By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Monday was a somber day in town offices as the town manager unveiled a layoff and restructuring plan that employees have been dreading for weeks.

At least 19 of the town’s 54 full- and part-time employees got layoff notices, though Town Manager Leamon Brice said those employees are being invited to reapply for new positions created in the restructuring. Other staff members – including the planning director – are being reassigned or will see their job descriptions and duties change. And one – the Parks & Recreation director – plans to leave later this year.

The plan takes effect with the new budget year July 1 and will shrink the town staff by a net 7 full- and part-time positions and save $243,400 next year. And it will bring some surprising personnel changes in Town Hall. [Update: Town officials have since said the actual savings is 2 full-time equivalent positions, in part because of the need to hire additional part-time firefighters this year.]

Mr. Brice said his goal is to have all new positions filled and
the reorganization complete by June 30.
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The MI-Connection cable system lost more money in the first three months of 2010 than the same period a year ago, but strong sales of its telephone and high-speed internet services helped boost revenues 9.4 percent from a year earlier. The company’s chief told Davidson Town Board members at their monthly work session Tuesday that the company is seeing results from recent marketing campaigns, including a referral rewards program and its “Operation Outreach,” a promotion tied to donations to local nonprofits.

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The MI-Connection communications system board of directors on Thursday confirmed John Kasberger of Mooresville as chair and voted Ken Essex of Davidson to another term as secretary. Meanwhile, in other news about the system, it turns out Mooresville’s payment to cover a shortfall at the system this fiscal year won’t be a loan, as previously described.
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Town board neighborhood chats continue Wednesday & Thursday.

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson Town Board members have been holding neighborhood meetings with residents across town over the past two weeks, discussing everything from streets and sidewalks to trash and recycling to the tight town budget. They’ve also used these informal “Commissioner Chats” to make a pitch for the MI-Connection communications system, imploring residents to take a fresh look at the town-owned TV, telephone and internet service that was upgraded last year.

Growth at MI-Connection has been disappointing since Davidson and Mooresville bought it three years ago. But officials now have a clear goal: selling 4,500 new “triple plays” – a combination of TV, telephone and internet. They say that will help the system break even and keep it from being a drag on the towns’ budgets.

The neighborhood meetings continue this week in River Run and the St. Alban’s neighborhood. (See schedule at the end of this article.) Read the full story

Public radio station WFAE-FM, 90.7, in Charlotte aired a report Wednesday morning that takes a look back and forward at the purchase of the local cable TV system by the towns of Davidson and Mooresville. Read the full story

Davidson’s Town Board will convene Wednesday at The Village Inn downtown for its all-day quarterly retreat that will help plan the 2010-11 town budget. The meeting, which begins at 8:30 a.m., includes a planned 2 1/2 hour closed session to examine “personnel implications” of next year’s budget. Read the full story

After letter raising concerns, board outlines plans to improve

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

State officials say the MI-Connection cable system, owned by the towns of Mooresville and Davidson, has “serious financial problems” and “signs of financial weakness” that could keep it from meeting obligations to creditors, employees and taxpayers. In a letter to the MI-Connection board, the state Local Government Commission (LGC) of the state treasurer’s office says the board must take “corrective action.” Read the full story

Mooresville’s town board on Monday night approved a nearly $400,000 loan to the MI-Connection cable and internet system to help cover a budget shortfall this fiscal year. Read the full story