City briefs

Town Council to take closer look at consultant applicants

Wednesday’s public forum on the budget for the next fiscal year began with a discussion of the professional history of the company from which the town’s new budget consultant was hired.

The Virginia-based MAXIMUS Inc. was hired by the Chapel Hill Town Council to consult with town staff and the council’s budget review advisory committee for a contract of $80,000.

Town Manager Cal Horton told the public that an Internet search done after the hiring revealed that the company had been investigated for financial impropriety related to the provision of welfare programs in New York and Wisconsin.

Horton said he was unaware of that information when hiring MAXIMUS, who has worked with the town before.

“I don’t believe there is a reason to be concerned with people working with us,” Horton said. “But I felt obligated to report (this information) to the council.

“Their references have been consistently solid.”

 

“Day for Day Care” to offer training sessions in child care

Child Care Services Association, in collaboration with the Orange County Department of Social Services and FPG Child Development Institute, will host its “A Day for Day Care” from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at East Chapel Hill High School.

“A Day For Day Care,” now in its 25th year, is a full-day, statewide training event for child care center directors, teachers and family child care providers.

More than 110 sessions will be held during three different time slots throughout the day, and keynote speakers will address current child care issues.

A detailed schedule can be found at http://www.childcareservices.org/dfdc_schedule_keynote.pdf.

 

Price to speak with seniors on changes to Social Security

U.S. Rep. David Price, D-N.C., will come to Chapel Hill today to talk with local seniors about possible changes to Social Security.

Price first will have a question-and-answer session with the Geriatric Coalition from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Carol Woods Retirement Community at 750 Weaver Dairy Road.

The congressman then will travel to The Cedars of Chapel Hill Retirement Community, at 100 Cedar Club Circle, for an informal town hall-type meeting.

Large crowds are expected at both events.

 

Artist seeks public input on project at IFC shelter

The Inter-Faith Council community shelter will host a work day for its public art project from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

The work day is an opportunity for citizens to give input on the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission’s Percent for Art project, which is being done for the newly renovated shelter.

Sally Erickson was selected as the artist after the project was first publicized in 2003.

Erickson is creating the project, a mosaic, at her studio but has requested public input before it is set to be finished in March.

The community shelter was renovated this summer and reopened in September.

The shelter is located in the Old Municipal Building at the corner of Rosemary and Columbia streets.

— From staff and wire reports.