SUMMARY MINUTES OF A ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

SUMMARY MINUTES OF AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

OF THE CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2005, AT 7:00 P.M.

Mayor Kevin Foy called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Council members present were Sally Greene, Ed Harrison, Cam Hill, Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Strom, Dorothy Verkerk, and Edith Wiggins.

Council Member Jim Ward was absent, excused.

Also present were Council Members-elect Laurin Easthom and Bill Thorpe.

Staff members present were Town Manager Cal Horton, Deputy Town Manager Florentine Miller, Assistant Town Manager Bruce Heflin, Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos, Town Information Officer Catherine Lazorko, Planning Director J.B. Culpepper, Police Chief Gregg Jarvis, and Town Clerk Sabrina Oliver.

Mayor Foy announced that Council Member Jim Ward would not be present at tonight’s meeting. He said that he had requested that Council Member Ward represent the Town at a meeting in Montreal on Global Climate Change. Mayor Foy said that Council Member Ward had asked him to convey his best wishes to outgoing Council members and his congratulations to new Council members.

2003-2005 COUNCIL

Item 1 – Welcome: Mayor Kevin C. Foy

Mayor Foy said that today marked a turning point in Chapel Hill. He said though the Council as an institution continued, the Council as a group of people changed. Mayor Foy said they were closing the 2003-2005 term of the Council by saying goodbye to two of its colleagues, Edith Wiggins and Dorothy Verkerk.

Mayor Foy said as they looked back at the accomplishments of the Council term that ends today, they look back with pride and with satisfaction, due in great part to the work of Edith Wiggins and Dorothy Verkerk, along with the rest of the Council. He said today also brought sadness for them, because they would miss these two members.

Mayor Foy said he would miss both of them because each had a great sense of humor, and they used it during meetings frequently to add a little bit of levity to what could sometimes become overly grave deliberations. He said he would miss their unique perspectives on the issues that the Council tackled.

Mayor Foy said that today also brought energy, enthusiasm and optimism because the Council also welcomed Laurin Easthom and Bill Thorpe to the Council, and they looked forward to the challenges the new term of Council would encounter and the new ideas that their new colleagues would bring. He said they also looked forward to working with them as the Council continued to guide the future of the Town.

Item 2 – Comments by Members of the 2003-2005 Council

Mayor Foy asked if any Council members had comments they wished to make. He then recognized Council Member Verkerk.

Council Member Dorothy Verkerk

Council Member Verkerk said she had only brief remarks to make, but mentioned that after four years on the Council she was pleased to receive a gift of earrings from the Town Manager, which bore the seal of the Town of Chapel Hill.

Council Member Verkerk said she especially wanted to thank the Town staff who were incredible to work with, and in particular Town Manager Cal Horton and Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos. She said it had always been wonderful working with them. Council Member Verkerk also thanked her family, Kay, Amelia, William and Youst, for having those rushed Monday night dinners.

Council Member Verkerk said in thinking back on her four years on the Council, one of the most rewarding things she had done was to be the Chair of the 2003 Bond Campaign. She remarked there were a lot of people who had part participated, but she especially wanted to thank Kevin Campbell who taught her much about how to create a beautiful web page and also make it comprehensive. Council Member Verkerk also thanked Carolyn Johnson who had created beautiful signs, noting they looked like someone really cared about the bonds, which obviously she did. She noted that Ms. Johnson was recovering from lung transplant surgery and was doing well, and that she could be assured that her work on the bonds would have a lot of repercussions of benefit for the Town.

Council Member Verkerk also thanked her husband, Youst, noting he had worked hard putting up signs for the bond campaign. She also thanked Lew Borman, their Public Relations man, who volunteered his expertise and time to the bond campaign. Council Member Verkerk also thanked Mayor Foy for his assistance in getting them organized so that they could convince citizens that the bonds would benefit all Chapel Hill citizens.

Council Member Verkerk said she had only one disappointment as a Council member, and that was when she came onto the Council, her son’s best friend, Sid, was convinced that she would be able to get a swimming pool built at Glen Lennox Apartments. She said she hated to disappoint him, but what she had liked about it was that this young man believed that a Council member could make his life better. Council Member Verkerk said she hoped that was something that they all came away with – that Council members were working to make life better for the citizens.

Mayor pro tem Edith Wiggins

Mayor pro tem Wiggins said she was delighted to see so many friends and supporters, and was particularly delighted to have her family present tonight. She said that tonight she concluded 17 years of public service, eight years as a member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School Board, and nine years as a member of the Chapel Hill Town Council.

Mayor pro tem Wiggins said as she prepared to leave she realized how much she owed so many, so she would use her time to thank them. She said it had been a privilege and a wonderful honor to serve Chapel Hill, and she was humbled and blessed that the citizens of her community allowed her to serve her in these ways. Mayor pro tem Wiggins stated she would always be grateful for their support of these years.

Mayor pro tem Wiggins said her only regret this evening was that she would not respond positively to the many requests that she continue her service, and remarked that she thanked everyone very much. She thanked her campaign committees, noting they were always successful because of their very hard work. Mayor pro tem Wiggins stated she would not forget the role each of them played in those successes.

Mayor pro tem Wiggins said she wanted to thank her friends, most of whom remained her friends throughout most of her service. She said she would always be grateful for their encouragement, evaluations and observations, noting their honest and objective feedback was invaluable. Mayor pro tem Wiggins said she appreciated their respect for and defense of her position over the years. She said she knew they did not always agree with her, but their friendships had never faltered. Mayor pro tem Wiggins said she cherished each of them, and thanked all of them so very much.

Mayor pro tem Wiggins said she wanted to acknowledge her faith community. She said their spiritual and moral support sustained and inspired her through some of the most challenging periods of Council service. Mayor pro tem Wiggins commented you did not have to have a faith community to be an effective Council member, but for her it was important and essential.

Mayor pro tem Wiggins said she was happy that her family could join her this evening. She noted her husband, Sheldon, her son Balum from Atlanta, and her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter, David, Kim and Sarah from Cary. Mayor pro tem Wiggins said these were the people who provided the balance in her life that enabled her to be a better Council member. She thanked them for their hard work throughout all of her campaigns, for always agreeing with her and keeping it to themselves when they didn’t, and for all of their personal sacrifices. Mayor pro tem Wiggins said they knew more about what it took to run Chapel Hill than they ever wanted to, and she thanked them for listening. She thanked her family for the extra effort they had made to schedule family time around Council commitments, and that most of all, she thanked them for their love.

Mayor pro tem Wiggins said she could not leave the Council without recognizing the hundreds of women and men who worked for the Town of Chapel Hill. She noted one of her greatest satisfactions as a Council member was her support of the Town Manager’s recommendations for the highest compensation possible each year. Another, she said, was the response to the request that they survey and audit each of the departments and access the work climate. Mayor pro tem Wiggins said that process had led to the creation of the Employee’s Forum. Speaking to the Town Manager, she said she did not believe that this Forum had yet met its full potential, but knew he would continue to search for ways to involve this employee group in his decision-making and in the decision-making of the Council.

To Mayor Foy, Mayor pro tem Wiggins offered her thanks to him for his leadership, a leadership characterized by respect for various viewpoints and one that sought to bring consensus not only among Council members but among the many organizations, institutions and citizen groups in the community.

Speaking to Council Members-elect Easthom and Thorpe, she thanked them for their willingness to serve the community. She said that they and the returning Council members had the usual challenges before them, and she knew they would perform their responsibilities as Council members well and she looked forward to their contributions.

Mayor pro tem Wiggins said this was a unique and wonderful community, full with unique and wonderful people. She thanked everyone for her unique and wonderful opportunity to serve them, and that they had her sincere best wishes.

Item 3 – Recess

Mayor Foy commented that the Council would take a brief recess to allow outgoing Council members to leave the Council table and allow remaining Council members to take their newly assigned places at the table.

2005-2007 COUNCIL

Item 4 – Oaths of Office for the Mayor-Elect and Council Members-Elect

Mayor Foy asked Superior Court Judge Carl Fox to come to the podium. He reminded the community that Judge Fox had served as District Attorney for the district many years, and was now a Superior Court Judge. Mayor Foy said this community was very proud of him and was pleased to have him here this evening to administer the oaths of office.

The Oath of Office was administered to Mayor Kevin C. Foy by Superior Court Judge Carl Fox.

Mayor Foy requested that Carrboro Mayor Mike Nelson come forward. The Oath of Office was administered to Council Member Mark Kleinschmidt by Carrboro Mayor Mike Nelson.

The Oath of Office was administered to Council Member Ed Harrison by Superior Court Judge Carl Fox.

The Oath of Office was administered to Council Member-elect Laurin Easthom by Superior Court Judge Carl Fox.

The Oath of Office was administered to Council Member-elect Bill Thorpe by Superior Court Judge Carl Fox.

Item 5 – Seating of the New Council

Mayor Foy said they now begin a new term of the Chapel Hill Town Council. He called on Council Member Thorpe, who had served previously on the Council, to make the first motion.

Item 6 – Appointment of Mayor Pro Tempore

Council Member Thorpe stated it was his honor to make the first motion of the new Council, to name Council Member Bill Strom as the new Mayor pro tem. He said that during his previous service, the Council had decided that rather than elect a Mayor pro tem that the person who had served on the Council the longest and had not served as Mayor pro tem would serve in that position, thereby giving everyone the opportunity to serve in that capacity.

COUNCIL MEMBER BILL THORPE MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HILL, TO APPOINTMENT COUNCIL MEMBER BILL STROM AS MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE COUNCIL. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (8-0).

Item 7 – Resolution of Appreciation for former Mayor pro tem Edith Wiggins

Mayor Foy requested that former Mayor pro tem Edith Wiggins come forward. He then read a resolution in her honor.

Ms. Wiggins received a standing ovation. Mayor Foy then presented Ms. Wiggins with a potted orchid from the Council in honor of their enduring regard and respect for her.

Lillian Lee noted that if the history of Chapel Hill was written fairly, Ms. Wiggins would occupy the pages with those such as Hubert Robinson, R. D. Smith, Alice Welsh, Shirley Marshall, Howard Lee, and many others who had so ably served the Town. She said Ms. Wiggins had done her homework, and if she had to give her a grade she would give her an “A.”

Ms. Lee said Ms. Wiggins was as smart as anyone who had ever served on the Council. She said Ms. Wiggins did not have a personal agenda; rather she was about what was best for all of Chapel Hill. She said Ms. Wiggins was not on a quest for power, but only wanted to serve Chapel Hill, and like the late Shirley Chisholm, Ms. Wiggins had enough stubbornness and toughness in her that she was unbought and unbossed.

Ms. Lee said Ms. Wiggins was not one to talk unless she had something to say, and when she did speak she was thoughtful, insightful, and precise. She said Ms. Wiggins had brought those qualities to the Council for nine years, and she had done so for eight years on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board. Ms. Lee asked that as Ms. Wiggins left here tonight, to know that many thanked her, appreciated her, and wished her “happy trails” as she spent more time with all of her family, particularly “the boss, Miss Sarah Grace,” Ms. Wiggins’ granddaughter.

Ms. Lee said to Ms. Wiggins that she was her friend and friend to many others, and those present tonight wanted to bid her a fond adieu and thank her for all she had done. She then said, ‘For all you do, this bud’s for you,” and presented Ms. Wiggins with a rose bud.

Edith Caldwell stated that Chapel Hill would miss Ms. Wiggins, adding that she certainly would. She expressed her love for Ms. Wiggins and thanked her for her service. Ms. Caldwell then presented Ms. Wiggins with a bouquet of flowers.

Delores Bailey said on behalf of the board and staff of EmPowerment, Inc., she thanked Ms. Wiggins for her work. She stated that a thank you was not enough for all Ms. Wiggins had done for the communities in Chapel Hill, so they had prepared a bouquet of roses. Ms. Bailey said the bouquet contained 17 roses, one for each year of Ms. Wiggins’ public service to Chapel Hill, as well as an extra one for when Ms. Wiggins sat back and said “whew.” She thanked Ms. Wiggins for caring about this community. Ms. Bailey then presented Ms. Wiggins with the bouquet.

Reverend Seymour, retired Pastor of Binkley Memorial Baptist Church, said one thing no one said but that everyone should know about Ms. Wiggins was that she was a “PK,” a preacher’s kid. He said she was the daughter of a Methodist minister, and he was touched by her expression of thanks to her faith community. Reverend Seymour said he had know Ms. Wiggins since she came to Chapel Hill as a graduate student and joined Binkley Memorial Baptist Church. He said he had had the pleasure of being her pastor for 30 years, and they had all been blessed by her presence in her faith community. Reverend Seymour said they were grateful for everything Ms. Wiggins had meant to this community.

Item 8 – Resolution of Appreciation for former Council Member Dorothy Verkerk

Mayor Foy requested that former Council Member Dorothy Verkerk come forward, noting that Ms. Verkerk was a “PK” as well. He then read a resolution in her honor.

Ms. Verkerk received a standing ovation. Mayor Foy then presented Ms. Verkerk with a potted orchid from the Council in honor of their enduring regard and respect for her.

Comments from Judge Joseph Bucker

Mayor Foy said before the meeting continued, he wanted to ask Judge Joseph Buckner to come forward. He commented that Judge Buckner had traveled all over the State today to swear in newly-elected members of boards, and had thought to be late for tonight’s meeting. Mayor Foy said that Judge Fox had competently stood in for Judge Buckner.

Judge Buckner commented that all the hours of training Judge Fox had put in had paid off tonight. He said he tried to do what the Chapel Hill Mayor and Council told him to do, since he was a 29-year resident of Chapel Hill. But, Judge Buckner said, there was a Siler City resident who had held jurisdiction over him for 46 years by the name of Helen Buckner, and she had told him that he was going to be in Siler City at 7 p.m. tonight.

Judge Buckner said he was a little relieved that Judge Fox was no longer the prosecutor, since he had made the trip from Siler City in about 30 minutes which he believed would warrant prosecution for violation of speed laws.

Judge Buckner said he was proud to be a resident of Chapel Hill, noting it was a unique and strong place to live. He said it had a lot of challenges as did other municipalities. Judge Buckner said he appreciated everyone’s service on this Council, not just because his mother served on a similar board in Siler City but because of the openness that the Council members had.

Judge Buckner related a story regarding Ms. Wiggins. He said he had asked his friend, Don Boulton, what she was like when she had first ran for office. Judge Buckner said Mr. Boulton had responded that Ms. Wiggins was the type of person you could talk to about anything, and he had always found her to be so. He said he wished Ms. Wiggins well.

Item 9 – Appointment of Council Liaisons and Committee Assignments

Mayor Foy noted that the next item was the appointment of Council liaisons and representatives to our various boards and commissions, and committees and task forces.

COUNCIL MEMBER KLEINSCHMIDT MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GREENE, TO ACCEPT THE COUNCIL LIAISON AND COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AS NOTED IN ATTACHMENT ONE OF TONIGHT’S MATERIALS. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (8-0).

Council Liaisons and Committee Assignments

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board............................................................................ Jim Ward

Board of Adjustment.......................................................................................................... Cam Hill

Chapel Hill Museum........................................................................................................ Bill Thorpe

Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission.................................................................. Mark Kleinschmidt

Public Art Contextual Plan Advisory Committee............ Sally Greene, Mark Kleinschmidt

Public Art Review Committee for Expansion of the Public Library..................... Jim Ward

Public Art Review Committee for Green Infrastructure.................................... Ed Harrison

Public Art Review Committee for Homestead Park Aquatic Park................... Sally Greene

Public Art Review Committee for IFC Shelter...................................... Mark Kleinschmidt

Public Art Review Committee for Southern Community Park............................. Bill Strom

Public Art Review Committee for Town Operations Center.................................. Cam Hill

Chapel Hill Active Living by Design Partnership Advisory Committee................. Laurin Easthom

Citizen’s Committee to Study Traffic Issues

on Weaver Dairy Road........................................................................ Lauren Easthom, Bill Thorpe

Committee to Study the Possible Creation of Student Seats

on Town Advisory Boards and Commissions.................................. Mark Kleinschmidt, Jim Ward

Community Design Commission......................................................................................... Cam Hill

Council Committees:

Conservation Easements in Open Spaces................... Jim Ward, Sally Greene, Ed Harrison

To develop a charge and process regarding student seats

on Town Advisory Boards............................... Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Thorpe, Jim Ward

To Consider Development Options for Parking

Lots 2 and 5................................................................................ Sally Greene, Ed Harrison,

Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Strom, Jim Ward

On Elections Financing....................................................................... Cam Hill, Bill Thorpe

Facilities Naming Committee........................................ Sally Greene, Bill Strom, Jim Ward

Firefighters’ Relief Fund..................................................................................... Bill Thorpe

Orange Water and Sewer Authority (Interview Committee).............. Cam Hill, Bill Strom,

Bill Thorpe, Jim Ward

Sustainability, Energy, and Environment,................................................... Laurin Easthom,

Bill Strom, Jim Ward

Council on Sustainable Community (Chamber of Commerce)........................... Mark Kleinschmidt

Continuing Concerns Committee.............................................................................................. None

Durham/Chapel Hill/Orange Work Group................................................... Ed Harrison, Bill Strom

Greene Tract Work Group.............................................................................. Kevin Foy, Bill Strom

Greenways Commission.................................................................................................. Bill Thorpe

Historic District Commission........................................................................................ Sally Greene

Horace Williams Citizen’s Committee................................... Laurin Easthom, Mark Kleinschmidt,

Bill Strom

Horace Williams Planning Advisory Committee (UNC)................................. Bill Strom, Jim Ward

Housing and Community Development Advisory Board............................................. Sally Greene

Human Services Advisory Board......................... Mark Kleinschmidt, Laurin Easthom (Alternate)

Inclusionary Zoning Task Force.................................. Sally Greene, Cam Hill, Mark Kleinschmidt

Intergovernmental Parks Work Group (OC)................................................... Bill Strom, Jim Ward

International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives................................................ Jim Ward

(Alternate) Ed Harrison

Joint Orange-Chatham Community Action (JOCCA).............................................................. None

Library Board of Trustees.................................................................................................. Jim Ward

Library Building Committee........................................................................ Sally Greene, Cam Hill,

Bill Strom, Jim Ward

Library Foundation Board................................................................................................. Jim Ward

Mayor’s Committees:

Campaign Finance.............................................................. Bill Thorpe, Mark Kleinschmidt

Council Communications............................................................................. Laurin Easthom

Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Strom

On Obeys Creek.................................................................. Jim Ward, Bill Strom, Cam Hill

UNC Development............................................................................................... Bill Strom

Metropolitan Coalition...................................................................................................... Kevin Foy

Million Solar Roofs Initiative Steering Committee............................................ Mark Kleinschmidt

Orange-Chatham Work Group............................................................................................ Cam Hill

Orange Community Housing and Land Trust.......................................................... Laurin Easthom

Orange County Air Quality Advisory Committee............................................................. Jim Ward

Orange County Animal Shelter Operations Task Force.................................................... Bill Strom

Orange County Homestead Road/High School Road Task Force..................................... Jim Ward

Orange County Soccer Symposium Task Force................................................................. Jim Ward

Orange County Solid Waste Advisory Board Subcommittee.......................................... Bill Strom

Orange County Southern Orange Senior Center Design Committee....................... Laurin Easthom

Orange County Transfer of Development Rights Task Force........................................... Bill Strom

Orange County Visitor's Bureau Board of Directors......................................................... Jim Ward

Parks and Recreation Commission...................................................................................... Cam Hill

Personnel Appeals Committee......................................................................................... Bill Thorpe

Planning Board.............................................................................................................. Sally Greene

Public Transit Committee....................................................................... Laurin Easthom, Jim Ward

Stormwater Management Utility Advisory Board......................................................... Ed Harrison

TTA Board of Trustees..................................................................................................... Bill Strom

TTA Fixed Guideway Advisory Group............................................................................ Bill Strom

Technology Committee....................................................................................... Mark Kleinschmidt

Town Operations Center Design Advisory Committee............................................. Entire Council

Town Pay Plan Committee Convener................................................................................. Cam Hill

Transportation Advisory Committee for the Durham-Chapel Hill

Urbanized Area ...................................................................................... Kevin Foy, Ed Harrison

Transportation Board..................................................................................................... Ed Harrison

Triangle J Council of Governments...................................................... Ed Harrison, (No Alternate)

Triangle J Council of Governments Regional Appearance Committee.................... Laurin Easthom

Triangle J Council of Governments Smart Growth Committee..................................... Ed Harrison

Triangle J Council of Governments Water Resource Committee.................................. Ed Harrison

Item 10 – Closing Comments by the Mayor and Council Members

Council Member Laurin Easthom

Council Member Easthom thanked those who had helped her achieve this lofty goal. She said she appreciated the hard work and many hours that went into her campaign, noting it was tough but worth the effort. Council Member Easthom thanked first and foremost her family. She said she wanted her daughters, Emily and Haley, to see what hard work could do. Council Member Easthom said she wanted them to know that they could do whatever they wanted as long as they worked hard and had a little good luck.

Council Member Easthom thanked her husband, James, for being by her side throughout her campaign. She thanked her mother and her mother’s friend Howard for traveling from Greensboro to be with her.

Council Member Easthom stated that decades ago her grandfather had served as the Mayor of Greensboro, and she was very excited to say that she had followed in his footsteps as an elected official. She said his name was Huger S. King, and she had always respected his hard work and all he had accomplished as Mayor.

Council Member Easthom said she looked forward to serving the community as a member of the Town Council, noting that every person who came before this Council had something important to say, and it was important to her. She promised that she would always listen to those before the Council, and work hard to use her best judgment.

Council Member Easthom said she thanked everyone for their hard work, and was thrilled to be here. She thanked Ms. Wiggins and Ms. Verkerk for their years of service, and hoped to follow in their footsteps as well.

Council Member Bill Thorpe

Council Member Bill Thorpe stated that first he gave his thanks to God. He then thanked his wife, Jean, for all of her assistance over the years, and his daughter, Beverly and his son William, for all of their help, particularly with this campaign. Council Member Thorpe thanked his brother, Ed, a Deputy Sheriff and Chaplain for the Sheriff’s Department, for his counseling and efforts to keep him on the right path.

Council Member Thorpe thanked Ashley Osmond, who had served as his campaign treasurer, and her daughter, Sunny, who acted as his Spanish interpreter. He thanked the Breakfast Club, who met every Saturday morning at Dip’s Country Kitchen. Council Member Thorpe also recognized R.D. Smith whom he had invited tonight, noting that Mr. Smith had served 22 years on the Town Council. He recognized Rebecca Clark, stating that anyone who had every run for office in this community would eventually have to meet with her. Council Member Thorpe thanked Ms. Clark for her confidence and the support she had given him.

Council Member Thorpe recognized Dr. Manley, noting you did not do anything in this community without talking with him. He thanked Dr. Manley for his support, noting he would not have run for this position without Dr. Manley’s early support, especially after having been defeated during several other attempts. Council Member Thorpe recognized Larry Hall, an attorney in Durham, who consistently offered counseling and was present tonight. He thanked Tom Jenson for his support. Council Member Thorpe thanked Dr. Stobal for coming from Goldsboro to support him this evening, and thanked Ed Langston for his support as well.

Council Member Thorpe thanked his neighbors, the Houstons, who had lived next door to him for 30 years, for being present to support him tonight. He thanked all of his other friends and neighbors who were present as well. Council Member Thorpe said most of all, he thanked the citizens of Chapel Hill who had given him this opportunity to serve.

Council Member Thorpe said he had approached Ms. Wiggins the day before filing to run for the Council, to determine whether or not she was going to retire from the Council, which had prompted him to file. He thanked the entire community for their help and the opportunity to serve them, and stated they could depend on him.

Council Member Harrison

Council Member Harrison said there were many people he wanted to thank, probably not by name except for those closest to him. He began with all of those active in the election process, many of whom were present tonight. Council Member Harrison said more than anyone he wanted to thank his family, staring with his wife, Pat, who had assisted him in taking the Oath of Office and who had “put up with a lot” this fall. He thanked his cousin, Laura Harrison Teague and her husband, Joe, for coming from Raleigh to be with him.

Council Member Harrison remarked there were three people in particular he wanted to thank, but who were not able to be present tonight, and they were his parents, Monique and Norwood Harrison, and his sister, Madeleine. He said that all three had contracted an illness in the last two days and were unable to travel, although they had been looking forward to this event and meeting his colleagues. Council Member Harrison said he was grateful that his mother, who had experienced a difficult year, had lived long enough to see him re-elected, and was grateful that his father, who had walked away from the total wreck of a car a few months ago, had survived to see this day as well.

Council Member Harrison said he wanted to thank his campaign volunteers and all of his supporters, noting it was a privilege to be their candidate of choice. He said it had struck him late in the campaign that there were people working really hard for him that did not agree with everything he had done, to the point of saying he really should not have voted for this or that, yet they still volunteered to work on his behalf. Council Member Harrison said he believed what they were supporting, as well as many others, was his approach to public service. He said they had just lost two of the finest Council members he had ever known, Ms. Wiggins and Ms. Verkerk, but had gained two other promising ones.

Council Member Harrison said as one of his supporters had said publicly, he listened well. He said he tried to listen well and study the issues thoroughly, and his approach was to make up his mind only when the community was ready for a decision. Council Member Harrison said he wanted to consistently hold to that approach, and to work on what he had promised to work on, including a 21^st century transportation system for Chapel Hill which he had already worked on for many years, including four years as a Council member. He said it was a local but very important issue, and one that Ms. Verkerk had raised a flag on years ago, which included a range of issues, from regional transit reaching Chapel Hill to our being a Town which helps children to cross the street safely.

Council Member Harrison said that, along with the rest of the Council, he wanted to work on a collaborative relationship between the University and the community. He said he wanted to work with this Council on careful choices for how to spend the bond funds approved by citizens two years ago, a campaign that was led so strongly by Ms. Verkerk. Council Member Harrison said those bonds were for more open space and an expanded library among other things, and citizens can expect that he will continue to be a team player on a Council that was a fine team already. He remarked that he would continue to think for himself and work with all segments of the community.

Council Member Harrison again thanked the community for its support and for the support of his campaign workers, but above all the support of his family. He said as Ms. Wiggins had done, he wanted to thank his community of faith, the Church of the Holy Family, whose members had helped him to use it as a place to get away from the recent campaign and to think of other things.

Council Member Kleinschmidt

Council Member Kleinschmidt said he wanted to extend a welcome to the visitors from Goldsboro, noting that was his hometown and he still tried to visit there as often as possible. He thanked everyone for their help over the last years, but wanted to mention several people in particular. Council Member Kleinschmidt noted he thanked his family for their support and for traveling to be with him tonight. He mentioned his parents as well as his sister and niece, noting that his sister, Michelle, had served as his treasurer four years ago and swore she would never do it again. Council Member Kleinschmidt said although she did not serve in that capacity this time, the work she had done on his campaign was just as valuable, and he thanked her for that. He also thanked his secret weapon, his niece Asia Marie, for her support.

Council Member Kleinschmidt said thanks to the whole crew from Littleton for traveling here tonight, noting it was great to have so many family and friends here to share this very special night. He thanked his campaign manager, Andrew Troy, a law student and a student in the School of Public Health, who he had dragged into the re-election campaign almost at the last minute, and who had sacrificed what his professors termed as way too much time to the campaign. Council Member Kleinschmidt thanked his treasurer, Barrie Wallace, who although not a citizen of Chapel Hill was a citizen of Orange County and served on the Planning Board in Hillsborough. He remarked that for years she had told him how she wanted to help make Hillsborough like Chapel Hill, and how much she appreciated the thoughtful approach to planning, economic development, and social justice that we enjoy in Chapel Hill and would like to bring that to Hillsborough.

Council Member Kleinschmidt stated that Ms. Wallace also worked with him at the Center for Death Penalty Litigation, and he would be remiss not to thank everyone he worked with. He noted that in working with a bunch of lawyers in high stakes criminal defense work, to have a Council member running around could be a little distracting sometimes. Council Member Kleinschmidt said his co-workers had exhibited extraordinary patience and he extended his unending gratitude to them.

Council Member Kleinschmidt offered a special thanks to all those who paid their $5 to enter the race for these five seats, including special congratulations to Ms. Easthom and Mr. Thorpe for joining him at this table. He congratulated Council Member Harrison on his re-election, adding he was looking forward to working with him. Council Member Kleinschmidt thanked Council Member Harrison for his leadership on so many issues not only for the last four years but during the last six months during the campaign. He said he had learned a great deal from him as well as from the rest of the Council.

Council Member Kleinschmidt told his friends, Jason, Will, Robin, Walker, Tanya and Aaron, that they were an inspiration and helped him to think of issues in a different way because they were willing to talk with him about those issues. He thanked them for being so much a part of an extraordinary campaign, noting they had made it better because of the things they had talked about over the last six months, and he thought they had certainly made him a better Council member.

Council Member Kleinschmidt thanked the people of Chapel Hill for the opportunity to serve and the trust they had placed in him. He commented that over the last several months he had talked often about how they could have a Chapel Hill for all of them, a town that they could all live in and enjoy. Council Member Kleinschmidt said he had talked with people who had a real interest in environmental issues, and that this had to be a place that continued to fight for the environment protection. He said this was a Council that had demonstrated that.

Council Member Kleinschmidt said there was a segment of the community that spent much time on economic development issues, which was extremely important to the quality of life enjoyed in Chapel Hill. He said this was a Council of which he was extremely proud because they had made strong commitments to those issues, and they would continue to do so. Council Member Kleinschmidt said in particular this Council had made a commitment to issues of social justice, issues that he spent his professional life as well as his personal life working with in an intimate way. He said he could not be prouder of the last four years and the moments when the Chapel Hill Town Council took strong positions on social justice issues, whether it was renaming Airport Road to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, or the issues surrounding employee pay. And, he said, the Council’s willingness to comment on the state of the world, and how our country should reflect similar values that were held here in Chapel Hill.

Council Member Kleinschmidt said those had been the most extraordinary moments, the times when he had been the most proud to serve as a member of the Council. He said he looked forward to many more such moments in the future. Council Member Kleinschmidt said thanks so much to Chapel Hill for trusting him to serve again, and he looked forward to the next four years.

Mayor Kevin C. Foy

Mayor Foy thanked the citizens of Chapel Hill for his re-election as Mayor. He said being the Mayor of Chapel Hill was an extraordinary honor, and he treasured it. Mayor Foy remarked that Chapel Hill was a unique place, and held a unique place in the hearts and minds of people throughout the State and the country. He said it was the responsibility of those who live here to continue to cherish what was special about this place, and it was the particular responsibility of the elected officials to see that as they flourish and grow that they respect who they are. Mayor Foy said he believed that was the Council’s most essential charge.

Mayor Foy said he was sorry to see Ms. Wiggins and Ms. Verkerk leave the Council, and wished them the best of luck. He said he was very happy to welcome Ms. Easthom and Mr. Thorpe to the Council, and looked forward to a great and challenging next few years.

Mayor Foy announced that immediately following adjournment, a reception would be held in honor of former and current Council members, and invited those present to join them. He thanked everyone who had attended.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m.