King resigns

by Scott Pearson, Asst. Editor
Posted 5/26/20

Chapel Hill Mayor Jackie King has submitted his resignation as mayor to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Effective on April 30, King cited “unforeseen personal reasons” in his letter for the announcement. King was in his first term as mayor but has a long history of service to the community, including as chief of police...

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

King resigns

Posted

Chapel Hill Mayor Jackie King has submitted his resignation as mayor to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Effective on April 30, King cited “unforeseen personal reasons” in his letter for the announcement.

King was in his first term as mayor but has a long history of service to the community, including as chief of police.

“I surely do appreciate the time I had working with him,” said Town Administrator Marks Graves, during the monthly board meeting broadcast last week.

“I appreciate everything Jackie did,” added Alderman Marion Joyce.

Joyce, as the town’s vice mayor, will assume the mayoral duties, per the town charter.

She will also retain her voting privilege while also serving as mayor.

King’s resignation leaves two vacancies on the Chapel Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Alderman Thomas Lawrence passed away in mid-March. The vacant seat could not be included on the August ballot, which sees seven candidates competing for three seats on the board.

Incumbents Horace Hill, Dottie Morton, and Joyce are all seeking reelection.

Normally the board would solicit statements of interest and appoint a resident to fill Lawrence’s seat. Aldermen have discussed the possibility of appointing the candidate receiving the fourth highest number of votes in August to Lawrence’s seat.

An appointment for a permanent mayor will be determined later.

During last week’s regular agenda, aldermen approved the first reading of the budget for next year. During previous budget meetings, Graves made it clear that the budget would be limited to maintaining operations in the town, as opposed to capital expenditures, due to economic uncertainties due to the recent business shutdowns.

Similarly, alderman decided to continue with the annual 4th of July fireworks show, but delay plans for expansion in vendors and food offerings until next year, due to uncertainty regarding mass gatherings at that time.

The board also approved spending approximately $63,000 in state COVID-19 relief funds earmarked for capital expenditures on equipment for the police, fire, and water departments.

Graves said that all were items that would have been purchased in the next fiscal year before capital items were removed from the budget.