Several community members protested the firing of two town sanitation department workers, Kerry Bigelow and Clyde Clark.

The Chapel Hill Town Council passed a motion to discuss the case of the sanitation workers and the related hearing processes five to three.

The council later discussed homeless shelter guidelines, but some members felt the pending Special Use Permit application to move the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services’ men’s shelter complicated the process.

In a six to two vote, the council deferred setting guidelines until the pending application is decided.
Tim CoyneSmith, a Chapel Hill resident, suggested that the shelter guidelines should allow the inclusion of sex offenders.

CoyneSmith said deferring the guidelines makes a mockery of the decision-making process. He suggested guidelines be established before the Special Use Permit application is decided.

Council Member Donna Bell said the criminalization of the homeless is disturbing.

“The fact that folks are going through a hard time and getting themselves in trouble does not mean that they are of any danger to anyone else,” Bell said.

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