By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

EAST SPENCER — The town board is considering partnering with the Paul L. Dunbar Group on a grant that would bring a youth arts program to the 1909 East building across from Town Hall.

The Dunbar Group is submitting a grant application to the Foundation for the Carolinas to create a Saturday morning arts program for 50 students that would include classes for music, drama, puppetry and visual arts.

Representatives of the community foundation plan to discuss the proposal with the board at its October meeting.

Mayor Barbara Mallett said if the grant is awarded, the terms of using the building would have to be reviewed by the town’s attorney and potential liability concerns discussed.

Other business

• A text change approved at a recent meeting would allow small-scale restaurants on the edge of neighborhoods.

The Planning Board met in August to discuss changing the ordinance to allow neighborhood cafes and eateries as a conditional use in an area zoned residential. There is limited commercially zoned land in town, and the Planning Board felt that would inhibit development of small restaurants.

The board will hold a public hearing on the issue at its Oct. 7 meeting.

• The town will hold a shredding event that will allow it to shred old paperwork that has been in storage at Town Hall. The shredding will be open to residents as well.

Pioneer Shredding will handle the shredding, but the date has not been set.

Mallett said the town has old records that can and need to be shredded. She said some of them date to the 1980s.

The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.