Tom’s 2014 Vision and Policy Commitments

Tom ran in 2006 as part of an issues-based candidate team on a platform emphasizing thoughtful growth, sustainable economic development, quality education, and open government. As you can see from the Accomplishments page, Tom has carried out the platform you elected him on, and his team of county commissioners has made incredible progress during its three years in office.

However, there is still more to be done. Follow the links below to read about Tom’s vision of what Chatham will be like when his second term is completed in 2014.

• Open Government – Effective Citizen-Friendly Government

• Sustainable Economic Development

• Top-Quality Education and School Facilities for All Children

• Sustainable Community Development and Environmental Protection

Open Government – Effective Citizen-Friendly Government

Tom’s Vision: Chatham County government will be a model for transparent decision-making, citizen engagement, effective and efficient operations, and will be open to every citizen regardless of race, gender, creed, ethnicity, physical challenges, or economic status. Virtually all residents will feel that county government is “us.” Chatham citizens have already been recognized by the State Board of Elections as the most politically active in North Carolina. By 2014, Tom wants Chatham County government to be widely acknowledged as the most citizen-friendly in the state.

SUGGESTED POLICIES & INITIATIVES

Revise advisory board selection criteria and process based on a non-political, open review process.
Familiarize members of advisory boards and task forces with the full range of County operations, as well as their specific subject matter.
Continue to improve and upgrade county website as an interactive citizen-friendly information source.
Identify more community sites for commissioners to have periodic meetings in all geographic areas of the county.
Continue regular county department and program efficiency and effectiveness evaluations that include cost/benefit analyses.
Continue improving citizen-friendly communication of county policies, practices and initiatives, including setting up a local professional communications advisory task force to recommend a communications strategic plan.
Update the pay-study plan and explore additional options to retain County employees.

Sustainable Economic Development

Tom’s Vision: Chatham County and the Economic Development Corporation will have fully implemented the new industry-cluster strategy and will have attracted new jobs with higher-paying salaries. Chatham will have greatly expanded sustainable agriculture and the local food economy, including an effective Internet marketing process and a local food processing plant. Serious inroads will have been made in filling the Siler City business park. Chatham County will be seen as a destination for green and high-tech start-up companies and small businesses and also for eco-, agriculture and cultural tourism and quality of life. Downtown Pittsboro and Siler City will have been designated as Main Street programs and revitalization will be in full swing. Our community college will have will further cemented its nationwide reputation as the leading sustainable education and green-tech jobs training center. Our quality of life will have been improved for all citizens, and high-speed broadband assess will be available countywide.

SUGGESTED POLICIES & INITIATIVES

Complete the broadband access and mapping study, with deployment options and a funding plan — including a fiber-optic cable investment in our capital improvement plan if necessary to have countywide broadband access for all.
Complete plans and agreements for a regional water treatment plant on the west side of Jordan Lake, while continuing to upgrade and improve the water quality at our existing water treatment plant.
Have the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) raise private funds to equal the County contribution.
Develop a local small-business loan and grant program to promote sustainability and job growth.
Continue to update parks and recreation master plan, complete installations at Northeast Park and renovations of Northwest Park, and secure land for a Southeast park. Continue land-banking for additional park and school sites.
Begin developing plans and identify funding for construction of hiking and biking trails and greenways throughout Chatham’s rural and scenic natural areas.
Obtain legislative revenue authority for a local option to completely replace impact fees and use the added revenues for school facilities, after setting aside approximately 10% - 15% for the purchase of farmland development (preservation) rights.
Fully implement the industry-cluster strategy of the EDC and achieve their stated goals of bringing in good-paying jobs.
Complete the solid-waste strategic plan and landfill siting study, with an eye to including an Eco-Industrial and Resource Recovery Facility, which would convert waste by-products into useful products while also producing energy from reclaimed landfill (methane) gas.
Implement the affordable housing strategy to include an incentive-based requirement for affordable housing in new larger residential developments.
Complete a farmland preservation and development strategy, reviewed jointly by the Agriculture Advisory Board and the EDC, to include integrated marketing systems and an expanded agriculture-related alternative-energy program. Institute a public-private partnership to develop agri-tourism and a culinary arts center. Expand the dialogue between various types of farmers, community food enterprises, sustainability advocates and residents of developed areas. Foster a farmer recruitment program and additional local processing capability.
Improve utilization of a sustainable commuter transit service which includes Siler City, Pittsboro, Sanford, Chapel Hill and beyond. Convert buses to utilize locally produced biofuels.

Investment in Our Future: Providing for All of Our Children’s Educational Needs

Tom’s Vision: The Board of Commissioners will do its part to ensure that the Chatham County Public School System will be one of the best in the state, with a conducive learning environment and above-state-average teacher benefits. We will stay ahead of the residential development curve by land banking and utilizing a local initiative for additional funding. We will continue to “green” our existing and new school facilities and fully support the arts, civics, sustainability, economics and entrepreneurial programs for our high schools. We will provide whatever assistance is necessary to help increase graduation rates.

SUGGESTED POLICIES & INITIATIVES

Work with non-profit groups and the school system to expand funding of pre-school, mentoring, afterschool and dropout prevention programs, resulting in a substantially increased graduation rate.
Complete Margaret B. Pollard Middle School, with opening in the fall of 2010. Start construction of the new Northeast high school, with a scheduled opening in the fall of 2015. Purchase a site for a future Northeast elementary school through a continued land-banking process.
Support funding of teacher supplements to be more competitive with other Triangle school systems and the funding of additional education professionals, teachers and teacher assistants where needed to help improve educational results.
Encourage use of locally produced biofuels in public school buses.
Support community college advancement and college-preparatory courses for public high school students and expand job-training programs at the Community College.
Support high school civics, economic, entrepreneurial and sustainability education, including expanded high school internship opportunities with local governments, businesses and civic organizations.
Support continued improvement of the nutritional quality of the school lunch program, including development of pilot programs that utilize locally grown foods and school gardens.
Continue to encourage increased energy efficiency in school buildings and the adoption of alternative-energy systems that incorporate water savings, waste reduction/recycling/reuse and other sustainability initiatives within our school facilities.
Advocate for the addition of a sustainability professional to develop a sustainability curriculum and to coordinate energy savings in school facilities;
Encourage continued collaboration with the Green Building and Sustainable Energy Advisory Board and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee.
Continue school and recreation site land banking.

Sustainable Community Development and Environmental Protection

Tom’s Vision: We will have instituted smart growth strategies that will protect and enhance Chatham’s natural resources, rural character, charming small towns and cross-roads communities. We will protect our natural resources, including our wonderful, economically valuable rivers and Jordan Lake. We will have incorporated the concepts of “sustainability” into the updated land use plan.

SUGGESTED POLICIES & INITIATIVES

Complete, with community participation, a comprehensive sustainability plan with maps for future growth that will encompass land use, transportation, energy, affordable housing, water, sewer and fiber optic infrastructure, solid waste, economic development, farmland protection, parks and recreation, environmental protection and human relations. Set realistic milestones to begin implementing a plan through upgrades to county ordinances, as necessary.
Review alternative zoning strategies and also consider reducing or eliminating the complexity of the conditional use process to allow the county to better manage development while balancing environmental and economic interests.
Enhance the economic potential of our highway intersections while preserving the rural and scenic character of our highways.
Continue upgrading the sign ordinance to preserve the rural appearance of the county along our corridors.
Complete greenhouse-gas inventory and develop strategic plans for greenhouse-gas reduction, climate-control and energy-savings, with specific targets and timelines.
Complete implementation of the strategic plan for the land-use section of the farmland-preservation plan. Undertake extensive dialogue and an educational effort with farmers, rural residents and residents of developed areas concerning agricultural zoning and a potential voluntary program for the transfer and purchase of farmland development rights. Initiate a reserve fund along with disbursement policies for farmland preservation.
Consider legislation recommended by the Green Building Advisory Board to provide incentives for solar access, rain barrels and xeroscaping in new subdivisions and commercial developments.