Chapter 10 #2
Felicity slumped back into her seat and steeled herself against the brain cell loss she always sustained when listening to her stepcousin speak.
“Mr. Keegan, I’m not a judge. I’m just the presiding Land Development Committee council member in today’s meeting. What are your objections to Mr. Hogan’s request to build a parking structure on the space?”
“Well then, Madam Council Member—what was it you said your title was again?”
She checked her watch and kneaded a spot above her temple. “Ms. Dale is fine, Mr. Keegan. Let’s keep moving.”
“I believe his proposal does not go far enough. If we want our city to be at the cutting edge of parking solutions, we need to think bigger. Why stop at four levels—”
“Well, I’ve heard enough.” Ms. Dale’s hand flattened against the table. “Motion to move on to the next party voicing concerns.”
“Seconded,” Baldy said, before focusing again on what Felicity had thought at first was a phone but it seemed was a Nintendo Switch.
“I have a note here that the owners and residents of St. Clare Circle are here to voice some concerns.”
If Nic looked pale before, now his color could best be described as “tortured dungeon man in The Princess Bride.” Felicity patted his hand and offered Nic a subtle head shake before standing. She could do this. She’d watched her aunt do this before in this very same building.
She headed to the small microphone and spread her documents and notes out on the podium.
“I’m Felicity Gallagher. I recently inherited the Grow Away Plant Shop and Nursery from my aunt, and I’m here today to discuss the St. Clare Circle Community’s objections to Mr. Hogan’s proposed parking structure. ”
She spoke directly to each council member in turn. It had always been hard to keep herself from speaking too fast in these situations, but if she hyperfixated all of her attention on this moment she could do it.
While she was speaking, Nic recovered enough to pass out the packets to the committee members, but he decided to return to his seat afterward rather than join her at the podium.
Unlike during Toby’s “presentation,” or even during Bruce’s, all of the council members had their attention on her. Ms. Dale looked down every now and then to follow along with Felicity’s points in the packet.
After Felicity arrived at the last point, Nic applauded, before realizing it wasn’t an applauding kind of moment. Felicity blushed and tried to hide her smile.
“Wait there for a few seconds, Ms. Gallagher.” Ms. Dale pulled her microphone away from her mouth and whispered something to the colleagues on either side of her.
She cleared her throat. “That was a very thorough and succinct explanation of your objections.” She looked over her glasses at Felicity. “This analysis work was done by you?”
Felicity winced. “No. Samantha Powell and Abbott Carmichael. Their credentials are listed at top of the second page.”
“Ah, yes. And they couldn’t be here today?”
“They—uh—had, well, some gastrointestinal difficulties and felt it would be better—”
“The council appreciates their choice to keep their contagious stomach ailments to themselves. Fair enough.” Ms. Dale thumped a hand down on the packet.
It sent a sinking sensation into Felicity’s stomach.
“This is very impressive, Ms. Gallagher. I think the only thing this presentation is missing is a clear demonstration of public value.”
Felicity flipped through the pages, trying to find any notes on this from Samantha.
“You won’t find it in your packet, Ms. Gallagher.
” She peered at Felicity. “It’s not exactly a legal term.
But in this analysis, Ms. Powell correctly indicates that it wasn’t only the tree preventing Mr. Hogan from building his parking garage.
Mr. Hogan should never have been allowed to purchase that lot from the Parks Department at all. ”
Bruce scoffed. “I think if you read page eighty-four of the packet I provided last week to—”
Ms. Dale scoffed. “Bruce, it was a crooked deal, and you took advantage of a temporary loophole, and you know it.”
“I am absolutely offended at the implication—”
“Sure.” Ms. Dale ignored him. “Ms. Gallagher, I see many benefits in the plan outlined in this proposal.” Ms. Dale held out a calm-down hand, as if Felicity’s triumph showed on her face.
Bruce’s seething was nearly audible. “But—”
“Bruce, if we choose to go in this direction, be assured that you’ll receive compensation commensurate to the expenses you’ve spent on upkeep of that lot.
The entire council is agreed on that point.
” She pulled away from the mic again and whispered to the woman beside her before she locked eyes with Felicity’s.
“The city has been receiving complaints about the condition of both the courtyard in front of the old church building and the empty lot on St. Clare Circle for the last few years. Although it wasn’t noted in your presentation, when Mr. Greene and Ms. Gallagher-Keegan purchased that church building, it only included limited property rights, and there are strict rules regarding the upkeep of the adjoining properties. ”
Felicity fought the urge to slump. “Yes, Ms. Dale, I’m aware.”
“Do you feel that the proprietors of St. Clare Circle have been upholding their end of the deal?”
“No, ma’am.”
“I see a lot of lofty ideas in this admittedly detailed presentation, but if you and the rest of the St. Clare Circle trust can’t maintain a relatively small courtyard in front of your businesses, how do you expect the city to trust your group to manage and maintain the much larger space Mr. Hogan is claiming ownership over? ”
Felicity took a breath before speaking, a skill she’d picked up in her early days of nursing to quell the worst impulses of her ginger temper.
“I understand your reservations. I took ownership of my aunt’s business in May after she passed away, and I fully admit that I have not done my part to make sure the courtyard was well maintained. ”
After few extra moments of leveling a pointed gaze on Felicity, Ms. Dale spoke.
“I propose a temporary hold on the issue of lot SCC #456183a. It’s nine months until the summer permitting forum.
” She paused as if daring Bruce to interrupt.
“In that time, I want you and your St. Clare Circle Business Trust colleagues to fulfill your obligations with the St. Clare Circle courtyard to help demonstrate what the community would use the empty lot for if the city exercises its rights, voids the empty lot’s sale of that land to Hogan Enterprises, and makes it a park again too. ”
“You wouldn’t dare, Cynthia. I should be able to take over the courtyard.
I own the lot and my shop’s building on the neighboring lot.
” Bruce’s buffoonery exploded in a slew of numbers and letters and regulations that sounded like gibberish to Felicity.
He approached Ms. Dale, who managed to look down her nose at the man even though she had remained coolly sitting while he stood. “I can’t believe you’re siding with—”