City Council

February 10, 2021 The City Council of the City of Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee, consistent with the Governor’s order, members of the City Council are participating by electronic means as has been determined necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare in light of the coronavirus pandemic at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 in the Community Room at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, with Mayor Shane McFarland present and presiding and with the following Council Members present and in attendance, to wit: Madelyn Scales Harris Rick LaLance Ronnie Martin Bill Shacklett Kirt Wade Shawn Wright Vice-Mayor Scales Harris participated telephonically at this meeting. The following representatives of the City were also present: Craig Tindall, City Manager Adam Tucker, City Attorney Melissa Wright, City Recorder/ Finance Director Gary Whitaker, Assistant City Manager Darren Gore, Assistant City Manager Angela Jackson, Executive Director/ Community Services Erin Tucker, Budget Director Greg McKnight, Planning Director Pam Russell, Human Resources Director Joshua Miller, Administrative Assistant Mayor McFarland commenced the meeting with a prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The following letter from the City Recorder/Finance Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated February 10, 2021 here with regards to approval of Minutes of City Council Meetings from February 6, 2020 through April 30, 2020.) Mr. Wade made a motion to approve the minutes as written and presented for the public comment meeting held on February 6, 2020; the regular meeting held on February 6, 2020; the regular meeting held on February 12, 2020; the regular meeting held on February 27, 2020; the regular meeting held on March 11, 2020; the regular meeting held on March 19, 2020; the regular meeting held on April 2, 2020; the regular meeting held on April 16, 2020 and the regular meeting held on April 30, 2020. Mr. Wright seconded the motion. A roll call vote was conducted and all members of the Council voted “Aye”. The following letter from the Budget Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated February 10, 2021 here with regards to Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Amendment Ordinance.)  February 10, 2021 Page 2 An ordinance, entitled “ORDINANCE 21-O-02 amending the 2020-2021 Budget (4th Amendment),” which passed first reading on February 4, 2021, was read to the Council and offered for passage on second and final reading upon motion made by Mr. LaLance, seconded by Mr. Wright. Upon roll call said ordinance was passed on second and final reading by the following vote: Aye: Madelyn Scales Harris Rick LaLance Ronnie Martin Bill Shacklett Kirt Wade Shawn Wright Shane McFarland Nay: None (Insert ORDINANCE 21-O-02 here.) The following letter from the Budget Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated February 10, 2021 here with regards to December 2020 Dashboard packet.) The December 2020 Dashboard update, which included Financial, Building & Codes, Risk Management, Construction Data, City Schools Cash Flow Statements, and Revenue & Expenditure Budget Comparison Reports, was presented to Council with no discussion taking place. The following letter from the City Manager was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated February 10, 2021 here with regards to provision for proceeds from sale of Electric Department.) Mayor McFarland suggested that, as a means to determine how to manage the proceeds from the sale of Murfreesboro Electric Department (M.E.D.), a committee should be created to study this issue; that a Council representative should be on the committee and that Chair of the committee should have investing experience. Mr. Martin suggested that Mr. LaLance should be the Council representative on the Committee due to his background and experience with investing and trusts. Mr. LaLance said that he would be willing to serve but asked the other Council Members to send to the Legal Department what they believed the most pressing issues for the committee to handle. Mayor McFarland stated that he believed that the principal of the proceeds should not be touched and that the City should be able to get back into operating revenue what it used to receive yearly from M.E.D. Council expressed their desire for the City Attorney to prepare a Resolution for the creation of the committee; that Council would each submit suggestions to the City Attorney for individuals to serve on the committee; and that the committee should be made up of five voting members, one of which is a Council representative and three staff members to serve in a non-voting capacity.  February 10, 2021 Page 3 The following letter from Mayor was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated February 10, 2021 here with regards to process for hiring City Recorder and Treasurer.) Mr. Craig Tindall, City Manager, stated that with the announced retirement of the current City Recorder and Treasurer, Melissa Wright, that Council needed to determine what process to use for hiring her replacement and that there were three potential processes to use: conduct an internal recruitment; recruit internally and externally, limiting to local candidates; or conduct a national recruitment with the use of a recruiting firm. Council engaged in discussion regarding the three processes suggested and determined that they would like to utilize an outside recruiting firm to conduct a nationwide search, and that if there were any internal or local candidates it will give them more validity if they are selected. Mr. Wade made a motion utilize an outside recruiting firm to conduct a nationwide search for the City Recorder and Treasurer position. Mr. LaLance seconded the motion. A roll call vote was conducted and all members of the Council voted “Aye”. Council requested that the Human Resources Department research outside recruiting firms and return at the next meeting with proposals from firms to handle the search for the City Recorder and Treasurer position. The City Recorder/Finance Director announced that there was not any licensing nor any statements to be considered. Mr. LaLance stated that he believes it would be beneficial for the City to have a vision of zoning types, amount for each type, why the amounts were decided for the mix the City should contain, to help guide the current and the future Planning Commission and Council in zoning decisions. Council discussed the current land use plan with staff and Mayor McFarland suggested that a Council Retreat should be held to discuss the matter. Mayor McFarland addressed feeding of the homeless community on City park property. He brought up safety issues with not being able to verify if there are sex offenders potentially around children in the parks. There being no further business, Mayor McFarland adjourned this meeting at 1:18 p.m. SHANE MCFARLAND – MAYOR ATTEST: MELISSA B. WRIGHT - CITY RECORDER