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Appointments to the Board of Adjustment
PURPOSE: This agenda item is for Council to make appointments to the Board of Adjustment.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Town Clerk
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Contact
CONTACT INFORMATION: Wendy Welsh, Interim Town Clerk, 919-918-7310, wwelsh@carrboronc.gov
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
___ Race/Equity ____ Climate ____ Comprehensive Plan __X__Other
Council Direction Statement
The Town Council follows the Advisory Board Recruitment and Appointment Policy which was adopted on 11-21-2017. Text amendments to this policy were approved by the Town Council on 12-1-2020 and 4-13-2021, respectively, to the section entitled “Composition” which related to expanding the racial and ethnic diversity on advisory boards and commissions. The Advisory Board Recruitment and Appointment Policy has been evaluated using the Racial Equity Lens tool which was finalized in May 2023, which is attached here as Attachment E.
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Information
INFORMATION: The Board of Adjustment shall consist of nine (9) members.
• Seven (7) members, appointed by the Town Council, shall reside within the town.
• One (1) member, appointed by the Orange County Board of Commissioners, shall reside within the Town's Extraterritorial planning area.
• One (1) member, appointed by the Orange County Board of Commissioners, shall reside within the Town's Joint Planning transition area.
The Board of Adjustment currently has three (3) vacancies for in-town seats and three (3) in-town seats up for reappointment recommendation.
A new application was received by Kacy Gordon for an in-town seat on the board. Ms. Gordon has attended a meeting and Brian Hageman, Chair of the Board of Adjustment, has submitted the chair form. Ms. Gordon is a Biology Professor at UNC, has been a Carrboro resident for over eight years, and has volunteered in multiple organizations throughout her lifetime.
A new application was received by Heather Hunt for an in-town seat on the board. Ms. Hunt has had a conversation about expectations with Brian Hageman, Chair of the Board of Adjustment. Ms. Hunt is an Attorney, has been a Carrboro resident for 30 years, and has volunteered for multiple organizations, to include serving on the Planning Board.
A new application was received by Melinda Manning for an in-town seat on the board. Ms. Manning has had a conversation about expectations with Brian Hageman, Chair of the Board of Adjustment. Ms. Manning is a Hospital Administrator for UNC Health, has been a Carrboro resident for 17 years, and has served on various professional boards and volunteered with different organizations throughout her life.
The three vacant positions’ terms expire in 2025. Members are allowed to serve one partial term and two full terms. Keeping this schedule will prohibit all terms from expiring in the same year.
Linda Bowerman, who currently serves as an in-town appointee, is up for reappointment for her third appointment and is interested in continuing to serve. Ms. Bowerman was initially appointed to fill an in-town seat and has served two-full three-year terms. She is currently only one of two females on the board and has been a Carrboro resident for 15 years.
Brian Hageman, who currently serves as an in-town appointee, is up for reappointment for his third appointment and is interested in continuing to serve. Mr. Hageman was initially appointed to fill an in-town seat and has served two-full three-year terms. He is currently the chair of the board and has been a Carrboro resident for 8 years.
Sriv Navaratnam, who currently serves as an in-town appointee, is eligible for reappointment for his fifth appointment and is interested in continuing to serve. Mr. Navaratnam was initially appointed to fill an in-town seat and has served four full three-year terms. He currently is the only diverse male on the board and has been a Carrboro resident for 21 years.
If all appointments and reappointments are made then this would fill all seats on the Board of Adjustment.
Applications and Chair Forms for new applicants are included as Attachment B.
Applications and Chair Forms for re-appointments are included as Attachment C.
An informational matrix is included as Attachment D.
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that Council review and consider making appointments to the Board of Adjustment’s three vacant in-town seats and consider the three reappointments to in-town seats.
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