More than 75 people who attended the community meeting hosted by the Wilson branch of the NAACP Thursday night agreed on some short-range goals they want City of Wilson leaders to accomplish.

The group voted to ask city council to place all customers on billing dates that are payday friendly. They also want the city to put together a committee to review city policies. The group also voted to support a city-wide blackout on March 18 for 12 hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to get the attention of city leaders.

Shafeah M’Balia came from Rocky Mount to say that citizens there have the same problems with high utility bills as Wilson residents and cities should unite.

M’Balia said because of high electric bills, residents in Rocky Mount formed a grassroots group called Utility Working Group of the People’s Assembly.

"No one city can fight ElectriCities alone," M’Balia said. "Each city has to first unite their citizens. Then each city has to unite. We need to unite and form a people’s movement."