Let’s talk credibility. Nothing raises red flags with me more than candidates who will throw out unsubstantiated statements to appear knowledgeable. I understand that a challenger is at a disadvantage to an incumbent because the challengers haven’t had time to get up to speed. That’s why they usually speak in generalities and I keep that in mind when listening to them - and cut them some slack. I’m less interested in detailed knowledge than I am in overall credibility and a worldview that I can live with. I also do not respect candidates who prevaricate. As my often wise son once told me, “Mom, if you take a side, own it.”
Mr. Howley, Dr. Spalding, and Mr. Gee aren’t “owning it.” They do not wish to place our parks in a conservation easement. They do not want the parks permanently protected from development. Period, end of sentence. The recently emailed conspiracy theories and Facebook rabbit holes are distractions. The questions, when they are actually asked of the working group, up front, can be answered. It’s been that way from the beginning. I’ve had a few questions, I’ve asked, and bingo, I got an answer. The 17th hole of the golf course – really? Seriously?
Dr. Spalding throws out the same thing over and over and over and over again. He’s been advised of the answers, but heck, does he care? He doesn’t appear to.
Mr. Howley has made one erroneous assertion after the other. And these are assertions that can be fact checked against meeting minutes. DRC member from 2005-2008? Nope. Check the March 13, 2006 town minutes. Mayor Lusk did an excellent job of refuting some of the more puzzling assertions made by Mr. Howley in his (Bill’s) opinion letter published in the Chattanoogan. I know the town has spent a lot of time repairing our relationship with TDOT. Remember, this relationship was tanked in the 90’s by some not-so-wise-ones. I’ve gone to the town council meetings and I have heard the discussions over the years. Yet Mr. Howley would have you believe that no one noticed or cared that the road up the mountain is on life support. Pure unadulterated hogwash. Or worse..
And for those of you who feel that we are too heavily regulated – I disagree. I’ve spent more time than is healthy looking at regulations from across the state and the nation and we do have standards – sign standards that fall somewhere between East Ridge, Red Bank and Franklin, Tenn. We have standards for development that allow developers flexibility but also attempt to preserve the character of the town. Without increasing net density. Spalding really doesn’t like our setback and residential use regulations. Howley wants to potentially eliminate the DRC. The DRC worked with architects to vastly improve the look of the latest addition to Alexian. I went to the meeting where the original design was proposed. What we ended up with was much better. The towns that have standards have design review commissions. Heck, let’s just get rid of the planning commission and tell developers after they’ve begun their development that they aren’t in compliance. Yeah, that’ll work out well. Same with signs. It makes an attractive soundbite but doesn’t pass a reality test. The other regulations we have pertain to fire and building codes and call me crazy, but those are necessary.
And my gosh, we have a problem because sometimes the town council doesn’t vote unanimously? Are there split votes? Very few. But when there are, I don’t expect council members to throw fits and stomp out. I expect them to sit up there in the grownup chairs, make their cases, and vote. And then stay seated.
Sorry guys, I’m not impressed.
Melissa Cantrell
Signal Mountain
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I checked the Council minutes for March 13, 2006 as Ms. Cantrell suggested. There was no reference to Mr. Howley in those minutes. However, the minutes for May 30, 2008 contains the following resolution "A Resolution commending Chris Howley for his service to the Town of Signal Mountain Design Review Commission," moved by Council member Susan Robertson and seconded by Vice-Mayor Hershel Dick and passed unanimously.
As usual, I have no idea what Ms. Cantrell is talking about, but I tend to prefer to stick to the facts. They are pesky things, you know and I believe an apology is owed to Mr. Howley for these false allegations.
Paul M. Hendricks, MD
Former Mayor of Signal Mountain
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I have fact checked Dr. Paul Hendrick’s fact checks because “I tend to prefer to stick to the facts” also.
So I will help him with the facts that can all be verified in DRC and Town meeting minutes.
Mr. Chris Howley claimed at the MBA candidate forum that he served on the Design Review Commission from 2005–2008. The facts say otherwise.
*DRC Minutes 2/27/06 - … made a motion to recommend Mr. Howley to the Town Council for appointment to the DRC
*Town Council minutes 3/13/06 “A resolution appointing Chris Howley as a member of the DRC …”
*Town Council specially called meeting minutes 12/19/07 Mr. Kirk Burns would be replacing Mr. Chris Howley whose term expires 12/31/07. Mayor Hendricks actually opened that meeting with a discussion on replacing Mr. Howley.
Here is another fact. Mr. Howley attended 64.3 percent of the DRC meetings during the less than two years he sat on this committee. If he becomes a council member, he will have to be more diligent than this.
Claire Griesinger
Signal Mountain