Danbury swears in new town clerk, Stokes Stomp parade planning continues

DANBURY — Renea Brown was officially installed as the Danbury town clerk on Wednesday.

Brown had been working and training as assistant town clerk for the past several weeks.

She was sworn in by Mayor Pro Tem Gary East at the start of the Aug. 28 Town Council meeting.

Earlier that day, previous Town Clerk Dianne Starnes had officially retired after 26 years in the position.

Stokes Stomp parade planning continues

With the Stokes Stomp Parade date of Sept. 14 approaching, town leaders are working to ensure the event's continued success.

The parade was one of late Mayor Janet Whitt's passion projects.

"Janet did things only the way Janet could have done, and we're going to remain faithful to her memory," East said. "And I know that we're going to come up short. That's okay because she would love us anyway."

East noted that Neill Caldwell, former editor of The Stokes News, had taken on the role of parade organizer.

The Council is working on rounding up volunteers for the parade, many of whom were previously contacted by Whitt directly.

To further honor the late mayor, town leaders have renamed the "Mayor's Choice" parade award as the "Janet Whitt Mayor's Choice" award — "heretofore, forevermore," East said.

During the meeting, the Council approved an ordinance for the parade road closure: Main Street will be closed from the Government Center to Sheppard Mill Road and along Sheppard Mill Road to Moratock Park from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

'Constitution Week' proclaimed

Mayor Pro Tem Gary East issued a proclamation designating Sept. 17 through Sept. 23 as "Constitution Week."

Constitution Week honors the 237th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America.

The proclamation asks the citizens of Danbury to: "...reaffirm the ideas the Framers of the Constitution had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights may never be regained."

A member of the James Hunter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution attended the meeting.

Taproom, brewery zoning change request

The town received a request from Stokes County to add taprooms, craft and micro breweries to the zoning ordinance table of uses. The Council voted to send the application to the Planning Board before scheduling a public hearing on the matter.

Among other business, the Danbury Town Council:

• Approved minutes from the July 24 meeting and approved accounts payable for the period ending Aug. 28.

• Discussed the use of remaining funds from State Capital and Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) and American Rescue Plan grants. About $6,000 remains of SCIF funds and about $18,000 remains of ARP funds.

Both grants are very restrictive on what they can be used for, said Town Administrator Mike Barsness, recommending using the remaining money for additional road paving projects. He also recommended Powell Bill funds to cover costs in excess. The Council reached consensus to pursue an estimate for the paving from North Carolina Department of Transportation.

• Was asked during the administrator's report to start considering Mayor Whitt's replacement on the Piedmont Triad Regional Council. Barsness said the appointment is typically filled by the mayor or council member.

• Discussed terms and vacancies on the Planning Board. The term of one member recently expired and there is an additional vacancy. Both are "in-town" positions.