By Colin Campbell
Carrboro Commons Co-Editor

New Carrboro Board of Aldermen member Lydia Lavelle is spending her first two months in office learning more about the intricacies of town government.

Lavelle was sworn in Dec. 4 to fill the seat left by departing board member Alex Zaffron. She went to Wilmington last week to attend a conference for newly elected officials sponsored by UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Government and the N.C. League of Municipalities. She also has met with the directors of each of the town’s departments.

Since her election to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen in November, Lydia Lavelle has been spending time in town hall, meeting with the heads of town departments and learning more about how Carrboro’s government works.
Photo by Colin Campbell

“She’s in a learning mode,” said board member Jacquie Gist. “I really like her approach to this. She’s taking her time, she’s listening and she’s establishing relationships.”

Lavelle attended a conference for newly elected officials from Jan. 23-25 in Wilmington titled “The Essentials of Municipal Government.” Taught by UNC-CH faculty members and government officials from around the state, it served as an introduction to the challenges that municipal government officials face.

“It’s basically a three-day primer for newly elected officials,” Lavelle said. “I found it very informative and eye-opening.”
Mayor Pro Tem John Herrera said he recommends the conference to all new board members.

“They teach the cutting edge of governance issues,” Herrera said. “It hooks you up to a network of contacts.”

In addition to the conference, Lavelle said her meetings with department heads helped her expand upon the knowledge she already had from working for the city of Durham.

“It was an opportunity to spend some in-depth time with each of them,” Lavelle said. “Our work force is the backbone. It’s so important for us to understand what their jobs are.”

Gist said that while most new board members attend the conference and familiarize themselves with the workings of the town, Lavelle has been particularly committed to the process.

“It’s standard procedure, and some people take it more seriously than others,” Gist said.

While only two board meetings have been held since Lavelle was sworn in, Herrera said he is impressed with what she has brought to the board.

“She’s terrific,” Herrera said. “She matches the values and progressive vision of the current Board of Aldermen.”
Lavelle said she knew the other board members before she was elected, which has eased her adjustment to the post.
“I think I have a very good relationship with all of them,” she said. “I look forward to working with them.”

Lavelle adds her perspective as a resident of the northern area of Carrboro that was annexed by the town in 2006, Gist said. She led the New Horizons Task Force, which aimed to integrate residents of the annexed area with the rest of the town.
“Her intelligence and perspective are going to be great additions,” Gist said.

Lavelle is the assistant dean of student affairs at North Carolina Central University School of Law and the former law partner of Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy. She also brings experience with recreation, parks and greenways.

Lavelle said the biggest issue she has tackled so far on the board is the review of plans for the Roberson Square development, which is a proposed complex of homes, stores and restaurants on South Greensboro Street. She has not yet formed any definitive position on the issue, she said.

“We’re all hearing from the public, and we’re looking forward to hearing a report from staff,” Lavelle said. “Now the time’s here to really discuss it and make some decisions.”

Carrboro Board of Aldermen- http://www.ci.carrboro.nc.us/gov.htm
Lydia Lavelle- http://www.lydialavelle.com/
UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government- http://www.iog.unc.edu/
NC League of Municipalities- http://www.nclm.org/
Essentials of Municipal Government- http://www.nclm.org/essentials.htm

NC Central law school- http://web.nccu.edu/law/

Chapel Hill- http://www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us/

Roberson Square- http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2008/01/24/new-downtown-project-said-to-be-short-on-parking/