Wells’ term was to run until December 2011. A successor to complete the term will be named by the mayor and remaining board members.
In recent days several potential candidates have acknowledged interest in the facant seat. Among them is Bill Harris who served as a commissioner for 22 years before losing his seat in the November election when incumbent Cindy Sheldon won a new term and newcomer Jim Abernethy was elected.
Others interested in the seat are Wayne Carver, general manager of Stephens on Broad Street, and Garion Bunn, a project manager at Wake Technical Institute.
The schedule for filling the vacant seat calls for those interested to submit applications by noon on January 22 and to attend a special meeting of the board on Jan. 25 at which time interviews will be conducted. Appointment of a new member will be made at the Feb. 1 meeting.
Following the schedule would mean the new commissioner would be in place in time to attend a board retreat planned for Feb. 10-12 at a location to be announced.
Application forms are available on the town’s Website (www.Fuquay-Varina .org) or from Clerk to the Board Rose John at the town’s administrative offices, 308 Judd Place Drive off Judd Parkway.
The application was developed at the board’s request by Town Manager Andy Hedrick but was tweaked in several areas by the board last week.
At the suggestion of Commissioner Sheldon, the board deleted spaces for designation of race and gender. Commissioners also simplified questions relating to education and work experience. Ms. Sheldon said she thinks life experience is sometimes as important as advanced degrees. Some other specific questions were generalized into requests for record of community service and public service headings.
Harris said last week he has been approached by several people asking him if he would consider taking the open seat. “I would be willing and interested,” he said. Harris said with his long experience on the board, he thinks he could walk right in and go to work.
Carver, who is currently chairman of the town’s Planning Board, said this week he believes he could bring a business perspective to the town board. He said he has been managing a family-owned business in Fuquay-Varina since 1999 and has lived in Fuquay-Varina since 2000.
He said he is well acquainted with the community and believes he could represent the general public well.
Bunn, who currently serves on the town’s Planning Board, said he thinks there is a lack of diversity on the present board. Bunn is black as is Harris who lost his seat. Bunn said he doesn’t refer to race exclusively, but to cultural, educational, and financial diversity. The way people are raised makes them different, he said.
In an interview he said he has told people that if they were to attend a town board meeting, they would get no indication there is a minority population in Fuquay-Varina.
Bunn said he believes the board should reflect the community.
At last week’s meeting, Commissioner Cindy Sheldon said she had received several phone calls from persons expressing interest in seeking the vacant seat. She did not name the callers.
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