SALISBURY — Members of the Salisbury City Council and city staff will host the sixth Chit, Chat & Chew meeting at 5:15 p.m. Feb. 26 at Park Avenue Community Center.

The town-hall style meeting is for residents of the Long Street area, which includes neighborhoods such as Green Hills, Sedgefield Acres, Park Avenue, Brooklyn South Square, Lincoln Park, Town Creek Park, Bringle Ferry Road, Brookview, Cone Mills and Melrose Heights.

Chit, Chat & Chew town halls grew out of a request from council members and residents who wanted increased engagement beyond the public-comment period at City Council meetings. All topics are welcome, though some answers to questions may need follow-up. 

To allow residents to have more intimate, targeted discussions with City Council members, a map of nine areas was created, sectioning neighborhoods based on natural barriers, roads, population distribution and median income. Town halls will be held in each of the nine areas every other month, although residents throughout the city are welcome at any Chit, Chat & Chew session. 

“Recognizing that each neighborhood in our city has its own set of challenges and triumphs,” said Anne Little, the city’s human relations manager, “Chit, Chat & Chew is an opportunity to have some of those challenges addressed or to tout their community accomplishments, and perhaps provide support to others in the room. This event is not only an opportunity for Salisburians to interact with their elected officials but also with their neighbors in an informal setting.” 

In preparation for the discussions, the city staff focused on specific neighborhoods during its weekly Community Engagement Friday walks, gathering community-specific concerns of residents.

The town hall will begin at 5:45 p.m. after a light dinner is served.

Park Avenue Community Center is at 632 Park Ave.

For more information on Chit, Chat & Chew, contact Little at anne.little@salisburync.gov or call 704-638-5218.