The Chapel Hill and Carrboro town councils held their final meetings of the calendar year and used the time to both welcome new members elected in November and celebrate those departing elected office.
The Carrboro Town Council’s swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday was incomplete, as returning council member Cristóbal Palmer was out sick. But Mayor Barbara Foushee and Council Member Danny Nowell each took their oaths to begin their second respective terms in the roles — and newcomer Fred Joiner took his to formally join the town council after running unopposed this fall. The former town poet laureate was sworn in by Rep. Allen Buansi and referenced the poem read to start the meeting, which was about gratitude, in his first remarks on council.
“I think that the poem that that [Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis] read is the right sentiment for me at this at this moment: [I feel] gratitude for all of you who entrusted me to be a part of this prestigious body and to do the work of listening and serving,” said Joiner. “I look forward to it, and if you see me around town, come and talk to me.”
Fred Joiner makes his initial comments as a council member after being sworn in moments earlier on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Photo via the Town of Carrboro.)
Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee takes her oath of office for a second term, with her husband Braxton Foushee and Judge Joal Broun administering the ceremony. (Photo via the Town of Carrboro.)
Carrboro Council Member Danny Nowell takes his oath of office as administered by N.C. Rep. Allen Buansi on Tuesday, Dec. 2. (Photo via the Town of Carrboro.)
Outgoing Carrboro Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell shares her farewell comments from the podium during Tuesday’s meeting. (Photo via the Town of Carrboro.)
Joiner fills an open seat on the council left by Randee Haven-O’Donnell, who decided this summer not to seek another term after 20 years in the office. The sitting council passed a resolution honoring her extensive accomplishments and leadership while serving the town. During her farewell comments on Tuesday, Haven-O’Donnell reiterated how the attacks on democracy at the federal level spurred her to begin working in advocacy outside of the bounds of local government and pledged to continue fighting for human rights, climate resiliency and environmental issues as a resident.
“Thank you, Carrboro, for entrusting me with the responsibility to make decisions with and for you during my five-term, 20-year [period] as an elected community representative of this town,” she said Tuesday night. “Thank you for teaching me how to be responsive to diverse needs and perspectives reflected throughout the community. Thank you for the opportunity to learn the principles and apply the tools of participatory governance, what it is, looks and feels like, and how it can express itself and build trust when practiced.”
Over in Chapel Hill on Wednesday night, both of its town council’s new members also referenced the broader political climate in their first official comments. Wes McMahon and Louie Rivers III took their oaths of office alongside returning council members Paris Miller-Foushee and Camille Berry. McMahon said he felt the weight of swearing on the U.S. Constitution to uphold the law and help the town, and he was proud of the opportunity to do that.
“One of the things that the town manager gave us to read was a book about how to lead a local community,” McMahon shared. “And one of the phrases in there was, ‘We can’t control a lot of things like luck and the environment and things outside of town. But one thing we can control is the integrity of our process.’ And I believe I’m here to uphold integrity of the process, of the work we do in town.”
Rivers, meanwhile, said while he appreciates those who made sure to participate in the municipal elections and elect him, he hopes people will also be active in the 2026 midterms.
“I suspect that these will not be easy times for our community considering what’s happening in the country was concerned what’s happening to our climate,” said Rivers, who is an advisor for the Environmental Protection Agency. “But I am sure that with the town staff and with our colleagues, we can start making headway and make sure that Chapel Hill sees its way through these difficult times.”
Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson takes her oath of office during the Chapel Hill Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Chapel Hill Town Council members listens as outgoing council member Adam Searing shares his departing comments. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Adam Searing holds up a framed proclamation the Chapel Hill Town Council passed honoring his four years of service. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Chapel Hill Town Council Members Theodore Nollert (left) and Elizabeth Sharp (right) chat during a break of the meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Council Member Camille Berry takes her oath of office with members of her campaign and support team. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Camille Berry smiles as the Chapel Hill Town Council meeting begins. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Wes McMahon takes his oath of office to join the Chapel Hill Town Council. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Council Member Wes McMahon shares his first comments after being sworn in to the Chapel Hill Town Council. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Council Member Amy Ryan applauds during Wednesday’s meeting. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Council Member Paris Miller-Foushee takes her oath of office again on Wednesday. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Council Member Paris Miller-Foushee speaks at the dais as she formally begins her second term. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Louie Rivers III raises his right hand to begin taking his oath of office to join the Chapel Hill Town Council. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Council Member Louie Rivers III finishes his swearing-in ceremony with his family alongside him. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson closes Wednesday’s council meeting with a message to carry into the 2026-27 term. (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
Outgoing Council Member Adam Searing credited both McMahon and Rivers for stepping up to serve the town and its constituents. As part of the ceremony honoring his service, Searing recalled some projects he felt most proud of achieving – like improvements to Chapel Hill’s skate park, helping solve neighborhood infrastructure issues, and deeply learning about the town’s operations. Despite occasionally being a contrarian during his four years on council, Searing also acknowledged working with his peers was a highlight.
“I know we don’t always agree on everything,” he said with a laugh. “However, we do agree on a lot of things, and we’ve gotten a lot of stuff done together. Particularly in recent months, [I’m proud of] hiring our great new town manager, Town Manager Ted Voorhees, working together on our dealing with the floods and the disasters in our community, providing some more great affordable housing plans for some of the lowest income members of our community.
“It has been a pleasure,” Searing concluded, “and I very, very much appreciate all of you.”
Both the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Town Councils will now be off from normal business meetings until mid-January. Carrboro’s Tuesday meeting can be watched on the town’s YouTube channel, while Chapel Hill’s can be watched on the town’s Granicus page.
Featured image by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.
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