Town of Black Mountain seeking citizens to fill boards and commissions

Applications for advisory positions due June 14

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
June 10, 2021

The Town of Black Mountain is seeking citizens to fill vacancies on advisory boards and commissions, as multiple terms are set to expire in July. Photo by Fred McCormick

The Town of Black Mountain is encouraging residents who would like to have a voice in local government to apply for upcoming vacancies on advisory boards and commissions. 

Multiple terms on the town’s six citizen-led volunteer boards are set to expire in July, and more applicants are needed by the 8 a.m., Monday, June 14 deadline to fill them.

Members of advisory boards and commissions, which meet regularly to consider matters related to specific topics and offer recommendations, are appointed by and report to the town council. Seats on each body — Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board, Greenways Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Board, Recreation Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment — are filled with three-year terms. 

General interest in filling the upcoming vacancies has been lower than in previous years, according to town clerk Savannah Parrish. 

“We don’t have enough applications to fill the greenways or recreation commissions, and the historic preservation commission applications are thin,” she said. 

The boards, however, play an important role in local government, she added. 

“We have so many citizens who have active voices, and this is an opportunity to have real influence and share their opinions,” Parrish said. 

In most cases, members of an advisory board or commission must be residents of the Town or have other specific qualifications. All boards and commission members are required to sign and abide by a code of ethics. 

A new policy, adopted May 10, requires each board to review the applications and make recommendations to the town council.

More information on advisory boards and commissions, including a fact sheet, can be found on the Citizen Involvement page of the town’s website. 

Interested residents can download the application here and email it to savannah.parrish@townofblackmountain.org or deliver it to Parrish in person.