During a recent government meeting, the board discussed two significant topics: the status of a deer study and the implementation of a transparency task force.

The town manager provided an update on the deer study, initially budgeted at $4,000 with an NC State biology professor, which included a coyote survey. However, the professor rescinded his offer due to liability insurance issues, prompting the search for alternative solutions. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission and local parks departments were unable to assist, leading to the consideration of a drone company, Steward Green, which could conduct the study for $25,000. This figure represents a significant increase from the original budget. The board reviewed year-to-date car crash data, noting a decrease in deer-related incidents, which may influence their decision on whether to proceed with the costly drone study.

Commissioner Garner expressed discomfort with the increased expenditure, suggesting that the board should not move forward with the drone study at this time. Other commissioners echoed this sentiment, indicating a preference to explore alternative options or revisit the issue in the future.

The second major topic was the proposal for a transparency task force aimed at enhancing public access to town records. Commissioner Tofano advocated for \"radical transparency,\" proposing a volunteer advisory committee composed of local professionals to facilitate access to public records. The task force would focus on ensuring that all public records, excluding sensitive information, are readily available to citizens.

While some board members supported the idea of improving transparency, others raised concerns about the potential intrusiveness of allowing a group to access all public records, including emails. They emphasized the importance of protecting employee privacy and questioned the necessity of such a task force, given existing public records laws.

Despite the debate, a motion was made to initiate the application process for the task force, reflecting a commitment to exploring ways to enhance transparency in local governance. The board's discussions highlighted the ongoing tension between transparency and privacy, as well as the challenges of managing public records efficiently.