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Changing of the guard

Posted on December 6, 2007 by Staff

Zaffron leaves, Lavelle signs on, joins Broun, Coleman, Chilton as new town board sworn in

By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

It was a night punctuated by friendly words of advice and farewells offered with laughs and sentimental tears as 12-year incumbent Alex Zaffron bid his colleagues good-bye and a newly constituted Carrboro Board of Aldermen took up the town business.

In his last meeting at Town Hall Tuesday night, Zaffron, who chose not to run for another term, gave a nod to friends and supporters and detailed the evolution of town policy during his 12 years on the board. He often credited the work of prior board members, some of whom were in attendance to see him off.

He said the town’s efforts to ensure that affordable housing would grow along with the town gave him a sense of pride about his time on the board.

“It took a long time to forge the right kind of mechanisms to make it work.”

He cited the work of former mayor Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, who originally suggested he get involved in town politics, in crafting a new vision for downtown that he and other board members could build on.

“The new vision for downtown Carrboro project was a long and arduous and contentious one,” he said. “At least for me, one of the most gratifying moments in sitting around this table was when we finally came to an agreement and the adoption of measures that could actually bring that vision to life.”

One regret in leaving at this point, he said, was that he wouldn’t be on the board to see some of the resulting projects built, but he noted that the permits are in the pipeline for a number of big projects that will help meet the goal established in 1999 to double the square footage of living space downtown.

He said the board’s job is to set the tone and policies and credited the town staff with actually making things work.

“Those are the folks who make it happen.”

He thanked friends and family for “tolerating my work here” and offered kudos to the volunteers on the town’s advisory boards and former and current elected officials for their work in guiding the town.
He reminded his colleagues still in office to keep the needs and best interests of the town in mind and not be tempted to push any specific agenda or philosophy.

He ended with a moment of characteristic candor saying, “I enjoin all to keep again the larger community front and center. And remember you have something great here and I would suggest you have something magical. Don’t blow it.”

His friend and fellow board member Joal Hall Broun read a detailed proclamation citing his efforts to steer a new course for downtown, affordable housing and other policies and noting in good-natured fashion the “certain thespian qualities” and lengthy, complex sentences he used in making his points.
Moved and seconded, the resolution honoring Zaffron passed unanimously. He shook hands with his “office mate” town clerk Sarah Williamson, Town Manager Steve Stewart and Town Attorney Michael Brough then walked over to the audience, wished new board member Lydia Lavelle success and strolled, plaque in hand, out of the room.

New board member Lydia Lavelle was then sworn in by District Judge Beverly Scarlett, who she later noted was her study partner in law school. Lavelle’s swearing in was followed by the swearing in of Broun, Alderman Dan Coleman and Mayor Mark Chilton.

In remarks afterward, Lavelle said she was “honored, excited and humbled” by the opportunity to serve on the board. She thanked her partner Alicia Stemper and their two children for giving her “permission to wreak havoc on our family life.”

She said that while it’s true that since she lives in the recently annexed region of town, her experience during the campaign taught her that “our neighborhoods are much more similar than they are different.”

Broun singled out the late Hank Anderson for getting her involved in local policymaking and credited her father Leroy and late mother Mabel for setting an example by their participation in civic and religious life.

She said she would dedicate her new term in office to continuing efforts to increase and improve affordable housing choices and develop a wider degree of economic opportunity in the county.
Coleman thanked his family, supporters and the voters.

“I’m looking forward to the next four years, I’m looking forward to working with all of you. We’ve got a lot of challenges ahead of us. We’ve got a lot of opportunities. We’ve got a lot of ambition as a small town that in some way is maybe a little too big for its britches, but we’re always trying to pull them up and stretch them out. I’m looking forward to that work with you.”

Chilton thanked his family, the voters and residents.

“It is genuinely an honor. It’s a unique experience,” he said, “and most of the time it’s a lot of fun. And I sincerely appreciate the literal vote of confidence you’ve given me as your mayor.”

Before wrapping up for the evening the board elected Alderman John Herrera as mayor pro tem.

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