Carrboro To Survey Residents about Town Services
What do you think of Town services? The Town of Carrboro seeks to find out through a survey being issued to a random sampling of residents.
Results are used in Town planning efforts to identify future improvements. New to the survey this year are questions related to American Recovery Plan funding. These funds are being called a “generational opportunity” to make long-term, impactful investments in our community.
The Carrboro Resident Survey will be mailed to 2,000 randomly selected Carrboro households. Respondents can complete and return by mail, or take the survey online or by phone. For non-English speaking households, foreign language translation will be available in multiple languages.
The Town has selected ETC Institute to help with the survey. As a way of thanking everyone who participates, ETC Institute will randomly select one respondent to receive a $500 Visa gift card.
A report of the survey findings will be released in early 2022.
For more information, contact Communication and Engagement Director Catherine Lazorko at communications@townofcarrboro.org
Annual Carrboro Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Join us at Carrboro Town Hall as we welcome our community to gather and celebrate the festive season! We welcome all community members to join with our group of local schoolchildren and the Find Your Own Voice community singing group as we officially kick off the season with music and the lighting of the community tree.
This event is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, in front of Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. It is free for all ages!
Meeting agendas and updates are issued from the Town Clerk’s Office. To receive these by email or text, sign up for Carrboro Town News at townofcarrboro.org/signup
Civic involvement is a valued tradition in our community. Reach the Town Council with your ideas, views, and questions at council@townofcarrboro.org
Coming Up
The Town Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, for an Organizational Meeting.
Past Meeting
The Carrboro Town Council met virtually Tuesday, Nov. 16, and took the following actions on the agenda posted at bit.ly/3Hix9AP
- Design Services Relating to the East Main Street Restriping Project -- The Council authorized the Town Manager to extend the contract for Stantec, the transportation engineering firm preparing the pavement marking and signal plans for the East Main Street restriping project.
- Public Hearing on Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan -- The Council received public comment on a draft comprehensive plan, Carrboro Connects 2022-2042. Access this plan at https://www.carrboroconnects.org/prelim-draft-plan Carrboro Connects 2022-2042 includes the following chapters: Introduction, Engagement, Affordable Housing, Economic Sustainability, Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Resources, Environment and Climate Action, Land Use, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Water, and Energy, Transportation and Mobility. The draft also includes a new Implementation chapter with recommendations and more detailed timelines for projects identified as priorities for actions in the first five years. These priorities were selected for the potential to have the greatest impact on advancing racial equity, climate action implementation, and overall community benefit.
- South Greensboro Street Sidewalk Project -- The Council authorized staff to request transportation funds to cover additional estimated expenses relating to the replacement of an OWASA water line, work that is necessary to allow the South Greensboro Street sidewalk project to move forward.
- Greene Tract Resolution – The Council approved the Greene Tract Resolution for the 60-acre Portion of the Greene Tract in County Ownership and the 104-acre Portion of the Greene Tract in Joint Ownership between Orange County, the Town of Chapel Hill, and the Town of Carrboro.
- Community Safety Task Force -- The Council appointed the following members to the Community Safety Task Force: George Barrett, Barbara Fedders, Benjamin Gear, Madison Hayes, Frances Henderson and Mariela Hernandez. The task force is expected to begin its work in early 2022 following appointments of Council liaisons and establishing a meeting schedule.
About the Town Council
The Town Council is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, consisting of seven elected members: Mayor Lydia Lavelle, Mayor Pro Tempore Barbara Foushee, Council Member Jacquelyn Gist, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Council Member Susan Romaine, Council Member Damon Seils, and Council Member Sammy Slade. More information is available at http://townofcarrboro.org/248/Town-Council
Indoor Mask Mandate Continues for Orange County
News from Orange County Health Department
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. ― With several key COVID metrics increasing, Orange County will continue its indoor countywide mask mandate. The mandate applies to anyone 2 years and older, regardless of vaccination status. Orange County is experiencing a surge in new cases, mostly among the unvaccinated, despite having one of the highest rates of vaccination in the state with 71 percent of the population fully vaccinated. Face coverings will still be required in all indoor public places, including public transportation facilities and vehicles. The mandate will be reevaluated mid-January.
“The Mayors and I, in consultation with our Health Director, concur that requiring masks indoors in public spaces is our best course of action for the safety and well-being of the public at large,” said Renee Price, Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. “The recent increase in cases makes it prudent to keep the indoor mask mandate in place a little while longer. We are still experiencing substantial community transmission, according to the CDC.”The mask mandate does not apply to the following individuals:
- Anyone with a diagnosed medical or behavioral condition or disability, including difficulty breathing.
- Children under age 2.
- Children under 5 if a parent, guardian, or responsible person has been unable to place and maintain a face-covering safely on the child’s face.
- Anyone who is actively eating or drinking.
- Anyone who is seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing impaired in a way that requires the mouth to be visible.
- Anyone who is giving a speech or performance for a broadcast or to an audience where a distance of at least 20 feet is maintained from the audience.
- Anyone who is working alone in an individual office setting. Face coverings must be applied when in common areas such as breakrooms, hallways, restrooms, or other areas where additional persons may be encountered.
- Anyone who has determined the face covering is impeding the person’s visibility in the operation of equipment or a vehicle.
With many families gathering for the holidays, masking up will help protect those who are not eligible to receive a vaccine.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 1,537,044 COVID-19 cases, 18,776 deaths, and 1,157 hospitalizations. 57% of North Carolina's population is fully vaccinated. There are currently 12,274 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 110 deaths in Orange County. 72% of Orange County residents are fully vaccinated.
Related Documents
Property Tax Bill Assistance Program
The Orange County Board of Commissioners initiated the LHAP on June 15, 2021, by allocating $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to. To qualify, homeowners must:
- Live in Orange County
- Have lived in their home for at least 10 years
- Have experienced an increase in property taxes due to the 2021 tax revaluation
- Earn no more than 80% of the area median income (see income chart below).
Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2021. Applications are available online or via paper.
Online Application Portal: orangecountynchousing.submittable.com/submit
Paper Applications: Pick up a paper application at the Orange County Housing and Community Development Department offices:
- Hillsborough Office: 300 West Tryon Street, 3rd Floor, Hillsborough, NC 27278
- Chapel Hill Office: 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Completed paper applications can be dropped in the drop boxes outside of the Housing and Community Development offices or mailed to:
Orange County Housing and Community Development
P.O. Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Housing Helpline staff can help people complete and submit applications and to give information on the supporting documentation needed. Call 919-245-2655 or email HousingHelp@orangecountync.gov.
For more information about the LHA Program, visit the webpage https://www.orangecountync.gov/2813/Longtime-Homeowner-Assistance-Program.
23rd Holiday Carolina Blood Drive is Dec. 8!
Treatments don’t stop over the holidays for patients who rely on transfusions as part of their care. The Red Cross needs to keep a sufficient supply of blood available for hospitals to treat patients. You can help prevent a shortage by bleeding Carolina blue and donating blood at the Holiday Carolina Blood Drive from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at Fetzer Hall.
Annual Holiday Craft Market
The 15th annual Elf Market is The ArtsCenter’s annual holiday craft market which raises funds for The ArtsCenter’s Youth Education Scholarships. Vendors from Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and the Triangle area gather to sell handmade goods such as clothing, body products, food items, fine art, children’s toys, ceramic pieces, and jewelry. Elf Market is the place to shop local for your holiday gifts! This event is family-friendly and free to attend.
The event takes place Saturday, Dec.4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at University Place in Chapel Hill.
For more information visit https://artscenterlive.org/outreach/elf-market/
Thanksgiving 8k Race
It was great seeing all the runners out for the le Tour de Carrboro Gallop and Gorge 8K in Carrboro on Thanksgiving morning!
Photo by Randy Young of Pierless Photography