Candidates hoping to be appointed to the vacant seat on the Chapel Hill Town Council will have to wait another week before any decision might be made.

A vote on whether or not the council would vote to appoint another candidate to the Town Council failed to pass by a vote of four to three at the council meeting on Monday night.

Chapel Hill resident Nancy Oates petitioned the Town Council to put off any consideration of appointing a new member until a full council was present.

Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt says, regardless of council population, any candidate would need to hit a certain mark in order to receive an appointment.

“The Town Council has to have five people voting the same way in order for that to happen,” Kleinschmidt says. “Even if there are only five council members here, all five of them would have to [vote] in the same direction.

“So it doesn’t really matter whether we have everyone here or not.”

Council member Lee Storrow was out of town for business and,therefore, was not in attendance for the meeting.

The appointment will appear on every agenda until the Town Council appoints a new member or residents elect a representative.

Related Stories
‹
Chapel Hill Approves FY27 Budget with No Tax Increases; Will Revisit Library Funding, Greenways in Fall
The unanimous vote approved the Town of Chapel Hill to operate on a $170 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, a slight increase.
Here Are the Orange County Local Governments’ Approved Budgets, Tax Rates for 2026-27
The final totals and changes for Orange County governments' budgets are being finalized. Here are the details of each approved so far.
As Chapel Hill Library Weighs Options Amid Possible Funding Cut, Supporters Speak Up to County
After receiving more than $620,000 annually from the Orange County government, the Chapel Hill Public Library may soon lose that funding.
Blue Sky Robotics Expanding Chapel Hill Headquarters, Moving to Rosemary Street
Blue Sky Robotics, which has been headquartered in downtown Chapel Hill since its founding in 2023, will be moving to the Innovate Carolina Junction building at 136 East Rosemary Street. The company is currently located in the Hill Commercial Building on 142 East Franklin Street. In a presentation to the Chapel Hill Town Council Wednesday […]
No Tax Increases and Increased Spending Featured in Chapel Hill Staff's Proposed FY27 Budget
Following a year with improved revenues and a new town manager at the helm, the Town of Chapel Hill may go into the next fiscal year without a tax increase or significant cuts.
Impassioned Public Comment Leads Chapel Hill Town Council to Drop Discussion of Downsizing
A discussion by the Chapel Hill Town Council about trimming its seats and extending the length of mayoral term was met with swift, vocal opposition during a public hearing last week.
Orange County Clerk of Court Mark Kleinschmidt Wins State, National Honors
Orange County Clerk of Superior Court Mark Kleinschmidt has been recognized with two awards – one statewide and one national – in recognition of his service. Kleinschmidt received the North Carolina Guardianship Association’s Trailblazer Award last week in Asheville, recognizing his two terms as Clerk of Superior Court and Probate Judge. In legal terms, guardianship […]
Climate Action, A New Hotel and Downsizing Council? Highlights from Chapel Hill Town Council's Apr. 15 Meeting
The Chapel Hill Town Council held its first official business meeting of the month on Wednesday, Apr. 15 to cover a full agenda — which included discussing affordable housing funding, ongoing climate action efforts, parking incentives for a hotel project, and more.
Chapel Hill to Resume Conversations for West Rosemary Street Hotel With Public Hearing
This week, Chapel Hill is resuming talks for a proposed hotel development in its downtown along West Rosemary Street.
Local Government Meetings: March 23-27, 2026
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners and Orange County school board are set to meet after seeing their prior meetings postponed.
›