Michael Hart for Harrisburg Town Council
Why I'm Running
My Record on Town Council
During my four years on council between 2005 and 2009 many changes were made. One of the most significant was transferring final approval of building projects from Planning and Zoning to the Town Council and allowing council members to have discussions with the developers. We also made changes in the areas of Safety, Quality of Life, Communications, and accountability to the community.
In my four years of office, I never once voted to approve a single residential housing project while well over 1000 residential sites have been approved in the last four years. In fact, I initiated an effort to put a moratorium in place to put a halt to all the excessive developments that were being brought to the town. I've never supported any project smaller than 1/2 acre lots.
All of the information I've provided here can be verified through the meeting minutes and archived projects located at the HarrisburgNC.org website. I'd be happy to explain my decision-making process on any of the issues listed here or in the minutes.
Town Council, Harrisburg 2005-2009
Committees
Co Chair Communication
Co Chair Website
Chairman Sign Ordinance
Economic Development
Parks & Recreation
Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office
Safety Initiatives created and supported
- Established the Harrisburg Town Fire Department and Advisory Board
- Purchased a new fire truck
- Hired more Deputies for Harrisburg
- Lowered the Speed Limit on 49
- Lowered the speed limit in neighborhoods and created a Speed Hump policy
- Creation of a new Fire Station with permanent offices for police officers
- Created a relationship with Disaster Recovery Services
Quality of Life initiatives created and supported
- Conducted a community wide Retail Survey to understand what the residents want
- Tried to establish a building moratorium on Residential housing
- Voted multiple times to establish minimum ½ acre lots
- Creation of Stallings Road Park
- Construction of Shelters, playgrounds, benches, and picnic tables at parks
- Brought the Harrisburg Youth Association under the Town Parks & Recreation
- Supported the Post Office, Log Cabin, and Farmers Market
- Approved the establishment of North East Medical Center on Rocky River Road
Executive Board, Centralina Council of Government 2009
- Treasurer, Harrisburg Representative
My Goals for Harrisburg
Most of us moved to Harrisburg for similar reasons, the small town feel with great amenities. Places for our children to go to good schools and places to play. All the benefits of Charlotte without the taxes, traffic, and over development. That's the reason our family moved here 19 years ago. This is what I'd like to see in town:
- Continued work on our parks, green ways, and open space
- Preservation of natural environments
- Controlled growth of developments to not impact current traffic and schools
- Attract businesses to provide our residents places to work locally
- Attract high-end restaurants and shopping
- Start a Senior Council to give our seniors a voice in the community
- Pair up seniors with our Youth Council to provide experience and guidance
The Other Candidates
One thing that is clear from anyone who has held public office is that it's not as easy as it seems from the outside. One of the most important things I learned from former Mayor Tim Hagler was that consensus building is vitally important. You need to be able to communicate your ideas, not only to the public, but to your other Council members as well. You will have disagreements, but in the end, it is important to make sure your decisions are what is best for the community, even if it differs with your personal belief. The timeline for becoming acquainted with the procedures of office and becoming an effective councilperson can take over a year. There will be a learning curve for anyone who has not held office before.
For all the first time candidates, how long have you lived in Harrisburg? Have you voted in every election? Are you familiar with the way Council meetings are run and the behind the scenes commitments required? Have you even attended a Town Council meeting? It's not just a once a month meeting. Plan on spending upwards of 40 hours a month speaking with residents, engaging in committees, and being prepared for meetings.
This is what I have found and questioned reviewing the last 4 years of meeting minutes, in all cases where they voted against an issue, the issue was passed, these are all issues I would have supported:
- Voting against having public hearings
- Voting against a Parkway project that will alleviate some of our traffic issues
- Voting against Town Hall renovations
- Voting against a Council Code of Conduct, a Code of Ethics is required by law
- Voting against an Employee Social Media policy
- Voting against Censure of a councilman for violation of the Code of Conduct
- Voting against proposed 55+ communities
- Voting against a bond for Parks & Recreation
- Voting against a budget amendment to support the Fire Department
- Voting against a Budget Ordinance to purchase life saving extraction equipment
- Voting against Secondary Access Exceptions recommended by the Fire Marshal
- Voting against changing the sale of Alcohol on Sundays from 12:00 to 10:00
- Voting against changes to Personnel Policy regarding Interim positions
- Voting against a Law Enforcement feasibility study
- Voting against a Fire Department assessment by NC Fire Rescue Innovative Services
- Voting against changes to Personnel Policy regarding Interim positions
- Voting against having the Town Engineer report directly to the Town Manager