News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC (December 6, 2022)

Find stories here about Fred Joiner Day, information sessions for Solarize the Triangle, our perfect score in the Municipal Equality Index, and Friday's Holiday Tree Lighting!

Carrboro receives perfect score in the 2022 Municipal Equality Index

The Town of Carrboro is excited to announce a score of 100 in the 2022 Municipal Equality Index (MEI).

Since 2014, the Town has been rated by the Human Rights Campaign in their annual report of the MEI. The index examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.

"I'm thrilled that Carrboro will close out 2022 with a perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index" said Mayor Damon Seils. "Through our policies and services, we will continue working to ensure that LGBTQ+ people are safe, welcomed, and respected in Carrboro."

To see the Town’s score, and how we compared to other cities across the nation, please visit: www.hrc.org/mei

Fred Joiner Day

Mayor Damon Seils has proclaimed Tuesday, Dec. 6, as Fred Joiner Day “in gratitude for Fred Joiner’s leadership and service as poet laureate of Carrboro and his invaluable contributions to the life and spirit of our community.”

Joiner will be formally recognized during the Town Council meeting scheduled at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. He was also recently recognized before a live audience gathered at The Arts Center for a performance of Dom Flemons, the “The American Songster.”

First appointed as poet laureate for Carrboro in 2019, Joiner has served the town for three years, sharing his kindness and humble spirit with the community. His poetry choruses with references to Black History, hope, trauma, and tragedy.

Read more here.

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 carrboronc.gov/signup

Civic involvement is a valued tradition in our community. Reach the Town Council with your ideas, views, and questions at Council@carrboronc.gov

Coming Up
The Town Council will meet next at 7 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 6, 2022, to consider an agenda posted here https://bit.ly/3UG7OGI

This in-person meeting will be held at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or can view the livestream at carrboro.legistar.com OR YouTube.com/CarrboroNC OR Cable TV 18 (in Carrboro).

To submit a comment on this agenda, please contact publiccomment@carrboronc.gov to reach the Town Clerk.

Past Meeting
The Carrboro Town Council met Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, and took the following actions on the agenda posted at http://bit.ly/3gdVq2s

Received an update on Transportation Projects. The status report provided information to the Town Council on a number or local transportation projects that are underway.
Received the third quarter report (2022 Q3) for the Town of Carrboro’s Community Development Glock Grant – Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) award from the NC Department of Commerce.
Appointed the following people to the Appearance Commission: Sharon Reilly, Ana Jafarinia and Whitney Fry.
Held a public hearing and approved a request for a minor modification to the Perry Place Special Use Permit-A Project at 800 and 802 Merritt Mill Road. The modification will allow NCDOT to complete right of way improvements within the Merritt Mill Road corridor.
Received the Fiscal Year 21-22 Affordable Housing and Community Services Report.
Received information about Transportation Projects for Regional Flexible Funding. Information was provided about federal funding allocated to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) for transportation projects. The Council received the information and directed staff to continue to evaluate projects and to submit a final list of projects to the DCHC MPO by a December deadline.

About the Town Council
The Town Council, which is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, comprises Mayor Damon Seils, Mayor Pro Tempore Susan Romaine, Council Member Barbara Foushee, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Council Member Danny Nowell, Council Member Eliazar Posada, and Council Member Sammy Slade. More information is available at http://carrboronc.gov/248/Town-Council

Town of Carrboro Announces ARPA Pre-Application Workshops

The Town of Carrboro invites agencies and individuals who are interested in applying for funds through the American Rescue Plan Act /Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program to attend a Pre-Application Workshop on Thursday, December 15, 2022 at Bim Street Facility, (Old Carrboro Civic Club) - 108 Bim Street, behind Carrboro Town Hall.

The workshops will provide an overview of the ARPA and outline the requirements for requesting these funds. Following the workshops, the Town will begin accepting applications through January 23, 2023.

If you plan to attend the workshop, please visit www.carrboronc.gov/ARP to access the Town of Carrboro Adopted Policies for the Expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act, Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, as well as related documents and information.

The ARPA Pre-Application Workshops are scheduled for Thursday, December 15, 2022 as follows:

9:00 to 11:00 a.m.; and
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Registration is required for attendance by completing the online form https://www.carrboronc.gov/FormCenter/Town-Managers-Office-20/Town-of-Carrboro-ARPA-Pre-Application-Wo-213 or by calling Chandra Edwards at 919-918-7300.
If your registration is by phone, please be prepared to provide the following information:

Which workshop session you plan to attend
Name
Phone
Email
Agency Name (if applicable)
Address
Number of People Attending
Additional Names of Persons Attending

The Town of Carrboro has received $6.7 million in funding under the American Rescue Plan Act/Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. On October 11, 2022, the Carrboro Town Council adopted required policies to govern the expenditure of ARP/CSLFRF funds and a spending plan for the various ARPA program categories.

Learn more about the American Rescue Plan Act/Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program for the Town of Carrboro at www.carrboronc.gov/ARP

Questions? E-mail arpa@carrboronc.gov or call Chandra Edwards at 919-918-7300.

Tis the season to give!

Make your final donations before the end of the year! Consider giving to El Centro Hispano, EMPOWERment, or the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP.

Support all of our BIPOC business and non-profits this holiday season.

You can find our list here

Carrboro In Motion at Estes Park Apartments

Residents swung by throughout the morning and early afternoon on a crisp and sunny Saturday (Nov. 19) for the Carrboro In Motion/Communidad en Movimiento block party at Estes Park Apartments.

Organized by the Town of Carrboro, the event was joined by Chapel Hill Transit, El Centro Hispano, Orange Literacy, RedRidge NC BikeShare, Bike Carrboro, the Orange County Public Library, NEXT, and other groups of friends.

Residents came out for a Zumba class led by Oscar Garcia; a bike fix-it station where numerous bikes were repaired and biking needs identified; a Chapel Hill Transit bus with route and service info; a mobile health unit from El Centro Hispano; a dance performance by Takiri Folclor Latino (a local dance group led by El Centro Hispano Executive Director Pilar Rocha-Goldberg). Also available were tables with free winter coats, bags of fresh food produce, and refreshments of hot cider and biscuits.

Orange Literacy provided information about free English classes available in Carrboro at no cost with free childcare and other options. Orange County Library signed people up for library cards and offered activities for children.

A Transportation Choices booth of the Carrboro Planning Department encouraged walking, biking and riding the bus to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions – as well as to improve lifestyles!

Carrboro’s Communication and Engagement shared info about Town services and events; newcomer information; advisory board and neighborhood liaison opportunities, and encouraged participation in a survey of the Community Safety Task Force.

Carrboro’s Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources supplied a party trailer outfitted with tables, chairs and outdoor games for children.

Stay tuned for the next Carrboro In Motion and learn more here.

Food distribution at RENA with Rev. Campbell

Applications now accepted: Human Services Funding

The Town supports nonprofit organizations that deliver vital community programs and services. The program’s overarching goal is to achieve economic and social well-being and opportunities to thrive for all Carrboro residents, particularly those who are low-income or otherwise disenfranchised. The program supports initiatives that improve education, livelihood security, and health outcomes for Carrboro residents.

More information here.

Solarize The Triangle

Join us Saturday, Dec.10 at Carrboro Town Hall at one of two information sessions to learn more about Solarize The Triangle.

Session 1: 10 - 11 a.m.
Session 2: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

We will Discuss:

Discounted prices available
Benefits of solar and batteries
How to enroll for a free assessment

For more information visit: SolarizetheTriangle.com

Carrboro Holiday Tree Lighting This Friday

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 members of the Town Council along with local schoolchildren 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. 9, in front of Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. Free for all ages!

Orange County Launches Zero Waste Survey,
Schedules Public Meetings

Orange County Solid Waste has released a survey and scheduled a series of public meetings seeking feedback on services and help in shaping its Road to Zero Waste master plan.

The survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete, asks people who live or work in Orange County to share their opinions on and experiences with current Orange County Solid Waste services. The survey will remain open through Dec. 7 and is available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Burmese at www.orangecountync.gov/ZeroWaste. Results will help inform the department’s Road to Zero Waste master plan and will be presented to the county's Solid Waste Advisory Group.

For the plan’s purposes, zero waste is defined as: “The reduction of solid waste to nothing, or as close to nothing as possible, by minimizing excess consumption by means of responsible production, consumption, and reuse and maximizing the recovery of material through recycling and composting.” The plan aims to reach this goal in Orange County by 2045.

In addition to the survey, four public meetings will be held to give people who live or work in Orange County an opportunity to share feedback.

Click here for more information.

Holiday Schedule

The Town of Carrboro will observe the holidays on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 22-26 and January 2.

Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed.

Community Holiday Parade

Even rain couldn't dampen the holiday spirit in Carrboro this past weekend.

Hundreds of people showed up to cheer on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Holiday Parade as it made its way through town.

Contact Information

Catherine Lazorko, Communication and Engagement Director, (919) 918-7314 or clazorko@carrboronc.gov

Evelyn Greene, Communication and Engagement Specialist, 919-918-7322 or egreene@carrboronc.gov

General Questions: communications@carrboronc.gov