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form, and function than Chapel Hill In-Town Limits. The interests and environments of the <br /> JPA/ETJ people need to have their own representative, because unless you live there, you just <br /> don't get it and you won't understand what we want and why we want it." <br /> Debbie Mesquela asked for her comments to be put on the Chapel Hill website. She <br /> said the request is that the names of the seats remain the same, and whoever holds these seats <br /> would represent the needs of the JPA/ETJ. <br /> Mayor Kleinschmidt clarified that the only seat to be eliminated was the JPA seat, which <br /> would be replaced with a Chapel Hill resident. He said the ETJ seat would remain the same. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said the proposal from Chapel Hill is reasonable, and the County <br /> has a similar process for addressing seats that are vacant for 180 days. He suggested a period <br /> between 90 to 180 days. <br /> Mayor Kleinschmidt said that suggestion is different than the Town of Chapel Hill's <br /> Planning Commission's recommendation. <br /> Alderman Chaney asked if two seats would be reduced to one seat and would represent <br /> this small percentage of the population. <br /> Mayor Kleinschmidt said yes. <br /> Commissioner Rich clarified that the ETJ position would not be done away with, but <br /> rather the JPA seat would be combined, or if it goes unfilled by an ETJ/JPA person in a <br /> specified time period, that the seat would go to a Chapel Hill resident. <br /> Mayor Kleinschmidt said the Planning Commission's recommendation is to morph the <br /> JPA seat into a Chapel Hill resident seat, but there are other options to consider and he <br /> reviewed them. <br /> Commissioner Rich asked if the Planning Commission has a definite number of <br /> membership slots or can the numbers be increased. <br /> Gene Poveromo said State statute requires that there be at least one person from the <br /> ETJ on Board of Adjustment and Chapel Hill Planning Commission. He said the Planning <br /> Commission is made up of nine members, and the JPA agreement says there must be one JPA <br /> position. <br /> Town Council Member Palmer said Commissioner Jacobs' suggestion of 180 days is a <br /> long time and explained the appointment process and Advisory Board schedules. She said <br /> even the 90 days could be problematic. She said there are only 298 residents that live in the <br /> JPA area, which is a small number from which to find a representative to serve on these boards. <br /> Councilman Ward said he believed that the JPA still needs representation, and he <br /> supports the "another option" choice. <br /> Gene Poveromo said there is one seat dedicated to the ETJ, and it would be possible to <br /> have a second ETJ seat. <br /> Councilman Ward asked if it is possible to transform the remaining ETJ seat into one <br /> that could also be filled by a JPA resident. <br /> Mayor Kleinschmidt said that is not be possible, because there must be an ETJ <br /> representative. <br /> Mayor Kleinschmidt said another option would be to consider bringing the small JPA <br /> area into the ETJ or releasing it to the County. He said the latter option would be a longer <br /> process. <br /> Mayor Kleinschmidt said when this was created years ago, there was a lot more <br /> transition area and a lot more residents in the JPA area. <br /> Councilman Ward said he hoped that if the shorter time frame was chosen, Chapel Hill <br /> would be able to help Orange County fill these positions as the Board should be fully staffed <br /> with membership. He said a time extension could be requested if need be. <br /> Alderman Slade asked if this potential change would affect Carrboro. <br /> Gene Poveromo said the proposal does not include changing Carrboro's jurisdiction. <br />