The Signal Mountain Town Council is considering changing the time and frequency of its meetings. Members have discussed the matter since the new council was seated following the November election, and a related ordinance passed unanimously on first reading at the council's Jan. 14 meeting.
Currently, public council meetings are held the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The council also holds a public agenda session, during which officials discuss items on the agenda for the following month's council meeting, on the fourth Friday of the month at 12:30 p.m. Both meetings occur at Town Hall.
If the proposed ordinance passes on second reading at the Jan. 25 agenda session, the council would hold two regular meetings a month - rather than a regular meeting and an agenda session - on the second and fourth Monday at 6 p.m.
The change is intended to give more citizens the opportunity to attend meetings, said Mayor Dan Landrum, as work prevents many people from going to the Friday agenda sessions. Town staff also supports the meeting change, and has expressed to the council that holding two meetings a month would allow town business to move forward more quickly with less time passing between votes, Landrum said.
Vice Mayor Amy Speek said her main concern with holding all council meetings at 6 p.m. is that it may prevent parents whose children participate in evening activities from attending.
"I don't know that we can make everyone happy, either," she said.
More people typically attend the council's regular meetings than its work sessions, though it's unclear whether those meetings' time of day is the reason for the lower attendance.
If the ordinance passes, the council would begin meeting on the new schedule in February, said Town Manager Boyd Veal.
"It would be great to hear from citizens, because it affects everyone," Landrum said of the proposed meeting changes.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com