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One voice missing from the current zoning debate is that of long-time Planning Director John Lamb, who was instrumental in shaping county zoning regulations as they currently exist.

Lamb, who has spent 12 years in the position, has been taken out of the loop on zoning matters in an administrative move by Mayor Jerry Cunningham.

"It's a matter of making sure that the Planning Department only addresses planning matters and the Zoning and Building Departments only address zoning and building," Cunningham said. "I'm a firm believer in there being little overlap between departments. That way, the mission is better defined."

Building Commissioner Roger Fields now has the entire responsibility for developing new zoning regulations.

"The biggest change is the way amendments to the zoning regulations and map will be handled," Fields said. "Before, that would go through John. ... Now, I'll be doing the memo and sending it on. Likewise, with the zoning amendments."

Fields has been building commissioner for nearly seven years. He holds a bachelor's degree in environmental science from East Tennessee State University.

Lamb holds master's degrees in planning and agricultural economics. He did not attend Tuesday's meeting.

Cunningham has also instructed county department heads to no longer offer recommendations to the various county board members unless they are asked to do so.

"I want them to send (information to commissioners) in an understandable form without any recommendations in order to avoid the perception that they are trying to influence the decision-making process," he said.

Cunningham, who has instituted a policy requiring his approval before county department heads can talk with the media, granted approval for The Daily Times to interview Fields and Lamb.

Lamb, who was contacted before the meeting, said he did not review or offer any input on the proposed zoning amendments that were debated Tuesday night. He had no comment on questions regarding how the administrative changes have affected his ability to offer planning guidance to the county.

Cunningham said the commissioners and members of the various boards can still get the information they want from county staff.

"If the commission wants (a recommendation), all they have to do is ask," he said. "It doesn't deprive them of anything"

Larry Campbell, a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals, which formerly received input from the Planning Department, said, however, that the changes have made his job as a decision-maker harder.

"It makes it tough, because if I have a question for clarification then I have to wait until the board meets to get it answered," he said.

County Commissioner Steve Samples said he respects the county mayor's prerogative to structure his departments in a manner most efficient for his administration.

Being able to ask questions of county staff members is important to commissioners, Samples said.

"I'm still going to call staff out when I have a question, by telephone or e-mail or on the commission floor," he said.

The county mayor said he has been making changes across-the-board in the departments under his control.

"I was elected county mayor, and I'm going to fulfill my duties as my conscience dictates," Cunningham said. "Some of the past is good. Some of the past is bad. We'll build on the good and discard the bad.

"If I make the wrong judgment calls, the people will send me home."