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Council outlines transition of MAC operations to town control; town manager to lead hiring
Summary
Council members discussed steps to transition the Mountain Arts Center (MAC) back to town control, including terminating the existing MOA/lease, having the town manager draft a director job description and organizational chart, and maintaining current instructor arrangements during the initial transition.
The Signal Mountain Town Council on June 23 discussed next steps for transitioning the Mountain Arts Center (MAC) back into town operation and reached consensus that the town manager should lead the hiring process and immediate operational planning.
Council and staff said the process will require a separation agreement or termination of the existing memorandum of agreement (MOA) and lease; Town Manager Matt will draft a proposed job description and a revised organizational chart for council review. The Grahams, who currently operate or are associated with the MAC preservation fund, have offered to provide suggested role descriptions to help with the transition.
Council declined a proposal to create an advisory hiring committee to interview candidates for the MAC director. Members cited charter provisions and the town’s established practice that the town manager hires department heads; they noted forming a committee of council‑appointed members to conduct interviews would raise open‑meetings and scheduling complications and risk setting an undesirable precedent. Instead, council suggested the town manager solicit input from stakeholders and consider informal feedback from the Grahams and others.
Operational details discussed included maintaining instructors’ current independent‑contractor arrangements initially, the common revenue split practice in place (town collects full class fees and pays instructors their agreed share), and budgeting for 1.5 staff positions to manage the MAC going forward. Council emphasized minimizing disruption for instructors and program participants during the handover and said more detailed operational questions — such as independent‑contractor agreements, room rentals and camp fee structures — will be addressed by the town manager as part of the transition plan.
Next steps: Town Manager Matt will draft the transition plan, job description for a MAC director, and an organizational chart; staff and legal counsel will prepare any required termination or separation documents for the existing MOA/lease and return to council with formal recommendations.
