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Kingsport Boards & Commissions

The City Kingsport is looking for volunteers to serve on various boards and commissions to help make the city an even greater place to live, work & raise a family.

Kingsport has nearly two dozen boards and commissions that provide oversight, advice and expertise for a variety of city functions. Most of the boards and commissions require members to live within the city limits, but a few do not have residency requirements. Completing the application does not guarantee an appointment.

Click here to view the current members of any board or commission listed below.

Appointments for the City of Kingsport volunteer boards and commissions take place semi-annually in April and October, with applications being accepted in February for April appointments, and August for October appointments. Applications received late or for boards without vacancies will be held on file for one calendar year in case of unexpected vacancies.

Application Link

Responsibilities: Recommends to the City Manager the employment of the Park Director and any other personnel necessary to conduct and operate Bays Mountain Park; Prepares with Park Director an operating budget annually; Responsibility to determine and propose fees and charges connected with the operation of the park.

Term Length: 3 years

Requirements: 8 total; at least 5 residents of Kingsport, and 1 Sullivan County Commissioner. No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Megan Krager, Park Manager (423-229-9447)

Meetings: The second Thursday of the month in Kingsport City Hall in the Montgomery-Watterson Boardroom.

Responsibilities: Shall issue all permits to sell, store, manufacture or distribute beer in the City of Kingsport; May deny the issuance of any permit whenever it is determined that such issuance would be detrimental to public health, safety or morals; May suspend or revoke any permit or charge a civil penalty as provided by state law for reported violations.

Term Length: 3 years

Requirements: 9 total members – 3 Ex Officio: Chief of Police, Director of Planning, City Recorder or their designees; 6 Residents of Kingsport (1 with at least 5 years of business or administrative experience owning/operating a retail enterprise, 1 licensed to practice law in the state, 4 at large citizens). No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Angie Marshall, City Clerk/Deputy City Recorder (423-229-9384)

Meetings: The first Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm in the Montgomery-Watterson Board Room located on the third floor of City Hall, 415 Broad Street.

Responsibilities: Shall have the power of the Administrative Review, to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged by the appellant that there is error in any order, requirement, permit, decision, determination or refusal made by the building official in the carrying out or enforcement of any provision of the zoning ordinance; Shall have the power of conditional uses or special exceptions to hear and decide applications for special exceptions as specified in the zoning ordinance, and for decisions on any special questions upon which the BZA is specifically authorized to pass the zoning ordinance.

Term Length: 5 years

Requirements: 5 total; 5 residents of Kingsport (may be members of Planning Commission). No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Jessica McMurray, Development Coordinator (423-229-9485)

Meetings: The first Thursday of each month at noon.

Responsibilities: Advisory committee to the City Manager to assess the needs of the community and recommend goals and priorities and community development, participate in the review of pre-applications, inform residents of the services and facilities that will need to be made available through the community development program, recommend a priority list of housing rehabilitation loans and grants, prepare a list of recommended projects that are suitable for funding with Community Development Block Grant or HOME Consortium funds.

Term Length: 3 years

Requirements: 5 total; various roles that relate to serving the low/moderate income population of the City of Kingsport. No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Michael Price, Housing & Community Development Coordinator (423-224-2877)

Meetings: The second Friday of each month at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall, Room 226

Responsibilities: Hear and render decisions on cases for aggrieved parties when the city building official rejects or refuses to approve or issue a building permit due to the mode or manner of the construction proposed to be followed or materials to be used in the erection of or alteration of the building or structure or when it is claimed that the provisions of the code do not apply.

Term Length: Terms vary

Requirements: 5 total; 1 architect, engineer or general contractor, 4 at-large in building industry. No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Keith Bruner, Chief Building Official (423-229-9393)

Meetings: Only scheduled as needed

Responsibilities: Shall make preliminary investigation of charges filed charging that of an historic landmark in any historic district is threatened with demolition by neglect

Term Length: 3 years

Requirements: 3 total; City Bldg. Official, Historic Zoning Commission Member, 1 licensed engineer familiar with structural engineering, if available. No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Keith Bruner, Chief Building Official (423-229-9393)

Meetings: Only scheduled as needed

Responsibilities: Shall have authority to oversee the mission and the operation of the Emergency Communications District for the City of Kingsport; Shall employ such employees, experts and consultants as it may deem necessary to assist the board in the discharge of its responsibilities to the extent that funds are made available.

Term Length: 4 years

Requirements: 9 total; Police Chief, Fire Chief, 7 at-large who are residents of the City of Kingsport (no elected official and working knowledge of public safety, i.e. fire, police, medical or emergency communications is an asset). No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Lt. Kevin Hite, Kingsport Police Department (423-229-9300)

Meetings: The meeting is on the third Thursday at 3:00pm at the Dispatch Center, 141 Unicoi Street.

Responsibilities: Oversee all aspects of the employee dependent scholarship program; Establish scholarship eligibility criteria; Review eligibility criteria on an annual basis and adjust as needed; Collect and disseminate scholarship information and applications

Term Length: 3 years

Requirements: 5 total; 3 BMA appointed, 2 KHRA appointed. One term limit w/ Mayor’s right to reappoint one additional term.

City Staff Liaison: Tyra Copas, Human Resources Director (423-229-9401)

Meetings: Only scheduled as needed

Responsibilities: Develop a systematic land management policy and provide guidance with use of Gateway Development Portfolio for any person in the development process; Govern with regard to all matters relating to accepting, considering, approving or application for Certificates of Appropriateness; Ensure development consistent with the design and development standard set for the Gateway corridor guidelines denying application for Certificates of Appropriateness.

Term Length: 5 years

Requirements: 7 total: BMA Rep, Director of Planning, 1 in private business, 1 from educational or research institution, 1 architect, 2 at-large (Residents of Kingsport and shall not be a landowner or developer with an interest in property within the Overlay Corridor). No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Samuel Cooper, Planner II  (423-229-9485)

Meetings: The third Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m.

Responsibilities: Is to preserve and protect historic structures, safeguarding their historical and architectural significance. The district’s requirements are designed to maintain these values and appreciation of the community’s heritage for both present and future generations. The authority extends to approving all exterior modifications and maintenance within the historic districts, including aspects such as paint colors, re-roofing, storm windows, exterior lighting, and building additions.

Term Length: 5 years

Requirements: 7 total; a representative of a local patriotic or historical organization; 1 architect, 1 Planning Commission Rep. at time of appointment, 4 At-large.
5-year term. No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Lori Pyatte, Planning & Zoning Technician (423-229-9485)

Meetings: The second Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m

Responsibilities:

Term Length: 6 years

Requirements: 9 total; all duly qualified electors of, and taxpayers in City of Kingsport. Chosen from Chamber membership, Board of Trade, or other similar civic organizations of such city unless in the judgment of BMA there are no members of such both suitable and available. No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Steven Bower, Economic Development Director (423-343-9793)

Meetings: The meeting is the first Tuesday at 10:00am at the Kingsport Chamber in the Eastman Boardroom.

Responsibilities: Increase access to higher education by promoting and delivering post-secondary educational degree programs in the Kingsport region; Provide oversight for any an all facilities owned by the City of Kingsport in the Academic Village; Encourage the expansion of higher education; Coordinate the development and delivery of such higher education programs; Serve as a resource and referral center by maintaining and disseminating information on existing educational program and resources; Develop, in coordination with the TN Board of Regents, The University of EN System, and the TN Higher Education Commission, specific goals for higher education in the greater Kingsport area.

Term Limit: 4 years

Requirements: 10 total; 4 Community Members, Mayor, City Manager, NESCC Pres., Participating Institution Pres. Rep, Supt. of Schools (non-voting), CEO of NETWORKS (non-voting) 4-year term; no more than two (2) consecutive four (4) year terms without at least one (1) intervening year following expiration of second term.

City Staff Liaison: Jessica Harmon, Assistant City Manager (423-229-9412)
Meetings: Once quarterly

Responsibilities: Shall advise on continuing to transform and empower local Kingsport communities.

Term Length: 5 years

Requirements: 5 total; within KHRA’s statutory boundaries of operation (no city official). No term limit.

Liaison: Terry Cunningham, KHRA Director (423-245-0135)

Responsibilities: Shall prepare annually in detail after consultation with the City Manager, a budget for the Library Commission and for public library purposes and shall submit for recommendation; May accept any grant, gift or bequest of money or other personal or real property or any other grants, subject to the acceptance and approval of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Term Length: 3 years

Requirements: 7 total; 7 residents of Kingsport; May serve two (2) consecutive terms and may be reappointed after a minimum three-year break in service.

City Staff Liaison: Mary Thomas, Library Manager (423-229-9489)

Meetings: TBD

Responsibilities: Advise on problem solving (neighborhood driven); Steps to strengthen neighborhoods; Provide a strong communication channel between neighborhoods and the city.

Term Length: 3 years

Requirements: 12 total; 12 residents of Kingsport. No more than two (2) consecutive terms.

City Staff Liaison: Adrienne Batara, Public Information & Communications Director (423-229-9413)

Meetings: The last Thursday of every month at 6pm in various city facilities – check the schedule here.

Responsibilities: The purpose of the Networks Partnership is to foster communication relative to economic and community development between and among government entities, industry, and private citizens.

Term Length: 3 years

Requirements: For Kingsport – 4 total; Mayor and 3 directors. May serve two consecutive terms.

City Staff Liaison: Chris McCartt, City Manager (423-229-9412)

Meeting: The second Wednesday of the month at NESCC at 8:00am

Responsibilities: Study the parks and recreation needs of the community and recommend to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen recreational programs, facilities, special equipment and sites needed or desirable for use in occupying the leisure time of the citizens of Kingsport.

Term Length: 3 years

Requirements: 9 total; 9 at-large (city code does not specify city resident, but is the practice- members represent a geographic cross section of the city; members serve on subcommittees for various parks & rec. programs so diversity in interests and experiences important). No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Kitty Frazier, Parks & Recreation Manager (423-229-9457)

Meetings: Greenbelt (2/10, 5/12, 8/11, 11/10) at noon in room 303 at VO Dobbins, Sr. Complex; Athletics (3/19, 6/18, 10/22) at noon in the Douglass Room at VO Dobbins, Sr. Complex; Allandale (4/28, 7/28. 10/2) at noon at Allandale Mansion.

Responsibilities: Shall advise operations for the animal shelter in regard to upholding the mission of sheltering, caring for and rehoming adoptable animals.

Term Length: Terms vary

Requirements: 9 total; 2 appointed by BMA (City Reps), 1 appointed by Humane Society and remaining 6 appointed by PETWORKS. No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: John Morris, Budget Director (423-224-2889)

Meetings: The meeting is the fourth Thursday at noon in room 205 in Kingsport City Hall, 415 Broad Street.

Responsibilities: Serve as the advisory committee to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on public art and to develop a public art policy and guidelines.

Term Length: 3 years

Requirements: 9 total; 7 appointed may be considered from: Downtown Kingsport Assoc., at-large community member; 2 ex-officio shall be city employees appointed by City Manager and may come from Cultural Arts, Development Services, Public Works, Finance and at-large city staff. No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Kristie Leonard, Special Events & Cultural Arts Manager (423-224-2821)

Meetings: The second Friday in February, April, June, August, October, and December in Room 205 at City Hall.

Responsibilities: Serve as an advisory body to the local governing authority by reviewing and providing recommendations on land use regulations, community development plans, zoning matters, subdivision proposals, and other facets of the community’s growth and development. The body actively engages the public by holding hearings and gathering citizen input to guide its decisions.

Term Length: 4 years

Requirements: 9 total; 1 BMA Rep. (not Mayor), 1 shall reside within regional area outside of the municipal boundary, 7 at-large. No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Ken Weems, Planning & Zoning Manager (423-229-9485)

Meetings: The third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. with a work session the Monday prior to the meeting

Responsibilities: Shall offer advice and make recommendations to the Senior Center staff to assist them in achieving goals, in implementing policies and procedures, and in identifying needs, services, problems and means of improving services to our senior population.

Term Length: 2 years

Requirements: 11 total; 7 Kingsport Senior Center members, 4 at-large members. Three term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Shirley Buchanan, Senior Center Manager (423-392-8400)

Meetings: The third Thursday every other month beginning in February.  The meeting begins at 12:30pm room 230 of the Renaissance Center.

Responsibilities: Advise and make recommendations to the person or persons responsible for the planting and care of trees on city property.

Term Length: 2 years

Requirements: 10 total; 4 Residents of Kingsport, 4 tree industry professionals, 1 Keep Kingsport Beautiful rep, 1 city staff. No term limit.

City Staff Liaison: Tamra Rossi, Grounds/Landscaping Manager (423-229-9451)

Meetings: The meeting is the third Thursday every other month at 9:00am at the Kingsport Chamber.

Click here to view the current members of any board or commission listed below.

Appointments for the City of Kingsport volunteer boards and commissions take place semi-annually in April and October, with applications being accepted in February for April appointments, and August for October appointments. Applications received late or for boards without vacancies will be held on file for one calendar year in case of unexpected vacancies.

Link to: City of Kingsport
City of Kingsport, Tennessee