Signal Mountain Town Council accepting applications for vacancy

The Signal Mountain Town Council is accepting applications from citizens who want to be considered for the opening on the council being left by Councilman Dick Gee.

Councilors must live within the town limits. Gee moved outside after his recent marriage and is permitted to serve on the council until Aug. 16, or 30 days after his move.

The deadline to submit applications is Friday at 4:30 p.m.

According to the town charter, councilors may appoint someone to fill the vacancy by majority vote or hold an election, said Town Attorney Phil Noblett.

As stipulated by the town’s charter, Gee’s replacement will serve on the council from Aug. 16 until a successor is chosen in the Nov. 6 general election.

At the council’s July meeting, Councilman Dan Landrum made a motion to allow citizens interested in filling the temporary position to submit applications, as he said had been done in the past in similar situations, followed by a public meeting in which citizens could ask questions of the candidates. Councilors then could choose someone to appoint based on their answers and the information provided in their applications, he said.

Mayor Chris Howley said he would not second the motion, as he already had an ideal candidate to appoint who was prepared to serve in the position. Howley made a motion to appoint Don Close, but it failed to secure a majority vote from the council. Though Landrum was the sole nay vote to Howley’s and Councilman Bob Spalding’s “yay,” Councilwoman Amy Speek abstained.

“This selection is political,” Landrum said, as to why he felt it would be better to allow all citizens interested in serving in the role to submit applications. “One vote in those two to three months could have a lifetime of effect.”

Before the November election, the council is expected to make a decision on whether it will sell its water system — a contentious issue the council has been considering for months and a decision that would be difficult to reverse.

Spalding then made a motion to accept applications from interested citizens, followed by a special meeting for citizen questions, similar to Landrum’s motion. Speek suggested councilors submit questions to include on the applications, though Noblett said they legally could not ask candidates how they would vote on specific issues.

Questions on the application include whether the candidate plans to run for a seat on the council in the November election, whether they or a family member now hold a position on any town boards or commissions, what they feel are the biggest issues facing the town, and what qualifies them to serve.

Applications are available at town hall and on the town website at signalmountaintn. gov. They can be returned to town hall or emailed to Town Manager Boyd Veal.