The original item was published from 8/31/2021 1:54:46 PM to 6/2/2022 12:00:07 AM.

News Flash

Carrboro This Week

Posted on: June 25, 2021

[ARCHIVED] Carrboro This Week

Town Commons

Enjoy the Summer!

While Carrboro This Week takes a short break, we will still be issuing news and information from the Town of Carrboro. Please consider updating your subscription to include updates from Carrboro Town News. It's easy to update your preferences at townofcarrboro.org/SIGNUP

Also, please watch for our Communications Survey coming soon. We would love your input and feedback! Thank you.

### Town Map

______________________________________

July Fourth 2021

Town of Carrboro July 4th Events

The Town of Carrboro is excited to announce a return to limited in-person events in celebration of July 4th. Due to recommendations regarding large-scale public gatherings as the event was being planned, the large traditional in-person event will not be held this year. However, we will be presenting the following live and virtual activities:

Annual Reading of the Frederick Douglass Essay
Mayor Lydia Lavelle will host our eighth annual Community Reading of Frederick Douglass' essay, "The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro."
This year, the event will be held outdoors at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St., from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 4. The community reading will also available on our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/carrboronc
In 1852, Frederick Douglass, one of our nation’s greatest orators and abolitionists, was asked to speak at an event commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In his provocative speech, Douglass said, “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”
Live Music with Tre. Charles
Following the community essay reading, we are excited to host Tre. Charles, who will be performing live on the Town Commons. This one-hour performance will begin at 2 p.m. and be livestreamed our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/carrboronc
For more information about the artist and his music, please visit https://www.trecharles.com
Ice Cream
During the above events at Carrboro Town Commons, we will have an ice cream truck on site selling sweet treats to help keep you cool!
Livestreaming Music with Mix Tape Grab Bag
The Town of Carrboro is partnering with the Cat's Cradle to present a livestreaming performance from local favorites, Mix Tape Grab Bag!
The performance will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. and is tentatively scheduled to stream via the Cat's Cradle social media channels.
Please continue to check http://www.carrborojuly4th.com for updates
Virtual At-Home Kids Craft Activities
If you are looking for some fun July 4th inspired crafts to do with the kids, our camp staff created these how-to videos.
For a supply list, please visit https://www.townofcarrboro.org/DocumentCenter/View/7675/4th-of-July-Kids-Craft-Activities
For video instructions on how to complete these craft projects, please check out the playlist on our YouTube page at https://bit.ly/3xKbbBd
Fireworks Display
For information on the local fireworks display coordinated by the Town of Chapel Hill, please visit the following link for the news release:
https://www.townofchapelhill.org/Home/Components/News/News/17164/4048

###

Council Live Stream

Town Council Update

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

The Council is now taking its annual summer break.
The Town Council will meet next at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, to consider an agenda that will be posted at carrboro.legistar.com

This will be a live, in-person meeting at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. The public is welcome to attend. To view remotely, a livestream is available at carrboro.legistar.com or YouTube.com/CarrboroNC OR Cable TV 18 (in Carrboro). To speak at the meeting email publiccomment@townofcarrboro.org

Past Meeting
The Carrboro Town Council met virtually Tuesday, June 22, and took the following actions on the agenda posted at https://bit.ly/3gzsZcv

The Council approved a resolution related to the site plan and updated capital project ordinance for the 203 Project. The design development cost estimate is approximately $1 million higher than the current project budget of $27.6 million. The final project cost will be determined through and in the construction bidding process. The 203 Project is a collaborative effort of the Town of Carrboro and Orange County to develop a new public building and associated parking on Town property at 203 S. Greensboro Street. The new building will house the Orange County Southern Branch Library, the Town of Carrboro Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Resources programs, WCOM Radio, the Orange County Skills Development Center, and more. See 203Project.org for more details.
The Council received an update on Energy and Climate Protection Plan and Community Climate Action Plan Implementation Efforts.
Request to Allow Pee Wee Homes to Apply for a Rezoning of Town-Owned Property for the Purpose of Developing Affordable Housing: It is the Town’s intent to convey property at 106 Hill Street to Pee Wee Homes for the purpose of developing three permanently affordable homes, contingent upon a rezoning. Pee Wee Homes has prepared a petition to rezone the property to R-3-Conditional (R-3-CZ). The Council set a public hearing for Sept. 28 on the rezoning.
The Council approved a text amendment to the Land Use Ordinance that modifies the regulations relating to the use of satellite parking.
The Council approved a sub-lease to Cat’s Cradle for use of the 300 E. Main/Butler Lot that the Town Council approved to lease from the Main Street Group.
The Council amended the Capital Project Ordinances for the Morgan Creek Greenway and South Greensboro Street Sidewalk to reflect the reallocation of Orange County Transit funds and the allocation of STBGDA-CRRSAA funds
The Council adopted an ordinance limiting campaign contributions to any candidate for town office.
The Council received an update on the status of the Transportation Demand Management grant and authorized the Town Manager to enter into a revised MOA.
The Council to adopted text amendments that would bring the Land Use Ordinance into conformance with N.C.G.S. Chapter 160D.
The Council approved Town Code amendments relating to the operation of roundabouts.
Short-term American Rescue Plan Act Funding Plan Authorization: The Council authorized staff to implement a short-term program for distributing up to $2,359,525 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds immediately while developing a long-term plan.
The Council received an update on the Orange County Recovery and Transformation Plan.
The Council received an update on the status of the South Greensboro Street Sidewalk project at 65-percent design and received comments from members of the public.
Adoption of FY 2021-22 Annual Budget: The Council completed budget discussions and adopted the annual budget for fiscal year 2021-22. which is posted at https://www.townofcarrboro.org/2548/Recommended-Annual-Operating-Budget-2021
- The total budget is $71 million comprised of General Fund at $25 million, Special Revenue Fund at $3.3 million, Capital Fund at $41.9 million, Storm Water Utility Enterprise Fund budget is $971,254; and Parking Enterprise Fund is $290,500.
- Notable changes in the 2021-22 budget include: a) The property tax rate will increase from 59.94 cents, to 60.44 cents, for each $100 valuation of taxable property with 1.50 cents of that amount dedicated for Affordable Housing Fund; and, b) a change in the Town’s health insurance program from the traditional co-insurance Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) to a high deductible health plan (HDHP). This will decrease the cost of health insurance costs for the Town by $546,612 with subsequent reductions in premiums paid by employees; c) a 3.3% across-the-board salary increase for Town full-time employees. Also approved was a provision to pay all part-time employees an hourly wage that is equal to the Orange County Living Wage of $15.40 per hour.
Check-in on the Comprehensive Plan Process: The Council received an update on the process and progress of this effort. Learn more at carrboroconnects.org

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

###

A Ghost In the Making

Attend a Free Virtual Screening of A Ghost in the Making

Wednesday, June 30 at 3 p.m. on Town of Carrboro YouTube

You are invited to celebrate National Pollinator Week in Carrboro and attend a free virtual showing of A Ghost in the Making: Searching for the Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee, a film by Day's Edge Productions, produced in partnership with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and Endangered Species Chocolate.

There are more than 4,000 native bee species in North America, including the rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis). The rusty-patched bumble bee pollinates wildflowers and crops such as apples and cranberries.

Rusty-patched bumble bees once ranged in grasslands throughout the east and upper midwestern U.S., but have declined by 87% in the last 20 years as a result of habitat loss, disease, intensive farming, pesticide use, and climate change. Due to this decline, the rusty-patched bumble bee was the first bee species in the continental U.S. to be listed on the Endangered Species List.

Tune into YouTube.com/CarrboroNC at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, to learn more about these fascinating pollinators!

###

HBE-Flyer 2021 June class (2)