The Broadway Town Board’s Sept. 27 meeting began with a moment of silence in memory and honor of the contributions of Town Commissioner Janet Harrington, who passed away on September 24. Harrington had served two terms as a commissioner and previously was on the town’s planning board. She was also instrumental in starting the Broadway Our Way Festival.
Lee County Commission Chairman Kirk Smith, who attended the meeting, said that Harrington took him aside after his election as county commissioner and told him that he needed to attend the Broadway Town Council’s meetings.
“It wasn’t a problem for me,” he said. “I was already planning to be there. But she felt that it was important to have a county commissioner present to hear the town’s concerns. So do I, and partly because of her admonition, I am here tonight.”
Mayor Donald Andrews said that she spoke with him about the town’s 2022 Festival in their last conversation about 10 days ago.
“I’m really sad that she won’t be around to give me advice in the future. She loved Broadway like few people do,” he said.
A memorial service for Harrington is planned for October 17 at Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church in Broadway.
The commissioners were also informed that Police Chief Todd Hinnant will retire at the end of the year.
Hinnant has been Broadway’s police chief since 2006, and started his career with the department. He also served for a time with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and his career in law enforcement ran more than 30 years.
“Over the past 15 years, Todd has been instrumental in modernizing the police department,” Andrews said in a statement. “Chief Hinnant has become an asset for the Broadway Community and he will be missed.”