News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC (February , 2023) 

Read about the new affordable housing opportunity at Perry Place,  a resolution passed by the Town Council affirming the full civil and human rights of LGBTQ+ people, LGBTQ+ spaces, and LGBTQ+ events, Black History Month events in Carrboro, the Town Council Update, and more! 

Community Celebrates New Affordable Housing 

Carrboro Town Council approves resolution in solidarity with Carrboro’s LGBTQ+ Community

The Carrboro Town Council unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday, Feb. 7, affirming the full civil and human rights of LGBTQ+ people, LGBTQ+ spaces, and LGBTQ+ events.  

The resolution states the Council’s opposition to a NC Senate Bill 49, a version of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill that would require teachers to out transgender and gender-nonconforming students and prohibit discussion of LGBTQ topics in elementary schools, further stigmatizing LGBTQ people.

The resolution also expresses opposition to NC House Bill 43 that would make it unlawful for medical professionals to provide gender-affirming health care to any minor in North Carolina.

“These bills put politics above the expertise of educators and health care professionals, placing LGBTQ young people at even greater risk,” Mayor Damon Seils said. “We urge our legislators to learn the lessons of the past, that this kind of legislation undermines the well-being of North Carolinians and harms the reputation of our state.”

The Town of Carrboro is committed to fostering an environment that values intersectional visibility and support for LGBTQ+ artists, youth, staff and community members, and others, and recognizes their remarkable bravery and authenticity, while also affirming the gender identity and gender expression of our LGBTQ+ community members. 

Read the full resolution here.

February is Black History Month in Carrboro

Celebrating Black America: “The Black Resistance” 

Black History Month Brings a Variety of Performances to Carrboro

On Tuesday, Feb. 14, the University will TEST its emergency sirens between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. 

The University tests the sirens regularly throughout the year to make sure the equipment works properly and to remind everyone what to do in a real emergency. During the test, anyone outdoors near campus or downtown will likely hear the sirens. You may also hear the emergency sirens that are located at the Friday Center or near the Giles Horney Building off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. No action is required.

The sirens will sound an alert tone along with a brief pre-recorded voice message. When testing is complete, a different siren tone and voice message will signal an all clear. 

The sirens are part of the Alert Carolina System, the University’s emergency notification system that uses multiple ways to reach students, faculty and staff, as well as visitors, local residents, parents and the public. The Alert Carolina System website, alertcarolina.unc.edu, is the best source of information during a campus emergency.  

Many community residents have told us that they would like to receive University emergency alerts. If you do not have a unc.edu email account, there are two ways that you can receive the alerts. One way is using the Alert Carolina Twitter account and turning on notifications and the other is using the UNC Carolina Ready Safety app. You can download the app on your iPhone or Android. For more information about notifications, see the Alert Carolina website.  

How to receive Alert Carolina notifications via the UNC Carolina Ready Safety App:   

The Carolina Ready Safety App turns your smartphone into a safety device that allows you to:  

• call or message 911 quickly,  
• report suspicious activity anonymously,   
• virtually watch a friend or family member walk via the GPS-based FriendWalk feature   
• receive Alert Carolina messages.  

Download the app on your iPhone or Android.  

How to receive Alert Carolina notifications via Twitter:  

If you already have a Twitter account, all you have to do is follow @AlertCarolina and turn on mobile notifications for this account (see below for detailed instructions). If you do not have a Twitter account, setting one up is free and just takes a few minutes.   

Once you have a Twitter account on your mobile phone:  

• Log into Twitter   
• Search for the @AlertCarolina account   
• Click the “follow” button on the right side of the page   
• Click the “bell” icon to the left of the “follow” box   
• When the university tweets from @AlertCarolina, you will receive a text message on your phone.   

When the university tweets from @AlertCarolina, you will receive a text message on your phone. 

Carrboro Town Calendars

January saw a great team effort of the Communication & Engagement and Fire-Rescue departments to distribute bilingual (English/Spanish) Town of Carrboro calendars! Staff members hung nearly 2,000 calendars on doorknobs at residences located in Carrboro apartment complexes and mobile home communities.

Our calendars feature free events put on by the Town of Carrboro from Black History Month events to the Annual Kite Fly to our awesome Freight Train Blues Concert Series, Carrboro Music Festival, West End Poetry Festival and Carrboro Film Fest.

 A limited supply remains. Anyone who still needs a 2023 calendar can drop by Town Hall at 301 W. Main St. to request one from the Communication & Engagement Team or contact us at communications@carrboronc.gov

Town Council Update

Meeting agendas and updates are issued from the Town Clerk’s Office. To receive these by email or text, sign up for Carrboro Town News

Civic involvement is a valued tradition in our community. Reach the Town Council with your ideas, views, and questions at Council@carrboronc.gov

Coming Up
The Town Council will meet next at 7 p.m. Tuesday Feb 21, 2023, to consider the agenda that will be posted at https://carrboro.legistar.com/

This in-person meeting will be held at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or can view the livestream at https://carrboro.legistar.com/   OR YouTube.com/CarrboroNC OR Cable TV 18 (in Carrboro). 

To submit a comment on the February 14th agenda, please contact publiccomment@carrboronc.gov to reach the Town Clerk.

To download a copy of the full meeting calendar click here.

Past Meeting
The Carrboro Town Council met Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, and took the following actions on the agenda posted here.

• Heard from special guest, Chapel Hill Poet Laureate Cortland Gilliam
• Passed a resolution in solidarity with Carrboro’s LBBTQ+ Community 
• Received a quarterly equity report from the Carrboro Police Department
•  Approved $30,815 to Hope Renovations and $25,625 to Rebuilding Together of the Triangle for critical repairs, modifications, and weatherization for homes owned by elderly homeowners. These repairs will support homeownership retention and the ability to age in place.
• Supported an application for Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure Grant 
• Supported an application for Triangle J Council of Governments’ FY24 Transportation Demand Management Grant Program, Triangle Transportation Choices 
• Authorized the Town Manager to sign office space lease with Carr Mill Mall Limited Partnership
• Approved a work session to discuss the possibilities of the future of Westwood Cemetery, including expansion, a park space, a combination space, and a new rural cemetery, and inquiring about potential partnerships with other jurisdictions
• Approved improvements at Carrboro cemeteries including fence repair, drainage improvements, tree replacements, and hardscape improvements

Town Council 
The Town Council, which is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, comprises Mayor Damon Seils, Mayor Pro Tempore Susan Romaine, Council Member Barbara Foushee, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Council Member Danny Nowell, Council Member Eliazar Posada, and Council Member Sammy Slade. More information is available here. 

Tree planting underway at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park 

The Town of Carrboro is planting more than 50 trees and shrubs this February at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1120 Hillsborough Road. 

The project will replace declining trees and enhance the natural habitat of the park. The plantings consist of 22 different native species that are pollinator and bird friendly, including fringetree, blackgum, and paw paw.  A variety of sizes and species will be planted to ensure diversity in tree species and age. 

To honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a southern live oak will be planted at the entrance to the park pathway. The southern live oak was chosen because it is the state tree of Georgia, the birthplace of Dr. King.

Plantings are scheduled through Feb. 10. Carrboro Public Works reports that impacts to park visitors should be minimal, and all facilities will remain open. 

Contact Carrboro Public Works at 919-918-7425 or PWorks@CarrboroNC.gov with questions.

Carrboro Seeks Volunteers to Serve Community

Consider applying for a Town of Carrboro Advisory Board or Commission. We need your voice at the table!

Please especially consider volunteering if you represent any of the following underrepresented groups: Black/African-American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and Subcontinent Asian Americans, Senior Residents, Ages 20-34, Differently Abled, LGBTQ+ , and Families of Incomes of $50,000 or Less.

Learn more and apply: https://www.carrboronc.gov/228/Advisory-Boards-Commissions