Davidson commissioners will get an update next week on the town’s proposed purchase of two affordable homes in the Bradford neighborhood. At their regular meeting Tuesday night, July 12, they’re also scheduled to vote on a $102,000 budget for the planned “Book Garden” public art project off Main Street, between the CVS and the public library. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 216 S. Main St.

Also Tuesday, the board is expected to adopt a minor amendment to the Solid Waste Fee ordinance that alters the text so it remains in effect indefinitely, and does not have to be adopted annually.

Presentations at Tuesday’s meeting will include an update by Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation director Jim Garges on his department’s work, and the awarding of Advance Law Enforcement Certificates to Davidson officers. The board will meet Leslie Willis, the Parks & Recreation Department’s new wellness supervisor. And the board will recognize Assistant Town Manager Dawn Blobaum, who recently received the Assistant Manager of the Year award from the N.C. City and County Manager’s Association.

Cindy Reid, the town’s affordable housing coordinator, will give the board an unspecified update on the planned purchase of two affordable homes in the Bradford neighborhood, which the board approved on June 14. She’ll also talk about the affordable housing program overall, according to Town Manager Leamon Brice. The vote came after the closed session, when the board re-convened in open session. Town officials say they plan to complete the unfinished houses, on Davidson-Concord Road, and sell them to buyers on the town’s affordable housing waiting list. The purchase has since come under criticism by some residents who don’t think the town should be buying affordable housing.

The Book Garden project was first announced in 2009, but stalled last year when anticipated grants didn’t materialize. The town announced this week that the project is back on track thanks to $50,000 in new grants. (See July 5, 2011, “$50k grant puts book garden project back on track.” )

Here’s the full agenda:

TOWN OF DAVIDSON – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Town Hall Board Room – 216 S. Main St.
July 12, 2011………….6:00 P. M.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. ANNOUNCEMENTS
(a) Storm Water Advisory Committee appointment (Mayor Woods)
(b) Health & Wellness Supervisor (Kathryn Spatz)

III. CHANGES TO AGENDA

IV. CITIZEN COMMENT

V. PRESENTATIONS
(a) Assistant Town Manager Award (Leamon Brice)
(b) Advanced Law Enforcement Certificates (Chief Jeanne Miller)
(c) Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation update (Jim Garges)
(d) Affordable Housing (Cindy Reid)

VI. CONSENT
(a) Approve meeting minutes from June 14 (download here (PDF))
(b) Approve Solid Waste Fee Ordinance for Mecklenburg and Iredell Counties Exhibit VI (b1), Exhibit VI (b2) (PDFs)

VII. NEW BUSINESS
(a) Consider approving Capital Project Ordinance for Book Garden Project, Exhibit VII (a) (PDF)

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

IX. ADJOURN