Legislation removing the cap on charter schools is nearing passage by both chambers of the N.C. General Assembly.

State Rep. Jamie Boles calls the charter school bill one of two landmark pieces of legislation that "represent sound, smart public policy."

The other bill is House Bill 61, which would limit the terms a legislator could serve as speaker of the House or president pro-tem of the Senate. The limit would be two terms.

"This is a critical step toward restoring and preserving the integrity of the General Assembly and would require an amendment to the state's constitution," Boles says in his weekly newsletter.

CHARTER - The bill on the charter school cap passed the third reading in the House Monday night.

Boles says the bill has been debated at length in committee and now includes provisions requested by Democratic legislators. Both houses of the General Assembly are now controlled by Republicans.

Boles and state Sen. Harris Blake, who represent Moore County, are Republicans.

APPOINTMENTS - Phyllis Magnuson is the newest member of the Moore County Board of Health.

The county commissioners voted to appoint Magnuson to a vacant at-large position on the health board at their April 5 meeting. The board also reappointed Scott Bullard to an additional three-year term on the health panel.

At the same meeting, the commissioners appointed Carol Nash to fill the unfulfilled term of Richard Fortman on the Aging Advisory Council.

The commissioners also reappointed Les Bailey to the Recreation Advisory Board.

COBLE - Congressman Howard Coble spent the weekend back on homeground in the 6th District.

He met with N.C. Federation of College Republicans at UNC-Greensboro Saturday morning. He later attended Alamance Citizens for a Drug Free Community Day in Burlington.

After attending services at Alamance Presbyterian Church, Coble attended the Water is Life fundraiser in Greensboro Sunday.

WORK FORCE - At the request of the Pee Dee Region Workforce Development Board, the county commissioners have adopted a resolution agreeing to join a consortium with Alamance, Montgomery, Orange and Randolph counties.

The board approved the agreement Tuesday.

Linda Parker, work force development director, advised the board that the designation of the consortium for job training purposes is needed because of the recent withdrawal of Richmond County from the Regional Partnership Workforce Development Area.

Parker said the loss of Richmond County means that Montgomery and Moore counties would not be large enough to support their own workforce development program. The work can continue if they join a consortium involving Alamance, Orange and Randolph counties.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.