by Rich Fowler
Staff Writer

The Chapel Hill Town Council passed a new law that will change the way elections for mayoral and town council seats will be funded for the next two municipal elections. The new Voter-Owned Elections program, approved Monday at a meeting at Town Hall, provides town money to candidates for mayor and town council to help run their 2009 and 2011 campaigns. The council set aside $25,000 in its 2008-2009 budget to start funding the four-year pilot program.
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by Rich Fowler
Staff Writer

With little debate, the Chapel Hill Town Council passed a $86.2 million budget for 2008-2009 at its meeting Monday at Town Hall.

The budget includes an 11.3 percent property tax increase, from 52.2 cents per $100 valuation to 58.1 cents. It is the first time the town has raised taxes in two years.
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County Attorney Geof Gledhill has announced he will retire in December. Gledhill has served as the primary legal counsel to the Orange County Board of Commissioners for more than 30 years. He works with the Law Office of Coleman, Gledhill, Hargrave & Peek. Gledhill said he chose to retire from full-time law practice in order to spend more time with family and to become a better farmer, raising cattle, goats and various crops.

The commissioners have approved a staff attorney position and are in discussion on possible transitions for the county’s future legal services.

Members of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen remain skeptical about a potential partnership with Chatham County and Durham to construct the western intake on Jordan Lake.

OWASA is studying the idea, which gained new momentum during the recent drought.
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The Orange County Animal Services Department has organized four low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. They are:
June 18 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Fairview Community Park, Hillsborough; June 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Orange County Government Services Annex in Hillsborough; and June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Orange County Animal Shelter. The fee is $5. For information, call 245-2075.

Orange County Animal Services received their 10th report this year of a rabies case on Tuesday. A rabid raccoon attacked a pet dog in the area of Efland Cedar Grove and McDade Store roads in Cedar Grove and was killed by local residents.
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The Orange County Department of Social Services is offering fans and air conditioners, as well as crisis intervention and energy funds to help residents cope with the heat.

County residents with limited resources and no cooling source in their homes can apply to receive a fan or air conditioner at the Chapel Hill office at 2501 Homestead Rd. or the Hillsborough office at 300 West Tryon St. For more information about the heat relief efforts or donations, contact the Department of Social Services at (919) 245-2858.

by Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen have set a public hearing for June 24 to review a plan for a five-story condominium and office complex on the site of Butler’s Garage, behind The ArtsCenter and Cat’s Cradle.

The proposal for the project — dubbed ‘The Butler’ — includes 57 condominiums and 22,170 square feet of office space with two decks of parking. Nine of the condominium units would be designated as affordable.
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by Jack Carley
Staff Writer

After a fire shut down the business last November, F&F Automotive is on its way to a reopening. Owner Cleveland “Cleve” Fogleman said there is a lot of work to be done, but hopes to reopen in September.

“It’s been a big nightmare,” he said, “but the worst part is over.

“I want to say I’ve been working almost 24/7, except I’ve been sleeping. And sometimes I get up in the middle of the night.”
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by Rich Fowler
Staff Writer

Chapel Hill residents can expect an 11.3 percent increase in town property taxes should the town council approve the proposed 2008-2009 budget at its meeting Monday. It would be the first increase in property taxes in two years.

Town Manager Roger Stancil’s recommended budget contains a 5.9-cent property tax increase mainly to cover increasing debt cost from new facilities including the town operations center, the Homestead Road aquatics center and Southern Community Park.
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by Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

With little fanfare and virtually no discussion, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen unanimously passed the town’s fiscal 2008-09 budget Tuesday night.

The final vote came after Town Manager Steve Stewart modified his original proposal to include an additional $4,000 for the Orange County Land Trust. Stewart had trimmed the Land Trust’s request in a fashion similar to other jurisdictions, but was asked by the board of aldermen to fully fund the group’s request after a public hearing last week. Land Trust advocates had argued that it needs the additional funds to help sell a growing inventory of properties.
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The Board of County Commissioners postponed a decision on proposed dog tethering restrictions on Tuesday after nearly 60 people signed up to speak at the meeting about the restrictions. Commissioners said they needed more time to consider the restrictions and public comments. The board previously delayed a decision on the restrictions on May 20.
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This year’s Fiesta Latina scheduled for June 21 at Shakori Hills has been cancelled. According to a Hispanic Liaison press release, “the decision was made in large part due to the difficult financial situation that is affecting consumers and businesses nationwide.”

Fiesta Latina is rescheduled for June 20, 2009 at Shakori Hills. Fiesta Latina is sponsored by Hispanic Liaison, a nonprofit advocating for Latinos in Chatham County.

Young cancer patients in N.C. Children’s Hospital’s School of Rock will soon be jamming after the presentation of a generous $20,000 check from Rock Against Cancer, a national nonprofit organization that uses music to empower young cancer patients, on Thursday, June 5 at 10 a.m.

The School of Rock opened in February 2006 to incorporate music therapy in the N.C. Children’s Hospital’s cancer treatment.

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by Catherine Rierson
Staff Writer

Last week the Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved a six-month extension to the development moratorium to complete several major land use ordinances.

The moratorium expires December 2, and applies only to residential developments with at least 26 residential lots.
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