Seat vacated by Dotson filled
Bill Grubb
The Town of Highlands Board of Commissioners interviewed five candidates for a vacant seat during its special meeting Thursday, March 12, after former Commissioner John Dotson stepped down with two years remaining in his term. Each candidate had 10 minutes to respond to questions from commissioners, and the order was selected randomly.
Using a nomination ballot format, commissioners nominated preferred candidates and voted round by round. After a single round of voting, Bill Grubb won the appointment in a 3–1 vote over Daryl Griswold and Margot Teed.
Grubb brings over 35 years of leadership experience in operational management, budgeting and regulatory oversight, especially in the pharmaceutical and health care industries. In these roles, he managed budgets similar in size to the town’s while coordinating with agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration.
Grubb has also served on the Highlands Planning Board, Greenway Board, and ABC Board, gaining perspective on environmental and infrastructure issues. As a member of Rotary and other civic organizations, Grubb prioritizes collaborative planning and transparent decision-making, all while balancing growth with the preservation of Highlands’ character.
Grubb began his interview with a brief statement, commending the other candidates and describing the complexity of his current position as vice president of corporate development and general manager of Noramco. He compared his job to the duties of the mayor and commissioners, noting that both involve developing long-term ideas that can take years to come to fruition.
Grubb also highlighted his service with the town’s Planning Board and ABC board, saying that he wants to contribute even more to the community.
“I live here, I really like the town and I do think I’m kind of a centrist,” said Grubb. “I’m smart enough to know you cannot make everyone happy, but trying to listen to what people’s concerns are, thinking about stakeholders and really thinking about the long term…I’d like to be able to do that with the people who are already doing that.”
Commissioner Jim Tate began the questioning by asking Grubb to expand on his comments from a previous interview with the newspaper regarding his view that a viable town requires a multigenerational strategy.
Grubb said employees at restaurants, grocery stores and downtown storefronts often have to drive 30 to 45 minutes to work due to housing prices in town, and the younger workers must consider childcare costs before even thinking about starting a family.
“The retirees, the mid-packers and the people who are younger want to continue to call this home — it’s a hard balancing act, but that’s what a multigenerational plan is,” said Grubb. “It’s about being able to have children, raise a family here, and eventually afford a home, which is tough.”
Grubb added that a multigenerational plan involves promoting affordable housing closer to town to help businesses grow and prosper.
Commissioner Jeff Weller asked Grubb how he envisions a path forward for redeveloping the Unified Development Ordinance amid the town’s ongoing discussions about the zoning map and elements of the UDO.
Speaking as part of the Planning Board, Grubb said that the process surrounding the approval of the special use permit for the Highlands House hotel was “eye opening”. He suggested that although the hotel meets current height requirements, some residents may still perceive it as too tall.
If certain buildings in town are perceived as not meeting requirements, even if they technically comply, he said these guidelines could be adjusted slightly. He said he would prefer building off the town’s existing UDO.
“It’s more of a tweak and trying to take a walk around town and look at the application of how it’s being applied,” said Grubb.
Mayor Patrick Taylor questioned Grubb about the opportunities that Highlands has to offer. Grubb said the town has a great, vibrant tourist community and mentioned a new tagline, “Relax, you’re in Highlands” to help business owners throughout town.
“It’s just sort of a gentle reminder to be able to slow down on the streets and be nice to your server,” said Grubb. “It’s a nice place to come and visit and that’s why the people are here, but could we improve on that a little bit?”
The final question of the 10 minute period came from Commissioner Amy Patterson, who asked Grubb to compare and contrast growth versus progress in the context of long-range planning in Highlands.
“I think preserving the natural beauty we have, keeping a reasonable density, continuing to build buildings that benefit the public and our tourist economy — that would be progress and growth combined,” said Grubb.
Following his appointment, Grubb is set to be sworn in during the April 16 Board of Commissioners meeting.
- Mitch Stone
reporter@highlandsnews.com