Updated March 30, 2010, 9:50 pm, with revised dates
Davidson Mayor John Woods and the five town commissioners are hosting a series of informal chats with citizens over the next two weeks to talk about town issues. It’s the first time Davidson officials have scheduled neighborhood meetings like these, which come as the town prepares to write a 2010-11 budget that could include significant cuts. The meetings also come as the towns of Davidson and Mooresville ponder how to deal with shortfalls at their jointly-owned MI-Connection communications system.

“Davidson is facing some difficult budget issues; this is an opportunity for the elected officials to define the issues and explain proposed solutions,” the town said in an announcement about the meetings.

“These intimate chats will allow neighbors to meet with their elected officials in a relaxed setting to discuss specific issues and topics related to their neighborhoods, as well as larger town-wide issues.”

[The town of Mooresville is also planning to tackle public concern over the MI-Connection system, though in a more formal way. Mooresville's board voted 3-2 last week to establish a seven-member MI-Connection Citizen Advisory Panel that would be a "liaison" between citizens, town officials, a board committee and the MI-Connection system.]

Although the meetings are scheduled in various neighborhoods, citizens are invited to attend any of the sessions. They began Monday night, March 29, with a meeting at Davidson Landing, in the Exit 30 area.

The rest of the schedule is as follows:

Bradford, Westmoreland Farms, Bailey Springs neighborhoods – Thursday April 1, 5:30–7 p.m., Town Hall board room

Exit 30 area, including Deer Park, The Park at Davidson Townhomes, Harbour Place Townhomes and Brownstones, Spinnaker Cove, Spinnaker Reach, Spinnaker Point, Little Gate, Bexley at Davidson – Monday April 5, 6:30–8 p.m., CSI Property Management, 575 Davidson-Gateway Drive

Westside, Davidson Bay, Lake Davidson Park, The Woods at Lake Davidson, Watson, Hobbs Hill, Delburg neighborhoods – Wednesday, April 7, 6– 7:30 p.m., Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble St.

Old Davidson – Thursday, April 8, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., Town Hall Board Room

River Run neighborhood – Wednesday, April 14, 7–8:30 p.m., River Run Clubhouse

St. Alban’s neighborhood, Thursday, April 15, 5:30–7 p.m., St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane.

McConnell, Cabin Creek, Hudson Place neighborhoods – Monday,  April 19, 6:30-8 p.m., Town Hall Board Room,

Davidson Pointe – Tentative in May – date TBD

Summer’s Walk – Tentative in May – date TBD

More information on the Town website, www.ci.davidson.nc.us.