1/14/04

Officials Appointed to Town Board of Adjustment and Planning Board

Out of 29 applicants, the Holly Springs Town Council recently appointed seven new officials to the Town Board of Adjustment and Planning Board.

Board of Adjustment

Holly Springs residents Stuart Wilder Allen, Otis Byrd and James Cobb were appointed to the Board of Adjustment for a three-year term. John Miller was appointed as an alternate member. The board has quasi-judicial powers, conducts public hearings and renders rulings on variances from the Town's Unified Development Ordinance. The board's first scheduled meeting of the year is Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. Meetings are open to the public.

Stuart Wilder Allen, a Holly Springs resident for more than two years, is the manager of Technical Client Services for Schwab Performance Tech. He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church. In his application, Allen wrote, "My interest in local government affairs stems from my experiences working with the Boy Scouts to help the Town of Louisburg in various activities as a child and through my discussions and interaction with a parent who was a 16-year mayor of Louisburg, NC, and is the current NC representative for District 49."

Otis Byrd has been serving as a pastor in Holly Springs for nearly 20 years. "I have lived and been a part of the community long enough to be concerned and aware of the need for growth here," he wrote. "I want to contribute my time, talent and expertise in helping to make the community of Holly Springs continue to grow and prosper for the needs of all its citizens." Byrd pastors the Holly Springs First Baptist Church and is involved in the Holly Springs Intercessory Ministry, the Holly Springs Ministerial Alliance and Holly Springs PTA Board. He served on the Town Council from 1989-1992.

James Cobb, a Holly Springs resident for more than eight years, was reappointed to the board, having served since 1998. He previously served on the Rocky Mount Board of Adjustment. Cobb is a CPA for Alexander Guess, CPA, PA, and volunteers as an assistant den leader for Boy Scout Pack 356, Den 2, and as a soccer dad. "I hope that with my prior experience with both the City of Rocky Mount and the Holly Springs boards I can use this experience to make good decisions for all the residents of this wonderful Town," he wrote. Cobb is a licensed state CPA with nearly 24 years of experience, a member of NC Association of CPAs and a member of the AICPA.

John Miller has lived in Holly Springs for three months and is corporate counsel for Holland Company, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Holly Springs and a member of Edenton Street United Methodist Church. He wrote that he has a "sincere desire for community service activities. I have extensive experience in real estate law and transactions that includes seven years of private practice and six years as corporate counsel. This appointment would allow me to serve the community while using my skills learned in law school and private practice."

Planning Board

Holly Springs residents Raymond Cordon and Joseph Signoretti were appointed to the Town's Planning Board for three-year terms. Vinnie DeBenedetto was appointed for the remaining term of Mike Taylor, which ends Dec. 31, 2005. Taylor was appointed to the vacated Town councilman seat of Steve Tedder. The Planning Board is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Town Council on all development proposals, rezonings and other development-related requests. Planning Board meetings are open to the public and are held the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. The first meeting of the year is scheduled for Jan. 27.

Raymond Cordon, a Holly Springs resident of three years, is the water program manager at HDR Engineering. "I feel that with my engineering background I will be a valuable contributor to the Holly Springs board," he wrote. Cordon said that he and his wife moved to Holly Springs because they valued its quality of life. Cordon is an active member in three professional associations related to his occupation: the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation and the National Society of Engineers.

Joseph Signoretti, a Holly Springs resident of more than eight years, wrote that the skills he uses as the owner of Cabinetry by Joseph & Sons will aid him as a member of the Planning Board. "I would find it a privilege to aid in the continuing development, to help ensure it fits the plan and character of Holly Springs," he wrote. "I want to see my children grow and live here."

Vinnie DeBenedetto, a Holly Springs resident of 2½ years, is a broker for Raleigh Commercial. He has a degree in civil engineering and a master's degree in business administration. DeBenedetto served on a taskforce to improve the efficiency of the City of New York. He is the secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Holly Springs and is a member of the Sunset Lake Homeowners Association and Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce. "I am interested in serving the community of Holly Springs as I have done for the past three years," he wrote.

Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us