The Da !y Tar H?I
makin
mayor's post
important
Tuesday. August 31. 1971
Lee
by Harry Smith
Staff Writer
Chapel Hill's mayor is unique.
Howard Lee is the first black mayor of a
predominantly white Southern town. And,
at 37, he i.s one of the nation s younger,
more effective mayors.
The mayor's position in Chapel Hill has
changed since Lee was first elected in
1969.
"I have tried to develop the mayor's
position into something more than what it
has been in the past," Lee said in a recent
interview. "I see the mayor assuming a
responsible leadership position, even
though the powers of this office are
nothing more than symbolic."
"I have asserted myself into situations
where I thought the mayor belonged. I feel
the mayor is in a position to keep open
communications with every faction of the
community.
"He ought to be on top of the
day-to-day ooerations of the town and
should present new ideas, r.ew concepts,
new programs, and establish possible new
directions for the town.
"Some people believe that in a city
manager form of government, the mayor
should be seen and not heard and not
involved. I refuse to be that. The mayor
should be able to project himself far
enough ahead to spot possible trouble
areas.
"He ought to be constantly available to
meet with the citizenry to help to solve the
small, day-to-day problems."
And Mayor Lee has done this, even
though the part-time position of mayor
pays only S 1 ,200 per year. The changes
have been many. When Howard Lee was
elected, the mayor had no office, no
secretary, no staff and no budget.
The mayor now has a spacious office on
the first floor of the new municipal
building, a secretary and a full-time
assistant, Andy Little.
Howard Lee has also brought about a
change in the relationship between the
town and the University.
"For a r.ew person
would be a lack of appreciation -J. the
'changed' relationship between Chapel Hill
and the University, particularly on the
official level," Lee said.
"We're now m mid-stream of the city's
breaking away from a position o: some
dependence on the University. 'Ve're
beginning to assume more responsibly
Lee said the University has. for a
number of years, participated financial!;.
Ln the town's budget, furnishing
approximately SI 50.000 during each of
the past two years.
He added the University also has helpe 1
the town with capital ventures, such as the
purchase of new fire equipment.
"But Ln return, the town hasn't had
much to offer to the University." Lee said.
"The University, in some sense, then found
it advantageous to call the shots for the
town."
"Two years ago, there was a
parent-child relationship between the
University and the iyr.. New there :
Lee is particular!) concerned with the
town's re!a::;r.fh:p with the students.
"T'vs tred to create a hea!hv
A 1 T ' TJ t W try d t
-den: body." he said. "Too many people
m town used to view the students as a
"necessary evil.' But I fee! students shcu!d
Lee u-.ter.er.ed this r-.mer to prevent
'.:.e from arrest:-. Frank!;.-. Street
lee
ista-.t
c . u . . . j. . . C
Lee
cra-
, - ! . . .
voting and running for public office."
Lee is quite concerned with the town's
transportation needs. 'Unfortunately,
we've been slow in meeting the
transportation problem. We're now
awaiting a report by the N'.C. Highway
Department which should indicate what
we can do to help the situation, including
both long and short-range
recommendations.
"'Something should have been done five
years ago. but the city father just didn't
get cn the ball."
Although a bus system was defeated by
five votes in a referendum last spring. Lee
"I think we're gome to have sidewalk
ending, and ! think we ;hou!d have
sidewalk vending. I d.s.gree with people
who say allowing people to sell on the
street is stepping on the rights of some.. 1
think pavs:r. a repressive law : a!o
.c c ...fc C t . c c .c 1 .
Lee did indicate he felt some controls
would be necessary, such as buying a
permit or making an investment for the
r'cht t o sell n t" ste
Lee. a native of Lithoma. Ga.. attended
Clark College and graduated with honor
from Fort Valley State College in Georgia
In lt6, he earned his master's decree in
S ocial Wcrkfrom UNC
Lee headed an educational
improvement project m Durham before
e p.oy :e
Tho . ear he delivered the a: J dre
at the Wi.-r.a: ". - . f vv.alork
.'0-fee-ce Pa ''as lie o- tve
organiration ex.cti.e c : t-.m-.t: :e
Lee is ; i: cn "he board of dire. tors . t
the So otr.crr "-.a! Co..-. 1 -d
second v.c-e .hair ma- :' the North
Colo, Den-o-.r.t.c Fa-.
"1 w..n: the de-.t v:e . t hare'. H.'.l
" T ..... -. ,
'Thev are co
u J s " . "V.
V.
.:: ... a
;e - '.ves I
J r
. IS 1
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I
V, . o r,
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6 -member board
Aldermen govern town
Cliapcl Hill N!;iyi)r Howard Lee tells Police Captain Coy
Durham that lie will handle the disturbance which occurred on
Franklin Street the first day the ordinance against selling
goods went into effect. Many of the "hippie vendors"
continued to sell their wares in spite of the ordinance. (Staff
photo by John Gellman)
by Harry Smith
Suit hrmr
Chapel Hill's Board of Aldermen act as
the town's governing body. The six
citizens who make up the board are
elected for two- and four-year terms.
R.D. Smith, assistant principal of
Chapel Hill High School and mayor pro
tern, vvas re-elected to a four-year term
this year.
Smith would like to bridge the gap
between the University and the town to
work toward common goals.
"We need long-range planning for
roads, traffic, housing and public
transportation," he said in a recent
telephone interview.
"We're getting bogged down in traffic,
particularly during the peak hours. And
we need to concentrate on the
environment, especially if they continue
to build New Hope Dam."
Ross Scroggs. director of the
University Photo Lab. predicts it should
be a very good year.
Scroggs, who was elected to a
four-year term in 1969, doesn't believe
the utilities issue will become a matter of
consideration this year.
He said he feels a public market w ill be
the "long-range solution" for the
sidewalk vendors.
Mrs. Alice Welsh, a housewife, i
Pcuticulurly interested m the "aesthetic
and environmental issues." She expressed
interest in the transportation needs of the
community and is an advocate of a
system of bicycle routes.
"One of my mam concerns right
now," she said. "s the proliferation ot
drive-in businesses. We've become such a
car culture, we expect to ride to the front
door of everywhere we go."
She stressed the need to preserve the
aesthetic, physical and psychological
elements of the town which are pleasing
and memorable to the students, including
the downtown block of bast Franklin
Street.
Mrs. Welsh feels the sidewalk vendors
can be a positive thing in the downtown
area, and "in the long run cjn be a
contribution by injecting a vitality now
missing.
"If the inequities can he worked out
and if regulations to create order and
uniformity are imposed, some of the
objections might disappear." she
predicted.
"It is also important for the students
and townspeople to develop rapport," she
said, also mentioning the need for
students to be able to vote in Chapel Hill.
Joe Nassif, an architect with
CoRSwell-Hausler Associates, was
restrictions on drive-m b.:r.e;-
"We must discncace the
r w ::
Univervtty Ihe I'-o.vcrotv here t -te-di
utid the town ; here to prov.Je
services." he said. "Ihe tow n must gam
control of the water y stem."
N'ussit show t vl partic .i'.jr .o".cern . v v r
the housing Mtuati..-n in Chipel Hill and
stressed the need : ' : controlled
development.
George Coxhejd. an insurance
representative for New , ork lite
Insurance, was elected to j tour-ycar tern
in He is ,n the board of directors
of First I'nion N.:tion.:l Bank and has
show particular interest oi the Si:i.irci.:l
matters o ::r betore the b -.:A.
James C. V.:!!.,ce. cKot.J to ..
four-year term this y ear. is a pK!ess,r .t!
N ('. State. He is the owner ot the
Continental I ravel Agency and is the
president of the SC. (o;:;ol ot
Conservation.
Ihe Board meets jt 4 p.m. . p. the tirs;
and third Mondays w; ihe m- .ntli and at
7:30 p.m. on the second atul fourth
Mondays. Ilie meetings are held in the
meeting room ot the new municipal
building. . . .
Lj j o r 1 A
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