***UPDATE: Carrboro’s Board of Aldermen passed a resolution to change its title to Town Council at its meeting on Tuesday November 19.***

After being known as the Board of Aldermen for 50 years, the elected officials for Carrboro’s governing board are slated to change its name at their Tuesday meeting to a more inclusive title.

When Carrboro officially became a town in 1911, its governing board was named the Board of Commissioners. In 1969, the General Assembly approved the change to Board of Aldermen.

But recently, Carrboro leadership has been seeking to make the entire town code gender neutral and changing from the title of Board of Aldermen is one step toward achieving that goal.

The board discussed and tentatively approved a name change at its meeting on November 12. The members in attendance unanimously agreed to change its name to the Carrboro Town Council after a public hearing session, which included the display of online submissions and comments about a potential change.

Randee Haven-O’Donnell said she remembers routinely correcting or reminding others of her preferred title as Alderwoman. She said her experiences are just some of many examples of why to change the group’s title.

“Some of us who have been sitting on this board have really felt the pinch as being referred to as an Alderman,” Haven-O’Donnell said. “I’m saying this because folks don’t realize that gender neutral [titles] matter.”

There was a discussion of creating an original title for the group to be named but the choice would require a submission of the idea for approval by the state general assembly.

Alderwoman Bethany Chaney voiced concern about delaying a decision further. She said also confusion about the title of Aldermen already leads to questions by residents, which a more common title would eliminate.

“People often ask us, ‘what is an Alderman,’ because it is not a well-known term,” said Chaney. “We all say, ‘well, it’s like being on a town council,’ so why don’t we just be a town council? There is value in Carrboro being unique, but I don’t think making the name unique is what [creates] that value.”

A resolution to change the group’s name to a town council is on the board’s consent agenda for its Tuesday meeting. If passed as expected, the title will go into effect at their December 3 meeting.

Related Stories
‹
Construction on New Carrboro Roundabout To Begin in August
A major road project thought to be delayed is set to begin construction in Carrboro, just weeks before students are moving back to the area for the fall semester. The town announced Tuesday that the construction on the Estes Drive/North Greensboro Street roundabout would begin on August 5. Construction of a roundabout on South Greensboro […]
Chapel Hill Approves Rezoning for Greene Tract Site, Hears Next Steps for Development
The Chapel Hill Town Council is making progress on developing the Greene Tract, meeting in June to rezone part of the site. 
Carrboro Hears Update on Reimagining E. Weaver Street, Redesigning Traffic Patterns
At its last meeting before the summer break, the Carrboro Town Council heard an update on the reimagining of East Weaver Street.
Carrboro: Freight Train Blues Begins, Different Takes on Downtown Area Plan, and 'Move With The Mayor'
Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee joins 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell over the phone on Friday, May 16.
Carrboro Council Passes Resolution In Solidarity With USAID Employees, Urges Restart of Federal Aid
As the U.S. Agency for International Development faces potential elimination, Carrboro passed a resolution in solidarity with the agency's workforce.
Early Discussions For E. Weaver Street Pedestrian Plaza Help Carrboro Council 'Reimagine' Downtown Flow
The Carrboro Town Council had the first formal conversations about changing East Weaver Street to a pedestrian and bicycle only block.
Town of Carrboro Files Lawsuit Against Duke Energy Over Climate Change and Deception on Fossil Fuel Effects
Carrboro is suing Duke Energy over its contributions to climate change and the resulting economic pressures put onto the local government.
2024 Candidate Introductions: Carrboro Town Council (Special Election)
Carrboro voters will have a special election to a vacant town council seat between Cristóbal Palmer and Isaac Woolsey on their ballots.
Carrboro Town Councilmember Eliazar Posada Named Equality NC Interim Director
Carrboro Town Councilmember Eliazar Posada was named the interim director of Equality NC on Thursday. Equality NC is an organization which advocates for rights and protections for the LGBTQ+ in North Carolina. “We are committed to fostering an inclusive LGBTQ+ community in North Carolina,” Posada said, “a space where everyone thrives authentically, supported by unwavering […]
2023 Municipal Election Results for Local Races
Tuesday marks Election Day for municipal races across North Carolina. Polls opened at 6:30 a.m. in the state and will close at 7:30 p.m.
›