After last Wednesday’s marathon student-bashing that pushed a couple concept reviews off the agenda, tonight’s meeting portends to be something of a sleeper. Nothing nefarious slipped into the Consent Agenda – even the resolution to amend the town manager’s authority to enter into contracts turns out to extend the authority to department heads, not concentrate […]
All posts in category Council Members
And the answer is …
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 28, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/01/28/greene-piece/
Greene-lash
Laurin Easthom announced last night that she will not run for re-election in the fall. Oddly, she used her announcement as a twisted rationale for voting against a new voice on council. Her logic: A new voice on council would be good, just not now, and not until you’ve gone through the hazing process of […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 24, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/01/24/greene-lash/
Outgoing to be incoming?
Must you be an extrovert to lead? Experts at Kenan-Flagler Business School I’ve buttonholed say no. Some leaders excel at relationship building and charisma. Others lead with their analytical abilities and strategic thinking. Still others attract a following through their insights, innovation and entrepreneurship. You’ll find introverts in all three groups. Politicians, on the other […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 21, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/01/21/outgoing-to-be-incoming/
The contestants
You’ll want to tune in an hour earlier tonight to meet the applicants for the vacant seat on council and to hear the presentations any of them might make. Council will meet at 6 p.m. in its usual spot – council chambers in Town Hall – and the event will be broadcast on public television. […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 14, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/01/14/the-contestants/
Too lucky?
Council members must count how many of their colleagues attend an event lest enough of them gather in one place that they violate open meeting laws. Must they also count how many door prizes they win? The Friends of Downtown, at its holiday meeting on Dec. 6, gave out door prizes donated by downtown merchants. […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on December 24, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/12/24/too-lucky/
Who chooses?
The Central West Focus Area steering committee starts work next week, on Dec. 19. Only 16 members will gather in the first-floor conference room at Town Hall that night at 6 p.m. Seventeen people were recommended for appointment, but a little political gerrymandering went awry, and council members, in a vote by secret ballot, approved […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on December 10, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/12/10/who-chooses/
Peace on the dais
Talk about your lions lying down with your lambs. Council members at Monday night’s meeting demonstrated a collegiality I haven’t seen, even going back to those councils that rubber-stamped every vote, 9-0. Jim Ward and Ed Harrison backed Matt Czajkowski more than once. Lee Storrow softened his position to avoid a deadlock on the controversial […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on December 5, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/12/05/peace-on-the-dais/
On the road
As many of us sweat a dive off the impending fiscal cliff and recession that likely will follow, the Town of Chapel Hill has stirred a little economic stimulus in the Public Works Department. Tucked unobtrusively in the consent agenda for tonight’s Town Council meeting is a resolution to haul our trash to a Durham […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on December 3, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/12/03/on-the-road-2/
Council rejuvenated
Council members showed their better selves at last Monday’s meeting. They asked questions that indicated they had read and understood the reams of material in their binders. They stood firm on what they thought was best for the town. They called out 123 West developer Cousins Properties about discrepancies in the number of parking spaces […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 19, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/11/19/council-rejuvenated/
Keep talking
A certain peevishness has settled over Jim Ward this term. He snaps at his colleagues and makes motions and calls for votes before discussion has barely begun. It may be a manifestation of what many of us felt upon turning 50 and realizing that after working for 30 years, we’re tired, and we still have […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 12, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/11/12/keep-talking/