Dedication to Charles Powers Jr.

On Wednesday the Mayor along with members of the street department and street committee dedicated the mckeller street bridge over little duck river to the family of late business man Charles E. Powers Jr.

BOMA agenda for Tuesday 3-22-11 noon

CITY OF MANCHESTER

BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN AGENDA

SPECIAL CALL MEETING

March 22, 2011

12:00 p.m.

 

1.

ROLL CALL

 

2.

ORDINANCES

 

1.

3rd reading of an ordinance authorizing the City of Manchester, Tennessee to enter into a contract with BlueCross/BlueShield of Tennessee for health and dental insurance for its employees.   Sponsored by Alderman Thomas. .

 

3.

ADJOURNMENT

Ryan P. French

Alderman; City of Manchester,TN

RyansReasons.com

(931) 368-VOTE

Sent from my iPhone

BOMA mins 3-15-11

CITY OF MANCHESTER

Board of Mayor and Aldermen

March 15, 2011

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen met in regular session March 15, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. in the Boardroom of the Manchester City Hall.  Mayor Superstein presided over the meeting.  Present wereAlderman Holmes, Alderman Norman, Alderman French, Alderman Parsley and Alderman Thomas.   Alderman Patton was absent.  Also present were Chief Financial Officer Greene, City Attorney Gerald Ewell, Health & Codes Director Gray, Public Works DirectorCarter, Program Coordinator Burnette, Utilities Director Pennington, Information Systems Director Smotherman, Asst. Chief Bellamy, Chaplain Benjamin, Recreation Director Gamble,Executive Administrative Assistant Loyd and others.

Minutes

Alderman Holmes made a motion to approve the minutes of March 1, 2011.  Alderman French seconded the motion.  The minutes were approved by a vote of five to zero.

Correspondence

None.

Comments from Citizens

None.

Communications from the Mayor

Mayor Superstein thanked a member of Coffee County Leadership for attending the meeting.

Committee Reports

Safety Committee –

Alderman Holmes stated there would be a meeting later in the month.

Finance Committee –

Alderman Thomas stated there would be a meeting the following week on Wednesday.

Street Committee –

Alderman Norman stated there was nothing to present to the Board.  

Street Lighting –

Alderman Parsley stated he had nothing to present to the Board.

Water & Sewer Commission –

Alderman Norman stated there was nothing to present to the Board.

 

Recreation Commission –

None.

Tourism & Economic Development –

Alderman Holmes stated there would be a meeting the last Monday in March.

Planning Commission –

Alderman Holmes stated there would be a meeting on the 21st.

Resolutions

1.

A resolution approving the acceptance of "Jacoby Jamison Lane" in the Kassidy Brooke Place Subdivision.  Sponsored by Alderman Holmes.

Alderman Norman asked where this was located.  City Attorney Ewell stated it was near Westwood School.  Alderman Parsley asked Public Works Director Carter if the road had been approved.  He stated it had been.                                                                                                                                    

Alderman Thomas made a motion to approve the resolution.  Alderman Parsley seconded the motion.  The resolution was approved with a vote of five to zero.

City Attorney Ewell stated there were two items passed out to be passed by resolution.  He stated the assurance agreement and the equal opportunity agreement are part of the loan packages with Rural Development.  He stated they are standard non-discrimination language and state the City will repay grant funds if the City discriminates.  He stated they would need to be passed for both the Police Station and the Wastewater Treatment Plant as they are both funded in part with USDA Rural Development loans.  He stated they could be taken up separately or at the same time.  Alderman Thomas stated they should be done together.

Alderman Thomas made a motion to approve.  Alderman Holmes seconded the motion.  The items were approved with a vote of five to zero.

Ordinances

1.

2nd reading of an ordinance authorizing the City of Manchester, Tennessee to enter into a contract with BlueCross/BlueShield of Tennessee for health and dental insurance for its employees.  Sponsored by Alderman Thomas.

Alderman Holmes made a motion to approve the resolution.  Alderman Parsley seconded the motion.  The ordinance was passed with a vote of four to one with Alderman French voting no.

Old Business

Mayor Superstein stated the dedication of the McKellar Bridge would be the next Wednesday.  She stated the signs were ready.

Mayor Superstein stated there would be a Special Call Board Meeting on the following Tuesday.  Finance Director Greene stated it would be for the third reading of the Ordinance regarding health insurance.

Mayor Superstein stated Alderman Patton has a new grandson and has had a death in her family.  She asked that everyone keep the family in their thoughts and prayers.

New Business

None.

Items from Board of Mayor and Aldermen

None.  

Adjournment

The Board adjourned at 6:36p.m.​​______________________________________

​Mayor Betty Superstein

Attest:

___________________________________________

Amy Loyd, Exec. Administrative Assistant

Ryan P. French

Alderman; City of Manchester,TN

RyansReasons.com

(931) 368-VOTE

Sent from my iPhone

Unacceptable Tax Talk

This past week Coffee County Mayor David Pennington was quoted in the Manchester Times as saying "Personally I would support a wheel tax". This proposal has been kicked around now for several years even predating Mayor Pennington's arrival to the County Government. Over the past 3 years however the "tax talk" has heated up.

Here is the problem. Just this past year your County property tax rate increased some 28 cents. Contrary to some "office talk" at the CCAP Building this was NOT because of a state evaluation of property values. Yes, the state did reevaluate the worth of property in Coffee County and come to the conclusion that the values have indeed increased. After the evaluation process from the state is completed they then send down a "adjusted rate". The idea of the rate adjustment is to level the tax dollars collected off of property taxes to that of the same amount collected the previous year. The County Government however decided AGAINST accepting the new certified rate supplied by the State and INCREASED the dollar amount one will pay in property taxes.

In addition to the 2010 property tax increase comes the sales tax increase just a few years back, not to mention the funneling of money into a failing County EMS Service. Just this past year tax payers dropped well over $1 Million into the EMS Department. After the 2010 short fall some commissioners claimed the department would "break even" in 2011. This was a large consideration when raising the county tax rate. However the County EMS Service is still struggling to make ends meet, reporting some $400,000 behind budget just a short time through the 2011 fiscal year.

Commissioner Bricken ask very detailed information about the short fall, asking if calls were down etc etc etc. The answer to Commissioner Bricken's questions were even more alarming. No one knew the numbers, no one could answer the questions. Then the most alarming news was the fact most of the short fall was to be blamed on outstanding unpaid bills, but not bills that were simply unpaid, bills that have not even been mailed out for one reason or another.

In Warren County the wheel tax generates some $1.1 Million. This wouldn't even touch the budget problems in Coffee County, so the suggestion Mayor Pennington makes about a $15 proposal is simply a waste of consideration. The reality of it is that the past conversations on amounts have been anywhere from $25, $50, or in some cases even $100 per vehicle.

So let's clear the air. This talk about a wheel tax because it is a more "fair tax" is a easy way out. There is NOTHING fair about a wheel tax what so ever. Fair or not fair for that matter is based on the scale you choose to use. I live in reality so I choose to based fair (for the sake of government) on how a tax AFFECTS a individual.

To act as if a extra $50, $75, or even $200 affects everyone the same or is "a more fair tax" is simply irresponsible. Some folks in this community budget down to the last penny of their earnings, some have left over dollars to save. In times like the present to ask more, after you have ask and ask and ask is too much. To burden a family who budgets to the last penny with an additional $50, $75, or even $200 bill in a calendar month is too much.

The fact of the matter is someone who budgets paycheck to paycheck in most cases spends a larger percentage of their earnings back into the tax system than one who saves. Simply put if you spend 100% of your earnings you are taxed on 100% of your earnings, be it via sales tax or otherwise. For those who are living check to check and paying tax on 100% of their income, what makes it "more fair" to ask more?

How about this... how about the County Government get their own house in order. How about the County Government evaluate the performance of their departments and make cuts necessary to lower the overall tax requirements.

Mayor Pennington can name off 10,000 different projects that could be complete with the implementation of a wheel tax, but can he tell us why NONE of them have a plan in place already?

If I were to KNOW I'm going to add to my family, KNOW that I am going to need more room in my home over the next few years, what am I going to do? Am I going to save the money KNOWING I will need to upgrade, knowing what I have is not going to be good enough in a few short years? Or am I going to go to work the day my family grows and demand a raise?

Some can argue "self responsibility". But before the Government requires self responsibility of its citizens should it not require it from itself? Everyone that owns property knows what type of taxes we have in this county, myself included. I knew this before I bought the property, and I knew what I would then pay in property taxes. If I thought this was not "fair" would I not had the ability to make a "self responsible" choice of NOT buying?

My favorite part of the Manchester Times peace is the quote from Mayor Pennington "Personally I would support a wheel tax to REMOVE SOME OF THE BURDEN FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS" Ok... so where is the proposal that would do that? If I already own property, and you implement a wheel tax that I will ALSO have to pay ON TOP of the property tax I already pay... how is my "burden removed"?

This is all political talk. Before the Government holds YOU accountable make sure we are holding THEM accountable!

Coffee County Government spending has increase 85% in the past ten years. Think about that 85%...

Alderman Ryan P. French

City of Manchester, TN

www.RyansReasons.com

(931) 368-VOTE

Public hearing for downtown grant

Scott St.John and Jeff Burnett of the city of Manchester explain a blue print plan to spend a $588,000 State of Tennessee grant on the downtown square in Manchester.

The plan will not complete the project but will instead complete two sides of the square, at which what point the city will apply for a second grant to complete the project.

The grant is a 80/20 match in funds. The city will pay for it's portion of the grant with funding from the city tourism committee according to Jeff Burnett.

Urgent! Public hearing 3-15-11

There will be a public hearing on 3-15-11 before the regular scheduled alderman meeting to discuss green way expansion to the square.

Ryan P. French
Alderman; City of Manchester,TN
RyansReasons.com
(931) 368-VOTE

Sent from my iPhone

Revised BOMA agenda 3-15-11

​Revised 3-14-2011

 

CITY OF MANCHESTER

BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN AGENDA 

March 15, 2011

6:30 p.m.

No Work Session at 5:30 p.m.

1.

INVOCATION

2.

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

3.

ROLL CALL

4.

MINUTES –March 1, 2011

5.

CORRESPONDENCE

6.

COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS

7.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR

COMMITTEES:  Safety; Finance; Street; Street Lighting;Water & Sewer Commission;

Recreation; Tourism; Planning Commission

8.

RESOLUTIONS & ORDINANCES

​Resolutions

1.

A Resolution approving the acceptance of "Jacoby Jamison Lane" in the Kassidy Brooke Place Subdivision.  Sponsored by Alderman Holmes.

​Ordinances

1.

2nd reading of an ordinance authorizing the City of Manchester, Tennessee to enter into a contract with BlueCross/BlueShield of Tennessee for health and dental insurance for its employees.   Sponsored by Alderman Thomas.  

9.

OLD BUSINESS

10.

NEW BUSINESS

11.

ITEMS FROM THE BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN

12.

ADJOURNMENT      

Ryan P. French

Alderman; City of Manchester,TN

RyansReasons.com

(931) 368-VOTE

Sent from my iPhone

BOMA agenda 3-15-11

CITY OF MANCHESTER

BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN AGENDA 

March 15, 2011

6:30 p.m.

No Work Session at 5:30 p.m.

1.

INVOCATION

2.

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

3.

ROLL CALL

4.

MINUTES – March 1, 2011

5.

CORRESPONDENCE

6.

COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS

7.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR

COMMITTEES:  Safety; Finance; Street; Street Lighting;Water & Sewer Commission;

Recreation; Tourism; Planning Commission

8.

RESOLUTIONS & ORDINANCES

​Ordinances

1.

2nd reading of an ordinance authorizing the City of Manchester, Tennessee to enter into a contract with BlueCross/BlueShield of Tennessee for health and dental insurance for its employees.  Sponsored by AldermanThomas.

9.

OLD BUSINESS

10.

NEW BUSINESS

11.

ITEMS FROM THE BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN

12.

ADJOURNMENT      

Ryan P. French

Alderman; City of Manchester,TN

RyansReasons.com

(931) 368-VOTE

Sent from my iPhone

Senate Democrats Condemn Education Plan

SENATE DEMOCRATS CONDEMN
FIRST STRIKE AGAINST TEACHERS
Republicans vote to give themselves power to appoint teachers to state pension board

NASHVILLE – Senate Democrats voiced their concern Wednesday over a Republican bill to ban teachers from voting members onto the state pension board, in the first of many efforts to target Tennessee educators for political payback.

“Bills like these don’t help a single child, they don’t raise a single test score and they don’t help move education forward in Tennessee,” said State Senator Eric Stewart (D-Belvidere). “When it comes to education reform, we should be inviting teachers to the table. These bills push teachers away.”

Senate Bill 102 would take away the ability of teachers' and retired teachers' organizations to select their representatives on the state pension board. Under the bill, the Republican speakers of the Senate and House would receive expanded authority, despite their commitments to smaller government.

The bill passed 20-13 along party lines in the Senate during Wednesday’s session.

Monday’s floor vote is likely to be the first of many to ban teachers from basic rights such as organizing, making political donations and collectively negotiating classroom sizes, school schedules and pay rates. Many have questioned why Republicans would go after the same teachers who are currently implementing major education reforms under Tennessee’s First to the Top Act.

“Teachers should be our greatest allies, and I don’t understand why the majority party is choosing to make them into enemies,” said Sen. Tim Barnes (D-Adams). “We hope they will join us in working with teachers to ensure our children receive the best education possible.”

The House version of the bill is in a subcommittee.

###

For more on how the Senate Democratic Caucus is fighting for Tennesseans, visit our website and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

317 War Memorial Building | Nashvill

Submit Your Flooding Concerns to RyansReasons

This is a video taken on Forrestwood Dr. in Manchester. If you have flood areas that you feel can be prevented or maintained better in our city by corrections with infrastructure please email the video clip to ryanpatrickfrench@gmail.com or call me at (931) 368-VOTE.

I have contacted state officials about the possibility of grants and Recovery projects that could help provide relief to areas like this one across the city.

Thank You,

Ryan P. French
Alderman; Manchester, TN
www.RyansReasons.com

BOMA Meeting Mins 3-1-11

CITY OF MANCHESTER

Board of Mayor and Aldermen

March 1, 2011

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen met in regular session March 1, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. in the Boardroom of the Manchester City Hall.  Mayor Superstein presided over the meeting.  Present wereAlderman Holmes, Alderman Norman, Alderman French, Alderman Patton, Alderman Parsley and Alderman Thomas.   Also present were Chief Financial Officer Greene, City Attorney Gerald Ewell,Health & Codes Director Gray, Public Works Director Carter,Program Coordinator Burnette, Utilities Director Pennington,Information Systems Director Smotherman, Commissioner of Safety Simmons, Chaplain Benjamin, Dr. Prater Powell, Recreation Director Gamble, Scot St. John, Executive Administrative Assistant Loyd and others.

Minutes

Alderman Norman made a motion to approve the minutes ofFebruary 15, 2011.  Alderman French seconded the motion.  The minutes were approved by a vote of six to zero.

Correspondence

None.

Comments from Citizens

None.

Communications from the Mayor

Mayor Superstein read thank you notes to the City from the West family and from the family of Mayor Worthington.

Mayor Superstein stated City employees Jane Wimberley and Mike Foster had a death in their family.

Committee Reports

Safety Committee –

Alderman Holmes stated there would be a meeting later in the month.

Finance Committee –

Alderman Thomas stated there would be a meeting later in the month and a Special Call meeting had been held prior to the Board Meeting.

Street Committee –

Alderman Norman stated there would be a meeting the followingTuesday.  

 

 

Street Lighting –

Alderman Parsley stated he had nothing to present to the Board.

Water & Sewer Commission –

Alderman Norman stated there would not be a meeting for March.

Recreation Commission –

Alderman Patton stated there would be a meeting on the 10th at Noon.  She also stated there was a resolution to add to the agenda.

Tourism & Economic Development –

Alderman Holmes stated there was a meeting the previous evening but he had nothing to report to the Board.  

Planning Commission –

Alderman Holmes stated there would be a meeting later in the month.

Resolutions

1.

A resolution naming the McKellar Street Bridge over Little Duck River the "Charles E. Powers, Jr. Memorial Bridge".  Sponsored by Alderman Norman.

Alderman French made a motion to approve the resolution.  Alderman Parsley seconded the motion.  The resolution was approved with a vote of six to zero.

Alderman Norman asked if the neighbors and family would be notified.  Mayor Superstein asked Public Works Director Carter when the signs would be ready.  He stated it would take about two weeks.   Alderman Norman stated the date for signs and ceremony could be set at the next meeting.  Mayor Superstein stated she would ask the newspaper to cover the event.  She also stated she would like someone to speak about the work done by Mr. Powers in the community.

 

City Attorney Ewell presented an ordinance authorizing the City of Manchester, Tennessee to enter into a contract with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee for health and dental insurance for its employees.  Alderman Thomas made a motion to approve the ordinance.  Alderman Holmes seconded the motion.  The ordinance was approved with a vote of five to zero with Alderman French abstaining.

Chief Financial Officer Greene stated there would need to be a Special Called meeting to get the ordinance passed in the month of March.  There was further discussion about possible dates for the meeting.  The Board agreed to have a Special Called meeting on the 22nd at Noon.

City Attorney Ewell stated he also had a resolution authorizing the City of Manchester, Tennessee to accept a Tennessee Department of Health grant pursuant to the "Eat Well, Play More" project.

Alderman Thomas made a motion to approve the resolution.  Alderman French seconded the motion.  The resolution was passed with a vote of six to zero.

 

Old Business

None.

New Business

None.

Items from Board of Mayor and Aldermen

Alderman French thanked all the City employees that worked during the storm the day before.  He said there were many blocked ditches, but the employees did well and got them taken care of.

Alderman Norman wished City Attorney Ewell a "happy birthday".  

Adjournment

The Board adjourned at 6:36p.m.​​______________________________________

​Mayor Betty Superstein

Attest:

___________________________________________

Amy Loyd, Exec. Administrative Assistant

Ryan P. French

Alderman; City of Manchester,TN

RyansReasons.com

(931) 368-VOTE

Sent from my iPhone