Boards

About Boards:

The Town depends on dedicated volunteers from the community whether they are working in an advisory capacity or participating in cultural events or performing other functions. Citizens and government working together in a sustained collaborative effort is what defines Signal Mountain as an engaged, involved and progressive community.

Board openings usually occur in December when terms end, but occasionally at other times during the year. Some boards require specific skills, but many board positions require only a keen interest and a willingness to learn, work and serve. Openings are advertised at the Town Hall and in “Council Notes”. To apply, download an application (or pick one up at the Town Hall) fill it out deliver it to the Town Hall. Volunteers wishing to serve the Town are always welcome.

Apply for Boards, Commissions or Committees

Adjustments & Appeals for Mechanical Codes Board

The Board decides questions of administrative interpretations of the Town’s various mechanical codes and hears citizen appeals to decisions made by enforcement officers of the codes pertaining to the use of materials and types of construction. In addition, the Board evaluates the safety and performance of various types of construction and makes recommendations to the Town Council for any revision or modification of the Town’s mechanical codes. This Board requires volunteers with particular skill-sets.

Staff Support: Chuck Martin, cmartin@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaison: Dick Gee
Meetings: As Called

Board of Zoning Appeals

The BZA has the authority to hear and decide appeals of any alleged error in any order, requirement, permit, decision or refusal made by the Building Official or any other administrative official in carrying out the enforcement of the Signal Mountain Zoning Ordinance. The BZA can also consider, grant or deny requests for variances or other special exceptions to the Zoning Ordinance or Town Map based on the intent and purpose of the Zoning Ordinance or the Town’s current Land Use and Transportation Plan.

Staff Support: Chuck Martin, cmartin@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaison: Dick Gee
Meetings: 4th Thursday, 6pm, Town Hall, as needed.

Citizen’s Advisory Committee

This Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Council as a research and discovery entity devoted to special projects with potential benefits to the community. It may be divided into subcommittees as necessary to address current topics or areas of community interest. The Committee may also communicate to the Town Council citizen’s concerns, complaints, recommendations and suggested improvements in Town policy.

Subcommittees are usually short-term entities with a one to two year mandate. Two committees currently exist as research and discovery entities as follows:

Transportation Subcommittee

The Transportation Subcommittee is established to study and advise the Town Council on potential action steps for transportation-related improvements within the Town to include: (1) reviewing the current state of transportation resources available to citizens; (2) determining short term and long term transportation needs of citizens; (3) reviewing critical intersections and thoroughfares within the Town to recommend improvements; and (4) ensuring that the Town transportation-related needs, including pedestrian, bicycle and public transportation, are met now and in the future.

Staff Support: Loretta Hopper, lhopper@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaison: Bill Lusk
Meetings: 3rd Thursday, 7:00 pm, Guild Room

Condemnation Board

The Condemnation Board investigates buildings or structures that are purported to be a menace to the public health, safety, welfare and convenience. It is responsible for requiring owners to repair or otherwise bring such buildings or structures into compliance with building, plumbing, electrical, gas, housing and other similar Codes of the Town relating to buildings or to demolish the structure. This Board requires that members have particular skill sets.

Staff Support: Chuck Martin, cmartin@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaison: Bill Wallace
Meetings: As Called

Design Review Commission

The responsibility of the DRC is to maintain and enforce comprehensive design guidelines for commercial buildings, commercial properties, government buildings, the Golf Course, duplexes and planned unit developments. Subject to DRC review and approval are site plans for new construction; improvements; remodeling and alterations; signage; lighting; parking and pavement areas; landscaping and site treatment; screening; and, demolitions or changes in use for land and/or buildings.

Of the seven members at least three members may be professionally qualified in the following fields: architecture, real estate, and construction/building.

Staff Support: Chuck Martin, cmartin@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaison: Susan Robertson
Meetings: 4th Tuesday, 6pm, Town Hall
Design Review Guide and Application

Health, Educational and Housing Facility Board

The purpose of the Board is to promote the health and higher education of people of the Town of Signal Mountain, Hamilton County, Tennessee, and surrounding areas, and to exercise the authority and pursue the objectives of health and education corporations as provided in the Tennessee Code. Members are appointed for six-year terms. Meetings are the Second Tuesday in May or as needed.

Historical Committee

The Historical Committee updates and maintains an historical archive of Walden’s Ridge and the Town Signal of Mountain. The duties of the Committee are to research, record, copy and preserve all photographs, printed materials, and artifacts that reference the Town and/or Walden’s Ridge in the Town Archive located at the Signal Mountain Library.

Staff Support: Karen Glendenning, kglendenning@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaison: Susan Robertson
Meetings: 2nd Wednesday, 2pm, at the Library

Library Board

The Library Board serves in an advisory capacity to the Signal Mountain Library, the Town Manager and the Town Council to recommend development policies, programs, capital improvements and other functions to benefit the collection, services, and other needs of the Library including fund-raising and/or soliciting gifts and donations.

Staff Support: Karin Glendenning, kglendenning@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaison: Annette Allen
Meetings: September-May, 3rd Monday, 7pm, at the Library

Mountain Arts Community Center Board

The Board serves in an advisory capacity to the MACC Director, the Town Manager and the Town Council to recommend development of policies, programs, capital improvements and other functions to benefit the advancement of arts and culture in the community including fund-raising and/or soliciting gifts or donations.

Staff Support: Barb Storm, bstorm@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaison: Dick Gee
Meetings: Last Tuesday of the Month, 7pm, at the MACC

Parks Board

The Parks Board serves to assist the recreation director in providing the Town Council and the Town Manager with recommendations concerning parks in the Town. The Board’s responsibilities include recommending signage for parks; designating, creating and maintaining trails; organizing volunteers; promoting the use of parks; reviewing and recommending a Parks budget; and, soliciting and receiving gifts and donations.

Staff Support: Jarred Thompson, jthompson@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaison: Annette Allen
Meetings: Quarterly or as called, at Town Hall

Personnel Committee

The Personnel Committee acts in an advisory capacity to the Town Manager and the Town Council to study and evaluate all aspects of employee personnel policy, job descriptions, pay structures, benefits, other personnel issues as requested, and make recommendations for changes and/or improvements.

Staff Support: Honna Rogers, hrogers@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaison: Susan Robertson
Meetings: 1st Tuesday, 7pm, at Town Hall, as needed.

Planning Commission

court The purpose of the Planning Commission is to maintain the Town as a predominantly single-family residential community by protecting the town from encroachment by incompatible land uses. To achieve its purpose, the Commission has the authority and power to make plans and maps of the whole or part of the Town relevant to planning and future growth; to revise them as necessary; to review plat applications for the subdivision of land within the Town limits and decide, based on certain criteria, whether to permit or deny them; and, to make zoning recommendations to the Town Council.

It is also the duty of the Planning Commission to keep itself informed as to the best practices and advancements in municipal planning. Members of the Commission are required to obtain four (4) hours of continuing education on an annual basis.

Regional Planning Agency Advisor: Fred Brunker
Legal Advisor: Phil Noblett
Staff Support: Honna Rogers, hrogers@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaisons: Bill Lusk and Annette Allen
Meetings: 1st Thursday, 6pm, Town Hall and as called.

Recreation Advisory Board

The Recreation Advisory Board assists the recreation director and serves in an advisory capacity to the Town Manager and the Town Council. The Board is responsible for recommending budget priorities and fee structures to the recreation director; overseeing league organization, operations, schedules and fee collections; gathering feedback from citizens and coaches to recommend improvements and necessary maintenance for Town facilities; and, fund-raising, soliciting and receiving gifts to benefit recreation programs and facilities throughout the Town.

Staff Support: Jarred Thompson, jthompson@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaison: Bill Wallace
Meetings: 3rd Thursday, 7pm, Town Hall

Stormwater Appeals Board

The Board is responsible for addressing citizens’ complaints and appeals relating to stormwater violations and calculation of fees levied by the town. Appeals must be made in writing thirty (30) days from the date of the last bill, which date corresponds with the annual property tax bill. The members are required to be both Town officials and citizen representatives.

Staff Support: Honna Rogers, hrogers@signalmountaintn.gov
Meetings: As Called

Town Liaisons

Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club

The liaison provides communication between the Town of Signal Mountain and the Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club Board. Meetings as called.

Southeast Tennessee Advisory Council on Aging and Disability

The liaison represents the Town on the Southeast Tennessee Advisory Council on Aging and Disability, which administers the area plan and allocates funding for services for older and disabled individuals. Meetings are quarterly.

Tree Board

The Tree Board’s mission is to preserve the natural beauty of the mountain through tree advocacy and education. It sponsors an Arbor Day Celebration on the first Friday of March each year; plants trees; provides information on best management practices to maintain healthy trees to the general public, builders, developers, local garden clubs, scout troops, hiking clubs, etc.; operates an Invasive Species Removal Program; and, manages the Town’s Honor Tree Program.

Links

Staff Support: Jarred Thompson, jthompson@signalmountaintn.gov
Council Liaison: Susan Robertson
Meetings: Fourth Thursday of the month, 6:30pm, Town Hall.

Honor Tree Program

The Honor Tree Program enables individuals or groups to donate trees to honor special people, to commemorate important events, and to create living memorials for loved ones. For a tax-deductible donation of $175, the Tree Board will plant an Honor Tree and install a special marker inscribed with the name of the honoree, the donor, the tree species and the date of planting.

Honor Trees may be donated at any time, but planting takes place October to March to ensure survival. The Tree Board will recommend a tree species and a site on Town property. Honor Tree brochures and order forms are available at the Town Hall or may be downloaded here:

Honor Tree Planting for Mary Farmer Rankin.

The Town of Signal Mountain