Cary Mayor

Harold’s Blog: Transit Plan, General Assembly and More

Cary, NC – The week was much slower than last week and is typical as we approach the summer.

Monday – Wake County Mayors

Monday I joined Wake County Commissioner and CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) vice chair and staff in a review of the agenda for Wednesday’s monthly meeting.

Monday afternoon I was scheduled to meet with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one but he had a scheduling conflict. So he sent an information summary on topics that included a Fortune 500 company, downtown park consultants, and status on feedback about the budget. We will meet next Monday as scheduled.

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Cary Takes Next Step in Smart City Initiative

Cary, NC – For years, Cary has been integrating more technology into its daily activities to analyze data and improve efficiency. Now that Cary is one of five finalists nationwide for a grant, town officials and local technology partners looked at how these plans for an inter-connected “smart city” can be refined and achieved. Read more

Cary Mayor

Harold’s Blog: Graduations, Town Council Meeting and More

Cary, NC – This week was a busy week with graduations and a council meeting.

Monday – Cary High Graduation

Monday I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Bush, council member Frantz, and council member George for the graduation ceremony for Cary High School. There were 541 graduates getting their diplomas. It was a privilege to sit on stage and watch the faces of the graduates as they walked by.

Cary Mayor

Later Monday I attempted to contact council members to hear of questions and concerns they might have had about Thursday’s agenda. Though Thursday’s agenda was long there were no questions. Later Monday I met with Management and Directors and went over the agenda items. We anticipated the meeting would last between two and two hours thirty minutes. Read more

Cary Town Council

Cary Town Council: Kildaire Gas Station, Arthur Pierce Neighborhood and More

Cary, NC – The first Cary Town Council meeting of the Summer was a long one, with Public Hearings on the budget and several annexations, possible changes to the Planning and Zoning Board and a vote on the Kildaire Farm and Penny Road gas station. Read more

Cary Mayor

Harold’s Blog: Kildaire Gas Station, Smart Cities and More

Cary, NC – This week was busier than last week and included a budget work session and several events.

Monday – Gas Station Meeting

Monday I met with the town manager for about half an hour. Our topics included a business that has crime issues, the Cary Town Center site, the Fenton site, and interactions with other governing agencies.

Monday night I attended a meeting of staff, developers, and citizens on the gas station proposed at Kildaire Farm Road and Penny Road. I stayed in the back so that I could hear the conversation and watch the interaction between the citizens, the developers, and staff. Read more

Wake County Public School System

Education: Bill Fletcher 2018 June Newsletter

Wake County, NC – Thoughts for June 2018 from Bill Fletcher, Member of the Wake County Board of Education.

Cathy Moore named Wake Superintendent

After a five-month nationwide search, the school board chose Cathy Moore as the 10th superintendent of the Wake public schools. Yes, she is the first woman and Latina to lead Wake’s schools, but neither characteristic is why she was hired.

The community told us they wanted a former teacher who would remain in the position for six or more years, someone who knew Wake County and the Wake schools and would be highly visible and accessible. Cathy Moore fits that profile. She is dedicated to the success of every child and eminently capable of leading the state’s largest school district to greater academic heights.  Click here for more info about our new superintendent.  Read more

Downtown Cary

Harold’s Blog: Transportation Priorities, Human Trafficking and More

Cary, NC – This week was a holiday week and the first week back from vacation.

Tuesday – Human Trafficking

Tuesday I joined the police chief in a meeting with Mayor Olive of Apex and the director and founder of Shield North Carolina (https://shieldnc.org/human-trafficking-1). Their purpose is to stop human trafficking. In the meeting they asked us partner with them on private events to promote awareness which of course we agreed to do. Moving forward the director and founder of Shield North Carolina will be working with the police chief and possibly other departments to create a strategy for awareness events. Read more

Cary History

Cary Residents Consider the Future of Historic Properties

Cary, NC – Cary’s history goes back hundreds of years and the town owns buildings and property from the early 20th and 19th Centuries that still stand. During May, local residents were asked to give their thoughts on what should be done with these pieces of Cary’s history. Read more

Recycling

Cary Paying More for Recycling Due to Global Demand

Cary, NC – The Town of Cary used to get a rebate for recyclables but a change in import policy from China means the town now pays more than twice as much as it used to recieve for recycling. Read more

Harold’s Blog: GoCary Bus System, Local Teachers and More

Cary, NC – This was my last week before vacation so it was a little slower than normal.

Monday – Honor A Teacher

Monday I joined council members Frantz and Smith at the Cary Chamber’s Honor a Teacher Awards Ceremony. This event is to recognize teachers that go above and beyond the call of duty. I had the privilege of giving a few remarks and thanking the teachers before the awards were presented.

There were over 160 nominees and 32 awards in all including one sponsored by the Town of Cary. The awards included a nice glass plaque and a $1000 check. Cary’s award was for civic education and was given to Carolynn Angilello of Turner Creek Elementary.  We congratulated our winner and had our picture made with her. The ceremony lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes. Read more