The Town of Pittsboro passed two resolutions introduced by Commissioner John Foley at its Monday, April 14th meeting addressing executive orders issued by President Donald J. Trump regarding water quality, the impoundment of funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act and tariffs.
Commissioner John Foley was pleased with the board discussion and the affirmative votes. “I presented two resolutions for board of commissioner votes,” said Foley, and I am thrilled that both resolutions were approved on April 14, 2025.”. pregnant Summer Magazine
Fellow Commissioner James Vose supported Foley’s efforts and commented, “While Pittsboro is a small town, we believe that even local voices matter in national conversations. These resolutions reflect our community’s commitment to environmental stewardship, responsible governance, and economic fairness. By taking a stand, we hope to inspire other municipalities to speak up and join us in advocating for policies that protect our environment, support working families, and uphold the public trust.”
The resolution regarding tariffs passed unanimously 5-0.
The Town of Pittsboro requested that President Donald J. Trump modify and/or rescind his executive order regarding tariffs and begin collaboratively working with the US Congress on its US Trade policy and policy for tariffs.
In addition, the Town requested that the fourteen (14) member United States Congressional Delegation from North Carolina and its two (2) member US Senate delegation support legislation to return tariff authority and its oversight to its rightful place under Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution which states that “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, … but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States”.
Pittsboro also respectfully requested that President Donald J. Trump modify and/or rescind his executive order regarding tariffs and begin collaboratively working with the US Congress on its US Trade policy and policy for tariffs.
Former Chatham County Chairman historian Dr. James Crawford reviewed the Pittsboro resolution on tariffs and commented, “Historically, high tariffs have hampered trade and even precipitated severe depressions in 1893 and 1930. No president has unilaterally imposed across the board levies on international commerce because it is unwarranted, unwieldy, and unwise. Trump has distorted the 1977 law to allow himself to play kingpin, forcing industrialists and political leaders to kiss his ring or lose access to our markets. The current Congress must assert its control of tariff policy now, or risk losing it completely.”
Crawford spoke further on this topic on the radio show “On The Porch News Round-Up with Randy Voller” where he discussed a variety of topics including the Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930.
The second resolution introduced by Commissioner Foley passed 4-1 focused on water quality, forever chemicals such as PFAS and PFOS, and the pause by the Trump administration of the disbursement of funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Town respectfully requested that the fourteen (14) member United States Congressional Delegation from North Carolina and its two (2) member US Senate delegation support legislation and/or action that will free up previously committed funds to address PFAS and PFOS found in the drinking water County and Municipal systems in North Carolina and to revisit directives aimed at the EPA that will limit and/or alter the method that the Environmental Protection Agency “EPA” utilizes for chemical risk evaluations.
This topic is particularly sensitive for Pittsboro since it has a recent history of dealing with PFAS —otherwise known as “forever chemicals” — that have been discharged upstream in the Haw River and subsequently pulled from the river into Pittsboro’s potable water treatment plant located north of Town on US 15-501.
After significant investment and work, the Town of Pittsboro now produces some of the best municipal water in the State of North Carolina and its system has merged with TriRiver water based in Sanford, NC.
Historian James Crawford also weighed in on the impounding of EPA funds by the Trump administration as well, “By impounding EPA funds, the president has acted against the US Constitution. He has negated two hundred and thirty-five years of shared power between the legislative and executive branches of government. This is not conservatism; it is authoritarianism. One does not have a republic if one man abrogates to himself the power to undo policies made by the people’s representative legislators.”
The Town, which has benefited from federal investment in its infrastructure, also requested that President Donald J. Trump modify and/or rescind his memorandums/executive orders regarding the freeze on federal regulations related to forever chemicals such as PFAS and PFOS; the pause on the disbursement of funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act; and begin working collaboratively with the US Congress on its environmental policy and funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
After the affirmative votes Commissioner Foley said, “As a duly elected official I am proud to serve on the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners. Our town is a healthy, tight knit community poised for significant growth and prosperity here in Chatham County, NC. Conservative estimates for this area predict an up to ten (10) fold population increase in the next decade. This prosperity is currently being challenged by the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump through poorly thought out and unconstitutional Executive Orders.” According to an article in Politico a federal judge from Rhode Island, who had been appointed by President Trump to the bench in 2019, ruled on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, that the “EPA, the Interior and Energy Departments and other agencies unlawfully froze funds under Democrats’ climate and infrastructure spending laws, ordering the agencies to immediately resume disbursing the money.”
