By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer
CARRBORO — Just before a break in a lengthy meeting Tuesday night at Town Hall, Mayor Mark Chilton looked out at those assembled, smiled and said, “The bankers are getting quite a civics lesson.â€
He was referring to representatives of BB&T and Harrington Bank, who have been in head-to-head competition to win the town’s banking contract for more than a year. It was their second appearance at Town Hall since the board of aldermen returned from summer break.
The board, which is moving its banking services from Bank of America, deadlocked Aug. 31.
Tuesday night, the protracted discussion ended with a 4-2 vote in favor of Harrington Bank, which won the contract mainly because its local charter fit more closely with the board’s effort to work with local businesses.
Board members Dan Coleman and Lydia Lavelle voted against the motion to choose Harrington, with board members Jacquie Gist, Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Sammy Slade and Chilton voting for it. Board member Joal Hall Broun was recused from voting. Haven-O’Donnell had previously voted against a motion to select Harrington.
Also on Tuesday night, the board continued a public hearing on the proposed new design for Smith Level Road.
Since the board last discussed the project, the town’s Transportation Advisory Board and representatives from the N.C. Department of Transportation worked through some of the concerns raised during discussions last spring.
Jason Henning, a resident of the Berryhill neighborhood, said that although he is pleased with the progress of the discussion, he and his neighbors are still concerned about the traffic flow in and out of their neighborhood.
Several board members said they were in support of the project but wanted further details on the possibilities for sidewalk connections on the east side of the Rock Haven Road intersection and whether the town can plan now for a possible connection to an extension of the Fan Branch Greenway from Southern Village. Gist also asked for more information on how construction might impact residents in assisted-living centers along the route.
The board agreed to extend the public hearing to Sept. 28 to allow residents time to review DOT’s latest set of drawings for the project, including details of sidewalks, construction easements and curb and gutter design.
In other action, the board:
• approved the temporary closing of Fowler Street on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for St. Joseph CME Church’s annual Frangelism in the Park event;
• set a public hearing for Sept. 21 on the extension of bond authorization for the sidewalk and greenways construction program;
• canceled a Sept. 14 board work session; and
• appointed Sue Millager to the Orange County Animal Services Advisory Board.