Dan Coleman

1. What do you see as the town’s major issues over the next 10 years? What are your ideas for dealing with those issues?

The key immediate issue for the board is hiring a town manager. A skilled town manager is essential to the smooth delivery of town services as well as staffing, planning, and budgeting. In addition, Carrboro needs a well-qualified manager who understands our commitments to sustainability, economic localism, and to community. I am committed to careful review of applications and to working closely with the new manager as he or she comes up to speed. Ideally, we will hire someone who will grow to love Carrboro and stick around for the next 10 years and more.

The on-going financial crisis will be a big challenge. Although we have held the line on tax increases for the past three years, state and federal cutbacks will continue to squeeze municipalities. The current “soft” hiring freeze for open staff positions increases the work load on town employees which is a concern in terms of job satisfaction and retention. Upcoming budgets will be challenging for the board, for the new town manager, and for the community. My goal is to protect town jobs and programs to the extent possible while I hear from citizens on the advisability of program cuts should a tax increase seem otherwise unavoidable.

The town must continue its emphasis on economic development, providing the support mechanisms (like the Revolving Loan Fund) to help local businesses through tough times and to help entrepreneurs establish new businesses in Carrboro. I will continue to work closely with the town’s Economic Sustainability Commission to improve the town’s capabilities in this regard. The emphasis on commercial development must be continued. I have pushed for increased commercial space while on the board and will continue to do so.

The first bus advertisements on Chapel Hill Transit could be seen in Chapel Hill and Carrboro this week.

A few months ago, Wells Fargo ordered two full bus wraps and about 12 smaller signs for one month of advertisement. The ads cost $1,500 a month for each of the full-wraps and between $160 to $220 for each of the other signs on the sides and rear, according to Chapel Hill Transit.

While the new revenue may help prevent further cuts to the free service, some local leaders see the Wells Fargo ads as contrary to their goal of encouraging people to shop locally.

“It’s unfortunate that the first advertisement is going to be a big, corporate giant that’s not local,” said Carrboro Alderwoman Lydia Lavelle.

“It is disappointing to the extent that we were really hoping that this advertising program would primarily support local businesses in Chapel Hill and Carrboro and certainly this doesn’t mean it’s not going to do that, but...out of the gate (this is) a step in the direction that we don’t want to emphasize,” said Alderman Dan Coleman.

Look for more on this story and a photo of the Wells Fargo ad coming Sunday in The Chapel Hill News.

Carrboro Alderwoman Joal Hall Broun will not seek re-election. She released this statement this morning: 

"Thank you to all of my supporters, the voters and the people of Carrboro.  I enjoyed serving the citizens of Carrboro for the past twelve years.  I will continue to be engaged and involved in my community in Carrboro and Orange County.  However, I will not be seeking re-election to the Board of Aldermen at this time."

Three seats on the board, plus the mayor, are up this fall. Mayor Mark Chilton, Alderman Dan Coleman and Alderwoman Lydia Lavelle filed Friday, along with newcomer Michelle Johnson. The filing period ends July 15.

Carrboro Alderman Dan Coleman wants to make sure there is an adequate local water supply for growth until OWASA's Quarry Reservoir comes online in 2035. 

The Board of Aldermen and Chapel Hill Town Council want Jordan Lake used for future emergencies only. OWASA, which wants its Jordan Lake allocation available for future droughts that may not rise to the level of an emergency, wants to amend a local agreement to allow easier water transfers.

In an e-mail to his fellow board members, Coleman says:
 

1) I believe that we should engage with OWASA and Chapel Hill to look at growth between now and the availability of the quarry 20 years hence. I suggest that we ask planning staff to meet with CH planning and OWASA planning to look at the OWASA water supply projection so as to comment on whether any particular planning for growth in the interim might be warranted to ensure that adequate water supplies continue to be available.
 
2) given that we have asserted that we support access to J Lake only as an emergency measure and given that OWASA is concerned that we might lose the allocation on that basis, I suggest we engage actively in support of that point. What I have in mind is that we and CH each designate a point person on this issue. Those people would become fully informed on the allocation process and stay in touch with OWASA as matters progress. It may be that, at some point, it would be helpful to have contact from elected leaders to the members of the Environmental Management Commission (decision-makers on the allocation) and I would like us to be prepared for that eventuality. Clearly, it would be more effective for the mayors to play any lobbying role but they do not necessarily need to be the point people prior to that time.
 

The Pittsboro Town Board has condemned Saturday's assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the Arizona shootings that killed six people. An alderman in Carrboro, which may consider a similar resolution, says Pittsboro's resolution does not go far enough.

The resolution from the Chatham County seat supports the safety of public officials in open forums that are safe for civil debate.

"Now therefore be it resolved," the Monday resolution states, "the town of Pittsboro offers support for Congresswoman Giffords and its deepest sympathy for the victims of this attack. And further resolves to condemn the violence that was expressed in this attack ... as such actions have no place in a civil society."

In Carrboro, Mayor Mark Chilton asked his board members by e-mail if they would like to consider a similar statement at a future meeting.  

"Absolutely," Alderman Randee Haven-O'Donnell wrote back, "civil discourse is to be respected and upheld, all violence condemned."

Alderman Dan Coleman suggested Carrboro consider a more strongly worded resolution.  
 
"I would not vote against this, but I do not particularly support it. It strikes me as a fairly bland response," he wrote. "If we are to have a resolution, I prefer one that does not just single out he who pulled the trigger but also those who put the gun in his hand and aimed it."

The weekend shootings have got people asking whether political rhetoric has contributed to a breakdown in civil discourse. Former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin posted a video on her Facebook page today, accusing journalists and political analysts of inciting hatred in the wake of the  Arizona shootings.  Last spring, Palin targeted Giffords' district as one of 20 that the GOP should take back, each marked with the cross hairs of a gun sight, according to the Associated Press.

Documents:

It would be an understatement to say that Wake County school board member John Tedesco and Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association President Dan Coleman faced a largely hostile crowd Thursday night.

As noted in today's article, both men faced sharp questions and were repeatedly interrupted by the crowd of around 100 people at the RWCA meeting. Coleman faced calls for a no confidence vote while Tedesco was accused of not being able to prove that the new community-based assignment plan would improve academics.

"You don't know me but I know you," said Montica Talmadge, an RWCA member, to Tedesco. "The program that you want to implement is crap."

Perhaps these are more musings than letters. Here are four offerings from readers: one on President Obama, one on a recent Paul Krugman column on the economy, one on the state of things in America and one a reminiscence on the N.C. State University bell tower.