AGENDA ITEM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ITEM TITLE*
title
Approve the Council Naming Committee Recommendation to Honor William Massengale at Peace and Justice Plaza.
presenter
RESPONSIBLE STAFF, TITLE, DEPARTMENT*
Molly Luby, Community History Coordinator, Chapel Hill Public Library
STAFF RECOMMENDATION*
Staff recommends that Council approve the Council Naming Committee’s recommendation to include William Massengale’s name in those honored at Peace and Justice Plaza.
body
ACTION/DECISION POINTS*
Council must approve or reject the Council Naming Committee’s recommendation.
LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT*
The Council Procedures Manual authorizes the Council Naming Committee to annually recommend to Council names of persons nominated to be honored on the Peace and Justice Plaza marker. Nominees for the Peace and Justice Plaza marker must be deceased and have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to furthering the causes of peace and justice in Chapel Hill.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT*
The Council Naming Committee received a petition requesting that William Massengale’s name be included with those honored at Peace and Justice Plaza. The Committee unanimously approved the petition on October 25, 2024.
Because the original marker at Peace and Justice Plaza is full, staff are working on a redesign of the Plaza that will allow the Town to continue to honor residents in the future. We recommend adding Mr. Massengale’s name once the redesign process is completed.
Attachments
• Resolution
A RESOLUTION APPROVING WILLIAM MASSENGALE’S NAME BE INCLUDED IN THOSE HONORED AT PEACE AND JUSTICE PLAZA (2025-05-21/R-3)
WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill approved naming the space in front of the old Post Office the Peace and Justice Plaza; and
WHEREAS, the Council approved the placement of a stone marker at the site that would display the names of residents who had given much of their lives to the causes of peace and justice in our community; and
WHEREAS, once a year, the Council Naming Committee may bring forward to the Council for consideration the names of persons nominated to be honored on the Peace and Justice Plaza marker in accordance with the Council Naming Committee criteria; and
WHEREAS, the Council Naming Committee voted unanimously to recommend the name of William Massengale, former lawyer who dedicated his career to defending capital cases and abolishing the death penalty in North Carolina, be included in those honored at Peace and Justice Plaza; and
WHEREAS, from 2009-2024 the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill has added the names of the following deceased advocates to the marker: Charlotte Adams, Henry Anderson III, James R. Brittian, Joe Herzenberg, Mildred Ringwalt, Hubert Robinson, Joe Straley, Lucy Straley, Gloria Williams, Yonni Chapman, Rebecca Clark, Charles M. Jones, Daniel H. Pollitt, Bill Thorpe, Dean E. Smith, Mildred Council, Harold Foster, Robert Seymour, Edith Wiggins, and Fred Battle; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill authorizes the Town Manager to include William Massengale’s name at the redesigned Peace and Justice Plaza.
This the 21ST day of May, 2025.
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