Showing posts tagged “Chapel Hill Town Council”
Joe Schwartz ·
12 Jan 2010, 4:11 PM ·
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All future homeless shelters in Chapel Hill will have to go through the town’s infamously rigorous special-use permit process, and there won’t be a cap on the number of beds, the Town Council decided Monday.
The unanimous vote came after an extensive and emotional two-hour discussion during which residents continued to staunchly oppose a new shelter in their neighborhood. In addition, Council learned that the current shelter could have been operating with more beds than the ordinance allowed.
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Chapel Hill, politics Chapel Hill Town Council, Chris Moran, homeless shelter, Inter-Faith Council, land use management ordinance, North Forest Hills, Parkside, special use permit
Joe Schwartz ·
16 Dec 2009, 6:08 PM ·
1 Comment
The eight elected members of the Chapel Hill Town Council used varying rationale Monday in ultimately tapping Donna Bell to join their ranks. Bell, an African American with experience on town boards, now is slated to complete the final two years of Bill Strom’s term. Here’s a breakdown of who said what in the order they said it and how they each arrived at their decisions:
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Chapel Hill, Orange County, politics Aaron Shah, Bill Strom, Chapel Hill Town Council, Donna Bell, Ed Harrison, Ellen Reckhow, Gene Pease, Jim Ward, Joe Capowski, Laurin Easthom, Mark Kleinschmidt, Matt Czajkowski, Penny Rich, Sally Greene, Will Raymond
Joe Schwartz ·
9 Dec 2009, 10:15 PM ·
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CHAPEL HILL — As Mayor Pro Tem Jim Ward discussed the particulars of the time limit —what the different colored lights meant, etc. — during Monday night’s special Chapel HIll Town Council meeting, Jason Baker, who moderated the Sierra Club’s municipal election forum, remarked, “This is quickly becoming as much fun as your forums.”
Though Baker was one of seven candidates vying for office, each having applied to fill the remaining two years of resigned Councilman Bill Strom’s seat, the meeting set for each of them to make their case took on a distinctly non-forum tone.
Two candidates, including Baker, advocated against themselves. One told his life story. Another said he was conflicted about leaving his name in the applicant pool.
Each of them — Baker, Donna Bell, Joe Capowski, H. Brock Page, Matt Pohlman, Will Raymond and Aaron Shah — had seven minutes to make their case. Some pointed to experience on boards and committees, some to November election totals, and others to racial diversity. The council plans to make its appointment Monday night. Continue reading »
Chapel Hill, Orange County, politics Aaron Shah, Bill Strom, Chapel Hill Town Council, Donna Bell, Ed Harrison, Gene Pease, H. Brock Page, Jason Baker, Jim Ward, Joe Capowski, Jon Dehart, Josh Ravitch, Laurin Easthom, Lee Pavao, Mark Kleinschmidt, Matt Pohlman, Will Raymond
Joe Schwartz ·
7 Dec 2009, 10:42 PM ·
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Chapel Hill made it official tonight, swearing in a new mayor and two new council members and adding another term for two more.
Mark Kleinschmidt, Gene Pease, Penny Rich, Laurin Easthom and Ed Harrison took their seats at Town Hall amid a room of community activists, allies, campaigners, funders, family, friends, neighboring politicians, the police chief, the fire chief and Mama Dip (Mildred Council).
The ceremony even had an intermission, with the first part of the meeting run by the 2007-09 council during which those leaving office offered a farewell. Mayor Pro Tem Jim Ward presided for that portion as now former Mayor Kevin Foy was ill at home.
“Mayor, I hope you’re doing well. We miss you,” he said.
Carlo Robustelli, the mayoral aide, read a speech in Foy’s stead.
“I am honored to have been given the chance to serve as Chapel Hill’s mayor,” the statement read. “Together with the fine elected people and staff and with the ideas of participation of citizen, we have achieved a lot.”
Councilman Jim Merritt, who was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the late Bill Thorpe and who did not win re-election, said he’d continue to serve as a advocate for the town.
After a few kind words were exchanged, the elected played musical chairs, Kleinschmidt moving to the center, Sally Greene and Ed Harrison moving two seats to the left (from the audience). New council members Gene Pease and Penny Rich slotted in on the far right. Merritt’s physical seat now is empty, though it soon will be filled by whomever is appointed to fulfill Bill Strom’s term.
Those elected put their hands on the Bible, flanked by spouses, children and parents, swore to uphold the laws of the nation and state and offered thanks to all. Continue reading »
Chapel Hill, Orange County, politics Carlo Robustelli, Chapel Hill Town Council, Ed Harrison, Gene Pease, Jim Merritt, Kevin Foy, Laurin Easthom, Mark Kleinschmidt, Penny Rich
Joe Schwartz ·
25 Nov 2009, 12:40 PM ·
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Orange County’s main library will close its doors Dec. 13 to make way for a new $8.1 million facility that will open Jan. 8.
The new 23,500-square-foot building at 137 W. Margaret Lane in Hillsborough will be 10,000 square feet larger than the current space and will feature two floors with added amenities including a teen room and a meeting space for 100 people with a kitchen area.
“The library has actually outgrown its facility here. We’re in an old school building, as a matter of fact,” said Lucinda Munger, Orange County library director. “This is the first building that has actually been built as a library for the Orange County Public Library system.”
The current library has been housed at the Whitted Building on West Tryon Street for 29 years.
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Orange County, education Carrboro Board of Aldermen, Chapel Hill Town Council, Hillsborough, Hillsborough Town Board of Commissioners, Lucinda Munger, Orange County Board of Commissioners, Orange County library
Joe Schwartz ·
21 Oct 2009, 4:02 PM ·
8 Comments
Following the IFC’s concept plan presentation Monday night, 15 residents, some for and some against, all passionate, the proposed site on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Homestead Road.
Here’s what was said that didn’t fit into my story, including more specifics on the timeline and the building features and a best of list for the night’s comments:
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Chapel Hill, Orange County, politics Chapel Hill Town Council, IFC, men's shelter
Fiona Morgan ·
29 Sep 2008, 10:12 AM ·
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Local news radio station WCHL reports that Chapel Hill Town Councilman Bill Thorpe passed away Saturday night at his home at the age of 67. Thorpe was a well known local civil rights leader.
Bill Thorpe
Thorpe had announced earlier this month that he was taking a medical leave of absence to deal with matters related to his heart condition.
A memorial service is being planned for later this week. Meanwhile, Orange Politics has this discussion going, with local leaders posting remembrances of Thorpe.
Chapel Hill Bill Thorpe, Chapel Hill Town Council
