WHAT HAPPENED: The legislative chambers were quiet with the House and Senate on scheduled vacation. Gov. Roy Cooper
signed into law a few additional bills the General Assembly submitted prior. And
Tropical Storm Elsa dumped inches of rain
over eastern and central North Carolina before pushing toward the northeast U.S.
WHAT IT MEANS: With lawmakers out this week, this Bulletin's usual roundup of bill activity is, too. But you can browse
the legislature's Bills & Laws page for status updates -- the chambers' actions on various proposals, and how the governor has dealt with bills they've sent him to sign. (That includes, one week ago today,
a veto of a bill that sought changes to unemployment benefits.)
ON TAP: The
legislative calendar has the House and Senate back in business on Monday.
THE SKINNY: A light week for lawmaking, but not for municipalities. Please take the time to recognize our honoring of Chuck Allen, the former Goldsboro mayor and longtime League Board of Directors member who has stepped down from public office to focus on health. For his contributions to Goldsboro and to the League's municipal membership as a whole, we have presented him our Meritorious Lifetime Membership Award and send the warmest of thoughts and thanks to Allen and his family.
Former Goldsboro Mayor Chuck Allen has been presented with the N.C. League of Municipalities' Meritorious Lifetime Membership Award, recognizing his outstanding service to North Carolina's cities and towns.
The award from the organization's Board of Directors follows his service on the board since 2017.
Allen, a business owner and developer professionally, first came to elected municipal leadership as a member of the Goldsboro City Council in 1999 and became mayor in 2015. Additional roles include chair of the Wayne County Development Alliance, chair of the Goldsboro Metropolitan Organization, and a governor-appointed member of the N.C. Military Affairs Commission. He was also a founding member of the Highway 70 Corridor Commission, an intergovernmental group focused on safety and economics along the corridor. A section of the U.S. 70 Bypass was recently named for Allen.
“Chuck Allen has shown unrivaled dedication to municipal government and made substantial contributions to assist cities and towns improve the lives of their residents," states a resolution drafted by the NCLM Board and presented by NCLM President Karen Alexander in the mayor's honor.
Allen stepped down from his role as mayor in June to focus on health.
The NCLM Board credited Allen for his role in downtown Goldsboro's dramatic transformation in recent years as well as maintaining strong relationships with North Carolina's military presence and with the N.C. General Assembly. His ideas and tone were an important part of the NCLM Board.
“Chuck Allen," the resolution states, “during his time on the NCLM Board of Directors, has helped transform the organization into a modern advocacy and service organization with clear purpose and the ability to connect with state leaders to advance policies that keep municipalities strong."
We give our deepest thanks to Allen and his family for their service and care.
The
Goldsboro News-Argus newspaper ran a detailed story today (Friday) about the recognition and with further details about his life and public service.
Southern
City magazine -- the League’s glossy print and online offering, with the most
incisive and singular coverage of North Carolina’s cities and towns, their
governments, and the issues before them -- is out for the new quarter. With it,
staff writers dial into
internet service
problems that can slow entire communities; on how cities and towns
are
leading the way
on affordable housing;
a pandemic-time
innovation out of coastal New Bern; and the success of the League’s
2021 CityVision
Virtual Conference. The League’s Immediate Past President, Cary
Council Member Jennifer Robinson,
reveals her
mindset for public service. And
Sen. Jim Burgin
explains his thoughts on data-based decision-making, the state of
health care, relationships with local government, and self-imposed term limits.
Current League President Karen Alexander, the mayor of Salisbury,
discusses her
penchant for partnership-building in better navigation through
modern municipal challenges. And Executive Director Paul Meyer
highlights the
dynamics of recovery for cities and towns following 2020’s most
rippling events. Says Meyer, “Crisis brings opportunity, if you are willing to
seize it.” The full issue is online at
southerncitymagazine.org.
