Agenda - 01-24-2013 - 7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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EN task force has met the charge and has identified the monies. She also thinks that they have identified their commitment to sewer and the community center. She does not want to keep discussing this without making sure that all of the managers have discussed this. She does not want to hold any of this back. Mayor Chilton said that Carrboro elected officials are in an unusual position in that a huge portion of the sewer component and the costs of serving the entire area happens to fall within the town limits of Carrboro. However, the number of homeowners and renters to be served who live in the Carrboro town limits is very small. He said that Carrboro is very happy to participate to the tune of $900,000. He likes what the attorney suggested regarding focusing on the sewer lines. Commissioner McKee thanked the members of the task force. He said that he does not see anything that cannot be worked out. He thinks that the sewer issue and the community center issue be disengaged. He said that one should not depend on the other, nor should any recommendation depend on another recommendation for the community center to move forward. He will continue to push that the community center be moved forward one way or the other. He said that he is determined that the County will build this center. Commissioner Jacobs asked Pam Hemminger to answer the question about Habitat's participation. Pam Hemminger said that Habitat owns the property where the community center is supposed to be located and is dedicating property. There had to be a special use permit process for this to happen. This is one of the reasons that Habitat is involved. Habitat does not want to assume responsibility for long -term care and maintenance of the building. Habitat did offer to be the construction engineer /contractor for this building. This will be a lot less cost. She knows that there are legal issues to be worked out and these can be worked out. Chapel Hill Town Councilmember Ward voiced support for continuation of the task force. He asked that the charge be revised and updated to address the upcoming questions related to the remaining issues. He said that the task force is really good at having representatives of all elected bodies coming to meetings so that as the staff work through the issues, there is a venue where there can be updates, etc. Without the task force in place, it is cumbersome to get the approval information to the three elected boards. Chair Pelissier said that she is struggling with the extension of the task force, especially when it comes to the community center. She does not want to hold things up. She would like to hear from staff about whether these things can be worked out. Commissioner Jacobs said that the County Commissioners have made no explicit vote on whether or not to continue the task force. The Board implicitly agreed with its two representatives that it was worth continuing, but the Board no longer has any representatives on the task force (Pam Hemminger and Valerie Foushee are no longer on the Board). It is on the January 24th agenda for discussion on whether or not to appoint two new people or whether or not the task force has finished its work. Commissioner Dorosin made reference to the sewer issues. He said that these are fundamental policy issues that should be resolved and not by staff. He said that he remains committed to the idea that every resident in the Rogers Road Historic Neighborhood gets connected to the water and sewer at no cost. He said that he would like to decide now or soon that the boards are committed to funding the infrastructure mains and the connections from the mains to the meters at the very least at no cost to existing residents. He is concerned about the language about special assessments, loans, and sliding scales. He said that if they go down any of these paths, then it is a betrayal of the commitment made to this community. Commissioner Price said that she agreed with Commissioner Dorosin and she is committed to seeing the community center through. She thinks that the task force needs to continue to meet. She thinks that the legal issues can be worked out. She agreed with separating the two issues so that the community center can be built as soon as possible. Alderman Johnson said the task force voted at their last meeting to continue the task force for six months. She said that one of the recommendations was for managers to meet and