Town Council 

Supports the maintenance of public services, including parks.

Candidate website

Supports household curbside pick up of bulk items, leaves, limbs, and small yard waste. Items can be placed curbside any day of the week.

Supports maintaining public services such as the Norwood Museum and Library.

Supports public services such as libraries.

Supports local libraries and their community programs, highlighting Norwood’s library and its special programs for children and adults.

Supports accessible public services, including free internet access at the Norwood Library and other Stanly County Public Library branches.

Believes in preserving local history, noting that the first permanent settlement on this land grant was called Allen Town.

Supports convenient access to library services, including online catalog browsing and inter-branch delivery.

Supports staggered four-year terms for the Mayor and five Commissioners, with elections held every even year.

Supports public services such as community parks.

Supports accessible public services, including medical and dental facilities and pharmacies.

Supports the installation of well-maintained sidewalks to promote public health.

Supports regular solid waste and bulk waste pickup.

Believes in providing a wider variety of public services, including medical facilities, within a short distance to improve accessibility and convenience for the community.

Believes in providing transparent information about public services, including water quality, by sharing the Annual Water Quality Report.

As of July 31, 2024, James Lawrence Lilly did not have a website or any information online.

Public Services

Believes in enhancing quality of life and public safety through community partnerships, law enforcement, and serving citizens with honor and integrity.

Believes in calling 911 for emergencies instead of the police department directly.

Supports strict enforcement of Title XIII General Offenses to enhance public safety.

Wants residents to identify hazards in Stanly County so they can be addressed in the regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Supports updating the 2025 Stanly County Hazard Mitigation Plan to enhance public safety and disaster preparedness.

Believes in maintaining high standards of public safety through effective code enforcement.

Supports collaboration with local volunteer fire departments and medic services for community fire protection and emergency medical services.

Believes in community engagement for public safety, providing local fire department contact information to encourage residents to reach out with concerns or questions.

Believes in maintaining high-quality fire services, noting that the Norwood Center Rural Fire Department has an Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of 4 inside Norwood and 5 outside.

Supports requiring golf carts to be inspected by the Norwood Police Department before a permit can be issued from Town Hall.

Public Safety

Believes in supporting local businesses, such as Fork Farms in Norwood, NC, which produces aerial and shooting stands.

Supports the proposed 2024-2025 town budget.

Supports local economic development by hosting a weekly Farmers Market every Saturday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at 124 North Main Street.

Supports community involvement in budget discussions, as evidenced by the upcoming public hearing on June 3, 2024, at 6:00 pm at the Norwood Town Hall, where residents can voice their opinions on the proposed budget.

Supports the North Carolina Division of Employment Security.

Supports local businesses and economic development, as evidenced by membership in the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce.

Supports the Town’s Water/Wastewater Adjustment Policy, adopted May 1, 2023.

Believes in strict payment deadlines and imposes a 10% late fee on overdue accounts.

Supports transparency in financial matters and allows residents to view updated budget ordinances on the city website.

Believes in providing excellent customer service by hiring qualified representatives to manage water/sewer payments, answer inquiries, and oversee front office operations.

Supports strict payment policies for utilities, including immediate disconnection for nonpayment by 5:00 PM on the due date, with no extensions granted and a $60 delinquent fee for reconnection.

Supports affordable waste management services, with residential service priced at $13.00 per month and small commercial service at $15.00 per month.

Supports transparency in local governance and fiscal responsibility by participating in special meetings to discuss the proposed 2024-2025 town budget.

Believes in setting clear and consistent due dates for payments, with current amounts due on or before the 10th of each month, or the following business day if the 10th falls on a non-business day.

Economy

Supports the Stanly County Partnership for Children.

Education

Plans to enhance walkability, improve sidewalks, and connect the lake area with bikeways and greenways.

Supports the use of an "Authorization to Disconnect Water and Sewer Form" to manage water and sewer services.

Supports updating the 2012 Stanly County Comprehensive Transportation Plan to ensure it reflects current needs and goals.

To connect to the Town’s water and sewer service, you must complete an Application for Water/Sewer Service, even if you have previously established an account.

Supports the Stanly County Comprehensive Transportation Plan.

Supports hiring engineering services to improve transportation and infrastructure.

Supports attending municipal Town Hall meetings to explain the importance of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP).

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports community development and local input on housing projects.

Supports revitalizing downtown areas through grant applications, as evidenced by supporting the Town of Norwood's application for a Downtown Revitalization Grant.

Supports community engagement in housing development projects, encouraging citizens to attend meetings and provide comments on the use of CDBG funds.

Supports community involvement in housing and urban development decisions, as evidenced by calling public hearings to consider zoning ordinance amendments.

Supports applying for the Downtown Revitalization Grant to improve the town's infrastructure and housing.

Supports the use of contracted code enforcement to address minimum housing violations and nuisance complaints.

Supports the use of professional town planning to assist with property rezoning, zoning text amendments, variance applications, nuisance ordinance violations, conditional use permits, and other zoning and compliance issues.

Believes in the authority of the Zoning Board of Adjustments to issue variances and permits, and to hear appeals from zoning ordinance decisions.

Supports community involvement in local development decisions, as evidenced by the public hearing scheduled for April 1, 2024, to consider a special use permit for a wedding/event center.

Believes in having a Zoning Board of Adjustments that extends its authority up to one mile beyond the corporate limits of Norwood.

Believes the Planning Board should review amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and subdivision plats and make recommendations to the Norwood Town Council.

Believes in addressing zoning violations through a formal complaint process, encouraging residents to submit the Code Enforcement Complaint Form to the Norwood Town Hall.

Supports the requirement of a Municipal Coordination Form Certificate of Zoning Compliance Form for building permits in Norwood, with fees of $50 for residential and $100 for commercial/industrial projects.

The candidate's website provides a form for residents to submit complaints regarding inadequate housing conditions.

Housing & Urban Development

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James Lawrence Lilly

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Norwood NC, Mayor & Council

As of July 31, 2024, Robbie Cohen did not have a website or any information online.

The Stanly News & Press, NORWOOD: Cohen, Lilly re-elected to town council

Believes water prices are among the town's most important challenges.

Said the Norwood will have to spend "around $3 million." to renovate the sewage system.

- Believes water prices are among the town's most important challenges.
- Said the Norwood will have to spend "around $3 million." to renovate the sewage system.

Robbie Cohen

- Town council members serve as the governing body of the town, along with the mayor. 
- The town council members make policy decisions for the town, including creating ordinances, policies, and making agreements with other governments. 
- The town council can amend and revise town policies, as well as approve or reject the town budget. 
- The town council is also in charge of the appointment of advisory boards, commissions, task forces, committees, the town manager, and the town attorney. 
- Members of the town council are elected to staggered 4 year terms. 