Boards and Commissions

The following is a list of meeting times for the most popular Boards and Commissions in the City Government. Meeting times are subject to change or cancellation if the boards have no new or old business.

Board of Adjustment

Meets on the second Monday of the month at 5:15 pm in the Council Chambers *

The City of Morganton operates a Board of Adjustment (BOA) as one of the State of North Carolina requirements for having a zoning ordinance to regulate uses. With zoning ordinances having only limited flexibility, the BOA is in place to provide flexibility to the ordinance while maintaining the intent of the requirements. The BOA acts in a quasi-judicial role, much like a judge in a court, to evaluate and interpret questions which come about concerning the zoning ordinance.

The zoning board of adjustment provides several roles in the overall zoning process including appeals of any administrative officer; providing decisions concerning the zoning ordinance or map when a disagreement over an interpretation occurs between an administrative officer and a member of the public, granting special use permits; requiring that certain land uses meet conditions beyond general zoning requirements on a given parcel, and granting variances; to grant relief when hardship results from the strict application of the ordinance's terms to a particular piece of property.

Members of the City of Morganton Board of Adjustment are appointed by the City Council and serve 3-year terms.

Cable Television Commission

Meets quarterly, second Thursday in March, June, September and December as needed

The Cable Television Commission was created to make all decisions concerning programming to be provided by the Compas - the municipal cable television system, to confer with and consider requests from citizens and community groups concerning service. The Commission is generally advisory in nature. Check out the Compas Cable TV, Internet and Phone website.

The Cable TV Commission consists of nine members appointed for three-year terms except the Student Government appointee who serves for a term of one-year. The Commission meets quarterly or as needed to discussion programming issues.

The Cable TV Commission consist of five at-large members appointed by the City Council, one student government appointee from Freedom or Patton high school, one member appointed by the Board of Trustees of Western Piedmont Community College, one member appointed by the Board of Directors of the Burke County Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons, and one member appointed by the Board of Directors of the Burke County Chapter of the NAACP.

Clean City Committee

Meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am in Conference Room 4

Community Appearance Committee

Meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 11:00 am in Conference Room 4

Foothills Regional Airport Authority

Meets monthly at the airport

The airport authorities is appointed by the governing bodies to act in an administrative capacity, and are vested with the authority to control, lease, maintain, construct, improve, operate and regulate the joint airport.

Members serve two-year terms. The City Council appointe two members to the authority.

Historic Preservation Commission

Meets the first Wednesday of the month at 12 noon in Conference Room 3

The Morganton Historic Preservation Commission serves the public both as a steward for historic properties and as a facilitator to people fortunate enough to own such properties.

It provides assistance to owners and tenants, helps them plan the alterations that they are considering for their properties, and guides owners through the application process necessary to implement those changes.

The Commission consists of five members appointed by City Council for three-year terms. Included within its powers and responsibilities are the following: recommending to City Council the designation of historic landmarks and districts and granting requests for proposed changes to historic landmarks and properties situated within historic districts.

The HPC consists of five members appointed by the Mayor/Council who serve three-year terms.

Human Relations Commission

Meets the fourth Tuesday of the month, except July and December, at 5:15 pm in Conference Room 4

The Human Relations Commission (HRC) was created to help educate the Council and the public on the effects of intolerance and may help prevent the unnecessary difficulties that arise from discrimination, perceived or real. The HRC serves as an advisory body to the City Council and the City Manager.

The HRC consists of 11 members appointed to three-year terms by the Mayor/Council. 

Main Street Advisory Commission

Meets the first Wednesday of the month at 8:15 am at the Main Street office in downtown. No meetings in July, August and September.

The Main Street Advisory Commission was created to review and make recommendations to the City Council concerning the operation of the Main Street Program which provides the comprehensive planning of downtown Morganton relating specifically to the organizations, design, promotion and economic development in the downtown area. Check out the Main Street website.

The Main Street Advisory Commission is composed of between nine and 21 members who are appointed by the Mayor to serve three-year terms.

Morganton Housing Authority

Meets the first Wednesday of each month.

The Morganton Housing Authority’s purpose is to provide safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations for the low-income persons in the City of Morganton.

Planning and Zoning Commission

Meets the second Thursday of the month at 5:15 pm in the Council Chambers *

The Planning and Zoning Commission serves as an advisory board to the Morganton City Council. The Commission only makes recommendations on certain planning and zoning issues affecting the City.

Members of the City of Morganton Planning and Zoning Commission are appointed byt the City Council and serve three-year terms.

Recreation Advisory Commission

Meets the second Thursday of the month at 11:30 am at the Collett Street Recreation Center

The Recreation Advisory Commission was created to investigate, study, and consider the needs of the citizens of the city for adequate and suitable recreational facilities, parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and programs. The Commission advises and makes recommendations to the Council and the City Manager regarding such recreational needs. The Commission serves as an advisory body to the City Council. Learn more about the Parks and Recreation Department.

 The Recreation Advisory Commission is composed of nine members who are appointed by the Council to three-year terms.

Redevelopment Commission

Meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 4:00 pm in Conference Room 4

The Redevelopment Commission exists and operates for the public purposes of acquiring and replanning designated blighted areas in such manner that they become available for economically and socially sound redevelopment. Such purposes are hereby declared to be public uses for which public money may be spent, and private property may be acquired by the exercise of the power of eminent domain.

The Redevelopment Commission is composed of nine members who are appointed by the Council to five-year terms.

* Meeting televised live on Compas Cable Ch. 2.

If you are interested in applying for a seat on a Board or Commission, fill out an application and send to the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 Board and Commission Application Form

Locations

City Hall is located at 305 E. Union St. Suite A100

• Council Chambers is located on the first floor of City Hall.
• Conf. Room 3 is located on the second floor of City Hall in the Development and Design Dept. Take the elevator or stairs to the second floor. Go through the double doors. Turn left into Development and Design.
• Conf. Room 4 is located on the second floor of City Hall in the common area. Take the elevator or stairs to the second floor. Go through the double doors. Turn right into the common area. The conference room will be on the right.
• The Community House is located at 120 N. King St.