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Cary Mayor

Harold’s Blog: Cary Boards and Commissions, Sewers and More

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Cary, NC – This week’s entry will be short since there wasn’t much going on.

Monday – Local Dentist Office

Monday started with my one-on-one with the town manager. We talked about a downtown business, the paid speakers at the public hearing at our last council meeting, the future downtown park, and a business near the mall site. Our conversation was very brief.

Monday afternoon I participated in a business contest at a dentist office. This is a contest with local dental-related practices hosted by Nu Image Surgical and Dental Implants. The contest involves participating staffs taking a creative photos using a Nu Image towel. I joined the staff at the office of TMJ & Sleep Therapy Center for a photo. Hopefully the image the staff with the towel and me holding ribbon cutting scissors will help them win the contest.  Read more

Cary Mayor

Harold’s Blog: Independence Day, Craigslist Speakers and More

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Cary, NC – This week was a holiday week so there were very few activities.

Monday – Craigslist Speakers

Monday I met with the town manager for my weekly one-on-one. We talked about several topics including a downtown business and an incident at the last council meeting where someone allegedly paid speakers to advocate for their project.

After talking with the town manager and others here is my understanding incident of the paid speakers. On the evening of the last council meeting someone posted on Craig’s list that they would pay $50 for speakers. During the council meeting this information was being passed around amongst council members but I was not informed.

There were three public hearings but only one had speakers. One can only speculate that the paid speakers were for the public hearing with speakers. That public hearing was a proposal for a hotel with twice the allowed height, no sidewalks, and reduction in streetscape and buffers. (The applicant and the applicant’s representative later both denied anything to do with paying speakers and said it was someone trying to sabotage the proposal.) I was made aware of the incident after the meeting. Read more

Cary Mayor

Harold’s Blog: New Library, Town Council and More

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Cary, NC – This week included several important events and a council meeting.

Monday – Planning for the Week

Monday I attempted to contact council members to hear of concerns or questions they may have had about the agenda. I was able to contact all but two and there were no concerns. Later in the day I met with management and directors along with Mayor Pro-Tem Bush and council member Frantz. We went over the agenda items and provided feedback. Our meeting lasted about half an hour. Read more

Cary Mayor

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

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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 Mayor

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

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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 Mayor

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

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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

Downtown Cary

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

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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

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

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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

Cary Mayor

Harold’s Blog: Quarterly Meeting, Parks and Recreation and More

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Cary, NC – This week’s main focus was on the quarterly meeting.

Monday – Planning for the Week

Monday I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. We discussed the quarterly meeting, some budget items, and business proposals that may or may not come to fruition. Our meeting lasted about half an hour. Read more

Cary Mayor

Harold’s Blog: Cary Town Council, Elected Officials and More

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Cary, NC – This was a typical spring week with a regularly scheduled council meeting and several events.

Monday – Budget Preview

Monday I contacted council members to hear of questions and concerns they may have had about the agenda for Thursday’s meeting. Later in the day I met key staff members and went over the agenda.

After the agenda meeting I met with staff to hear about a legal issue and to get a preview of the budget. The staff will present the budget on May 10th to the council at our quarterly meeting. That discussion will include what to do about the increasing costs of recycling, the need for more sidewalks, and the need for more road improvements. Property taxes will probably remain the same in this year’s budget but that will be a council decision. After the May 10th work session other scheduled work sessions include June 7th, June 14th, and June 28th. It is likely that we will not need all of those work sessions. Read more