ROCKY MOUNT -- A reshuffled town council is off to a riveting start, voting during its first regular meeting to pull the funding for the management of its hospitality center and correcting an improper vote it took two weeks ago.

Since the old Norfolk & Western train depot on Franklin Street was revitalized and turned into the Community and Hospitality Center more than 10 years ago, Rocky Mount's Community Partnership for Revitalization has managed it.

Their services may come to an end after town council approved new Councilman Gregg Walker's successful motion Monday to pull the funding in light of a cheaper alternative offered by another Rocky Mount-based group, the Retail Merchants Association.

"We weren't trying to run the CPR out," said Dorothy Cundiff, the director of the Retail Merchants Association. "I sent a letter saying if and when it [the hospitality center] became available we would move into it and maintain the welcome center, provided the town pays the rent and pays utilities."

Councilmen Jerry Greer, Posey Dillon and Robert Strickler all sided with Walker. Councilmen John Lester and Roger Seale voted against pulling the funds.

Strickler -- a council newcomer along with Walker -- and Dillon are also just starting council terms as of July 1.

Mayor Steve Angle did not vote, saying he wanted more information before cutting the funds.

Last year, CPR's bill for running the facility was $17,000, said Barbara Chauncey, a CPR board member. That includes the cost of labor for a hostess, maintenance and utilities.

"I just looked at it as a way to save the town some money," said Walker, adding that the change wasn't anything personal against CPR. "Like anything, when you can get a better deal on something, I think you should take it."

Cundiff said the Retail Merchants Association -- currently located a couple of blocks from the depot -- would maintain the center's operating hours

The CPR would like to continue running the hospitality center, Chauncey said, and will now make the decision to stay in the center or vacate it based on the council's vote Monday.

"The first and foremost issue is that the depot continues to be open to the public, because it's a treasured, historic facility," she said.

The CPR was the topic of conversation at several points during the meeting.

The nonprofit was created in 1994 to focus on preservation and revitalization in Rocky Mount and Franklin County.

Funded by the town, the county and through donations, the group's main function is to manage the hospitality center and the Virginia Main Street program, which helps communities spruce up and revive their downtowns.

The town council created a committee Monday to determine the relevance and continuing need for the Main Street program.

"That's a no-brainer," said Ann Cook, a CPR volunteer and former councilwoman. "To get dropped from Main Street designation would just be a travesty."

Dick Shoemaker, one of CPR's founding members, pointed out the progress made since the town's participation in program began, including the revitalization of the hospitality center and the growth of the farmers market.

Councilmen Lester, Dillon and Seale will make up the committee.

Also, the board took time to correct an improper vote it acknowledged taking at a July 2 special meeting.

Angle called for a closed-door vote for the vice mayor position, which Dillon won. The council was later informed by the town attorney that the vote should have been conducted in public, so it voted again Monday by show of hands.

Dillon remains the vice mayor.