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Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting

Town of Hillsborough · Board of Commissioners
Monday, April 13, 2026 at 7:00 pm

Regular meeting Budget and appropriationsWater and sewerAppointments and personnelContracts and procurementBroadband and technologyData centers and large loadsElections and districtsEnvironment and sustainabilityHomelessness and shelterHousing and affordabilityIntergovernmental agreementsLand conversion and large developmentParks and recreationPolice and public safetyRezoningRoads and transportationState legislative agendaStormwater and floodingTax rate and revaluation

Agenda document Full packet Minutes Meeting page Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Continued 6.BGeneral use rezoning and development agreement for 715 US Hwy 70 East Tabled

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

The board's main land-use item is a general-use rezoning and development agreement for 13.44 acres at 715 US Hwy 70 East, from Assisted Living Neighborhood to Multifamily, to allow up to 67 attached dwelling units on a parcel that was originally master-planned for a retirement campus that never got built. This item is being tabled rather than decided at this meeting. The board also takes up a staff-proposed reorganization that would merge Public Works, Public Space & Sustainability, and Stormwater & Environmental Services into a single "Community Services and Sustainability" department, prompted by a manager's resignation, and a request from the Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association for stricter trespassing enforcement against unhoused people camping near its ball field.

Most of the rest is routine consent-agenda business: budget amendments, three capital-project ordinance amendments for water/sewer plant upgrades, a year-end audit contract, a legal-services agreement with the town attorney's firm, a reappointment to the Parks and Recreation Board, and a resolution opposing a proposed state constitutional amendment that would limit local governments' property tax authority (tied to an active NC House committee process). Financial impacts on the rezoning are described as low to moderate, with private streets and trash collection.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

Commissioners took up the 715 US Hwy 70 East rezoning first, tabling it 4-0 on the town attorney's advice; staff said the case had reached its normal decision deadline but was not ready for a vote, so it was placed on the agenda and tabled for the record rather than left off entirely. The board then heard from Patrick Cummings, president of the Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association, who described drug use, discarded paraphernalia and threatening encounters near Collins Field tied to a small number of people camping nearby. Chief of Police Jason Winn and Diversion Social Worker Yazmin Washington said one of the individuals had moved after being connected to services, and Town Attorney Bob Hornik raised possible ordinance changes such as facility hours or no-camping signage. The board asked staff to look into signage, ordinance options and encampment clean-up protocols and report back.

Commissioners also heard a proposal to split the Community Services Department's five divisions into two new departments, folding Public Works, Public Space & Sustainability, and Stormwater & Environmental Services into a single "Community Services and Sustainability" department and replacing the vacant public works manager position with two lower-cost positions. Town Manager Eric Peterson said the change was the most efficient use of the town's limited capacity to add staff, and the board voiced support and directed staff to proceed. On the consent agenda, commissioners approved a $65,000 audit contract with S. Preston Douglas & Associates, a three-year renewal of the town attorney agreement with The Brough Law Firm, three capital-project budget amendments for water and sewer projects, and a resolution opposing a proposed state constitutional amendment that would limit municipal property tax authority. Commissioner Ferguson was appointed the town's voting delegate for the NC League of Municipalities board election, and Peterson said the town's FY27 budget will reach the board May 8, with a public hearing set for May 18.

How the votes went

Commissioners voted 4-0 on every item (Commissioner Evelyn Lloyd was absent): to approve the agenda, to reappoint Paul Weinberg to the Parks and Recreation Board, to approve the full consent agenda (5.A-5.L) as one motion, to table the 715 US Hwy 70 East rezoning, to appoint Commissioner Kathleen Ferguson as the town's voting delegate for the NC League of Municipalities Board of Directors election, and to adjourn.

From the published minutes.

Who spoke

No members of the public spoke.

Read from the records the government published after the meeting. Members of the public are private residents and are not named or indexed.

Speaking at this meeting

Town of Hillsborough's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Jump to an item (25 on this agenda)
  1. 1Public charge
  2. 2Audience comments not related to the printed agenda
  3. 3Agenda changes and approval
  4. 4.AParks and Recreation Board reappointment
  5. 5.AMinutes
  6. 5.BMiscellaneous budget amendments and transfers
  7. 5.CProclamation - Volunteer Appreciation Week
  8. 5.DResolution declaring surplus property and donation
  9. 5.EResolution adopting the Principles of Universal Design for Public Spa…
  10. 5.FResolution Opposing a Proposed Constitutional Amendment Limiting Loca…
  11. 5.GCapital Project Ordinance Amendment - Sodium Hypochlorite Conversion
  12. 5.HCapital Project Ordinance Amendment - Cates Creek Outfall Upgrade
  13. 5.ICapital Project Ordinance Amendment - Elizabeth Brady Pump Station Up…
  14. 5.JYear-end audit services contract
  15. 5.KTown Attorney Legal Services MOU with The Brough Law Firm
  16. 5.LUpdates on East Corbin Street Parking
  17. 6.ATrespassing issues with the unhoused community at the HYAA field
  18. 6.BGeneral use rezoning and development agreement for 715 US Hwy 70 East
  19. 6.CProposal for Community Services Department Reorganization
  20. 6.DAppointment of a voting delegate for the NC League of Municipalities…
  21. 6.EHot topics for work session April 27, 2026
  22. 7.ABoard members updates
  23. 7.BTown manager update
  24. 7.CStaff written reports
  25. 8Adjournment

Agenda items (25)

Procedural · 4Budget action · 4Staff or committee report · 4Resolution · 3Discussion item · 3Appointment · 2Contract or award · 2Minutes approval · 1Proclamation or recognition · 1Public hearing · 1
  1. 1 Public charge
    Procedural
    Standing statement on meeting decorum.
  2. 2 Audience comments not related to the printed agenda
    Procedural
    General public comment period.
  3. 3 Agenda changes and approval
    Procedural
    Board approves the agenda, with any changes.
  4. 4.A Parks and Recreation Board reappointment
    Appointment Appointments and personnelParks and recreation
    Reappointment of Paul Weinberg to the Parks and Recreation Board for a term ending April 13, 2029.
  5. 5.A Minutes
    Minutes approval
    Approval of minutes from the March 9 regular meeting, March 9 closed session, and March 23 work session.
  6. 5.B Miscellaneous budget amendments and transfers
    Budget action Budget and appropriations
    Routine consent-agenda budget amendments and transfers.
  7. 5.C Proclamation - Volunteer Appreciation Week
    Proclamation or recognition
    Proclamation recognizing Volunteer Appreciation Week.
  8. 5.D Resolution declaring surplus property and donation
    Resolution
    Resolution declaring certain town property surplus and authorizing its donation.
  9. 5.E Resolution adopting the Principles of Universal Design for Public Spaces
    Resolution
    Resolution adopting universal-design principles to guide public space projects.
  10. 5.F Resolution Opposing a Proposed Constitutional Amendment Limiting Local Property Tax Authority
    Resolution State legislative agendaTax rate and revaluation
    Resolution opposing one of four proposals before the NC House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform that would restrict municipal property tax authority; the committee was slated to vote on recommendations April 15.
  11. 5.G Capital Project Ordinance Amendment - Sodium Hypochlorite Conversion
    Budget action Budget and appropriationsWater and sewer
    Budget ordinance amendment for the water treatment plant's conversion to sodium hypochlorite disinfection.
  12. 5.H Capital Project Ordinance Amendment - Cates Creek Outfall Upgrade
    Budget action Budget and appropriationsWater and sewer
    Budget ordinance amendment for a sewer outfall upgrade project.
  13. 5.I Capital Project Ordinance Amendment - Elizabeth Brady Pump Station Upgrade
    Budget action Budget and appropriationsWater and sewer
    Budget ordinance amendment for a sewer pump station upgrade project.
  14. 5.J Year-end audit services contract
    Contract or award Budget and appropriationsContracts and procurement
    Contract award for audit services covering fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.
  15. 5.K Town Attorney Legal Services MOU with The Brough Law Firm
    Contract or award Contracts and procurementIntergovernmental agreements
    Memorandum of understanding for town attorney legal services with The Brough Law Firm.
  16. 5.L Updates on East Corbin Street Parking
    Staff or committee report Roads and transportation
    Consent-item update on East Corbin Street parking.
  17. 6.A Trespassing issues with the unhoused community at the HYAA field
    Discussion item Homelessness and shelterPolice and public safety
    Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association's president asks the board to support stricter trespassing penalties, citing drug use, vandalism, and harassment linked to unhoused people near the association's baseball field.
  18. 6.B General use rezoning and development agreement for 715 US Hwy 70 East
    Public hearing Housing and affordabilityLand conversion and large developmentRezoning
    Rezoning of 13.44 acres from Assisted Living Neighborhood to Multifamily, with a 10-year development agreement for up to 67 attached dwelling units on a parcel originally planned for a retirement campus that was never built; this item is being tabled rather than decided at this meeting.
    Tabled
    • 715 US Hwy · no matching parcel on file
    • Pin 9874490155 · Kepsc Hillsborough LLC · assessed $705,600
  19. 6.C Proposal for Community Services Department Reorganization
    Discussion item Appointments and personnelEnvironment and sustainabilityStormwater and flooding
    Staff proposes merging Public Works, Public Space & Sustainability, and Stormwater & Environmental Services into a new 'Community Services and Sustainability' department, replacing a vacant public works manager position with two lower-level positions, prompted by that manager's resignation.
  20. 6.D Appointment of a voting delegate for the NC League of Municipalities Board of Directors election
    Appointment Appointments and personnelElections and districts
    Board designates a voting delegate for the NC League of Municipalities Board of Directors election.
  21. 6.E Hot topics for work session April 27, 2026
    Discussion item Broadband and technologyBudget and appropriations
    Preview of possible topics for the next work session: a budget update, nonprofit partnership applications, and a tentative fiber project update.
  22. 7.A Board members updates
    Staff or committee report
    Standing board-member updates.
  23. 7.B Town manager update
    Staff or committee report
    Standing town manager update.
  24. 7.C Staff written reports
    Staff or committee report Data centers and large loadsWater and sewer
    Written staff reports in the packet, including a Utilities Department status update noting that during a public plant tour, citizens asked staff about PFAS, data centers, and fluoride in the water supply.
  25. 8 Adjournment
    Procedural
    Meeting adjourns.

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