SALISBURY — The East Spencer Board of Aldermen will prioritize its goals for the upcoming year during its annual planning retreat today.

The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Gateway Center Building, 2014 E. Innes St.

The meeting will be facilitated by Darren Rhodes, a planner with the N.C. Department of Commerce who has presided over the town retreats for the past several years.

Each department head — police, fire, planning, public works, and administration — will present his or her 2018 objectives to the board.

The board will also reopen its recessed meeting from earlier this month and will have a public hearing to discuss a Community Development Block Grant.

The board also will talk about housing opportunities and alternatives. The previous board wanted to create East Spencer Housing Development Corp., an agency that would help first-time buyers with the homeownership process.

The board will hear from Darbah Skaf, executive director of the Statesville Housing Authority, and East Spencer Housing Authority Chairwoman Jill Burch.

The planning retreat is expected to end at 3:30 p.m.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.