Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 00:24:58 -0500
From: Gene Galin
Subject: Last Week’s Hottest Chatham Online Bulletin Board Topics

1. Liberal Progressive Pittsboro NC Town Council Denies Children’s Christian Academy  (Read 8800 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24900.0.html

2. Who is this woman ripping down signs for Haw River Christian School in Pittsboro  (Read 7764 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24985.0.html

3. Team Pittsboro: Another Randolph Voller scam to get credit for others’ efforts  (Read 6543 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,23786.0.html

4. Pittsboro General Store Cafe status?  (Read 3444 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25016.0.html

5. Preston’s plans for 7,000 acres in Chatham  (Read 3300 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25029.0.html

6. N&O – Artsy Pittsboro cafe closes  (Read 2393 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25035.0.html

7. 70 Pittsboro businesses butt heads with 4 anti-business town officials  (Read 2210 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24993.0.html

8. Mayor responds to Christian School concerns  (Read 1195 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25033.0.html

9. Stop Using Voller as a Scapegoat for everything that goes wrong in Pittsboro  (Read 1107 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25082.0.html

10. Don’t be afraid of change! Do it for the children  (Read 829 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25018.0.html

11. Chatham County Schools budget survey  (Read 828 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25104.0.html

12. Mayors Randy Voller & Charles Johnson want to raise your taxes  (Read 785 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25081.0.html

13. New Park on Big Woods Road  (Read 741 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25048.0.html

14. Whinning  (Read 685 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24981.0.html

15. Should tax cheats be able to govern in Chatham County?  (Read 650 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25058.0.html

16. NC Main Street Program supports the new downtown Pittsboro school project  (Read 417 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25092.0.html

17. Once again Ms. Black speaks out  (Read 273 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25076.0.html

18. Joe Hackney Announces Retirement  (Read 252 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25097.0.html

Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:59:35 -0500
From: momopom
Subject: re:”Voller blinked”

When I read a letter on the chatlist like this one it makes me sick at heart the way human beings can treat each other. No matter what Voller has or has not done, is there any chance that you could write a dispassionate accurate account stating why you are upset?

This type of abuse does not convince me that Voller is a bad guy -  only that you enjoy putting people down..

Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:29:31 -0500
From: Farmer Dell
Subject: Voller Blinked

Like a kid caught doing something wrong, Randy Voller has been embarrased. Of course, rather than admit that he was wrong, Randy pulls his usual routine and comes out with a bunch of excuses in a bloated diatribe trying to explain why he believes that he didn’t do anything wrong.

We have seen this behaviour repeatedly. According to Randy nothing wrong is ever his fault.

The school has followed the guidelines and gone through the process, but Randy and three of his town board members continue to throw up roadblocks. Voller picks and chooses which bits of information he wishes to consider.  On the YouTube video at http://youtu.be/V9PQ6_eq38g, he “plays dumb” to many of the questions that are raised. But in fact, many of these had already been addressed, formally & informally.  

Randy’s perception is also a little skewed when it comes to the businesses supporting the new school. As someone else has noted “Randy Voller has been an extreme obstructionist. To an outsider not familiar with the details, it would be hard to pick up on. But he’s outright lying (or being deliberately misleading) on some fine points.  One example was in today’s paper where he questioned the support of the 70 business owners and said it “may” be overinflated by being closer to 23. He has the full complete list. He just covered his butt with the “may” word when those close to the matter know the truth. At the last council meeting, there were several other things that he questioned where it had been addressed and he had the information he needed. The downtown businesses have a pretty good handle on factors that effect them. They have navigated the waters of this economy and survived. So when you have a mayor that is not a downtown business owner come in and obstruct the process in favor of the very small minority, that raises some serious question marks in my mind.”

In an online notice from the mayor, Randy Voller refers to those in disagreement with his viewpoint as “warlords” and “incensed mobs.” He generally doesn’t handle dissent well.

Yes, in this situation there is a process to follow and concerns to be addressed. This all probably would have gone more smoothly if the drama queen of a mayor didn’t overstep his bounds.

Maybe the best thing for Randy to do now is to step aside and let the adults handle this. They will call on him if they need for him to participate in a tie breaking vote.

Dale

BTW, apparently Randy’s next scheduled performance will be at the Pittsboro town hall on February 6th. That evening’s performace will be a Comedy of Errors featuring the clown prince of Pittsboro.

Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:38:14 -0500
From: Kathy Zinn
Subject: Haw River Christian Academy

I am writing in support of the Haw River Christian Academy’s  being allowed to lease and occupy the empty building on Salisbury Street in Pittsboro. It is true, I am prejudiced in this case:  my granddaughter attends the 3rd grade at the present school, and has benefited greatly from her first year there.   It is also true that I have not,  in the past,  been an advocate for private or religious schools.  I have experienced both, as have many of my siblings, and I have preferred to send my own children, including Ellie’s father, to public schools.

However,  I have witnessed how this caring and committed group of parents and teachers have met my dear  grandchild where she is, taught her Latin, which she loves, and introduced her to both scientific concepts,  and  the Greek gods and goddesses,  all in a religious and spiritual context,  with very small classes.  .

I think the school is a “good fit ” for downtown Pittsboro, and apparently at least 70 businesses agree!  I am puzzled and disturbed at the the  inconsistencies that I have heard from Mayor Voller (for whom I voted) and some commissioners, in their objections to HRCA coming into town.  I ask that they be clearer about their objections, all of which seem to have been discounted by the pertinent approving agencies, such as the fire department.  What are people afraid of?  People who may believe differently  from others?  3rd graders speaking Latin?  I have always considered myself a “Liberal Progressive”.  A large part of that political stance is a belief in equal opportunity, as well as tolerance of others who only want to pursue their own path.  I cannot believe the town will not also benefit, economically , from the presence of the school. 

Please, Mr. Mayor and others who object to Haw River Christian Academy’s  occupying  an in-town building left vacant after repeated business failures:  Be clearer with us. 

Be honest.  Be fair.

Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:47:08 -0800 (PST)
From: James Tournbleau
Subject: Randy Dye illiterate champion for education

Anyone can be a reporter nowadays even if they are unable to speak English. What we do not need is an illiterate reporter defending education. Randy learn verb tense before you commit to video. You are a prime example of failure in our educational system. This video is embarrassing!

http://youtu.be/gvGCrVzmqho

Here are a few examples from Randy’s video:
“People have put up”
“You probably seen before”
“This is where you seen”
“I actually digged in the trash myself.”

Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:10:08 -0500
From: chathammatters
Subject: Troubling times in Pittsboro

The (newly elected) Pittsboro Town Commissioners – have rejected (for now) the application by the Haw River Christian Academy to open a school in downtown Pittsboro.

Here is the video of the proceedings, it is eye-opening, you really need to see this for yourself:  http://youtu.be/V9PQ6_eq38g

The second is related, a woman is going around ripping down posters supporting the proposed school – keep in mind that the posters were put up by the over 70 store owners who are actively supporting the new school.  Here it is:  http://youtu.be/V9PQ6_eq38g

If you don’t have time to watch the video of the town meeting, here is a synopsis:

Mayor Randy Voller (Chair of the Chatham Democrat Party) states that the school did not get final or complete plans to the fire department or to the the planning board, then states that the plan is not in compliance with the downtown sprucing up project (which is voluntary and not final itself).
- Fire Department stands up and says they had final plans and they approved them.

- Planning stands up says they had the same final plans and approved them, and that they even accommodated relevant items from the voluntary project such as it is currently.

Commissioners Pam Baldwin and Beth Turner (both on Voller’s team) – say they object to the site location because of the “traffic issues” (which are addressed in the plan that they clearly did not read).

- The traffic engineer explains their misconceptions and then shoots down their further objections.

Commissioner Bett Wilson Foley (who also ran with Voller as a team) – In a jaw-dropping statement says that she doesn’t want the school there because she wants some sort of retail on the site (really?) – then further is concerned about school traffic vs retail traffic.

- The lack of understanding of basic economics is bad enough – this is a place that has been empty for years, with the exception of a brief usage of the PTA Thrift Shop, if this were viable retail space it would have already been used for retail, this building is an odd size (too large for small retail, too small for large retail).
- The contempt for the the landowner – who finally finds an viable fit for his property – but no, she wants him to have no income from this building, but yet wants him to keep paying property taxes, how arrogant.
- What could possibly prompt this? Does she have a friend or a family member who wants this land for cheap?  Is she planning her own “retail store for this location?  Where does the arrogance of her statement come from, this contempt for property rights? Is she planning to do a government takeover of this property for some “Greenspace” perhaps?  She never says which retail she has in mind, perhaps someone will ask her at the next town meeting who is going into that space since she is so confident that it will happen?

- Finally the traffic engineers explains that school traffic is far less than retail traffic (and is during off-peak hours).

The only good news here is Commissioner JA Farrell – who clearly was supportive of the 70 businesses who publicly support the school, supportive of the landowner who finally has a great fit with this school and this building, supportive of the school itself which provides much needed relief from our public school system while costing those of us who pay taxes nothing.

I would hope they would take all of this into account and change their “Collective” mind, but really, what are the chances of that?

Elections have consequences…

By the way the first two acts these new commissioners made shortly after taking office, were to extend the building moratorium for another two years and to take for themselves un-precidented power in the approval process… go figure..

Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:09:31 -0500
From: cryptik
Subject: Thanks to my opponents for proving that I am right

The name-calling (particularly terms such as “coward”) and mockery (someone wasted all that time to set up a fake Gmail account and join it to the list solely to mock me? Seriously?) I have experienced have only proven my previous points even further, and serve as a prime example of why anonymity is important, even on a local Chatlist.

There are uncivil individuals out there, and it only takes one person with an unhealthy obsession and too much spare time to make another person’s life miserable.  Thanks to those who, in attacking me directly or indirectly, have actually worked to further prove that I am right…and also provided me with a chuckle at the delicious irony of it all.

Anonymous Unscathed Coward

Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:28:53 -0800 (PST)
From: Dawn Morgan
Subject: Public talk: To Frac or Not to Frac? “Risks & Rewards of Natural Gas Production from Shale”

Good afternoon, Chatham Chatlist,

As fiercely as the subject of fracking has been discussed in previous months, I thought the following meeting information warranted forwarding:

The UNC Institute for the Environment invites you to a public talk, “To Frac or Not to Frac? Risks and Rewards of Natural Gas Production from Shale†, with Dr. Larry Murdoch of Clemson University. 
The talk will be held on Tuesday, January 31st at 5:00 PM at Tate Turner Kuralt Auditorium on UNC’s Campus. 

Dr. Murdoch’s expertise in fractured rock hydrology, geological processes, and aquifer systems give him unique and comprehensive understanding of hydraulic fracturing, or, “fracking† including the technical processes, risks, rewards, and impacts associated with this technique.

http://www.ie.unc.edu/PDF/news_related/Murdoch_Flyer.pdf for further details about the talk.  This event is free and open to the public, so bring a friend!  We hope to see you there.
 
Best regards,
 
Katie Hall
Public Communications Specialist
UNC Institute for the Environment
mchall@email.unc.edu
919-962-0965

Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:41:15 -0500
From: Tom West 
 Subject: A few more important items about Jeffrey Starkweather 

Dee Reid left a few items off of her press release about her husband Jeffrey Starkweather. I am sure that it was just an oversight. I am sure it was a mistake. After all, Starkweather claims he is all for transparency.

According to avvo.com, as an attorney Jeffrey Starkweather was disciplined by the North Carolina licensing authority and reprimanded in 2005.

The State Bar voluntarily dismissed a formal disciplinary complaint against Jeffrey Starkweather of Chatham County in October 2005 after Starkweather agreed to accept the original discipline imposed upon him earlier in the year by the Grievance Committee. The committee reprimanded Starkweather for neglecting a client matter and failing to respond to a letter of notice and subpoena issued to him by the State Bar.

Starkweather co-led the Chatham Coalition, a Political Action Committee (PAC) that quickly gained the reputation as a hate group who conducted vicious personnel attacks against political opponents.

In his 2008 run for a Chatham County Commissioner position, the Independent Weekly newspaper said “we cannot support his candidacy. As the primary force behind the Chatham Coalition, Starkweather has become a lightning rod for divisiveness, engendering a political backlash to the coalition’s agenda. Additionally, his tendency to embrace complex processes over efficient outcomes and to browbeat those who don’t share his views detract from his potential to govern. With Chatham’s recent churn, what’s needed on the dais now are cool heads and the ability to compromise.”

Starkweather lost to Mike Cross by over 1,000 votes.

Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:02:12 -0800 (PST)
From: someone
Subject: Starkweather

 The ousting of the “coalition” and everything it stood for is an indication that the Starkweather style of governing is unpopular. His shameless behavior in recent public forums tells me that he would be an embarrassment to Pittsboro.