At the Nov. 4 monthly meeting, Franklin Town Council members voted on participation in a statewide agreement and on a resolution – both items driven by the North Carolina League of Municipalities (NLCM).
Town Manager Amie Owens described the Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement as “fairly straight-forward.” She and Town Planner Justin Setser summarized rationale for participation.
“The NLCM is encouraging communities who have not yet signed up to do so. Many NLCM members have already expended resources to affected Western North Carolina locations to assist those communities adversely impacted by Hurricane Helene … Franklin has not previously engaged in the mutual aid program, but doing so will allow for reimbursement for support provided by the Town if participating in providing assistance. An agreement with the State is required to ensure logistics, deployment compensation, and liability issues are addressed.”
According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, (ncdps.gov/mutual-aid-north-carolina), the mutual aid system was first developed following 1996’s Hurricane Fran. At that time, no uniform agreement existed among North Carolina’s cities and counties so they could help one another during and after disasters.
Council members approved participation within the agreement by a 6-0 vote.
The Commit to Civility program was also initiated by NCLM, and according to its website (nclm.org), it “promotes civility in local government and recognizes those governing boards that dedicate themselves to this approach. It engages and challenges municipal officials to embrace civility throughout the course of their work within their communities.”
Council members first discussed participating in the program at the June 2024 meeting. That was followed in October by attending a webinar, which the resolution requires as part of “100% of the Town Council completing program requirements.”
“This is specific to the way that the Town Council [members] conducts themselves in a meeting and outwardly to the community,” said Owens.
The resolution was unanimously approved by council members.