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Harnett County to update historic-preservation ordinance; board terms extended to four years
Summary
Commissioners asked staff to return with a revised historic-preservation ordinance, training for board members and an inventory of potential historic sites; the board gave consensus to move member terms from three to four years and noted one alternate vacancy.
A county staff member told the Harnett County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 4 that staff will bring an updated historic-preservation ordinance to the next work session and will provide guidance and training to the county's historic-preservation board.
The staff member said the ordinance “is good” but recommended additional guidance for board members on the scope of their authority and responsibilities so the board will resume regular meetings and begin an inventory of potential historic sites across the county.
The county currently has five regular members and two alternates on the historic-preservation board; one alternate position is vacant after Matthew Willis resigned. The staff member named current members as Brian Avery, Desi Campbell, Melanie Collins, Sion Harrington and Donna Johnson and said some serve as proponents of adding a tourism element to the board’s work.
Commissioners and staff discussed term lengths. The ordinance as written established three-year terms and “statute allows up to four,” the staff member said. The board indicated consensus to change terms to four years and to require periodic reporting back to the commissioners, with the county attorney or staff to present a revised ordinance for the next work session.
No formal ordinance vote was taken at the Oct. 4 meeting; commissioners gave consensus direction to bring an updated ordinance and to pursue filling the vacant alternate seat. Staff said the first work would be an inventory of potential historic sites from which the board and commissioners can prioritize future actions.
The board and staff also discussed adding a tourism component to any designation program so that the public could better understand the county’s preservation goals. Staff recommended training for board members on what they can and cannot do under the ordinance and relevant state law before the board resumes more-regular meetings.
What happens next: staff will draft the revised ordinance and return to the board at the next work session for formal consideration. The board’s consensus to extend term lengths will be reflected in that draft.
