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 Services Office at 96 Rainbow Terrace.

Members:

Commissioner Bill Gilliland - Chair
828-357-5297
PO Box 238
Montreat, NC 28757

Philip Arnold Term - Expires 06/01/20
PO Box 40
Montreat, NC 28757

Hugh Alexander - Term Expires 01/31/18
PO Box 447
Montreat, NC 28757

Commissioner Kent Otto
PO Box 1057
Montreat, NC 28757

Commissioner Tom Widmer
PO Box 1004
Montreat, NC 28757

The Board of Adjustment is composed of five regular members representing Montreat, two Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction members representing Buncombe and McDowell Counties, and two alternate members.

This quasi-judicial Board hears appeals from decisions made by the Zoning Official, requests for Zoning Ordinance interpretations, as well as applications for conditional use permits and variances. Such matters are considered in the form of a public hearing and require an affirmative vote by a four-fifths majority for approval. Citizen testimony on any quasi-judicial matter must be given in person and under oath at the time of the hearing.

Unless otherwise advertised, meetings are held as needed on the fourth Thursday of any month in which an application for an appeal, interpretation, conditional use permit of variance is received.

All Board of Adjustment meetings are open to the public, except for matters discussed in Closed Session pursuant to G.S. 143-318(11).

Members:

Eric Nichols - Chair
Term Expires 01/31/19
828-231-4224
PO Box 130
Montreat, NC 28757

Shannon Ingersoll
Term Expires 01/31/2018
PO Box 73
Montreat, NC 28757

Wade Burns
Term Expires 01/31/21
PO Box 610
Montreat, NC 28757

AnnKelso Hewitt
Term Expires 01/31/2019
PO Box 176
Montreat, NC 28757

Eleanor James
Term Expires 01/31/21
PO Box 911
Montreat, NC 28757

Everett Culpepper
Term Expires 01/31/21
PO Box 473
Montreat, NC 28757

Mark Spence
Term Expires 01/31/21
PO Box 388
Montreat, NC 28757

To visit the Montreat Landcare Committee site, click here.

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 fourth Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in the Town Services Office, 96 Rainbow Terrace.

Click Here for more information about the Tree Board.

Members:

Ann Vinson - Chair
828-669-2975
Term Expires 01/31/22
136 Quillan Ln
Montreat, NC 28757

Martha Campbell
Term Expires
PO Box 905
Montreat, NC 28757

Rusty Frank
Term Expires 01/31/2019
PO Box 129
Montreat, NC 28757

Maggie Ray
Term Expires 01/31/2022
PO Box 203
Montreat, NC 28757

Commissioner Kitty Fouche
PO Box 717
Montreat, NC 28757

Brad Hestir
Term Expires 01/31/2022
PO Box 100
Montreat, NC 28757

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 Novemberat 3:30 p.m. in the Moore Center Meeting Room, 303 Lookout Road. All Open Space Conservation Committee meetings are open to the public.

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

Members:

Commissioner Tom Widmer - Chair
804-441-3679
PO Box 1004
Montreat, NC 28757

Mary Nell Todd
Term Expires 01/31/2018
PO Box 159
Montreat, NC 28757

Philip Arnold
Term Expires on 01/31/18
PO Box 40
Montreat, NC 28757

Bill Scheu
Term Expires on 01/31/20
PO Box 696
Montreat, NC 28757

The Planning and Zoning Commission is composed of five regular members representing Montreat, two Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction members representing Buncombe and McDowell Counties, and two alternate members. Unless otherwise advertised, all meeting are held quarterly on the third Thursday of each January, April, July and October in the Walkup Building, 300 Community Center Circle.

This Commission has the following powers and duties:

• To acquire and maintain, in current form, such basic information and materials as are necessary to an understanding of past trends, present conditions, and forces at work to cause changes in those conditions;

• To prepare, and from time to time, amend and revise a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the Town;

• To establish principles and policies for guiding action in the development of the area;

• To prepare and recommend to the Town Board of Commissioners Ordinances promoting orderly development along the lines indicated in the comprehensive plan;

• To receive, review and make recommendations upon those applications for permits for Conditional Use Permits as required by the provisions of this Ordinance;

• To receive and review all applications for amendment to this Zoning Ordinance and to make recommendations thereon to the Town Board of Commissioners;

• To keep the Town Board of Commissioners and the general public informed and advised as to these matters;

• To serve as the Stormwater Advisory Committee and assist the Town Board of Commissioners in meeting the mission and achieving the identified goals and objectives of the Town’s Stormwater Management Program;

• To consider and review all proposed subdivision plats for land within the subdivision jurisdiction of this Ordinance;

• To give or not give final approval of each individual subdivision plat;

• To review and make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners regarding proposed variances from any amendments to the Ordinance; and

• To enter into contracts and agreements authorized in this Ordinance and to enter into such other contracts and agreements as the Board of Commissioners may approve.

All Planning and Zoning Commission meetings are open to the public, except for matters discussed in Closed Session pursuant to G.S. 143-318(11).

Members:

Mason Blake, Regular Member
Term Expires 1/31/20
PO Box 757
Montreat, NC 28757

Bill Roberts, Regular Member
Term Expires 01/31/20
PO Box 486
Montreat, NC 28757

Sally Stansill, Alternate Member
Term Expires 01/31/22
PO Box 778
Montreat, NC 28757

William "Bill" Scheu, Regular Member
Term Expires 01/31/22
PO Box 696
Montreat, NC 28757

David Holcomb, Regular Member
Term Expires 01/31/22
PO Box 275
Montreat, NC 28757

Dan Dean, Regular Member
Term Expires 01/31/22
PO Box 222
Montreat, NC 28757

Wade Burns, Alternate Member
Term Expires 01/31/22
PO Box 610
Montreat, NC 28757

Allen Crawford, Buncombe County ETJ Rep
Term Expires 01/31/22
207 Mountain Street
Black Mountain, NC 28711

Texas Road Bridge was closed to vehicular traffic in 2009 due to age and disrepair. After reversing plans to upgrade the vehicular bridge, in 2017 the Board of Commissioners voted to repurpose and retrofit the bridge for the pedestrian use.

In March of 20018, the Board of Commission established a Bridge Aesthestics Committee to advise the Commission on the aesthetics and design of the pedestrian bridge on Texas Road. The Bridge Aesthestics Committee anticipates finalizing its report and recomendations in August, 2018.

Members:

Mason Blake - Chair
321-720-8989
PO Box 757
Montreat, NC 28757

Jane Alexander
PO Box 447
Montreat, NC 28757

Shannon Ingersoll
PO Box 73
Montreat, NC 28757

Walter Somerville
PO Box 382
Montreat, NC 28757

Robin Melvin
PO Box 866
Montreat, NC 28711

Commissioner Kent Otto
PO Box 1057
Montreat, NC 28757

Randi Collie
PO Box 602
Montreat, NC 28757

On March 8, 2018 the Board of Commission approved the creation of a Communications Advisory Committee, to meet on an ad hoc basis and advise the Commission on tools, techniques, and efforts to better engage the community.

Purpose:

In support of the mission of the Montreat Town Council, the Communications Advisory Committee (CAC) advises the Council by providing suggested strategies for effectively communicating with Montreat stakeholders, including residents, seasonal residents, students, guests, local media and others. The result of effective communications is improved engagement and trust between Town government and townspeople.

Approach:

1. The CAC will advise on providing the public with timely, accurate, and complete information about Town governance, decisions, actions, events, project updates, emergency information and other pertinent news.
2. The CAC will advise about effective methods of communication, including print and digital as well as how best to utilize the various media.
3. In fulfillment of the above, the CAC will prepare annual communications plans for the Town and submit to the Council each December for the following year.
4. As requested, the CAC will assist Town government in the preparation and dissemination of communication messages.

Scope of Authority:

The Communications Advisory Committee serves solely as an advisory body to the Town Council.

Members:

Commissioner Tom Widmer - Chair
804-441-3679
PO Box 1004
Montreat, NC 28757

Jean David
PO Box 414
Montreat, NC 28757

Edna Banes
PO Box 452
Montreat, NC 28757

Ellen Dean
PO Box 222
Montreat, NC 28757

Bob Eckard
PO Box 822
Montreat, NC 28757

The following advisory board and committee seats are currently vacant:

Board of Adjustment

McDowell County ETJ Representative

Buncombe County ETJ Representative

Planning and Zoning Commission

One (1) Regular Seat

One (1) Alternate Seat

Buncombe County ETJ representative

McDowell County ETJ Representative

Regular and alternate seats are open to any Montreat resident. ETJ memberships are limited to residents of those respective counties. Applicants interested in ETJ memberships may contact the Clerks to the Buncombe or McDowell County Board of Commissioners.

Kathy Hughes, Clerk to the Board
Buncombe County Board of Commissioners
205 College Street, Suite 300
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: 828.250.4105
kathy.hughes@buncombecounty.org

Carrie Padgett , Clerk to the Board
McDowell County Board of Commissioners
60 East Court Street
Marion, NC 28752
Phone: 828.652.7121
cpadgett@mcdowellgov.com

To apply for a position on an advisory board or committee, click HERE.