The Elizabeth City Council members are Mayor E. Kirk Rivers and eight council members, two from each of the city’s four wards, all serving two-year terms.1Elizabeth City, NC. Mayor E. Kirk Rivers2American Legal Publishing. Elizabeth City, North Carolina Code of Ordinances – Charter Residents vote only for the two seats in their own ward; the mayor is elected citywide.3Elizabeth City, NC. Elizabeth City Form of Government
Who Sits on the Council
Mayor E. Kirk Rivers chairs the council and represents the city at large.1Elizabeth City, NC. Mayor E. Kirk Rivers The eight ward seats, according to the city’s official contact page, are held by:4Elizabeth City, NC. City Council Contact Information
- First Ward: Johnson Biggs (Mayor Pro Tempore) and Joseph Peel
- Second Ward: Javis Gibbs and Rosemarie Whitehurst
- Third Ward: Katherine W. Felton and Kem Spence
- Fourth Ward: Ronnie Morris and Tim Jackson
Seats turn over every two years, so check the city’s website after any municipal election to confirm who currently represents your ward.
How to Reach a Council Member
Each member has a city email address built from their first initial and last name at elizabethcitync.gov. Johnson Biggs, for example, is reachable at jbiggs@elizabethcitync.gov. Most members also list a phone number on the official contact page.4Elizabeth City, NC. City Council Contact Information
Written mail and in-person visits go to City Hall at 306 East Colonial Avenue, Elizabeth City, NC 27909. That same building houses the Council Chambers where meetings are held.
When the Council Meets
Regular meetings start at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Administration Building, 306 East Colonial Avenue. In 2026, the council meets on the second Monday of each month.5City of Elizabeth City. City Council Meetings Calendar for 2026 Agendas are posted ahead of time on the city website so you can see what will be discussed before you show up.
Under North Carolina’s Open Meetings Law, any special meeting the council schedules outside the regular calendar requires public notice delivered to media outlets at least 48 hours in advance.6North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code Chapter 143 – Article 33C
How to Speak at a Meeting
Fill out a sign-in card from the left side of the dais before the meeting starts. The card is for the record rather than a hard requirement; if you arrive late, you can still speak on a relevant agenda item.7City of Elizabeth City. Rules of Procedure – Elizabeth City
Each speaker gets three minutes at the podium. Another audience member can give you their time, which brings your maximum to six minutes. The mayor can adjust time limits as needed. When your turn comes, state your name and address for the record and address the council as a whole rather than individual members.7City of Elizabeth City. Rules of Procedure – Elizabeth City Willfully disrupting the meeting and refusing to leave when the presiding officer directs is a misdemeanor under state law.6North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code Chapter 143 – Article 33C
What the Council Decides
The council sets policy and controls the city’s purse. Each year it adopts the budget and sets the property tax rate; for fiscal year 2025–2026 the budget totals roughly $81.2 million with a tax rate of $0.59 per $100 of assessed property value.8City of Elizabeth City. FY 2025-2026 Budget Ordinance It also passes local ordinances on things like zoning and noise, and it appoints the city manager and city attorney.
Day-to-day operations and city staff are not run by council members. Those are handled by City Manager Montre D. Freeman. If your concern is a specific service problem rather than a policy question, the manager’s office is usually the right first stop; bring policy questions, ordinance proposals, and budget priorities to the council.
Why Some Discussions Happen in Closed Session
The council sometimes votes to go into closed session, which the public cannot attend. State law restricts the reasons: consultation with the city attorney about pending litigation, personnel matters involving individual employees, real estate price negotiations, and economic development incentive discussions.9North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 143-318.11 The council has to publicly vote on a motion citing the specific legal basis before closing the doors, and any final action, such as approving a settlement or signing a contract, has to happen back in open session.