By Hugh Fisher
For the Salisbury Post
KANNAPOLIS ó A new patrol officer was sworn in on Monday at the City Council’s first meeting of May.
Officer Peter Malec became the first brand-new officer to officially join before the council, a new tradition started by Police Chief Woody Chavis.
A December 2007 graduate of Basic Law Enforcement Training at Central Piedmont Community College, Malec holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
He is currently in field training with Patrol Squad A, which turned out to witness his swearing-in.
“We’re happy to get someone of his character,” Chavis said of Malec afterward. “He’s a very intelligent young man. He’s going to be a great asset for us.”
In other business, the council:
– Voted to formally adopt a revised list of 28 strategic priorities for fiscal years 2009 through 2014, as well as to reaffirm the city’s mission and vision statements.
The updated list adds goals discussed at March’s council retreat, including the improvement of customer service, a goal of creating 5,000 new jobs in Kannapolis by 2012 and continued support of the North Carolina Research Campus.
– Appointed new members to the Board of Adjustment and the Kannapolis Planning and Zoning Commission.
By a unanimous vote, current Board of Adjustment Chairman Dan Hodge was appointed to a sixth three-year term.
Also, current alternates Jeff Parker and JoAnn Crosby were selected as permanent members, replacing current Vice Chairman Bill Babb and member David Settlemyer, who are leaving the board.
John Robert Szakal and Mark C. Goodman were named as new alternates from a pool of four volunteers.
On the Planning and Zoning Commission, current Vice Chairman Kenneth Woodard was unanimously re-elected to a fourth term.
Dr. James Litaker was chosen from the four-person volunteer pool to serve on the commission, replacing Rick Rodgers, who is leaving at the end of his term in June.
Also leaving the board is extraterritorial district representative Frank Corriher, of China Grove, who will be replaced at a later time.
– Heard two proposed amendments to the city’s development ordinance which would change to allow boarding houses in districts zoned Office-Institutional and would permit fine arts schools and performing artists’ companies in the Neighborhood Commercial district.
The amendments will be debated at the May 26 council session.
– Officially rescinded the 1989 ordinance establishing a beautification commission for Kannapolis, which was replaced last month by a new Environmental Stewardship Commission.
Contact Hugh Fisher at 704-797-4245 or hfisher@salisburypost.com.