ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

The Audit Committee is composed of three members of the Board of Commissioners and two Community representatives. It is advisory to the Board of Commissioners and is established as a public body under the North Carolina Open Meetings Law. Meetings are held on an as-needed basis, typically in the Town Services Office, and are open to the public.

This Committee has been tasked with the following goals and objectives:

• Reviewing the comprehensive framework of internal controls and recommending any changes;

• Overseeing the periodic Request for Proposals (RFP) process to select an auditor and recommending the award of contract and appointment of an auditor to conduct the Town’s annual audit;

• Ensuring that all required financial information made available to the auditor;

• Reviewing the draft audit with the independent auditor; and

• Presenting a recommendation to The Board of Commissioners on acceptance of the annual audit.

Meets only as needed in the Town Hall 1210 Montreat Road

Members:

Commissioner Hugh Alexander - Chair Expires 01/31/2025
PO Box 447
Montreat, NC 28757

Philip Arnold Term - Expires 06/30/2025
PO Box 40
Montreat, NC 28757

Commissioner Mason Blake
PO Box 757
Montreat, NC 28757

Commissioner Tom Widmer
PO Box 1004
Montreat, NC 28757

Mayor Pro Tem Kitty Fouche
PO Box 717
Montreat, NC 28757

Board of Adjustment

The Board of Adjustment holds evidentiary hearings on and is the decision-making body for Zoning Ordinance interpretations, variances, Special Use Permits, and appeals from decisions made by the Zoning Administrator. Meetings are held in the Town of Montreat Town Hall as needed on the fourth Thursday of each month starting at 5:00 p.m., unless a special meeting is called by the Chairman. All Board of Adjustment meetings are open to the public, except for matters discussed in Closed Session pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318(11). Terms for the Board of Adjustment seats are three years and no member may serve more than two consecutive terms. Submissions to the Board of Adjustment must be sent to zoning@townofmontreat.org
at least six weeks prior to the desired meeting date.

To see the Rules of Procedure, Click Here.

Members:

Danny Sharpe, Regular Town Member, Chair
Term Expires 06/30/2026
PO Box 445
Montreat, NC 28757

David Neel, Regular Town Member, Vice-Chair
Term Expires 01/31/2027
PO Box 787
Montreat, NC 28757

Margaret "Mari" Gramling, Regular Town Member
Term Expires 01/31/2028
PO Box 82
Montreat, NC 28757

Ed Kramer, Regular Town Member
Term Expires 01/31/2027
PO Box 868
Montreat, NC 28757

George Sawyer, Regular Town Member
Term Expires 01/31/2027
260 Village Stone Cir
Summerville, SC 29486

William "Bill" Scheu, Regular Town Member
Term Expires 01/31/27
PO Box 696
Montreat, NC 28757

Arrington Cox, Alternate Town Member
Term Expires 01/31/2027
PO Box 987
Montreat, NC 28757

Matt Horne, Alternate Town Member
Term Expires 01/31/2028
PO Box 516
Montreat, NC 28757

There is one seat vacant and available on this board. Regular Town Member seats are expected to attend all scheduled meetings and rule on applications presented before the board, unless a member has a conflict of interest as determined by N.C.G.S. 160D-109. Alternate Members are expected to attend meetings in place of Regular Town Members upon request of the Chairman or Zoning Administrator. Please see the available vacancies for the Board of Adjustment below:

Regular ETJ Member*

**Applicant must be a resident of the Town of Montreat's Extra Territorial Jurisdiction, and not the Town of Montreat. Applicants interested in ETJ memberships may contact the Clerk to the Buncombe Board of Commissioners by emailing Sarah Gross at sarah.gross@buncombecounty.org or calling 828.250.4105.

Montreat Landcare Committee

Tree Board

The Mission of the Town of Montreat Tree Board is to represent and act on behalf of citizens in the promotion, protection and preservation of healthy native trees and shrubs on public lands in ways that enhance the quality of life in the community, in partnership with town officials and staff, educators and forest professionals through research, education, outreach and application of best practices for planting, pruning, preservation, removal, replacement and overall care and planning of a sustainable forest canopy and its associated biodiversity.

Meetings take place on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. in the Town Hall, 1210 Montreat Road.

Click Here for more information about the Tree Board.

Members:

Tyler Smith
Term Expires 01/31/27
PO Box 163
Montreat, NC 28757

George Sawyer
Term Expires 01/31/27
260 Village Stone Cir
Summerville, SC 29486

Ed Kramer, Chair
Term Expires 01/31/2028
PO Box 868
Montreat, NC 28757

Commissioner Mason Blake
PO Box 757
Montreat, NC 28757

Ashley Manson Marratt
Term Expires 01/31/2028
PO Box 124
Montreat, NC 28757

Ann Vinson
Term Expires 1/31/28
PO Box 699
Montreat, NC 28757

Elizabeth Hamilton
Term Expires 1/31/2
PO Box 1056
Montreat, NC 28757

Open Space Conservation Committee

The Open Space Conservation Committee is a three-member committee advisory to the Board of Commissioners and is established as a public body under the North Carolina Open Meetings Law. Meetings are held semi-annually on the second Tuesday of each May and November at 3:30 p.m. in the Town Hall. All Open Space Conservation Committee meetings are open to the public.

Click Here for more information about the Open Space Conservation Committee.

Members:

Commissioner Grant Dasher
PO Box 836
Montreat, NC 28757

Mary Nell Todd - Chair
Term Expires 06/30/2025
PO Box 159
Montreat, NC 28757

Mari Gramling
Term Expires on 01/31/2027
PO Box 82
Montreat, NC 28757

Bill Scheu
Term Expires on 06/30/2025
PO Box 696
Montreat, NC 28757

Planning and Zoning Commission

The Planning and Zoning Commission is composed of five regular members representing Montreat, one Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction member representing Buncombe County, and two alternate members. The Planning and Zoning Commission provides advisory recommendations on map and ordinance amendments, makes quasi-judicial decisions for minor and major subdivisions, and addresses any requests from the Board of Commissioners. Unless otherwise advertised, all meeting are held quarterly on the third Thursday of each January, April, July and October in the Town Hall at 1210 Montreat Road. All Planning & Zoning Commission meets are open to the public, except for matters discussed in Closed Session pursuant to G.S. 143-318(11). Submissions to the Planning and Zoning Commission must be sent to zoning@townofmontreat.org
at least six weeks prior to the desired meeting date.

To see the Rules of Procedure, CLICK HERE

Members:

Julie Schell, Regular Town Member, Chair
Term Expires 01/31/2027
PO Box 186
Montreat, NC 28757

Sally Jenkins, Regular Town Member
Term Expires 01/31/2027
PO Box 517
Montreat, NC 28757

Clay Hamilton, Regular Town Member Term Expires 01/31/2028
PO Box 1056
Montreat, NC 28757

Eleanor James, Regular Town Member Term Expires 01/31/2027
PO Box 911
Montreat, NC 28757

Michael "Mike" Broussard, Regular Town Member
Term Expires 01/31/2028
380 Lakeview St.
Orlando, FL 32804

Allen Crawford, Buncombe County ETJ Rep
Term Expires 05/31/25
207 Mountain Street
Black Mountain, NC 28711

William "Bill" Tucker - Regular Town Member
Term Expires 01/31/2028
PO Box 935
Montreat, NC 28757

Vacant, Alternate Town Member Term Expires 01/31/2026

Gayle Sawyer, Alternate Town Member
Term Expires 5/8/28
206 Village Stone Circle
Summerville, SC 29483

Stone Bridge Advisory Committee

The Stone Bridge Advisory Committee is formed for the purpose of making recommendations to the Montreat Board of Commissioners concerning the design and installation of side wall sections and related non-structural improvements (such as arches and columns) for bridges in Montreat damaged by Hurricane Helene. The design of such side wall sections and related non-structural improvements will feature and incorporate stone and mortar in a manner reminiscent of the original stonework that began under Dr. Anderson in the early part of the nineteenth century. Prior to the design of such “Montreat Style” improvements for the first bridge, the committee will prepare and submit to the Town Council, for its approval, “Montreat Style Design Guidelines” which it will utilize in the design work for each individual bridge.

Members:

Nancy Thomas, Regular Member
864-430-6276
400 Woodland Way
Greenville, SC 29607

Mari Gramling, Regular Member
828-713-8296
PO Box 82
Montreat, NC 28757

Ellen Dean, Regular Member
910-277-6834
PO Box 222
Montreat, NC 28757

Ken Shortridge, Regular Member
843-442-467
3212 Bozman Ct
Charlotte, NC 28226

Beth Casper, Regular Member
713-494-4624
PO Box 923
Montreat, NC 28757

Margaret Berry, Regular Member
478-320-6318
101 Powers Plantation Dr
Macon, GA 31220

Hugh Alexander, Regular Member
252-414-8237
Po Box 447
Montreat, NC 28757

Robin Melvin, Alternate Member
803-622-9490
PO Box 866
Montreat, NC 28757

John Casper, Alternate Member
281-844-0240
PO Box 923
Montreat, NC 28757

Vacancies

Board of Adjustment Vacancies

The Board of Adjustment holds evidentiary hearings on and is the decision-making body for Zoning Ordinance interpretations, variances, Special Use Permits, and appeals from decisions made by the Zoning Administrator. Meetings are held in the Town of Montreat Town Hall as needed on the fourth Thursday of each month starting at 5:00 pm, unless a special meeting is called by the Chairman. All Board of Adjustment meetings are open to the public, except for matters discussed in Closed Session pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318(11). Terms for the Board of Adjustment seats are three years and no member may serve more than two consecutive terms.

Several seats are vacant and available on this board. Regular Town Member seats are expected to attend all scheduled meetings and rule on applications presented before the board, unless a member has a conflict of interest as determined by N.C.G.S. 160D-109. Please see the available vacancies for the Board of Adjustment below:

Regular ETJ Member**

** Applicant must be a resident of the Town of Montreat’s Extra Territorial Jurisdiction, and not the Town of Montreat. Applicants interested in ETJ memberships may contact the Clerks to the Buncombe Board of Commissioners by emailing Lamar Joyner at lamar.joyner@buncombecounty.org or calling 828.250.4105.

To be considered for any of these vacancies, please complete the Board Application Form (click here).