Town commissioners will interview applicants at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 25. Appointment of a new member to the board will be made at the Feb 1 meeting.
The empty board seat was left vacant at the death of Commissioner Jeff Wells in December. Two years remain to be served on Wells’ term.
Applications may be obtained on-line at the town’s web site, www.Fuquay-Varina.org, or at the office of Rose John, clerk to the town board, 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 Cindy 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 for public service.
Bill Harris, who lost in the November election a board seat he had held for 22 years, has indicated an interest in returning to the board to fill Wells’ unexpired term. He 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, he believes he could step right in and go to work.
Others who have indicated interest include Garion Bunn, a project manager at Wake Technical College, and Wayne Carver, general manager of Stephens on Broad Street.
Carver, who is currently chairman of the planning board, said he believes he could bring a business perspective to the board. He said he has managed Stephens, a family-owned business, since 1999. He has lived in Fuquay-Varina since 2000. He said he knows the community well and believes he could serve all the town’s citizens.
Bunn, who currently serves on the planning board, said he thinks there is a lack of diversity on the board. He is black as is Harris. Bunn said he doesn’t refer to race exclusively but to cultural, educational and financial diversity. The way people were raised makes them different, he said. He added, “I tell people if they were to attend a board meeting, they would get no indication there is a minority population in Fuquay-Varina.” He said he believes the board should reflect the community.
The board expects to make the appointment in time for the new commissioner to attend the planning retreat set for Feb. 10-12.
Post a Comment
