City commissioners hear residents’ concerns on issues
By Kiri Lanice Walton, staff writer
kwalton@williamsonherald.com
The Brentwood Board of Commissioners had a lot on its agenda Monday night, but moved swiftly, swearing in new City Judge Laurie Jewett as well as chugging through three public hearings.
Jewett, who will begin in her new role on July 7 at 8 a.m., was sworn in Monday night by Circuit Court Judge Tim Easter.
After taking the oath of office, Jewett thanked everyone and said that she “never felt more welcome” than in Brentwood and hoped to make her courtroom “very accessible.”
The public hearings were on ordinances to approve city budgets for 2009-10, to establish the tax levy for the new fiscal year (which remains the same at 49 cents per every $100 of assessed property value) and the six-year Capital Improvements Program for 2010-2015.
Brentwood resident Chris Bosen was the only one who spoke during the public hearings. He said he had sent e-mails to all of the city commissioners regarding the issues up for public hearing and most commissioners did not respond.
The commissioners approved allocating $87,000 for Parks and Recreation Department service organizations like the Brentwood Civitan club, which will receive $20,000, and the FiftyForward Martin Center, which will receive $45,000.
The commissioners also unanimously approved allocating $225,000 to Brentwood schools.
City Commissioner Joe Reagan said that he was one of the board members who did not respond to Bosen’s messages “because I did not feel it was worthy of an answer,” he said at the meeting.
Reagan explained that it would take a great deal of money and manpower that the city does not have in order to provide the services that these organizations do.
“I know hundreds of kids that play baseball in Brentwood,” Reagan told Bosen, adding that the city would not be able to run a program like that on its own.
Bosen wanted to know why the city would not appropriate 1 percent of its hotel-motel tax to the Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which largely features Franklin.
Bosen also brought up concerns about the city’s new business Web site, which will cost $35,000.
The commissioners approved unanimously allocating the $35,000, which will come from the Capital Projects fund, which will identify and promote hotels, restaurants, businesses, and other Brentwood services.
During citizen comment, Bosen addressed the $12,000 employee appreciation banquet, which will be held at the Embassy Suites (Nashville South.) He said it could be done for a cheaper price while keeping the money in Brentwood.
According to the resolution, there are only two venues in Williamson County capable of accommodating the approximately 275 attendees of the banquet, Embassy Suites and the Marriott, which are both in Cool Springs.
The cost will be about $36 per person with a 22 percent service charge, which is the same unit price the city paid last year.
“Our employees are absolutely the No. 1 reason we operate so efficiently,” said Mayor Betsy Crossley. “I would love a facility in Brentwood to accommodate 250 people in November.”
Crossley said, “They come to work every day dedicated to making this the best city in Middle Tennessee. One day a year is not enough, but I’m certainly not going to take that away from them.”
City Commissioner Paul Webb said, “Thirty-six dollars may seem extravagant, all things considered.” However, he felt that it allowed people to mingle who in everyday situations may not have a chance to do so, “and that’s a lot of value.”
Webb said the banquet “gives those employees a feeling that they’re cared for and that they’re part of the Brentwood family…and when you’re part of the family, you give the extra effort.”
Bosen was not the only one, however, to comment on the schedule change of the commissioners’ meeting schedule for July to December 2009.
According to the resolution, which was unanimously approved without any discussion, the 7 p.m. meeting on Nov. 23 “will conflict with a nationally televised Tennessee Titans football game versus the Houston Texans. Since this game will occur in Houston, staff is recommending the Board meeting be rescheduled for 5 p.m. on the same day.”
Former local journalist Susan Leathers also addressed the schedule change.
Leathers said that it “had always incensed” her and now that she was no longer a member of the “real media” she could finally voice it.
“If Tennessee Titans have a higher priority than regularly scheduled commission meetings, then we have a problem,” Leathers said.
City Commissioner Joe Sweeney said the board has consistently rescheduled the November meeting because residents had requested that be done in order to allow them to attend the meetings as well as the Titans game.
Webb said the meeting was changed because it was during Thanksgiving week when a lot of people would be out of town.
Webb also pointed out that there was no discussion about the Sept. 14 meeting being moved to Sept. 17.
Posted on: 6/25/2009
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