“I felt it was a good day,” City Manager Joseph Scherer said. “We met with legislators and were awarded for the Canal Trail.”

Scherer said city officials discussed historic district tax credits as well as the loss of privilege license fees with its legislative delegation. “There's some ideas on the table we'd like for them to consider.”

Scherer said the city was recognized for the Canal Trail earning the title as the best greenway in the state by the North Carolina chapter of the American Planning Association.

This was the first year for the greenway competition, Scherer said. “They were impressed with the results.”

In a statement, the city said Town Hall Day draws elected officials, business and civic leaders, and municipal staff to Raleigh to personally visit state legislators and discuss issues of importance to municipalities.

About 500 municipal leaders from across the state attended.

Councilmen Carl Ferebee and Wayne Smith, along with Scherer, attended the event.

During Town Hall Day, attendees met with General Assembly representatives and heard from Governor Pat McCrory, who spoke about the goals for his administration at the afternoon state agencies panel discussion with North Carolina Secretary of Transportation Tony Tata and Secretary of Cultural Resources Susan Kluttz.

In addition, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and Speaker of the House Tim Moore spoke to attendees about legislative decisions affecting municipalities.

“Town Hall Day gives municipal officials from around the state a wonderful opportunity to meet with their legislators on the ground where state policies are actually being determined,” League Executive Director Paul Meyer said. “With a united voice, representatives of cities and towns are able to make known their concerns while also emphasizing and furthering the partnerships between municipal and state government that, after all, are about more effectively servicing our residents.”