By Amanda Raymond
amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SPENCER — The Spencer Board of Aldermen approved the ordinance changes that went along with the new booklet of forms code enforcement officers will now carry around during field visits.

The board met on Tuesday at 600 S. Salisbury Ave. Mayor Jim Gobbel was out of town, so Mayor Pro Tem Sylvia Chillcott presided over the meeting.

Troy Powell, land management director, allowed notice of violation compliance order and civil citation forms to be printed in a portable booklet for code enforcement officers. Instead of being required to mail the notice, officers will be able to fill out the form while out in the field and hand-deliver it to the property owner if he or she is present.

“That’s going to be a faster process than the current process,” Powell said. He said the former process could take two to three days to get the notice to the property owner.

The ordinance was amended so that if a notice is hand-delivered, the property owner has five days to comply instead of 10. The compliance period will stay at 10 days for notices that are mailed.

Code enforcement officers are also allowed to hand-deliver notices for vehicles in violation of the code.

Changes to the ordinances also state that if a commercial dumpster is found on a property without a permit, the property owner has 48 hours, instead of 10 days, to get a permit or remove the dumpster.

Alderman David Lamanno said he thought the amendments were in line with the board’s goal of cleaning up the town’s ordinances.

“I think this certainly fits in with … using real world experience to focus where changes need to occur,” he said.

The board approved the ordinance amendments unanimously.

In other business, the board:

• Heard a report from Reid Walters, town manager. He and department heads are working on a five-year Capital Improvement Program for the town and hope to have the plan finalized by January or February.
  He is also working with the owners of Park Plaza on marketing the site for development.
  The next workday for the Carolina Thread Trail is scheduled for Oct. 22.
• Heard public comment. Daniel McClerin said he has been disrespected because he wanted to change a practice in the Historic Preservation Commission of only using last names in the record. McClerin resigned from his position on the HPC town board in September.
• Approved a request to waive the reservation fee and special event fee for the Michael Yang Foundation to use the Library Park for the Voices of Hope fundraising event.
• Heard from a program manager from Duke Energy’s Neighborhood Energy Saver Program, which begin efforts in Spencer in November.
• Approved an ordinance amendment designating all areas along the front side of the shopping center at 301 to 319 N. Salisbury Ave. as a fire lane.
• Approved an ordinance declaring a road closure for the Holiday Caravan Parade. The closure will start at Jefferson Street, go onto Salisbury Avenue and end on Eighth Street on Nov. 23 from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
• Discussed leadership changes at North Rowan Middle and High schools. Meredith William, new principal at North Rowan High School, Carl Snider, new principal at North Rowan Middle School, and Alexis Cowan, new community principal for North Rowan Middle and High schools, introduced themselves and talked about the benefits of the new structure, including consistent relationships between students and administration and the opportunity for collaboration within the administrative team.
• Approved property liens for properties on the 600 block of Third Street, 600 block of South Yadkin Avenue, 1000 block of Third Street, 900 block of Seventh Street and the 800 block of Fifth Street.
• Discussed the Eighth Street Ball Park Trunk or Treat event. At least 15 patrons are signed up to give out candy, the concessions manager will be giving out popcorn and hot chocolate and two fire stations are bringing their trucks. The event will be on Oct. 31 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Approved Beth Nance and the Community Appearance Commission moving forward with a grant application to receive two art pieces from the Rowan Arts Council to display in Spencer. The two pieces, “Firefly” by Stephen Hayes and “Autumn Glory” by Cathy Perry, are currently on display in the Salisbury Sculpture Show. The board also agreed to a $500 commitment for pouring pad and the placement of the sculptures and an in kind donation, valued at $2,000, for the maintenance and upkeep of the sculptures.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.