Elon’s board of aldermen recently gave the go-ahead to put $285,000 in town funds toward purchasing land for a new police department.
Located along West Haggard Avenue near its intersection with downtown’s Church Street, the vacant, commercially-zoned property sits at just under an acre and is owned by Eugene and Barbara Page. Elon’s current town hall is situated on 0.7 acres at the corner of West Trollinger and South Williamson avenues.
During a meeting in September, the board – which then included Davis Montgomery and mayor Jerry Tolley – went into closed session for what Montgomery noted as the consideration of property for “much-needed administrative workspace.”
At the time, the board had long been discussing the issue of decreasing capacity in the current town hall building, which is split between the administrative and police departments.
Town manager Richard Roedner had initially suggested constructing a new town hall and giving the current building to the police department, but the town’s latest direction is to instead build a new facility for the police force.
Aldermen approve two weeks of COVID sick leave for staff
The board also reached a resolution last week on its ongoing COVID sick leave policy discussion, which it previously touched on in September and October.
The policy reemerged for the board’s review after a previous version, which was in effect for six months, expired at the end of June. Under the updated policy, town staff who contract COVID or have to otherwise take leave for a related matter – like vaccine side effects, being a close contact, or caring for someone infected with the virus – will be given two weeks of paid COVID sick leave. The new policy extends to the end of June 2022.
While the board has previously mulled over the idea of vaccine mandates and cash incentives for town staff who are vaccinated, last week’s vote was tied solely to paid leave. Following a motion and second by the town’s newly-instated aldermen, Stephanie Bourland and Randy Orwig, respectively, the updated policy was unanimously approved by the board.
