Historic Reid House & Gardens. “We were thrilled by the strong turnout and the enthusiastic support from both the local artists in attendance and attendees,” Vice President Bob Aycock said. “Events like this continue to bring new visitors through our doors, and we consistently hear how much guests appreciate the beauty and welcoming atmosphere of the Reid House.” The foundation books community events, including weddings and meetings, at the Reid House. Rentals and donations help pay for the preservation and maintenance of the Reid House and the Massey-Clark House, which houses the Matthews Heritage Museum. “From ongoing upkeep at the historic Reid House to the stewardship of the Massey-Clark House, this work is essential to protecting the physical places that bring our history to life,” he said. Patrick Parente made key repairs earlier this year to the Massey-Clark House, a structure that dates back to 1879. Parente replaced deteriorated boards, repaired the back door, and restored damaged wood around the windows. Shawn Welch and Crown to Roots Tree Care recently installed lights to two trees on the Reid House grounds. “The trees are now illuminated each evening with a warm white glow, highlighting the elm and pecan trees, which are both legacy 100-plus-yearold trees,” Aycock said. “They can be programmed with festive colors, which we’ll do during the holiday season, so we can add to the charm of events like the Matthews Woman’s Club Victorian Teas and other holiday gatherings.” The foundation accepts donations at P.O. Box 1117, Matthews, NC 28106. Learn more at matthewshistoricalfoundation. com.membership.
(through 5/24/26)
Expires 6-30-26