[size=140pt]Late change proposed for Cary-Chatham plan[/size]
BY ANDREW KENNEY, akenney@newsobserver.com

REad the entire story at http://www.carynews.com/2012/02/01/51496/late-change-proposed-for-cary.html

CARY - The town of Cary and Chatham County are just steps from a general agreement on the future of their shared border, but a late change to the plan has raised old questions about the relationship between the suburb and the rural county.

The pair's joint land-use plan, crafted by staff and representatives of both towns over six years, will guide the development of almost 10,000 acres of land west of Cary and inside Chatham County. Both governments are considering a near-final draft of the document, but Chatham County's Board of Commissioners already has demanded a change to the plan.

The draft plan states that the governments "should research and discuss the feasibility" of giving Cary extra-territorial jurisdiction, or the authority to enforce town rules about zoning and building design on county land near the border. The joint town-county board agreed in October that the plan should suggest a future discussion of ETJ.

But in a vote at a public hearing this month, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners unanimously decided to remove the ETJ suggestion from the plan.

"We don't see any reason we would want to give up jurisdiction to Cary," said Brian Bock, chairman of the Chatham board.

The debated point calls for discussion, but not implementation, of an ETJ zone that runs between a half-mile and a mile inside Chatham's border of Cary, ending at the proposed "rural buffer line." The suggestion drew criticism from some of the dozens of Chatham County residents who spoke at Chatham's public hearing on the plan. Most of those speakers opposed the plan in general.
Affected residents often protest the power as an incursion on their rights by a government that doesn't have to accept their votes.

If enacted here, extra-territorial jurisdiction would subject new construction along the border to Cary's rules about subdivision design, land use, open spaces, erosion control and more.

The town could not take the power without permission from Chatham County, according to Benjamin Howell, a county planner. And if Chatham ever did grant the new authority, Cary generally could only enforce its rules on new development; existing buildings would be "grandfathered in."

Bock, the Chatham board chair, said inclusion of the suggestion of an ETJ discussion would be a deal-breaker for the joint land-use plan.

This topic has been moved to North Carolina.

http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php?topic=25083.0

This topic has been moved to Chatham Community Calendar.

http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php?topic=25118.0

There is a budget survey available for all people in Chatham County to have input on the budget process on the Chatham County Schools website.

http://research.zarca.com/k/SsYQWSsQVsPsPsP

I urge everyone to take this survey, and to forward it to their friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers. The school budget is the largest part of the county budget, so you should care about how your tax money is being spent.

The survey will be available until February 17. Paper copies are available at the schools.

Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 21:03:29 -0500
From: "Jeffrey Starkweather@earthlink.net" <jeffreystarkweather@earthlink.net>
Subject: Local Mayors support for more education funding applauded

I want to applaud Siler City Mayor Charles Johnson, Pittsboro Mayor Randy Voller, Goldston Mayor Tim Cunnup, and Sanford Mayor Cornelia Olive for supporting Governor Bev Perdue’s proposal to restore some $800,000 in state funds for our public schools. While I am not generally a supported of increased sales taxes because their

impact is “regressive� (lower income households pay a higher percentage of their income), I would support restore a three-fourths cent increase if that was the only politically feasible way to adequately fund our public schools. Obviously, I would prefer those who can better afford it to pay a higher percentage burden of any tax increase than the numerous retirees, blue collar workers and unemployed in Chatham and Lee Counties.

Since the 2008-2009 budget year approximately 6,108 public school employees have lost their jobs, 76% of whom were teachers or teacher assistants. Although our local schools have done a good job of keeping those numbers down, we still have lost a significant number of positions, including completely eliminating Chatham’s middle school Spanish program.  And while the Chatham Board board majority did not actually cut their dollar contribution, they did not provide sufficient funds to maintain the same per pupil funding, based on increases in student enrollment this year.  Commissioner Sally Kost and I lobbied for these funds because we both considered not fully providing them a funding “cut.�

I also support President Obama’s American Jobs Act, in large part, because it will provide North Carolina sufficient funds to restore or retain a total of 13,400 education jobs.

Any increased educational funding should be focused on classrooms and direct educational services.

Research clearly shows that the most important factor in improving a state’s and local community’s economic development and prosperity is public educational quality. Thanks to our state legislature’s misguided cut to education, North Carolina has dropped to 46th in per pupil state funding.  We are now below Mississippi and South Carolina. That is embarrassing.

It is time we put our future – our children and grandchildren – first. I don’t have all the answers as to the best way to fund education but I am willing to do my part and pay my share to make it happen and I believe most you are as well.

Jeff Starkweather for State House
Pittsboro, http://jeffstarkweatherforstatehouse.com

_________________

So, Mr. Starkweather is against regressive taxes, but he supports this one. All on the promises of our lame duck Governor. All the money will go to education (remember the lottery?), and while it taxes the poor, which flies in the face of FDR, er, I mean Jeffery's Fair Deal, he will support it because it goes 'to the children.' 

Sounds like a man with no principles to me. However, at least he is willing to pay his part, unlike his good friend, who signed the tax hike in support though is not willing to pay his part.

If you want another throw more money at it candidate, Jeffery is your guy. Your other choice is the lady who is not even sure how much money she had while Chair of the school board. Oh yeah, and then there is that NCHSAA thingy.....

Great choices. I am voting for Mrs. Wright.

He is being put out to pasture, literally

I do find it puzzling that all of these folks who claimed to be fighting for the children, the children, the children, are now jumping ship. 

He and Bev are in the lifeboat while we try to patch the hole and save the sinking ship they left us.

The throw money at education administration is taking off. Big shoes to fill for Jeffery, lol.

From this morning's chatlist -

Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:03:32 -0500
From: chathammatters
Subject: Town Board & Haw River Christian Academy

The pros and cons of the Haw River Christian Academy in downtown Pittsboro:

PROS:
According to the Director of the NC Main Street Program the 3 highest priorities of downtown revitalization are:
#1 increasing traffic
#2 filling vacant buildings
#3 improving the appearance of buildings

The school accomplishes all three of these objectives.

After dropping off or before picking up their children the parents would likely be more inclined to get their coffee, dry-cleaning, groceries, etc. while here in town, perhaps even get their hair done/cut in town.

Don't forget the school teachers and employees will likewise be more inclined to shop in Pittsboro.

The school would be situated optimally for traffic as well, with the entrance on Hanks street, exiting onto W. Salisbury street where you have many options to exit, left up to the light and 15/501, right up to 87/Old Graham, or jog over to 64 either direction, or circle around pick up 15/501 from the top of the hill.  This nicely disperses the exit traffic.  And the traffic is during non-peak hours.

The issue of the Liquor license and the City Tap has been answered definitively (well before the last town board meeting) - this is a non-issue.

The planning board has reviewed and passed it.
The fire department has reviewed and passed it.

The owner of the property pays the property taxes, the school pays the water and sewer making up some of the loss of the chicken plant closing.

CONS:
The only one raised but not addressed by the Pros is that it isn't retail so the town doesn't get any sales tax.  This has been covered in many places but bears repeating�  This building has been empty for about two years, has had a number of different stores located there, but none have stayed, it's just too big for small retail and too small for large retail, it's an awkward size.

So finding a good fit for the space is not a con, it's a pro.

SUMMING UP:
Well, it seems like a no-brainer to me, what about you?

Let's stop the Scapegoating of Mayor Voller.  Blaming him for all the problems of the town, i.e., Water, Location of a School, The General Store, Taxes, Business Closing etc. etc.

This Scapegoating is a hostile social routine by which some people are trying to move blame towards a target i.e.. the Mayor. It is inappropriate and let's stop!  It really is unmerited negative treatment of him.  Give the guy a chance.  He was elected to serve the town.  We should stand behind him!

And I'll even quote a Republican:
�The search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting expeditions.�
― Dwight D. Eisenhower

Because working families who are having a hard time making ends meet are not paying enough taxes Randy Voller & Charles Johnson want to raise your taxes.

Best part of this is that the Chatham County School Board and Superintendent have mismanaged funds and have been accused of fraud by the NC State Auditor and we want to give the MORE money to mismanage?

Mayors supports Perdue's proposal
by ALEXA MILAN

SANFORD � Sanford Mayor Cornelia Olive, Pittsboro Mayor Randolph Voller and Siler City Mayor Charles Johnson are among the North Carolina mayors voicing their support for Gov. Bev Perdue's push to institute a temporary sales tax increase to restore some state education funding.

Perdue, who announced Thursday she will not run for re-election, released a letter Wednesday containing the signatures of 53 North Carolina mayors in support of the initiative.

Read more: Sanford Herald - Mayor supports Perdue's proposal
http://sanfordherald.com/bookmark/17304441-Mayor-supports-Perdue-s-proposal

Subject: Non-Pittsboro Citizens Speaking out . .

Like it or not, many of the folks that have shown their concerns on the Chatlist regarding the approval of Christian School- do not live within the voting boundries of Pittsboro. But many of us call Pittsboro our home.  Our mailing address is Pittsboro and that is where we go to shop. Many of us own businesses there.  And like it or not, many of us non residents know more about what goes on there than the "city limit" residents.
 
So you don't like it that we voice our opinions about how the approval of the school is being handled by the town board? That's tough.
 
And for those of you who think that I might have a child or children of school age or that I am in some way connected with the proposed school-  it is not true. Just speaking out against what appears to me (and many others) that the application for the school is being bamboozled by fans of the City Tap. They follow a well worn path. Eat, drink and be wary.
 
Folks, worry from others about the future of the City Tap is behind this whole probable veto of the application for the school.  I have no doubts that the City Tap will win out. They won out on the loud "music?"  problem a while back.  Mayor Voller also stood by the City Tap- allowing that he was an amature musician himself-
 
Get yor fiddle out Mr. Mayor, start practicing yor Victory tune! How About "The Beer that Made Milwaukee Famous-- Made Pittsboro Drunk"?
 
Betty Black

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From the Chatlist...


I guess she does not realize many Chatham County residents go to church there, work there, and go there to shop and eat. It sounds like unless you live in town you should not have an opinion. We could all do her a favor and not go drop our dollars there.