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BELHAVEN – The Board of Aldermen held a public hearing during their monthly meeting on Monday to gain insight regarding the proposed amendment of the town charter and the application process for the Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus Fund.

The proposed amendment would allow the Board of Aldermen to extend the mayoral term from its current two year term to four years. This change would make the mayoral term equal to that of the Aldermen and the two positions would serve concurrently. This amendment received opposition from townspeople.

The CDBG-CV proposed budget is $900,000 and would come directly from the block grant program. The funds would be split between three different projects, including $42,000 in public broadband expansion, $418,000 in subsistence payments to be distributed by St. Vincent De Paul and $350,000 in rehabilitation of the Wilkinson Center. The remaining $90,000 will pay for the fee for grant administration.

The amendment of the town charter must be discussed at the next Board of Aldermen meeting on Feb. 8 before the board can vote for extending the mayoral term. CDBG-CV was approved at the meeting Monday and the application process will go ahead.