October 2015 City Council Update

Council’s next regular  meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 12th at 7:00p.m. at the Municipal Building. Significant items include:

• A briefing from the city’s audit firm regarding the marina bathroom project. At our last meeting, Ms. Garcia Garland requested clarification on an apparent $40,000 discrepancy. Though I requested all invoices and purchase orders affiliated with the project nearly 11 months ago, the city manager indicated that he would not turn those over to me without a vote of council. Since then, Ms. Garcia Garland submitted an open records request for the same items, which, to date, has not been fulfilled.
• Approval of a contract for $82,000 to demolish four properties on or near Wade Lane.
• Approval to transfer 6 properties to the Land Bank.
• Appointment of the Charter Review Committee, nominated as follows:
  • Baughn nominates Lin Phillips
  • Callison nominates Martha Wallus
  • Chinn nominates Aaron Wells
  • Gooch nominates Chip Dooley
  • Hensley nominates Matt Bailey
  • Hope nominates Phil Yager
  • Smith nominates Jessica Hill

See the agenda packet here for complete details. All citizens are afforded a minimum of 3 minutes to speak to council at the beginning of the meeting to any subject not on the agenda. All citizens are also afforded a minimum of 3 minutes to speak to each and every item on the agenda.

Results from the September  14^th meeting are found here.

Other News

• Council will appoint new members to various boards and commissions during our December meeting. Vacancies and the application process can be viewed here. I’m awaiting a response from the city manager as to when we will appoint the board for the newly-formed nonprofit that will oversee the Secret City Festival as it was not included in the election notice.
• Council was briefed last month on the status of the airport. The presentation can be viewed here. You should be able to close the pop up box and view without a dropbox account. My position at the moment:  I’m not sure that I see an airport benefiting anyone other than DOE affiliates, but it appears that neither council nor the citizens have any say in the matter.
• MTAS should complete its review of the ORPD issues this month. The mayor has informed me that council will not receive their report before Oct 15^th. Recent press coverage regarding comments made by Matt Bailey impugned my attempts to retain what little integrity of the process remains. You can read my response here.
• Council will hold a joint session with the BOE on October 20^th at 6:00p.m. to receive the report on recommended preschool solutions

Though I am not always able to respond to every communication, I welcome your questions and feedback. Feel free to share these updates with anyone who may be interested in staying abreast of city issues.

Regards,

Trina Baughn