HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-02-2005-8aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: November 2, 2005
Action Agenda
Item No. S -a
SUBJECT: Public Hearing on Initial Draft Maps /Plans Related to Possible District Elections
for the Board of Commissioners
DEPARTMENT: County Attorney, Planning,
County Commissioners &
County Manager
ATTACHMENT(S):
1) Preamble
2) Draft Principles
3) Draft Process/Timetable
4) Sample Newspaper Public Hearing
Notice
5) Draft Potential Impacts of Three Plans
on Current Commissioners
6) 10/26105 County Attorney Letter
Regarding Redistricting
7) Three Initial Draft Maps with Base
Census Data
(ATTACHMENTS PREVIOUSLY
PROVIDED on May 5, August 24 & 31, &
October 17, 2005 — Not Included Here)
1) Excerpt from May 5, 2005 Work
Session Minutes
2) Definition of a Resident Information
3) County Commissioner Partisan Election
Provisions
4) NC Counties Population /Concentration
Comparison with Orange County
5) Minutes from Five Meetings of the 1993
Task Force on the Process of Electing
County Commissioners
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) Yes
6) Multimember or Unusual County
Commissioner Election Systems
7) Super Districts — Artie Franklin Letter to
Chapel Hill Herald Editor
8) Three Counties Methods of Election
Follow -up
9) Options for Electing County
Commissioners by Residential Districts
from Chair Carey
10)May 2005 Staff Report on the Structure
of Boards of County Commissioners
11)2002 & 2004 General Election Results
for BOCC
12)Maps Showing Districts for NC House
Seats
13)School Districts Map
14)Elections Precincts Map
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair
Geof Gledhill, County Attorney, 732 -2196
Greg Wilder, 245 -2300
David Hunt, 245 -2130
John Link, 245 -2300
Brian Carson, 245 -2595
Craig Benedict, 245 -2592
PURPOSE: To conduct a public hearing on initial draft maps /plans related to Possible District
Elections for the Board of Commissioners; continue the Board's review of the draft maps /plans
and other associated materials related to possible District Elections for the Board of
Commissioners; and provide comments, questions and any further direction to staff as
appropriate.
2
BACKGROUND: At the Board's January 24, 2005 regular meeting, representatives of a group
of Orange County residents addressed the Board and submitted a 1200 - signature petition to
the Board regarding the method by which the members of the Board of Commissioners are
elected in Orange County. The representatives requested that the Board review the current
method of election for the members of the Board, which entails all five members of the Board
being nominated and elected to staggered four -year terms on an at -large basis. The
representatives specifically requested, as stated in the petition, that the Board "alter the method
and manner by which Orange County Commissioners are elected to afford equal and fair
representation to the residents of the county by adopting NCGS 153- 58(3)b, permitting the
voters of Orange County to choose commissioners by electoral districts with each district being
as nearly equal in population as practicable." The petition continued, "Further, that the qualified
voters of each district nominate candidates and elect members who reside in the district for
seats apportioned to that district and that some of the commissioners, but not more than half of
the board, be allocated to the county as a whole, to be nominated and voted upon by the
qualified voters of the entire county." Neither those making the request nor the petition
submitted included any explanatory information or detailed any specific proposal regarding the
format or implementation of the requested district representation for the Board.
The County Manager and County staff reviewed the issue and the petition submitted and
provided a report to the Board at the Board's May 5, 2005 work session. The report included
information on the following:
1) the legal framework for structure of boards of county commissioners;
2) the various methods of at -large election, district election, and combination of at-
large /district election utilized for boards of commissioners in the 99 other North Carolina
counties;
3) a history of past discussions by the Orange County Board of Commissioners in regard to
Board representation and election;
4) some limited boundaries and statistical information showing the population distribution as
it may relate to the consideration /formulation of district representation for Orange County.
The report was not intended to be an investigation of the benefits, costs, opportunities, hurdles,
or timelines that may be associated with the consideration and possible implementation of
district representation for the Board of Commissioners. It was intended to provide an initial
framework of information upon which the Board of Commissioners could deliberate and
determine as appropriate any further steps in evaluating this issue and responding to the
request and petition submitted. The Board subsequently scheduled and conducted two public
hearings on August 24 and August 31, 2005 to receive input from the public on this issue.
After the August 31st public hearing, the Chair solicited input from other BOCC members on
potential district election ideas /frameworks that the Board could consider as a next step in the
review process. In addition, the Chair and Vice Chair provided direction and feedback to staff in
the development of initial draft mapping and associated materials that followed the
ideas /frameworks provided.
These actions led to BOCC discussion at the Board's October 17, 2005 work session on five
initial draft maps /plans, an introductory preamble, a draft set of Principles, and a draft
Process/Timetable, all prepared in concert with ideas /input/frameworks outlined by BOCC
members. The five initial draft maps /plans were provided based on staff's work with population
numbers and precinct lines, and at the October 17 meeting, the Board agreed to move forward
to tonight's public hearing with three initial draft maps /plans. Those three initial draft
maps /plans are attached. A sample of the public hearing notice that appeared in three local
newspapers is also attached. After this public hearing, staff will provide any analysis requested
by the Board for additional BOCC discussion.
In response to BOCC requests for additional information, staff has provided two other
attachments. The first attachment is a summary of the draft district election plans potential
impacts on current members of the board of commissioners. The second is a letter and
attachments from County Attorney Geof Gledhill on the issues that may arise with district
elections related to redistricting.
Lastly, in response to a question from the October 17, 2005 work session regarding statistics on
the number of commissioner seats for the 100 North Carolina counties, the totals based on
information from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners are as follows:
4 Counties — Three Commissioner Seats
61 Counties — Five Commissioner Seats
3 Counties — Six Commissioner Seats
27 Counties — Seven Commissioner Seats
1 County — Eight Commissioner Seats
3 Counties — Nine Commissioner Seats
1 County — Eleven Commissioner Seats
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with conducting the public
hearing and additional review and discussion of initial draft maps /plans and other associated
materials related to possible District Elections for the Board of Commissioners
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board conduct a public hearing
on the initial draft maps /plans related to Possible District Elections for the Board of
Commissioners; continue the Board's review of the draft maps /plans and other associated
materials related to possible District Elections for the Board of Commissioners; and provide
comments, questions and any further direction to staff as appropriate.
Ell
Three different variations of potential district elections maps /plans (of the original initial
5 draft maps /plans) are provided. The maps /plans are as follows:
PROPOSAL2
FIVE COMMISSIONERS WITH TWO MULTIMEMBER DISTRICTS
ONE THREE- MEMBER DISTRICT & ONE TWO- MEMBER DISTRICT
■ All five members could be nominated in the Primaries either by their respective
District Voters OR by all County Voters, and all five members would be elected
in General Election by all County Voters.
PROPOSAL3
SEVEN COMMISSIONERS — ONE TWO - MEMBER DISTRICT/TWO SINGLE
MEMBER DISTRICTS/THREE AT LARGE
The four members from the three districts must reside in those respective districts
and could be nominated in the Primaries either by their respective District Voters
OR by all County Voters. Three at -large members would be nominated in the
Primaries by all County Voters. All seven members would be elected in the
General Election by all County Voters.
PROPOSAL5
FIVE COMMISSIONERS — ONE TWO- MEMBER DISTRICT /ONE SINGLE
MEMBER DISTRICT/TWO AT LARGE
The three members from the two districts must reside in those respective districts
and could be nominated in the Primaries either by their respective District Voters
OR by all County Voters. Two at- large members would be nominated in the
Primaries by all County Voters. All five members would be elected in the
General Election by all County Voters.
A set of DRAFT Principles and a DRAFT Process /Timetable is also provided for review.
Other documents detailing the base census data upon which these initial maps were
developed are also provided. The information detailed includes the 2000 Census total
population, the "ideal population" for district delineation, the population ranges
permissible in districts based on legal provisions, and the actual population numbers of
the delineated districts for each plan.
1 7.
STRUCTURE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
PRINCIPLES
Voters should have the opportunity to vote, in the general election, for a
majority of the members of the Board of Commissioners.
The establishment of district boundaries and any necessary revisions should
be based on decennial census data from the United States Census Bureau.
District lines should, where feasible, follow already- existing township lines,
precinct lines, roadways, and /or other boundary lines.
District lines should be as simple and as easy to understand as possible.
However, in order to comply with any statutory and constitutional
provisions, delineations such as including a small or substantial portion of a
township or community in one district may be necessary, thereby
designating the remaining portion of the township or community as part of
another district.
To the degree possible, district boundaries should be configured to provide
the opportunity for areas more urban in nature to produce commissioners
from more urban areas and areas more rural in nature to produce
commissioners from more rural areas.
Any district plan should maintain a staggered term system for members of
the Board of Commissioners.
Any district plan should continue to provide African - Americans, women,
and other minorities an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.
Adherence to the North Carolina statutory requirements that the district
populations be as nearly equal as practicable and the Constitutional
provision of one person -one vote and the existing population distribution in
Orange County precludes the establishment of one commissioner
representing each township in the County.
Any district plan should foster greater participation of the public in the
electoral process.
1
STRUCTURE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
PROCESS /TIMETABLE
ACTIONS TO DATE
January 2005 Submission of'Petition to BOCC
C9
May 2005
Staff Report to BOCC
August 2005
Two Public Hearings Conducted by BOCC
to Receive Public Input
September 2005
County Staff Begins Review of Orange
County Decennial Census Data and
Formulates Draft Plans with Potential
District Lines Based on Proposals Received
from BOCC Members
October 2005
BOCC Initial Review of Draft Plans
including Potential District Lines
FUTURE (Proposed)
November 2005 First BOCC BOCC Public Hearing on Draft Plans
Regular Meeting including Potential District Lines and
on November 2, Continued BOCC Review of Draft Plans
2005 including Potential District Lines
Second BOCC BOCC Decision on One Plan with District
Regular Meeting Lines
on November 15,
2005
November 2006 Referendum by County Voters on BOCC-
Approved Plan
May 2008 Implementation of Adopted Plan (IF
APPROVED BY VOTERS)
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
POSSIBLE DISTRICT ELECTIONS MAPS /PLANS
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE FOR
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2005 AT 7:30 P.M.
PROPOSAL2
A public hearing will be held on initial draft — --
maps /plans related to Possible District Elections
for the Board of Commissioners. The following
proposals were selected by the Board at an
October 17, 2005 work session to present at this o+
public hearing. 147,6941
The Board of Commissioners welcomes all �
comments on all items as may be introduced La `a
addressed at the public hearing, The meeting is
open to the public and will be held on
Wednesday, November 2, 2005 at the F Gordon
Battle Courtroom in the Courthouse in DRAFT
Hillsborough beginning at 7:30 p.m. If you need 6 Member Proposal
p+ =2 Members
additional information, please call Greg Wilder at p2=3 Members
County's ebsite ww is also available on the
County's website –www co orange nc.us a m
41.20%
Aar Qitgiil �
D2
5872%
PROPOSAL 3 Proposal 2 -- Five Commissioners with
— - Two Multimember Districts
D1 One Three - Member District &
f (30,6667' One Two - Member District
All five members could be nominated in the
I' Primaries either by their respective District
Voters OR by all County Voters, and all five
�.I F7 members would be elected in General Election
by all County Voters.
Proposal 3 -- Seven Commissioners
–� DRAFT One Two- Member District/Two Single
7 Member Proposal Member Districts/Three At Large
p+ =i Member The four members from the three districts
02 p2 =3 Members
(26,37+) 3 A Largo must reside in those respective districts and
D3 could be nominated in the Primaries either by
( 7,g7 r their respective District Voters OR by all
03 In County Voters. Three at -large members wouli
4640% E5p4% be nominated in the Primaries by all County
„ A3 Voters. All seven members would be elected i
$ p2 the General Election by all County Voters.
2456%
PROPOSAL5
Proposal 5 -- Five Commissioners
One Two - Member District /One Single
Member District /Two At Large
The three members from the two districts must
reside in those respective districts and could be
nominated in the Primaries either by their
respective District Voters OR by all County
Voters, Two at -large members would be
nominated in the Primaries by all County Voters,
All five members would be elected in the
General Election by all County Voters.
K
i Member Proposal
a= +Member
12 =2 Members
! At Largo
la
33.72%
-r,
66-26%
7
DRAFT
DRAFT DISTRICT ELECTION PLANS POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON
CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
As currently proposed, the Board of Commissioners, prior to the end of calendar year 2005, will select
one plan for potential district election of County Commissioners. Following that decision, it has been
proposed that the plan be scheduled for a public referendum in November 2006. If a plan is selected
and subsequently approved by voters, it has been proposed that the plan be implemented for the
primary and general election of Commissioners occurring in 2008. Below is a summary of the impact
that the three current draft plans will have on the five current Commissioners.
Note: With any of the potential distict election plans, there will be a need to deterinine the
sequencing of the district and /or at -large seats associated with those plans for implementation dui °ing
the 1008 and 2010 elections. Until that sequencing is detei-niined, ,specific fi-aniewoiirs /opportunities
foi° the potential election of can ent Commissioners cannot be(idly detailed. What follows assumes
the pi,esent sequencing is inaintained.
PROPOSAL 2 — FIVE COMMISSIONERS WITH TWO MULTIMEMBER DISTRICTS —
ONE THREE- MEMBER DISTRICT & ONE TWO- MEMBER DISTRICT
Commissioner
Moses Carey, Jr
Valerie Foushee
Alice Gordon
Steve Halkiotis
2006
In the middle of
current 4 -year term —
Not affected by any
new plan
In the middle of
current 4 -year term —
Not affected by any
new plan
Candidate for
Possible Re- election
— Not affected by any
new plan
Candidate for
2008
Potential District 2
Candidate
Potential District 2
Candidate
If re- elected in 2006,
would be in the
middle of a 4 -year
term
If re- elected in 2006,
Possible Re- election would be in the
— Not affected by any middle of a 4 -year
new plan
term
Barry Jacobs Candidate for If re- elected in 2006,
Possible Re- election would be in the
— Not affected by any middle of a 4 -year
new plan term
2010
If elected in 2008,
would be in middle of 4-
year term as District 2
Commissioner
If elected in 2008,
would be in middle of 4-
year term as District 2
Commissioner
Potential District 2
Candidate
Potential District 1
Candidate
Potential District 1
Candidate
PROPOSAL 3 — SEVEN COMMISSIONERS — ONE TWO- MEMBER DISTRICT/TWO
SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS /THREE AT LARGE
Commissioner
Moses Carey, .Jr..
Valerie Foushee
Alice Gordon
Steve Halkiotis
2006
In the middle of
current 4 -year term —
Not affected by any
new plan
In the middle of
current 4 -year term —
Not affected by any
new plan
Candidate for
Possible Re- election
— Not affected by any
new plan
Candidate for
Possible Re- election
— Not affected by any
new plan
li:
Potential District 3
Candidate or
Potential At -Large
Candidate
Potential District 3
Candidate or
Potential At -Large
Candidate
If re- elected in 2006,
would be in the
middle of a 4 -year
term
If re- elected in 2006,
would be in the
middle of a 4 -year
term
Barry Jacobs Candidate for If re- elected in 2006,
Possible Re- election would be in the
— Not affected by any middle of a 4 -year
new plan term
2010
If elected in 2008,
would be in middle of 4-
year term as District 3
Commissioner or At-
Large Commissioner
If elected in 2008,
would be in middle of 4-
year term as District 3
Commissioner or At-
Large Commissioner
Potential District 3
Candidate or Potential
At -Large Candidate
Potential District 1
Candidate or Potential
At- Large Candidate
Potential District 2
Candidate or Potential
At -Large Candidate
9
II'
10
PROPOSAL 5 — FIVE COMMISSIONERS — ONE TWO- MEMBER DISTRICT /ONE SINGLE
MEMBER DISTRICT /TWO AT LARGE
Commissioner
Moses Carey, Jr
Valerie Foushee
Alice Gordon
Steve Halkiotis
2006
In the middle of
current 4 -year term —
Not affected by any
new plan
hi the middle of
current 4 -year term —
Not affected by any
new plan
Candidate for
Possible Re- election
— Not affected by any
new plan
Candidate for
Possible Re- election
— Not affected by any
new plan
11:
Potential District 2
Candidate or
Potential At Large
Candidate
Potential District 2
Candidate or
Potential At -Large
Candidate
If re- elected in 2006,
would be in the
middle of a 4 -year
term
If're- elected in 2006,
would be in the
middle of a 4 -year
term
Barry Jacobs Candidate for If re- elected in 2006,
Possible Re- election would be in the
— Not affected by any middle of a 4 -year
new plan term
2010
If elected in 2008,
would be in middle of 4-
year term as District 2
Commissioner or At-
Large Commissioner
If elected in 2008,
would be in middle of 4-
year term as District 2
Commissioner or At-
Large Commissioner
Potential District 2
Candidate or Potential
At -Large Candidate
Potential District 1
Candidate or Potential
At -Large Candidate
Potential District I
Candidate or Potential
At -Large Candidate
LAW OFFICES
COLEMAN, GLEDHIL.L., HARGRAVE &. PEEK
A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
129 E TRYON STREET
P O DRAWER 1529
HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27278
919 - 732.2196
FAX 919.772 -7997
www cgandh mm
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair
Valerie P. Foushee
Alice M. Gordon
Stephen Halkiotis
Barry Jacobs
Orange County Board
Post Office Box 8181
Hillsborough, North
October 26, 2005
of Commissioners
Carolina 27278
FROM THE DESK OF
GEOFFREY GLEDHILL
r.MAIL gadF.,, dhlu(e , nah n
RE: Redistricting in a District Election System
Dear Board Members:
This letter summarizes how redistricting would work were
Orange County to elect its Commissioners in whole or in part by
(1) districts for the purpose of nominating or electing persons
to the Board of Commissioners or (2) districts for residency
purposes only.
North Carolina General Statute § 153A -22 contains the
requirement and the process of redistricting where electoral
districts are for the purpose of nominating or electing persons
to the Board of Commissioners. Generally speaking, it creates a
standard of "substantial inequality of population among the
districts," and provides that the Board of Commissioners, by
resolution, can redefine the electoral districts in response to
substantial inequality of population among the districts. The
"redefined" electoral districts, after, redistricting, must be
"as nearly equal as practicable." And, the redefined electoral
districts must meet the constitutional, one person one vote
requirement.
If a district plan approved by the voters is a residency
only one, there is no statutory mechanism for redistricting by
resolution of the Board of Commissioners. "Redistricting" would
have to be done either by another referendum creating the
redefined districts or by special act or authority of the
I
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Page 2
October 26, 2005
General Assembly. With a copy of this letter is a copy of
Chapter 80 of the 1995 Session Laws which authorizes Chatham
County to redistrict its residency only county commissioner
districts in essentially the same way as the general law allows
all counties to redistrict electoral districts that provide for
nominating or electing persons by district.
GEG /lsg
Enclosure
xc: John M. Link, Jr.
Very truly yours,
COLEMAN, GLEDHILL, HARGRAVE & PEEK, P.C.
1sg:1etters \bdofc0m redistricting ltr. doc
ill
13
j 15 3 -20 CH 153A COUNTIES 6153 A -2 2
County Bonds Nor to Be Issued for Road
Purposes of One Township or Taxing Dis-
criet. — Whl le the building of public roads has
been held a necessary expense, apclication a,
the Principle mar nor be extended to instances
where a statute requires the county to issue its
bonds for road purposes to obtain aid for a
township or local taring district therein, uoon
the anpr01al of the voters of the particular
discricr alone and uithour benefit to the others.
Cur unissioners of Johnsfor Cour,tc v. Lacy. 174
N C. 141, 93 S E 48 £1917)
Cited in River Birch Assocs v. City of Ra-
leigh. 326 ti C 100, 3S8 S E 2d 533 1990,
§ 153A-20. Map of electoral districts.
If a county is divided into electoral districts for the purpose of nominating or
electing persons to the board of commissioner, the current boundaries of the
electoral districts shall at all tines be . drawn on a map. or set out in a written
description, or shown by a combination of these techniques. This current
delineation shall be available for public inspection in the office of the clerk.
(1973, c 322, s 1 )
§ 153_A -21: Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 884
Editor's Note. — Session Laws 1975. c 399.
applicable only to Robeson County, reenacted
this section
§ 153A -22. Redefining electoral district boundaries.
(a) If a county is divided into electoral districts for the purpose of nominat-
ing or electing persons to the board of commissioners, the board of commis-
sioners may find as a fact whether there is substantial inequality of population
among the districts.
(b) If the board finds that there is substantial inequality of population
among the districts, it may by resolution redefine the electoral districts.
(c) Redefined electoral districts shall be so drawn that the quotients
obtained by dividing the population of each district by the number of commis-
sioners apportioned to the district are as nearly equal as practicable, and each
district shall be composed of territory within a continuous boundary,
(d) No change in the boundaries of an electoral district may affect the
unexpired term of office of a commissioner residing in the district and serving
on the board on the effective date of the resolution. If the terms of office of
members of the board do not all expire at the same time, the resolution shall
state which seats are to be filled at the initial election held under the
resolution.
(e) A resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall be the basis of
electing persons to the board of commissioners at the first general election for
members of the board of commissioners occurring after the resolution's
effective date, and thereafter. A resolution becomes effective upon its adoption,
unless it is adooted during the period beginning 150 days before the day of a
primary and ending on the day of the next succeeding general election for
membership on the board of commissioners, in which case it becomes effective
on the first day after the end of the period.
(f) Not later than 10 days after the day- on which a resolution becomes
effective, the clerk shall file in the Secretary of State's office, in the office of the
register of deeds of the county, and with the chairman of the county board of
elections, a certified copy of the resolution.
(g) This section shall not apply to counties where under G.S. 153A- 58(3)d. or
under public or local act, districts are for residence purposes only, and the
912
153A -22
rein; upon
pa-icular
he others.
Lan, 171
itv of Ra.
1990),
iting or
of the
Fritten
=ant
clerk,
itibn
ents
mis-
each
the
Via
:e of
hall
the
a of
for
on's
ion
of a
:for
3ve
Iles
the
14
§153A -23 ARr } FOM,1OFGOV'ERNyENT §153A -27
k qualified voters of the entire county nominate all candidates for and elect all
members of the board. (1981, c. 790 )
Local - Modification, — Dar=_: 1991, Es. any previous action under G S. 153.k.22." Sec-
Sess, c 2. ss 4.6 1 l?s to applicability and tion 1 provides: "Chapter 136, Session Laws of
contingency provisions, see 1991 Session Laws. 1991. lrelating to expanding and redistricting
E.Y. Sess.. c. 2. s. 7). the Guilford County Board of Commissionersi
Editor's Vote. — Session Laws 1993, c 521, is reenacted "
s. 2 provides: "Section 1 of this act supersedes
t
§§ 153A -23, 153A -24: Reserved for future codification purposes
ARTICLE 4.
is
Form of Government..
i'
Part 1. General Provisions.
§ 153A -25. Qualifications for appointive of ice.
The board of commissioners may fix qualifications for any appointive office,
including a requirement that a person serving in such an office reside within
the county. The board may not waive qualifications fixed by law for an
appointive office but may fix additional qualifications for that office. (1973, c.
822, s. 1,)
§ 153A -26. Oath of office.
Each person elected by the people or appointed to a county office shall, before
entering upon the duties of the office, take and subscribe the oath of office
prescribed in Article VI, Sec. 7 of the Constitution. The oath of office shall be
administered by some person authorized by law to administer oaths and shall
be filed with the clerk.
On the first Monday in December following each general election at which
county officers are elected, the persons who have been elected to county office
in that election shall assemble at the regular meeting place of the board of
commissioners. At that time each such officer shall take and subscribe the oath
of office. An officer not present at this time may take and subscribe the oath at
a later time. (1868, c. 20, s, 8; 1874 -5, c 237, s. 3; Code, as. 707, 708; 1895, c.
135, ss 3, 4; Rev., ss 1316, 1318; C.S., ss 1295, 1297; 1965, c. 26; 1973, c, 822,
s 1)
CASE NOTES
Applied in Ratcliff v County of Buncombe.
663 F Supp 1003 (wD N 1967).
§ 153A -27. Vacancies on the board of commissioners.
If a vacancy occurs on the board of commissioners, the remaining members
of the board shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy. If the number
of vacancies on the board is such that a quorum of the board cannot be
913
H657 [SL 1995 -30] http: //www.ncga. state.nc.us /Sessions /1995 /Bills /Hoi:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1995 SESSION
RATIFIED BILL
CHAPTER 80
HOUSE BILL 657
AN ACT MAKING SUNDRY AMENDMENTS CONCERNING LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS IN CHATHAM COUNTY.
FOX TRAPPING SEASON
Section I. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law relating
to trapping of foxes, there will be open season for taking foxes with traps of
the leghold type no larger than one and one -half, with coil spring and with
trap chain and at least three swivels set on dry land with solid anchor. No
trap larger than number one and one -half coil spring may be used. This
season shall be from December 1 to February 15 of each year.
(b) No person shall place traps on the land of another without
first obtaining written permission from the landowner or lessee.
(c) There shall be no bag limit for foxes taken during the
trapping season established in this section.
(d) The Wildlife Resources Commission shall provide for the
sale of foxes taken lawfully pursuant to this section.
(e) This section applies only to Chatham County.
(f) This section becomes effective October 1, 1995.
ALLOW CENTRAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO LEASE
CERTAIN PROPERTY TO THE CHATHAM COUNTY COUNCIL ON
AGING
Sec. 2. (a) Notwithstanding G.S. 115D -15, the Board of Trustees
of Central Carolina Community College may lease a portion of its real
property in Center Township of Chatham County, and grant necessary
easements for utilities, to the Chatham County Council on Aging, Inc., upon
such terms and conditions as it shall determine in its discretion.
(b) This section applies only to the proposed lease of property
in Chatham County.
CHATHAM SCHOOL BOARD /COUNTY COMMISSIONER ELECTIONS
Sec. 3. (a) The Board of Education of Chatham County shall
consist of five members who shall be qualified voters of the County, and who
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106
shall be elected as hereinafter provided for staggered teens of four years.
(b) For the purpose of electing members of the Board of
Education, the County is hereby divided into four resident districts as
follows:
District Number One shall consist of all the territory
within the boundaries of the precincts of Bynum, West
Williams, East Williams, and New Hope.
District Number Two shall consist of all the territory
within the boundaries of the precincts of East Pittsboro,
West Pittsboro, West Mann's Chapel, and East Mann's
Chapel.
District Number Three shall consist of all the territory
within the boundaries of the precincts of Cape Fear, Haw
River, Oakland, Goldston, and Harpers Crossroads.
District Number Four shall consist of all the territory
within the boundaries of the precincts of Bennett, Bonlee,
South Siler City, North Siler City, Albright, Hadley, and
Hickory Mountain.
(c) The election shall be nonpartisan, and no primary election
shall be held. The election shall be held at the same time as the regular
primary for county officers, and except as provided in this section, the
election shall be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of
Chapter 163 of the General Statutes regulating general elections.
(d) Beginning in 1996, and thereafter as the terms expire, one
member shall be elected from Districts 1 and 2 for terms of four years.
In 1998, and thereafter as the terms expire, one member shall be
elected from District 3, and two members from District 4 for terms of four
years.
(e) Candidates must reside in the district which they seek to
represent, but shall be voted on by the voters of the entire County. The
candidates in each district receiving the highest number of votes, equal to the
number of positions to be filled in the district, shall be declared elected.
(f) The provisions of G.S. 115C -37, except for subsection (i),
shall be applicable to the members of the Chatham County Board of
Education.
(g) Chapter 501 of the Session Laws of 1975 is repealed,
except for Section 6.
(h) Article 3 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is
amended by adding a new section to read:
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1657 [SL
4 strict boundaries.
'Reside candidates ates-resUe
district in which thec dtcL
t r
and represent the His ri t but the candidates are voted on in the nrirnqrii-,z and
general elections -hy-ihe- qualified —voters --Q-f-tb(-�- entire countv. It includes
districts establi bed either 4y -1a der A,
-Joca --- act un (3)
(4) if county is residc di s -tC c tsI
Q --- board of
commissioners njay f -
indas.-a-fact whether thereis substantial i uality
neq. ---of
--ainiong- the -districts. If the � Ends that there is substantial
-
inequality—of—population amorigibe lution redefine the
residency districts to make them more -mmrly tes fo orn ce
-equal The- --U-rc- -p,tian-
with sjg�ctiaij
this is a L
Qduci
tLQu-in the relative overall range --of-deviation.
(c
No change in the boundaries of a -res-tdQnc ydistri
ctmay t the unexpired_ -term -oL off -cQ--of-a-- commissioner - residing -ln-- the -district -and
serving -orL- the --board --Q-n- the -effective date of the resolution.-If the terms Q -- --m— of
office of nie�nftrs of- the board do-not --- all expire_atthe same time, the
resolution
to be filled at the initial election held
1995-801
http://wwl.v.nc.aa.state.nc us"Sessions/1 995/Bills/Hou
under the resolution.
,((I) Are
resolution op pursuant to this section shall be the of
doQfing-pe�rsons to the board of commissioners at the first general etQ(ztim for
members of the, board of corrunissioners occurring after the resolution's
effective date, and thereafter. Before any resolution maybe dQpted pursuam t
to this
-sectjorthe- board -of - commissioners --shall hold a public -hearing -on-i-t.
AWtice
of the_publc hearing shall be gi_v_en once a week for two successive
i
weeks in a newspaper
having -generaLdrculation in thesQuaty. 'L e notice
I h-- - i-
shall-biQ-publishe-d-for the fist time not less -than -DO-day-an-ar more than 20
days before the date fixed for hearing. In computing-the-p in e
- uiod la: L tii i-. th e
day-of -publication-shall included t the ehea n hall
_nQtbeJ --Iiu-- -ofth hearing -Ae
included = A resolution becomes effective upon - its ado Q- , -nntes it
is
adopted -during -the -period 4eginninga5-G- days -before
-- he day of primary
an e ndirg-mtte-day—of
the next-s-ucceeding-gQnQLaL-QI!Q-QtiQa-for
niernbership--o�rL the -board --of---jcommissioners, in which case it becomes
-
effective ft first day _after t
--QrL -f-- --after�-Qndof me period.
-
W Not --Later -than LI�Lday-s-af-tLer- the -day -Qn-which a resolution becomes
effective the clerk.sliall file in the Secretarf State's office,_in the of_fi_ce of
the register deeds the jz Q- - ty and the chain
an of the county Qard
of elections,_a certified A he Qju es� tL
-r- - Qnt
(f) This section applies -W-Chatbanoy
ni Cwnty
- - - -nl
0- -
CHATHAM SCHOOL BOARD TIME OF TAKING OFFICE
Sec. 4. Section 6 of Chapter 501 of the Session Laws of 1975
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/S
reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 6. The provisions of G.S. - 115- 24- 115C_37_(_f) shall be applicable to
the members of the Chatham County Board of Education. The -- persons
elected -- shall- - qualify- by- takinb the - oath -o€ office 30 -- -days -- after-- the - election.
The members of the Chatha>n County Board of Education shall bold a
meeting--m-the-first-Monday _in December following the election_At that
meetng� newly elected members of the Board of Education shall qualify by_
taking the oath of office as _prescribed in Article VI, Section 7 of the,
Constitution."
Sec, 5. This act is effective upon ratification,
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 11th
day of May, 1995.
Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate
Harold J. Brubaker
Speaker of the House of Representatives
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F 0
Proposal 2
The population numbers are from the 2000 Census.
115,531 = County Population
5 Members
2 Districts
115,531 / 5 = 23,106
District 1 = 46,212 ( "ideal population ")
5% deviation = +/- 2,311
Range = 43,901 to 48,523
District 2 = 69,318 ( "ideal population ")
5% deviation = +/- 3,466
Range = 65,852 to 72784
Deviation
D1 = 3.2 % (47,694)
D2 = 2.1 % (67,837)
FINTIAM
Proposal 3
The population numbers are from the 2000 Census.
115,531 = County Population
7 members
3 Districts
115,531 / 4 = 28883
District 1 & 2 = 28883 ( "ideal population ")
5% deviation +/- 1,444
Range = 27,439 to 30,327
District 3 = 57766 ( "ideal population ")
5% deviation +/- 2,888
Range = 54,878 to 60,654
Deviation
D1 = 4.17 % (30,086)
D2 = 1.77 % (28,371)
D3 = 1.20 % (57,074)
Proposal 5
The population numbers are from the 2000 Census.
115,531 = County Population
5 members
2 Districts
115,531/3 = 38510
District 1 = 38510 ( "ideal population ")
5% deviation +/- 1,926
Range = 36,584 to 40,436
District 2 = 77020 ( "ideal population ")
5% deviation +/- 3,851
Range = 73,169 to 80,871
Deviation
D1 = 1.19% (38,968)
D2 = 0.59% (76,563)
2000 Census Blacks
Voting Precincts
Rural Buffer
Proposal 5