After many residents didn’t get calls during last Friday’s damaging storm, the town is urging us to add mobile phone numbers to its automated phone call system. Also below, Lillian Smith has been appointed the new town clerk. The town has issued a reminder about the local prohibition on door-to-door sales. And we’ve heard a report this week about horseback riders at Fisher Farm Park. Is it legal?

SIGN UP FOR PHONE ALERTS

Last Friday’s storms prompted the town to activate its Connect CTY phone system with a warning from the police department about fallen trees and power outages. But phone lines were out, and many registered residents didn’t get the message. So the town is inviting you to also register a mobile phone number, too, to make sure you don’t miss an alert.

Town spokeswoman Sara-Lynn Levine said a post-call report from the Connect CTY system showed that 35 percent of citizens with land lines and did not receive the message that went out Friday night because of telephone outages.

“This was a very large number,” she said. “Please let people know they can sign up with their cell phones, and how in an emergency or power outage, this will ensure they receive updates from the Davidson Police Department.”

To add your mobile phone number to the CTY system, go to the town website, www.ci.davidson.nc.us and hit the Connect CTY button on the lower left side.

[Reminder: DavidsonNews.net also reports on emergency alerts and links to our coverage via Twitter (we're @DavNews) and Facebook.]

HIRING: NEW TOWN CLERK

The town is continuing to fill new positions or vacant positions created by layoffs and restructuring this spring.

At Tuesday’s Town Board meeting, town hall assistant Lillian Smith was appointed as Town Clerk. Still open is the position of town accountant, which Town Manager Leamon Brice said last week has been narrowed to one or two applicants. He said the town expects “to use one of the applicants as a temp while we decide whether or not to re-advertise.”

Meanwhile, other duties at Town Hall are shifting. The town’s top planner now is Lauren Blackburn, whose job title has been set as planning manager. Her predecessor, Planning Director Kris Krider, has been appointed as the town’s new economic development manager, guiding development projects through the planning process and working with Downtown Director Sandy Lemons to help recruit and promote business. Also, the planning department closed applications for a new planner’s job last week.

Mr. Brice said in a Manager’s Report last week that all positions in the Public Works Department have been filled, and new employees began work July 1. The town continues to search for a part-time receptionist, and expected to decide on a candidate this week. And the search for a new full-time public information officer (PIO) has been narrowed to 15 candidates. They’re being given a written exercise. Meanwhile, a whopping 285 people have applied for the reconfigured job of Parks and Recreation Manager. Applications for that job close Friday, July 16.

NO SOLICITING HERE

Summer brings out all kinds of activity, including door-to-door salespeople. In the past couple of weeks, Davidson residents have reported knocks on doors from both telephone company AT&T and a roofing company (in the McConnell neighborhood). In Davidson, door-to-door sales are illegal.

Here’s the section of the town code:

Section 18-201 Code of Ordinances

It shall be unlawful, unless with the prior permission or invitation of the owner or occupant for any person to enter upon any privately owner premises in the town used as a dwelling for the purpose of soliciting orders for the immediate or future delivery of goods, merchandise, or services, specifically including the taking of subscriptions of magazines.

Here’s the message from the police department about the issue

According to the code of ordinances, the Town of Davidson prohibits door to door solicitation for the sale of any item including magazines.

The town does not permit any individual or business to solicit for the retail sale of any item. Charitable solicitation is allowed including politicians, veterans, boy scouts, girl scouts and religious organizations.

For charitable groups, a permit will be given and the group or individual will only be allowed to solicit for 24 hours and only from dawn to dusk.

• Should someone approach your home, please contact the Davidson Police Department.
• Before donating to any charity, ask to see a permit awarded by the town.
• Do not open the door for any person you do not know.
• If you are interested, speak through the door and ask that information be left in a mailbox or on a doorstep

For more information please call the department at 704-892-5131.

HORSES AT FISHER FARM? NO

A reader who mountain bikes frequently at Fisher Farm and helps maintain the trails there told DavidsonNews.net this week that he’s has noticed a growing problem with people riding their horses at Fisher Farm Park, off Shearers Road.

Mark Sullivan said he has talked with two riders he encountered there. “I’ve also found many hoof prints and poop on the mountain bike trails three times in the last two months,” he said.

We asked Parks & Recreation Director Steve Fraher and Police Chief Jeanne Miller, and both confirmed that horse back riding is not permitted at the park.

“It is not allowed under the Conservation Easement on the property, which is held by Mecklenburg County,” Mr. Fraher said.

Mr. Fraher noted that horseback riding is allowed at the county-owned Latta Plantation Park on Sample Road, off Beatties Ford Road, in Huntersville.

RELATED COVERAGE

Wondering about the status of road construction on Concord Road? See our June 13 update, “Concord Rd. work wraps up, South Street gets parking.”

See also our July 14 report on Tuesday’s Town Board meeting, where the board adopted a new local thoroughfare plan, to be submitted to regional transportation planners. The town hopes to keep most local streets 2 lanes. And the town board also approved a fee schedule for the newly-adopted solid waste pickup fees. “Board adopts new local road plan, trash fees.”

July 16, 2009, “What’s with all the free roof repairs?” – a story from 2009 about roof repairers going door to door and getting work in Davidson neighborhoods.