We’ve gotten spoiled. With Town Council’s newfound determination to end council meetings before midnight, and breaking out council discussions in midweek work sessions at the library (which are not on TV nor videoed and accessible by computer), the regular Monday night meetings end two to three hours after they begin. Tonight may be an exception. [...]
All posts in category Budget
Feature presentation
Posted by Nancy Oates on May 20, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/05/20/feature-presentation/
A representative view
Former Town Council member Julie McClintock, who also worked for the EPA, has participated in many planning efforts. She offers her reaction to the town’s priority-budgeting survey: In a recent email from the Town, I was invited to take a budget survey to show “what [I] value.” Since I’m an engaged citizen, I took the [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 18, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/03/18/a-representative-view/
What’s another $50 million?
Watching Parks & Rec director Butch Kisiah and various paid consultants and volunteer committee chairs present the master plans for Parks & Rec and Greenways, I learned that I’m not the only one with Lexus tastes on a Civic budget. The plans looked great: adding 10 miles of greenway trails to the town’s existing 13 [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on February 19, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/02/19/whats-another-50-million/
Park it where?
Never have I been so glad to work from home as after listening to the presentation on the state of the town’s transit system. For an hour and a half last night, Chapel Hill Transit’s interim director, Brian Litchfield, waxed eloquent about where we are and where we’re going, bus-wise. Federal and state funding projections, [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 29, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/01/29/park-it-where-2/
The art of the deal
Ah, the nuggets you find tucked away in Town Council’s consent agenda, those items council members vote to approve without comment, unless a council member pulls an item for further discussion. The consent agenda for this week’s council meeting – moved to Wednesday again this week – includes a request to approve the 2012-13 public [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on October 22, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/10/22/the-art-of-the-deal/
VOE now DOA
For now, at least, beleaguered Chapel Hill taxpayers have one less expense to fund. The state General Assembly adjourned in July without enacting House Bill 1132 that would extend statutory authority for the town to continue its taxpayer-financed political campaigns, also known as the Voter Owned Election Program. The lack of action will have little [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on July 23, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/07/23/voe-now-doa/
Friday the 13th, county style
You know that point in a horror flick when the heroine lets down her guard just a little bit, and you know something bad is going to happen, you just don’t know what? You find yourself mumbling, “Stay out of the boat, Alice, it’s not what it seems,” or “Don’t pick up the phone, Drew [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on July 16, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/07/16/friday-the-13th-county-style/
Big Bang Theory
How much would you pay for the fireworks display last week? Technically, we’ve prepaid for the July 4th show through our taxes, but the town put out a tip jar at the entrance gate and sent around an email with instructions on how to make a tax-deductible contribution through its Friends of Chapel Hill Parks [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on July 9, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/07/09/big-bang-theory/
CH2020 win
Town Council approved CH2020 last night during Part 1 of its two-episode season finale. The vote came after nearly three hours of public comment and council discussion. As with any good drama, there was a plot twist – the Planning Board came up with a list of last-minute changes. And there was a very interesting [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on June 26, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/06/26/ch2020-win/
Pile on the public hearings
Stock up on the popcorn. Tonight’s public hearing will likely be a two-bagger. First up, St. Paul’s AME Church wants to build a village on Purefoy Road, across from Phoenix Place, to serve the Rogers Road community. The proposed mixed-use development on a 20-acre parcel would consist of a church, a health center, a cultural [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on May 21, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/05/21/pile-on-the-public-hearings/