By Amanda Raymond
amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SPENCER — The Spencer Board of Aldermen will be discussing the use of golf carts and a community forum at its meeting Tuesday.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. at Spencer Town Hall, 600 S. Salisbury Ave.

According to the meeting agenda, Alderman Mike Boone asked that the board consider the conditional use of golf carts on Spencer streets.

Boone said in an email that many Spencer residents own golf carts and some have said they wanted to be able to drive them in the streets legally. He said he wanted to be sure the rest of the board was in agreement about the subject, and also wanted to hear advice from the police chief.

“I personally believe golf cart travel is good for a small community as it is a ‘green’ form of transportation  and the people that ride them tend to stop and talk with their neighbor, meet at our restaurants, shop local, thereby making our town a tighter knit community,” he wrote in an email.

Town Manager Reid Walters said he knows of a few towns that have allowed golf carts on their streets. He said the board will discuss what rules and regulations have to be in place and then determine if they want town staff to look more into it.

After that, the board will discuss setting a date for a community forum. Alderman David Lamanno asked that the item be put on the agenda.

In an email, Lamanno said he and Mayor Jim Gobbel discussed the idea. He said that although there is time for public comment at every Board of Aldermen meeting, a community forum would be a real discussion between citizens and the board.

Walters said the town has hosted community forums in the past, but they have not had one in about three years. During the forum, the community will be able to discuss issues, ideas and opinions with the board.

“The ultimate outcome will be to allow our government to address any needs presented and to allow us to know where we need to focus our attention (beyond our 2016 goals) going forward,” Lamanno said in the email.

In other business, the board will:

• Hear reports from department heads, the town manager, the mayor and appointed delegates about events for the past month.
• Hear public comment.
• Discuss a draft of the Housing Code Ordinance.
• Consider approving the Deed of Conservation Easement and Right of First Refusal for Spencer Woods.
• Consider filing liens with the Rowan County Clerk of Court for five properties.
• Go into a closed session to discuss an economic development matter.