611 Craig St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Phone: 919-627-1504
dbell4ch@gmail.com
Term of Service
2009-2011
Biography
Donna Bell was appointed to the Town Council in November of 2009. She holds a master’s in social work from Smith College and currently works as an adjunct associate professor at Elon University. Donna graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in English. Before working at Elon, Donna worked as a social worker at the VA medical Center in Durham. She also spent many years working in the nonprofit sector for organizations like Public Allies, which offers young adults mentored leadership opportunities and training.
Donna has served on Town boards prior to being appointed to Council. She served on the town’s Planning board and most recently on the Sustainability Community Visioning Task Force.
Donna was born in Queens, N.Y., and was raised in New Bern and Bayboro in eastern North Carolina. After completing her undergraduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, she left North Carolina to live in New York and California.
She returned to North Carolina in the fall of 2001 and bought her house in Northside in the fall of 2002. Donna continues to live in Northside with her husband Jason James, her daughter Olivia James, stepson Finn James, and dog Sarah Jane. Donna and her family can often be found having breakfast together on Saturday morning at Weaver Street.
Membership
- Cemeteries Advisory Board
- Council Committee: Affordable Housing
- Council Committee: Facilities Naming Committee
- Human Services Advisory Board
- Mayor's Committee: Council Communications
- Public Housing Program Development Advisory Board
- Orange County Land Trust Affordable Housing Maintenance Task Force
- Sustainable Community Visioning Task Force
Duties
The primary mission of the Mayor and Council, as the governing body of the Town is to adopt and provide for the execution of ordinances, rules and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to protect health, life or property, or to promote the comfort, convenience, security, good order, better government, or the general welfare of the Town and its citizens.
The Mayor and eight Council Members constitute the governing body of the Town. In accordance with the Town’s Charter, the voters elect a Mayor every two years. Council Members are elected to four-year, staggered terms on an at-large basis. Town Council duties include:
Amendment of previously adopted policies through changes in the Town Code of Ordinances and the Development Ordinance, and by revision of policies and documents.
Appointment of advisory boards, commissions, task forces and committees.
Appointment of the Town Manager and Town Attorney.
Establishment of agreements with other governments.