NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 6, 1998

TOWN ADDS STAFF TO HEAD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARKS INITIATIVES

CARY, NC -- The Town of Cary has filled two new staff positions to help address planned needs for more affordable housing and parks. Senior Planner Shawn McNamara will develop and manage Cary’s new affordable housing initiative while Doug McRainey will serve as Cary’s new Parks/Greenways Planner, charged with the implementation of the recently approved Parks, Greenways, and Bikeways Master Plan. It was in that plan that the recommendation for McRainey’s position came, while the new housing position is due in part to recommendations made earlier this year by Cary’s Growth Management Task Force, a Council-appointed citizen group which met for several months examining ways to improve the quality of life of Cary citizens.

"We’re looking forward to the new ideas and valuable contributions these staff members will bring to the Town," said Town Manager Bill Coleman. "I have every confidence in their abilities to provide tremendous service to our community."

Most recently serving as the Community Development Planner for the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Shawn McNamara brings more than 15 years of experience to his new job in Cary’s Planning Division. He holds a Masters degree in City Planning from the University of Virginia as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Old Dominion University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

"We are very excited that the Town Council has established an affordable housing initiative and feel very fortunate to have Shawn join our staff to lead development of this new program," said Planning Director Jeff Ulma.

McNamara’s responsibilities include researching, developing, recommending, and implementing programs, policies, ordinances, and other approaches to secure an adequate supply of affordable housing. He will also facilitate the selection of housing approaches with Town Council, Town boards, citizens, and the private sector.

Doug McRainey comes to Cary from Cleveland Metroparks in Cleveland, Ohio, where he served as a parks planner with that system’s 19,000 acre regional park program. McRainey began work in Cary on September 8th. "The Town is very fortunate to recruit someone with Doug's work experience and personal skills," said Cary Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Resources Director Mary Barry. "He has a vision for the future development of the Cary parks system and is dedicated to the principle of citizen participation in parks planning."

With over 10 years parks planning experience, McRainey holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Cleveland State University as well as an MLA in Landscape Architecture from the Ohio State University.

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PRIMARY CONTACTS: Jeff Ulma, Planning Director, 319-4580
Mary Barry, PRCR Director, 469-4066
Bill Coleman, Town Manager, 469-4002
Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, 460-4951