Siler City board welcomes Boone, talks fiscal position

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SILER CITY — Siler City’s Board of Commissioners welcomed a new commissioner, honored a beloved judge, examined the town’s financial health and continued plans to renovate City Hall at the board’s meeting at town hall Monday night.

Siler City’s District 2 commissioner seat had been vacant since Commissioner and Mayor Pro-Tem Larry Cheek passed away in May. His friend, former Jordan-Matthews High School principle Norma Boone, was selected to fill the position last Tuesday.

“It’s a new experience,” Boone told the News + Record, “one that I will treasure, because I am making my own footprints but also carrying on what my friend Larry Cheek was doing – caring for the people of the town and my district that I’m serving. It’s a new endeavor and I’ll try to make the best of it.”

Boone’s oath of office ceremony was unusual. Judge Joe Buckner tied in via Zoom to conduct the swearing in, and the process began with some technical hiccups. But Buckner quickly allayed tension with a good-natured quip.

“That’s it, there you go,” he said to Boone as she shuffled about to get in frame. “Don’t worry, I haven’t lost anyone yet in 26 years.”

Buckner, who retired in July, accomplished much in his decades as NC’s District 15B judge, and in the many years prior as one of Siler City’s finest lawyers. He started the first mental health court in North Carolina and the district’s first drug court. Both innovations have made a positive difference in countless lives.

After Boone took her oath, Mayor Pro-Tem Cindy B. Bray asked Judge Buckner to “hang on Zoom for just a couple of minutes longer.” Then she announced a special resolution from the Board of Commissioners.

“The town of Siler City has a resolution for you,” she said, “appreciating the honorable Joseph Moody Buckner for his 26 years of service to the town of Siler City, Chatham County and North Carolina… His legacy of excellence will continue to benefit all of Siler City for generations to come. We salute Judge Joe Buckner upon his retirement, and wish him well, and his family much happiness, in the many years to come.”

Through stifled tears, Buckner graciously expressed his thanks.

“I really appreciate this, commissioners,” he said, “…Siler City will always be my home. And I don’t care what awards or recognition I may receive, there will be none higher than this one tonight.”

After Buckner’s departure, Town Manager Roy Lynch introduced Tina Stroupe, Siler City’s Finance Director, to explain the town’s financial “trends through the first quarter” of the fiscal year. The period is of special interest as the town evaluates the economic ramifications of an ongoing pandemic.

At first glance, Stroupe’s report would seem to indicate a flush of revenue in the first quarter. But the numbers are misleading, she warned — much of it represents money allocated strictly for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, more than half of the money in one general fund — $381,000 — was endowed to the town as part of the Coronavirus Relief Fund.

“I want to point out,” Stroupe said, “that that money is for coronavirus, or COVID-related expenses only. We didn’t get free money.”

If any money remains in the CRF after pandemic expenses have been addressed, however, it can be used to subsidize First Responder salaries.

While Siler City’s financial standing is not quite as rosy as figures would indicate, the commissioners were still encouraged to see the town weathering an unprecedented economic maelstrom.

“I was extremely worried,” Commissioner Chip Price said, “but it’s gone well.”

After examining the town’s financial records, the board settled in to deliberate over a matter of substantial cost: plans to update City Hall with a main level ADA entrance (a handicap accessible entrance compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act).

The board first discussed the project on July 20 and elected to install a ramp. But after working through the details with Taylor Hobbs of Pittsboro’s Hobbs Architects — who attended the meeting on Zoom — Lynch felt it would be prudent for the board to reconsider its decision.

“The projected cost,” Lynch said, “estimated based on what was presented (on July 20), looks like it can be around $146,000 which is over the original for the initial budget.”

Considering the prohibitive cost, the commissioners could select one of two alternative options. For $25,000, they could leave the building as is with only minor renovations; it has a handicap access from the basement which satisfies the minimum standards required by law.

Or, they could install an ADA lift at about 40% of the ramp’s estimated cost.

“The option would be to make the face, the stairs and new entrance,” Hobbs said, “And then we could bid the ADA lift as an add alternate for you to choose, based on where the numbers fall, if you want to include it in this project, or install it at a future date.”

The board reached consensus to pursue the latter option.

Before concluding the meeting, Lynch reminded the board that city hall departments which had been operating under restricted hours resumed regular operations as of Monday. Residents looking to consult the License Plate Agency or Water Department may visit the City Hall offices between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.