Manager’s Report: November 10, 2015

All supporting documents for the November 10 board of commissioners’ work session are available here: http://davidson.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/

If you are interested in watching a video of the meeting, please view it here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/davidson-town-board-meetings. We are now live streaming our board meetings and work sessions, and encourage you to tune in to this link on meeting days if you are unable to attend in person. After each meeting, a video is saved to this link so you can watch when convenient to keep abreast of projects and issues.

A summary of the November 10 pre-meeting:

Public Works and Projects Director Doug Wright discussed the Kincaid Trail greenway extension from the Davidson Parks and Recreation office to South Main Street. The mayor and commissioners endorsed the concept he presented, so Doug will proceed with engineering and construction drawings.

Public Works and Projects Director Doug Wright discussed the roads in the Bradford neighborhood. The goal is to bring the streets up to standard. Once the roads are improved, the town will be able take over maintenance of the roads.

The board of commissioners approved the renewal of the contract for Beaver Dam with Armin’s Catering.

A summary of the November 10 board meeting:

The mayor read a Proclamation on World Diabetes Day.

The mayor announced that nonprofit E2D (Eliminate the Digital Divide) and the Town of Davidson were awarded the Digital Inclusion Leadership Award presented by Next Century Cities, the National League of Cities, and Google Fiber.

I was very surprised to be presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. I am truly honored and a bit overwhelmed that the fine people I have worked with here believe I deserve such an honor. Many of you have thanked me for my service. Thank you for the acknowledgement. This is my last opportunity to thank you all for your patience and support over the years. It has been my pleasure. (Note: Among the most sought after and valued awards conferred by the Governor of North Carolina is The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is presented to outstanding North Carolinians who have a proven record of service to the State. Persons who have demonstrated a lifetime of service to the State may qualify. Also, state employees may upon retirement be nominated if they have at least thirty years of exemplary service to North Carolina).

The board of commissioners approved the items on the consent agenda including minutes, ordinances to close Main Street during Christmas in Davidson and the North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade, and budget ordinance amendments and tax levy adjustments.

The board of commissioners approved the following advisory board appointments. We appreciate the following citizens for serving (this list reflects new members and reappointments):

Design Review Board
Mike Kessler: January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2018 (reappointment)
Bob Lauer: January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2018 (reappointment) -- Bob Lauer will serve as Design Review Board Chair for year 2016

Planning Board
Kelly Ross: January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2018
Susan Cooke: January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2018 (reappointment)
Mark Morgan: January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2018 (reappointment)
Mickey Pettus: Planning Board Chair for calendar year 2016

Livability Board
David Cable: January 1, 2016 – December 30, 2017
Elizabeth Swanson: January 1, 2016 – December 30, 2017
Mary Walsh: January 1, 2016 – December 30, 2018
Rebecca Chaffin: January 1, 2016 – December 30, 2018
Stephanie Shryrock: January 1, 2016 – December 30, 2018 (reappointment)

Public Art Commission
Cole Barton: January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2018
Sherry Malushizky: January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2018 (reappointment)
Susan Andre: January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2017 (mid-term vacancy)

The board of commissioners approved amendments to the Planning Area Map and the consistency statement for the map amendments.

Other:

Jamie Justice

I would be remiss if I did not tell you that I believe you are getting a very good new manager. He starts work on November 16. I have known Jamie for a long time, and I am confident he will do a great job here. Please welcome him and encourage him, as you have me.

Announcements

To receive news and information from the Town of Davidson, please sign up for our eCrier emails at www.townofdavidson.org/eCrier. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to sign up.

Construction on the building that houses Main Street Books will begin in January.

The next Davidson Coffee Chat is Monday, November 16 at 9:00 a.m. at The Egg at Davidson in Sadler Square. All citizens are invited to attend. Mayor John Woods, the commissioners, and our new town manager, Jamie Justice, will be in attendance.

Green represents rural planning area of Davidson

Our Rural Area Plan Charrette is November 16-19. The kick-off is on Monday at 7:00 p.m. at DUMC’s Fellowship Hall. The design charrette will take place at town hall and details are on our website at www.townofdavidson.org/ruralareaplan.

Davidson LifeLine is hosting a Community Conversation to talk about the concerns so many of our veterans and their loved ones face around depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health concerns. This event is Thursday, November 19 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at DCPC.

Our public works department would appreciate that you bag fallen leaves, so they do not blow out into the streets, adversely affect our street sweeping machine, or clog our storm drains.

We encourage citizens to apply to our Civics 101 course. Applications are online at www.townofdavidson.org/Civics101 and at town hall.

Christmas in Davidson is three weeks away! Trolleys will pick up people in neighborhoods along Concord Road and at the River Run soccer field parking lot on a continuous circuit on December 3-5 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. More details are at www.christmasindavidson.com.