Dave Otto, the founder and former chair of the influential Friends of Bolin Creek organization, last weekend stepped down from the group's steering committee.
Otto made the announcement in an message sent to the Friends e-mail list on Feb. 27. His message read:"I am resigning from the FoBC Steering Committee, effective immediately. I believe that my continued presence on the committee would be counterproductive to the challenges that face the group
today. It has been an enormous privilege to have been part of this exciting organization for the past decade and I sincerely wish the group success as you continue the important work of preserving the
Bolin Creek corridor."
Otto didn't post any additional details about his reasons for resigning. His resignation follows by less than two months another self-imposed change of position prompted by a deep debate within the Friends organization and among the wider community over the nature of a proposed greenway along Bolin Creek in Carrboro. On Jan. 11, Otto stepped down as co-chair of the Friends of Bolin Creek, taking instead the position of vice-chair. He did that, he said, in part because he and fellow co-chair Julie McClintock disagreed over the greenway issue, and he did "not think it is in the best interest of the Friends of Bolin Creek for the leadership to be split in this way."
Otto supports a paved greenway; McClintock favors an unpaved one.
McClintock responded to Otto's resignation e-mail with one of her own, saying he would be missed and thanking him for his years of service.
Otto founded the Friends of Bolin Creek almost 10 years ago to work for the preservation of the creek corridor.
Dave Hart is the associate editor of The Chapel Hill News.He can be reached at 
Comments
A real loss
Sun, 03/07/2010 - 11:31 — tbucknerDave's decision is, on one hand, very honorable. He cares more for the organization than his own own beliefs. But, on the other hand, his departure means there is no one advocating for the 1) more inclusive design, and 2) solution that so many ecologists are saying is in the best interest of the creek (managed pavement vs hard packed soil).
I hate to see negative politics extending into an organization that was founded around a community goal. Surely we can work out differences of opinion without pushing people out. The loss of Dave's voice within FoBC and his devotion to the creek is a loss to the community in more ways than one.
Oh the drama
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 18:12 — elvisboy77Over a stupid dirt path. Only in Chapelboro.
You say
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 19:36 — Manydirt, I say PAVED! So there!
Yes!
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 05:57 — elvisboy77Like my t shirt sez: Pave the Planet- one world, one people, one slab of asphalt!