Leisure Times Online

My role as City Manager is statutorily defined in North Carolina General Statute 160A-148. There are eight “powers and duties”: (1) shall appoint and suspend or remove all city officers and employees not elected by the people, and whose appointment or removal is not otherwise provided for by law, except the city attorney, in accordance with such general personnel rules, regulations, policies, or ordinances as the council may adopt; (2) shall direct and supervise the administration of all departments, offices, and agencies of the city, subject to the general direction and control of the council, except as otherwise provided by law; (3) shall attend all meetings of the council and recommend any measures that he (or she) deems expedient; (4) shall see that all laws of the State, the city charter, and the ordinances, resolutions, and regulations of the council are faithfully executed within the city; (5) shall prepare and submit the annual budget and capital program to the council; (6) shall annually submit to the council and make available to the public a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the city as of the end of the fiscal year; (7) shall make any other reports that the council may require concerning the operations of city departments, offices, and agencies subject to his (or her) direction and control; (8) shall perform any other duties that may be required or authorized by the council.

As I have stated in the past, I love serving as your City Manager. Each day is a new opportunity to make a positive impact on our City, and I relish this privilege. Public service is a calling and one in which I am honored to have spent my entire career. Concord is home for me and my family. I urge you to join me each day by thinking about how we can make our city shine even brighter. As always, reach out to me or anyone else on Team Concord if we can assist you in anyway. •

Leisure Times Moves Online

Concord Parks and Recreation continues to work closely with state health officials to ensure program schedules follow recommended guidelines for maintaining the health and safety of our citizens. To minimize confusion, we are limiting the Summer 2021 Leisure Times to a digital edition only. •

• Wilson Street

Our adopted master plans will look for development of new parks at Wilson Street and David Phillips

Activity Center. Wilson Street will offer a whimsical, imaginative play setting with a maze feature. • David Phillips Activity Center

We will provide environmental education and community gardens in a nature-based setting. • Academy-Gibson area and Hartsell Park

Complex

Parks & Recreation is in the beginning stages of master planning for both the Academy-Gibson area and the

Hartsell Park Complex. • Brown Mill Mountain Bike Trail

This is a new and unique feature being the city’s first mountain bike trail. It was built by Tarheel Trailblazers and will open this summer. Once completed, Brown

Mill Mountain Bike Trail will be approximately 4 miles long, with trailhead parking at 2nd Street SW. In addition to all the above projects and plans, the Open Space Connectivity Analysis puts a lot of focus on multi-use bicycle and pedestrian connectivity along roadways and other utility corridors. To achieve this, the city will focus efforts on providing connectivity to area schools, churches, grocery stores, restaurants, parks, greenways and trails. The approved plans, goals and strategies give us the road map to accelerate our growth and provide every citizen parks and greenways that will truly enhance their quality of life. For more information on all of our parks, please go to concordnc.gov/departments/parks-recreation/parks. Like you, I plan to enjoy all these additions and changes that are helping to keep Concord moving forward. •

Staycay and Play This Summer!