A lifelong love for her hometown gives Marty Seibert enough reason to want to serve on one of the city’s most important boards. As chairman of the Natchez Preservation Commission, her interest in history and architecture also give her an edge.

&uot;I felt this was a way I could contribute to the community,&uot; she said, reflecting on the 15 years she has served on the commission, including as chairman for the past three years.

&uot;Downtown is the face of Natchez,&uot; she said. &uot;When people think of Natchez, they may think about the antebellum homes; but they also think of the vibrant downtown with restaurants, businesses, shops and people milling around.&uot;

A vibrant downtown is a goal she shares with the other eight commission members, all volunteers who accept positions on the board because they want to contribute something, Seibert said.

&uot;We learn what to do by reading the ordinance. We have examples of guideline standards,&uot; she said. &uot;We learn by viewing the properties in applications, reading comments by the city planner, attending meetings and listening to the advice and insight of the Historic Natchez Foundation.&uot;

City Planner Bob Jackson said the commission and other boards under his department play a vital role in the community. In addition to the Preservation Commission, he works with the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board.

The Preservation Commission is charged with protecting historical, architectural and cultural resources within the historic Natchez district and within 300 feet of any important landmark, Jackson said.

&uot;It’s very important to have these boards. They are a direct interface between the public and the city,&uot; Jackson said. &uot;My job is made much easier because of these boards.&uot;

Having a longtime Natchez resident as chairman of the preservation board is a plus, he said. &uot;She runs the meeting very well. We’re always looking for input from the public, and she does that; and she listens to other commission members.&uot;

The Preservation Commission has challenges that she, as chairman, must meet, Seibert said. Perhaps the most complex of challenges is explaining what the commission does and does not do.

&uot;Our preservation commission has reviews only on permanent exterior alterations that are visible from the public right-of-way,&uot; she said.

That responsibility is huge, as board members search for guidance to balance fair interpretation of the preservation ordinance with fair treatment of the applicant. &uot;People think it’s a matter of personal taste; but we use the guidelines as the standard, and the city planner cites the guidelines he feels are applicable to an application.&uot;

The role of Ronald Miller, executive director, and Mimi Miller, preservation director, at the Historic Natchez Foundation is that of unpaid advisor, Seibert said. &uot;We can send applicants to them, and they will give guidance on how to adapt the application to fit within the guidelines.&uot;

Seibert knows her role on the commission has an impact on her position as vice president for marketing at Britton & Koontz Bank.

&uot;I know the way I handle myself reflects on Britton & Koontz Bank as well as on me personally,&uot; she said. &uot;I’ve attempted to learn diplomacy in dealing with applicants who come before us on the commission.&uot;

A Natchez native, Seibert holds a degree in English from St. Louis University. Prior to entering the banking field, she was a teacher. She and her husband, attorney J.W. Seibert, live in the same home where she grew up on North Pearl Street.

Seibert especially wants others in the community to know that the Preservation Commission tries to make decisions based on what is best for the present and the future. &uot;We don’t want to hinder any progress, but we do want to preserve what we have left,&uot; she said. &uot;It’s becoming more apparent that’s our calling card.&uot;

Editor’s note: This is one of an occasional series of stories about chairmen of important public boards.