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[ Call to Order by Mayor Roll Call Invocation by Mayor Gorman Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by Commissioner Little Oath of Office for Police Officers - Mason Lundgrin, Maggie McCord, and Connor Smith]
UH, PLEASE COME IN AND, UH, HAVE A SEAT.WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR MONDAY, APRIL 14TH.
PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT ALL COMMISSIONERS ARE PRESENT THIS EVENING.
I WILL GIVE THE INVOCATION, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, GIVEN BY COMMISSIONER.
DEAR GOD, THANK YOU FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY.
PLEASE GIVE US THE WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS WE SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF BRENTWOOD.
PLEASE WATCH OVER OUR FIRST RESPONDERS THAT PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY TO KEEP US SAFE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US YOUR SON WHO DIED FOR OUR SINS.
IF YOU WILL, PLEASE FACE THE FLAG OF THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ALRIGHT, NEXT ON THE AGENDA, UH, WE HAVE, UM, OUR CHIEF OF POLICE, UH, WHO IS GONNA COME FORWARD AND, UH, INTRODUCE, UH, THREE OF OUR NEW, UH, POLICE OFFICERS.
AND THEN WE WILL SWEAR THEM IN.
THIS IS, UH, ONE OF OUR, UH, FAVORITE, UH, FAVORITE THINGS WE GET TO DO AT A CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
SO WE HAVE THREE NEW OFFICERS THAT I'LL BE INTRODUCING TONIGHT.
ALL THREE OF THEM HAVE A FEW THINGS IN COMMON.
THEY GRADUATED THE ACADEMY TOGETHER LATE LAST MONTH, AND THEY WERE ALL COLLEGIATE ATHLETES.
VERY GOOD COLLEGIATE ATHLETES.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH MAGGIE MCCORD.
MAGGIE GREW UP IN WASHINGTON AND THEN MOVED TO UTAH.
SHE ATTENDED UTAH TECH WHERE SHE RECEIVED HER, UH, BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE WHILE SHE WAS AT UTAH TECH.
SHE WAS A BASKETBALL PLAYER, A VERY GOOD BASKETBALL PLAYER.
DURING HER, UH, JUNIOR AND SENIOR SEASONS.
UH, SHE STARTED ALL 31 GAMES AND SHE IS CURRENTLY ON THE LIST FOR THIRD ALL TIME AND THREE POINT FIELD GOALS MADE.
AND SECOND IN CAREER, THREE POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE.
I GOT THAT INFORMATION FROM THE UTAH TECH WEBSITE,
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THERE WERE NO OBJECTIONS.
YOU WANNA STAND IN? MAGGIE, IF YOU'LL RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I, MAGGIE MCCORD DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I POSSESS, THAT I POSSESS, THAT I POSSESS ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS.
ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE DUTIES OF POLICE OFFICER, FOR THE DUTIES OF A POLICE OFFICER.
AS PRESCRIBED BY THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD, BY THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD.
AND THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION, AND THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND WILL OBEY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND WILL OBEY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF TENNESSEE AND THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.
THAT I WILL, THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS.
IN ALL RESPECTS, OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER, OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES AND ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD, OF THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE AND THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF POLICE OFFICER, THE DUTIES OF A POLICE OFFICER.
I JUST GOT BACK FROM MY 34TH WOMEN'S
NEXT UP IS CONNOR SMITH, AND HE HAS A GUEST TONIGHT.
SO I'M GONNA LET HIM INTRODUCE HIS GUESTS.
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ORIGINALLY FROM CALIFORNIA.HE ATTENDED AURORA UNIVERSITY IN ILLINOIS.
UH, HE RECEIVED FOUR BACHELOR'S DEGREES FROM AURORA.
UH, HE HAS A BACHELOR'S IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, IN PSYCHOLOGY, IN SOCIOLOGY AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
SOMEHOW HE ALSO FOUND TIME TO PLAY HOCKEY WHILE HE WAS THERE, AND SO HE PLAYED ALL FOUR YEARS AND THEN PROFESSIONALLY IN THE MINOR LEAGUES.
SINCE I LOOKED UP MAGGIE STATS, I WOULD LOOK UP CONNOR'S, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT HE, UH, ENDED HIS HOCKEY CAREER WITH THE MACON MAYHEM AND HE HAD ZERO MINUTES IN THE PENALTY BOX.
STAND IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE.
YOU RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I POSSESS ALL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT I POSSESS, ALL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE DUTIES OF POLICE OFFICER, FOR THE DUTIES OF POLICE OFFICER AS PRESCRIBED.
AS PRESCRIBED BY THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD, BY THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD.
AND THAT I WILL SUPPORT, AND THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.
THE CONSTITUTION, AND WILL OBEY AND WILL OBEY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE STATE OF TENNESSEE AND THE STATES OF TENNESSEE.
THAT I WILL, THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS.
IN ALL RESPECTS, OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER, OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES AND ORDINANCES OF THE CITY, OF BRENTWOOD, OF THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF POLICE OFFICER, THE DUTIES OF POLICE OFFICER.
MASON LUNDGREN ALSO HAS A COUPLE OF VISITORS.
IF YOU'LL INTRODUCE THEM, PLEASE.
THIS IS MY MOM, JENNY, MY DAD, MIKE AND HIS WIFE SHELBY.
MASON IS ORIGINALLY FROM KANSAS.
HE COMPLETED HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY AT LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY.
AND WHILE HE WAS THERE, HE WAS ON THE BASEBALL TEAM.
MASON PLAYED, UH, HE STARTED ALL 62 GAMES OF HIS SENIOR SEASON.
HE FINISHED THE SEASON AS AN INFIELDER WITH A PERFECT FIELDING PERCENTAGE.
VERY IMPRESSIVE STAT AT THE ACADEMY.
MASON WAS THE TOP SHOT WITH A HUNDRED PERCENT.
UH, HE WON THE MARKSMANSHIP AWARD AT THE TENNESSEE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ACADEMY.
AND SINCE I GOOGLED EVERYONE ELSE,
UH, HE PITCHED TWO INNINGS, ONE GAME, AND, UH, DID YOU NOT
WELL, THERE'S A WEBSITE THAT SAYS HE PITCHED TWO INNINGS.
I BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU COULD HAVE GONE ALONG WITH ME ON THAT ONE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, MASON'S AN HONEST MAN.
WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE HIM AT BPD.
YOU RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I POSSESS, THAT I POSSESS ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS.
ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE DUTIES OF POLICE OFFICER, FOR THE DUTIES OF POLICE OFFICER AS PRESCRIBED.
AS PRESCRIBED BY THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD, BY THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD.
AND THAT I WILL, AND THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION, SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION, AND WILL AND WILL OBEY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
OBEY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF TENNESSEE AND THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.
THAT I WILL, THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS.
IN ALL RESPECTS, OBSERVE, OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER, THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES AND ORDINANCES OF THE CITY, OF BRENTWOOD, OF THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES, THE DUTIES
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OF POLICE OFFICERS, OF THE POLICE OFFICERS.UM, IT'S ALWAYS A LOT OF FUN AND, UM, GIVES US THAT WHOLE LOT OF, UH, FAITH AND IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, THAT WE'RE, UH, WE'RE SAFE AND FEEL SAFE.
[1. Public hearing on Ordinance 2025-05 - AN ORDINANCE REZONING APPROXIMATELY 30 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED WEST OF HUNTERS LANE IN THE FOXLAND HALL SUBDIVISION FROM R-2 (SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL) TO OSRD (OPEN SPACE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT)]
THE AGENDA AS A PUBLIC HEARING.UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE, PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2025 DASH ZERO FIVE, AN ORDINANCE RESOR REZONING APPROXIMATELY 30 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED WEST OF HUNTER'S LANE IN THE FOX LYNN HALL SUBDIVISION FROM R TWO SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL TO OSRD, OPEN SPACE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON REZONING ORDINANCES ARE PRIMARILY INTENDED AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZENS TO VOICE THEIR VIEWS IN SUPPORT OR AN OPPOSITION TO A REZONING THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY OTHER PARTIES.
PERSON SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER OR THE APPLICANT FOR THE REZONING ARE ALLOWED OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK WHEN THE ORDINANCE IS CONSIDERED FOR PASSAGE ON FIRST AND SECOND READING, AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONFINE THEIR REMARKS TO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ORDINANCE 2025 DASH FIVE? IF SO, COME FORWARD AND MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN AT THIS POINT.
UH, HEARING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.
[4. Approval or Correction of Minutes]
MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OR CORRECTION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 24TH, 2025 MEETING.DO I HEAR A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE SECOND PRIMARY AND SECONDARY MOTION ON THE FLOOR? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[ Comments from Citizens – Individuals may comment on any item included in the Consent/Regular agenda or on any other matter regarding the City of Brentwood. All comments should be directed to the Board of Commissioners. Citizens who wish to request that an item be moved from the Consent Agenda to the Regular Agenda for discussion should make that known to the Board at this time. A sign-in sheet will be provided fifteen (15) minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Anyone wishing to speak may, but are not required to, sign in. ]
COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS.INDIVIDUALS MAY COMMENT ON ANY ITEM INCLUDED IN THE CONSENT OR REGULAR AGENDA OR ANY OTHER MATTER REGARDING THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD.
ALL COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CITIZENS WHO WISH TO REQUEST THAT AN ITEM BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO THE REGULAR AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION SHOULD MAKE THAT KNOWN TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME.
SIGN IN SHEET HAS BEEN, UH, PROVIDED, UH, IN THE BACK.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK, UM, MAY SPEAK EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT SIGN IN.
BUT WE WILL START WITH THE SIGN IN CHIEF.
AND FIRST ON THE LIST WE HAVE GEORGE BUCK, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD, UH, IDENTIFY YOURSELF, UH, BY NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I LIVE AT 1425 ARROWHEAD DRIVE, INDIAN POINT SUBDIVISION.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL HOLD MY COMMENTS IN LIEU OF OTHER COMMENTS.
UM, NEXT, UH, WE HAVE MELISSA GINO, MELISSA GINO, 1503 LYNDHURST COURT HERE IN BRENTWOOD.
UM, REBECCA MARTINEZ ASKED ME TO COME TONIGHT AND READ AN ETHICS COMPLAINT THAT SHE FILED.
SHE COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT IF I MAY.
ETHICS COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST COMMISSIONER RAY LITTLE, AND I'M READING DIRECTLY.
MY NAME IS REBECCA J. MARTINEZ.
I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD FOR OVER 21 YEARS.
BASED ON INFORMATION AND BELIEF, I SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST THE CITY COMMISSIONER RAY LITTLE.
THE OATH OF OFFICE TAKEN BY BRENTWOOD CITY COMMISSIONERS MANDATES THAT THEY WILL OBEY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE AND THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD.
COMMISSIONER RAY LITTLE FAILED TO ADHERE TO HIS OATH OF OFFICE WHEN HE INTENTIONALLY AND KNOWINGLY VIOLATED TENNESSEE STATE LAW AND BRENTWOOD CITY ORDINANCES.
ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24TH, 2024, PAUL MYERS SENT AN EMAIL TO ALL BRENTWOOD CITY COMMISSIONERS STATING HIS POSITION ON A PROPOSED TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL FACILITY.
ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH, 2024, COMMISSIONER RAY LITTLE SENT A REPLY EMAIL TO PAUL MYERS AND SIX OF HIS FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
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IN COMMISSIONER LITTLE'S REPLY EMAIL, HE MADE MULTIPLE FALSE AND INTENTIONALLY MISLEADING STATEMENTS DESIGNED TO CREATE PUBLIC DISCOURSE.FOR EXAMPLE, HE REFERRED TO THE PROPOSED FACILITY AS A QUOTE, PRIVATE TENNIS CLUB.
THE PROPOSED FACILITY IF BUILT, WOULD NOT BE A PRIVATE CLUB.
ALL RESIDENTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO USE IT BY MAKING A RESERVATION AND PAYING THE APPROPRIATE FEE.
COMMISSIONER LITTLE FURTHER STATED QUOTE ON MONDAY NIGHT, IF THEY VOTE FOR THE TENNIS CLUB QUOTE, WHICH INFERRED AN APPROVAL VOTE ON THE FACILITY WAS IMMINENT THE VOTE ON MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 28TH, 2024, WAS ONLY TO FUND A PROPOSAL DETERMINED TO PROJECT THE, TO DETERMINE TO PROJECT THE COST OF SUCH A FACILITY IN THE EVENT IT WOULD BE APPROVED AND BUILT.
LITTLE FURTHER STATED QUOTE, THEN THEY SHOW THAT THEY ARE WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.
NOT ONLY IS THIS A FALSE STATEMENT, BUT IT IS A BLATANT DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER OF FOUR OF MR. LITTLE'S FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
AT THE TIME, COMMISSIONER LITTLE SENT HIS REPLY EMAIL.
HE WAS IN A REELECTION BID AGAINST TWO OF THE FOUR COMMISSIONERS PREVIOUSLY REFERENCED.
HIS LIBELOUS AND FALSE STATEMENTS WERE DESIGNED TO INTENTIONALLY INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF A PENDING ELECTION BELOW THE SIGNATURE BLOCK.
AND COMMISSIONER LITTLE'S EMAIL IS A DISCLAIMER STATING THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN PREPARED USING RESOURCES OWNED BY THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE.
IT IS SUBJECT TO THE CITY'S POLICIES ON USE OF CITY PROVIDED TECHNOLOGY VIOLATING THE SUNSHINE LAW IS CONTRARY TO THE CITY'S POLICY, AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT ALL COMMISSIONERS ARE AWARE OF THIS REGULATION HAVING BEEN INFORMED DURING THEIR ONBOARDING PROCESS.
COMMISSIONER LITTLE VIOLATED TCA 8 44, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE SUNSHINE LAW, WHEN HE SENT THIS EMAIL TO ALL SIX FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, WHICH CONTAINED LANGUAGE RELATING TO MATTERS THEY WOULD BE VOTING FOR OR AGAINST IN THE FUTURE.
THE COURTS HAVE DETERMINED THAT SUCH COMMUNICATION QUALIFIES AS A PUBLIC MEETING, NECESSITATING PRIOR PUBLIC NOTICE, AND ALLOWING FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS.
NO ADVANCE NOTICE OR OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCH COMMENTS WAS GIVEN ALSO BELOW THE SIGNATURE BLOCK IN COMMISSIONER LITTLE'S EMAIL IS AN ADDITIONAL DISCLAIMER, WHICH STATES EMAIL CREATED OR RECEIVED THROUGH THE CITY'S COMPUTER SYSTEM BY ANY CITY, EMPLOYEE OR OFFICIAL MAY BE CONSIDERED A PUBLIC RECORD.
THUS, COMMISSIONER LITTLE'S EMAIL IS SUBJECT TO ALL RELEVANT LAWS.
ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH, 2024, OUTSIDE NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS, COMMISSIONER LITTLE CONTACTED SARAH VAN WARMER, THE DEPARTMENT HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY FOR THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD, TO INSTRUCT HER TO RESEND HIS OCTOBER 26TH, 2024 EMAIL TO PAUL MYERS.
THE EMAIL WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REMOVED FROM ALL THE INBOXES OF ALL COMMISSIONERS.
EACH COMMISSIONER RECEIVED AN AUTOMATED ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION INDICATING AN EMAIL FROM COMMISSIONER LITTLE WAS REMOVED FROM THEIR INBOX.
VICE MAYOR TRAVIS HAPPENED TO OPEN AND READ THE EMAIL PRIOR TO IT BEING RESCINDED VIA TEXT MESSAGE.
SARAH VAN WARMER ADVISED COMMISSIONER LITTLE CONFIRMED THAT THE EMAIL HAD BEEN RESCINDED.
COMMISSIONER LITTLE RESPONDED WITH A QUOTE, HEART EMOJI.
ALL OF THESE DOCUMENTS WERE ATTACHED TO THE COMPLAINT BY VIRTUE OF COMMISSIONER LITTLE'S POSITION.
HE USED HIS INFLUENCE ON A SUBORDINATE MEMBER OF CITY STAFF TO INSTRUCT THEM TO TAMPER WITH A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COMMISSIONER.
LITTLE BY HIS ACTION VIOLATED TCA 39 16 5 0 4 IN AN ATTEMPT TO COVER UP HIS WRONGDOING.
TCA 39 16 504 STATES A IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO ONE KNOWINGLY MAKE A FALSE ENTRY IN OR FALSE ALTERATION OF A GOVERNMENT RECORD.
TWO, MAKE PRESENT OR ANY USE, OR USE ANY RECORD DOCUMENT OR THING WITH KNOWLEDGE OF ITS FALSITY AND WITH INTENT THAT IT WILL BE TAKEN AS A GENUINE GOVERNMENTAL RECORD, THREE, INTENTIONALLY AND UNLAWFULLY DESTROY, CONCEAL, REMOVE, OR OTHERWISE IMPAIR THE VERITY LEGIBILITY OR AVAILABILITY
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OF A GOVERNMENT RECORD.BA VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS A CLASS E FELONY COMMISSIONER LITTLE'S ACTION ALSO VIOLATED TCA 39 16 4 0 2.
COMMISSIONER LITTLE IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO DELETE OR INDUCE A MEMBER OF CITY STAFF TO DELETE ANY PUBLIC RECORD FROM ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER'S EMAIL BOX.
HE IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO VIOLATE TENNESSEE SUNSHINE LAW.
IT IS BELIEVED TCA 39 16 4 2 APPLIES BECAUSE COMMISSIONER LITTLE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HIS POSITION TO INFLUENCE A SUBORDINATE MEMBER OF CITY STAFF TO TAKE AN UNAUTHORIZED ACTION.
TCA 39 16 4 0 2 SAYS, A, A PUBLIC SERVANT COMMITS AN OFFENSE WHO WITH INTENT TO OBTAIN A BENEFIT OR TO HARM ANOTHER INTENTIONALLY OR KNOWINGLY, ONE, COMMITS AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SERVANT'S OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT THAT CONSTITUTES AN UNAUTHORIZED EXERCISE OF OFFICIAL POWER.
TWO, COMMITS AN ACT UNDER COLOR OF OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT THAT EXCEEDS THE PUBLIC SERVANT'S OFFICIAL POWER.
REFA REFRAINS FROM PERFORMING A DUTY THAT IS IMPOSED BY LAW OR THAT IS CLEARLY INHERENT IN THE NATURE OF THE PUBLIC SERVANT'S OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT.
FOUR, VIOLATES A LAW RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SERVANT'S OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT FIVE, RECEIVES ANY BENEFIT NOT OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY LAW.
B FOR PURPOSES OF, FOR PURPOSES OF SUBDIVISION A TWO, A PUBLIC SERVANT COMMITS AN ACT UNDER COLOR OF OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT WHO ACTS OR PURPORTS TO ACT IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY OR TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE ACTUAL OR PURPORTED CAPACITY.
COMMISSIONER LITTLE ALSO VIOLATED SECTION 2 2 33 OF THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD MUNICIPAL CODE.
IT IS ABOUT USE OR OF POSITION OR AUTHORITY AND STATES AN OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE MAY NOT USE OR ATTEMPT TO USE HIS POSITION TO SECURE ANY PRIVILEGE OR EXEMPTION FOR HIMSELF OR OTHERS THAT IS NOT AUTHORIZED IN THIS ARTICLE OR BY THE CHARTER GENERAL LAW OR ORDINANCE OF POLICY OR CITY POLICY, ANY POLICY OR ORDINANCE OF THE CITY.
IT IS AGAINST THE CITY'S POLICY AS WELL AS TENNESSEE STATE LAW TO DELETE OR ATTEMPT TO DELETE ANY PUBLIC RECORD.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED THE 31ST DAY OF MARCH, 2025.
ALRIGHT, UM, NEXT ON THE LIST, UH, WE HAVE GRAHAM AND, UM, UM, GRAHAM II.
UM, I, I SPEAK IN REGARDS TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO WHAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER JUST READ INTO THE RECORD, WHICH I THINK IS ALREADY IN THE RECORD.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHERE, UH, SHE IS.
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER HAS TALKED ABOUT MS. MARTINEZ NOT BEING AVAILABLE.
AND THAT I, I'M A LAWYER, SO, SO IT, IT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT HAS SOME MEANING TO ME.
PERHAPS NOT THE REST OF Y'ALL.
UM, THERE IS NOTHING HERE TO PURSUE.
I I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO SAY THAT OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT PEOPLE, ALL OF Y'ALL TALK TO CONSTITUENTS.
IT IS PART AND PARCEL OF YOUR DUTY TO DO SO.
AND IN DOING SO, YOU MIGHT MAKE ERRORS, YOU MIGHT MAKE, UM, CLICKS, WHATEVER.
I, I, I DON'T KNOW THE FACTS ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE CIRCUMSTANCES SUFFICIENTLY ENOUGH TO YOU, MAYOR.
BUT THIS ISN'T ANYTHING THAT GIVES RISE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES UPON WHICH MARTIN, MS. MARTINEZ IS OUT ALLEGING.
[00:25:02]
I WILL STAND BY MY STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF RAY LITTLE IN REGARDS TO HIS INTEGRITY, THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY, AND HIS RESPONSIVENESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY.AND IF YOU THINK DIFFERENT, THEN I'LL KNOW HOW YOU VOTE.
UM, THERE ARE A PANOPLY OF LEGAL ISSUES THAT I I'M SURE MS. UM, I, I'M SORRY, MS. CORN, WILL I, I APOLOGIZE.
UM, WE'LL BE LOOKING INTO, BUT, UM, NONE OF IT AMOUNTS TO WHOLE BEANS.
AND I, I, I WANT TO, UH, I I, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH THE SUNSHINE LAW.
I DON'T WANT TO 'CAUSE IT HAS ITS PURPOSE.
BUT IN THE PURPOSE OF THE SUNSHINE LAW IS THERE IS AN INTENT, THERE'S A CIRCUMSTANCE BY WHICH ONE IS TRYING TO EVADE CIRCUMSTANCES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY.
THAT WAS NOT WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
EXERCISE OF SOME GREAT POWER AND CIRCUMSTANCE OVER WHICH MR. LITTLE HAD OVER THE COMMUNITY OF BRENTWOOD TO, TO QUASH THIS DOWN.
HE WAS JUST LOOKING AT, AND, AND, AND AGAIN, I DON'T, I DON'T SPEAK FOR MR. LITTLE, I HAVEN'T SPOKE WITH MR. LITTLE ABOUT THIS OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.
I THINK I TALKED TO YOU, MR. TRAVIS.
I TRIED TO REACH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
YOU, YOUR, UH, VOICEMAIL SAYS IT'S FULL.
SO I, I COULDN'T LEAVE A VOICEMAIL TO YOU, BUT I LEFT A VOICEMAIL FOR ALL OF YOU, THE REST OF YOU TO CONTACT ME THIS AFTERNOON.
UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY'S BUSY, BUT YOU'RE PARTICULARLY BUSY, MAYOR, UH, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR VOICEMAIL IS FULL.
UM, AND TO THAT DEGREE, I, I WOULD SAY THAT YOU GOTTA LOOK AT MATTERS IN RELATION TO THIS CIRCUMSTANCE AND REALIZE THAT THIS IS, I DARE SAY, POLITICALLY DIVISIVE, POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE MS. MARTINEZ IS.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HER.
I'M NOT TRYING TO IMPUGN HER, UM, UM, STATEMENT OR INTEGRITY IN ANY FORM OR FASHION.
WHO'S HERE, I THINK ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT RAY LITTLE.
AND WHO'S HERE IS THE FOLKS THAT REALIZE THAT RAY LITTLE IS NOT THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT MS. MARTINEZ WOULD PAINT HIM OUT TO BE.
I WILL RESERVE COMMENT WITH THE MAYOR'S PERMISSION, UM, BECAUSE I THOUGHT, CANDIDLY, THAT I MIGHT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS MATTERS IN RELATION TO THIS AFTER THE DISCUSSION IN OPEN FORUM REGARDING THE, UH, ETHICS VIOLATION CHARGES THAT MS. MARTINEZ HAS MADE.
SO WITH, WITH PERMISSION TO MAYBE COME BACK UP AND BORE YOU MORE.
MS. MCMILLAN, MR. ANDREWS, MS. SPEARS, MR. LITTLE, AND MS. DON AND GRAHAM.
UM, WE HAVE OPEN, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT, UH, AT THIS POINT, UM, WHEN PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE OVER, UH, THEY'RE OVER.
THEN I'LL YELL FOR MORE COMMENT RIGHT.
I DON'T, I I'M NOT HERE BEFORE YOU MUCH MAYOR.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE OPEN PUBLIC COMMENTS RIGHT NOW.
UM, HOWEVER, WHEN THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE CLOSED, UM, THAT'S THE, UH, THAT'S THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I WAS HERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE PROCESS.
UNDERSTAND, SO I JUST, I JUST STOOD UP AND SAID, I WANNA SAY SOMETHING.
SO I, I GUESS THAT WON'T BE ALLOWED.
THAT'S THE END OF, UH, OF THE LIST OF FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.
MAY I RECLAIM MY TIME, PLEASE? YES, SIR.
[00:30:01]
1425 ARROWHEAD DRIVE.MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 1988 AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING IN MY LIFE LIKE WHAT I'VE WITNESSED THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
IT IS CALLED DIVISIVENESS WITH WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY, WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS AND WITHIN FAMILIES.
I'M LIKE, MR. LITTLE, I WANNA KNOW WHO SHARED THAT EMAIL OF YOU, 'CAUSE SHE'S NOT ON YOUR EMAIL CHAIN.
SO WHO, WHO SHARED IT? NOBODY'S GONNA ADMIT TO IT TONIGHT.
ONE IS, IS IT ETHICAL TO POST A FOR MAYOR SIGN ON FRANKLIN ROAD? OR IS IT JUST POLITICS? IS IT ETHICAL TO TELL AN ORGANIZATION NOT TO COME TO A COMMISSION MEETING, OTHERWISE YOU WILL COME AFTER THEM? IS THAT AN ETHICAL VIOLATION? I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE IT'S FOR Y'ALL TO DECIDE, BUT IT'S TIME TO END ALL THIS.
I'M GONNA ASK AT THIS TIME, ALL THOSE THAT ARE HERE BEHIND ME, THAT SUPPORT RAY, PLEASE STAND UP.
I THINK YOU SEE HOW THIS COMMUNITY FEELS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, AND IT'S TIME TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'RE HERE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, NOT YOUR OWN SELF-INTEREST.
IDENTI, IDENTIFY YOURSELF BY, UH, NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I HAVE LIVED IN BRENTWOOD FOR 47 YEARS.
I'VE LIVED IN BRENTWOOD WHEN BRENTWOOD WAS FARMLAND.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE LEFT OF US THAT CAN SAY THAT.
I HAVE KNOWN THE LITTLE FAMILY SINCE I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD.
YOU CAN DO THE MATH AND FIGURE OUT HOW OLD I AM.
THE ANDREWS FAMILY, I WOULD SAY IS RIGHT UP THERE AS WELL.
I WOULD BE, I THINK YOU WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND ANYONE IN THIS ROOM WHO HAS NOT INADVERTENTLY SENT A REPLY.
YOU CAN QUOTE ARTICLES ALL DAY LONG, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WAS A REPLY ALL EMAIL AND HE FOLLOWED THE CORRECT, UM, CHAIN OF COMMAND.
HE REALIZED THAT HE HAD MESSED UP, MADE A MISTAKE, AND HE ADDRESSED IT APPROPRIATELY AND TRANSPARENTLY.
AND TO QUESTION SOMEONE'S ETHICS AND NAME IS LUDICROUS.
I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE BEEN TO A BRENTWOOD CITY COMMISSION MEETING, AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON AT ALL.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT APPROPRIATELY WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A REFERENDUM ON A GINORMOUS FACILITY.
YOU ALL ARE, YOU ALL WORK FOR US.
AND TO NOT GIVE US THE VOICE, WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA COST SO MUCH MONEY, IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.
MY NAME IS RAJA JOHNSON O'BRIEN.
I LIVE AT 5 0 2 1 COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE IN BRENTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NASHVILLE AND MOVED TO BRENTWOOD IN 1986.
I'VE KNOWN RAY LITTLE EVER SINCE THAT TIME.
AND ALL THAT TIME I'VE ALWAYS CONSIDERED RAY TO HAVE THE HIGHEST VALUES AND INTEGRITY TO ALWAYS PUT THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY HE LOVES.
I'M COMPLETELY APPALLED AT THIS ETHICS COMPLAINT THAT'S BEEN LOBBED AGAINST HIM FOR SOMETHING ERR FOR AN ERRONEOUSLY SENT EMAIL.
THE FACT THAT SUCH A COMPLAINT WOULD BE SERVED UP BY THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE RACKET CLUB AD HOC COMMITTEE SIX MONTHS AFTER IT OCCURRED, AND LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE THE ELECTION, CERTAINLY RAISES A LOT OF EYEBROWS AND WREAKS OF DESPERATION.
HONESTLY, THERE ARE REAL ISSUES AT STAKE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN THIS ELECTION, ISSUES THAT ARE GONNA IMPACT BRENTWOOD CITIZENS FOR YEARS TO COME.
[00:35:01]
EMAIL IS NOT ONE OF THOSE ISSUES.COMMISSIONER RAY LITTLE HAS MY FULL SUPPORT AND I LOOK, VOTE FORWARD TO VOTING FOR HIM IN NEXT MONTH'S ELECTION.
ANYONE ELSE, SIR? HI, UH, JOHN EATON, 8 0 6 ALMAR COURT.
UM, I ECHO MUCH OF WHAT'S BEEN SAID THUS FAR.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THOSE OF US THAT LIVE IN BRENTWOOD, WE LIVE IN BRENTWOOD FOR A REASON, UH, BECAUSE OF THE SMALL TOWN FEEL, UM, THE, UM, THE CODES AND THE BUILDING CODES THAT ARE IN PLACE AND KNOW SHAME ON ANYBODY, ANY ONE OF YOU GUYS THAT ARE ALLOWING OUTSIDE INTEREST, MAKING DECISIONS ON WHAT'S GONNA AFFECT THE FUTURE OF BRENTWOOD.
I WILL HAVE TO COMMEND EACH OF YOU THAT, THAT I SENT AN EMAIL TO YOU AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GOT BACK TO ME AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE GETTING BACK TO ME.
BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ONE PERSON SAYS ONE THING AND ANOTHER PERSON SAYS ANOTHER.
I JUST SIMPLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE LAW IS.
CAN YOU GUYS VOTE ON A REFERENDUM OR DOES THERE HAVE TO BE SOME SORT OF, IF YOU'RE NOT USING BOND MONEY, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE STUFF, BUT I'M JUST SIMPLY SAYING, I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY CAN DISAGREE IF YOU'RE GONNA SPEND THE MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING FOR THIS FACILITY.
AND I'M NOT SAYING IF I'M FOR OR AGAINST THE FACILITY 'CAUSE I, I REALLY DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING IF WE'RE GONNA SPEND THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, YOU NEED TO LET THE PEOPLE IN BRENTWOOD MAKE THAT DECISION.
'CAUSE AGAIN, YOU GUYS WORK FOR US.
ANYONE ELSE THIS EVENING? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE PUBLIC COMMENTS OR CLOSE.
[ Report from City Manager Report from the City Attorney Reports and comments by Commissioners and Mayor]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO A REPORT FROM OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, JAY.JUST A COUPLE ITEMS FOR YOU THIS WEEKEND.
WE'LL BEGIN OUR SPRING CLEANUP PROCESS WHERE OUR RESIDENTS CAN COME AND BRING ITEMS THAT THEY WANNA DISCARD FROM THEIR HOME, FROM THEIR GARAGE.
BE THEY OLD LAWNMOWERS, PLEASE DRAIN THEM OF THEIR FLUIDS, BICYCLES, APPLIANCES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
PLEASE BRING THEM TO, UH, GRANNY WHITE PARK THIS WEEKEND.
AND THEN IF THEY, UH, WOULD RATHER DO IT THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND ON THE 26TH, THEY CAN BRING IT TO TOWER PARK.
UH, IF THEY HAVE ELECTRONICS, WE ASK IF THEY PLEASE CONSULT OUR WEBSITE.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF GUIDANCE ON HOW THEY SHOULD PREP THEIR MATERIALS, IF THEIR ELECTRONICS OR COMPUTERS HARD DRIVES, THAT TYPE OF THING.
DON'T BRING YOUR MATTRESSES, DON'T BRING YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE.
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO DISPOSE OF THOSE.
AND THERE'S INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE FOR THAT.
AND THEN I ALSO NEED TO REPORT TO YOU AN EMERGENCY PURCHASE THAT I AUTHORIZED BECAUSE WE HAD STORMS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO THAT IMPACTED TWO OF OUR INTERSECTIONS ON MARYLAND WAY.
AND THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL DETECTION CAMERAS WERE IMPACTED AT BOTH INTERSECTIONS BY LIGHTNING STRIKES.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, UH, WE, WE DO HAVE THE INTERSECTIONS STILL OPERATING.
THEY MAY NOT BE AT, UH, OPTIMAL LEVELS RIGHT NOW, UH, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T QUITE DETECT WHEN ALL THE VEHICLES ARE THERE.
SO I AUTHORIZED THE PURCHASE OF THE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT TO BE MADE TO AVOID DELAY.
AND THAT AMOUNT IS ABOUT $57,000 FROM SOUTHERN LIGHTING AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. AND, UH, WE'LL HAVE IT ON THE APRIL 28TH AGENDA FOR YOUR RATIFICATION, BUT IT WILL BE AN AFTER THE FACT.
VICE MAYOR TRAVIS, AND THEN, UH, COMMISSIONER ANDREWS, UM, INTERIM CITY MANAGER, JAY EVANS.
THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST MEETING TO SIT THERE AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
AND I JUST THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE FOR US TO SAY THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE BUDGET MEETINGS.
UM, YOU HANDLED EVERYTHING VERY WELL.
IT WAS LIKE THERE WAS NO, NO SKIPPING A BEAT.
AND I'VE ALWAYS PRAISED OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
IT WAS JUST AS GOOD THIS YEAR AS IT'S BEEN IN THE PAST.
THANK YOU JUDGE COMMISSIONER ANDREWS WELL, I'LL CERTAINLY ECHO THE SENTIMENT, UH, SHARED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER TRAVIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR LEADING THE STAFF AND, UH, DOING THE JOB YOU DO.
UM, SO ON THE RECYCLING, WELL, I I I SHOULD ASK, BRING THE BIKES, APPLIANCES, OLD LAWNMOWERS.
IT ALL IS RECYCLED AND REFURBISHED OR SCRAPPED OR WHAT HAPPENS TO IT ONCE WE BRING IT? MOST OF IT'S SCRAPPED.
THE, THE, UH, COMPUTER COMPONENTS, I DO BELIEVE THEY TRY AND PLACE THOSE, BUT MOST OF EVERYTHING ELSE IS GONNA BE SCRAPPED.
[00:40:01]
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT'S CLEAN BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY GOES TO THE LANDFILL, METALS, THEY'LL TRY AND SALVAGE.BUT A LOT OF IT WILL GO TO LANDFILLS.
SO IT NEEDS TO BE CLEAN AND, AND FREE OF ANY FLUIDS.
ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, MOVE ON TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY, CHRISTIAN COR.
UH, AT OUR INFORMATIONAL MEETING, YOU SAID THERE WAS NO PROTOCOL ESTABLISHED FOR HOW THIS HEARING IS CONDUCTED.
SHOULD WE SAVE OUR COMMENTS FOR WHILE IT'S, WHEN THE POINT IT'S ON THE AGENDA OR MAKE THEM DURING OUR COMMENTS? I THINK THAT IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU.
UM, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO DO IT EITHER, EITHER TIME COMPLETELY UP TO YOU HOW YOU WANNA DO THAT.
I THINK I'LL SAVE MINE UNTIL THE ITEM IS UP FOR DISCUSSION THEN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CITY ATTORNEY? ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON, UH, TO, UM, COMMENTS, UH, BY COMMISSIONERS.
AND THIS EVENING WE WILL START WITH COMMISSIONER MCMILLAN.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OFFICERS MASON, MAGGIE, AND CONNOR.
UH, CHIEF COLVIN, THANK YOU FOR HIRING SUCH QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS.
YOU ARE CONTINUING TO HIRE THE BEST TO JOIN THE BEST.
I WANT TO THANK TODD HOENST AND HIS PUBLIC WORKS TEAM FOR BEING SO EFFICIENT IN CLEARING THE TREES THAT FELL LAST THURSDAY ON HOLLY TREE AND WATERFORD.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S QUICK RESPONSE SO THAT EVERYONE COULD SAFELY GET AROUND THE ON THE ROADS.
AGAIN, THERE HAVE BEEN A, A LOT OF STORMS LATELY AND I'M SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO THE CITIZENS OF BRENTWOOD.
SO IF Y'ALL SEE THEM OUT AND ABOUT, PLEASE THANK THEM 'CAUSE THEY WORK REALLY HARD AND OFTEN UNDER, UM, THE NOT THE BEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
I ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY WITH THE RESIDENTS.
I WANT TO THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS ON THE TREE BOARD AS WELL AS THE MANY CITY STAFF THAT HELPED PUT THIS EVENT ON OUR LIBRARY.
WE ALSO HAD STAFF FROM ENGINEERING, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS DEPARTMENT, POLICE AND FIRE, ALL HELPING WITH THE ARBOR DAY.
UM, AND WE'VE ALREADY REFERENCED, UH, OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
AND JUST TO LET Y'ALL KNOW, OUR NEW CITY MANAGER, JASON G, WILL BE HERE TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO MEET HIM, COME ON BACK TO ANOTHER MEETING AND YOU'LL SEE HIM THEN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GETTING US THROUGH THIS TIME AND ESPECIALLY THE BUDGET SEASON, SO APPRECIATE IT.
AS THE COMMISSIONER REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LIBRARY BOARD, I WILL MOVE ON TO LIBRARY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THE NEXT SCHEDULED LIBRARY BOARD MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16TH AT 4:30 PM AT THE LIBRARY.
THE FRIENDS OF THE BRENTWOOD LIBRARY BOOK SALE THIS PAST WEEKEND RAISED $15,824.
AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO DONATE YOUR BOOKS, YOUR PUZZLES, YOUR GAMES, BECAUSE THOSE ARE, UM, VITAL FOR THOSE BOOK SALES.
UM, AND THERE'S A CART OUTSIDE OF THE MEETING ROOMS DOWN TO THE RIGHT OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE LIBRARY AND YOU CAN DONATE 'EM 24 7.
WE HAVE STARTED THE REMODELING PROCESS OF THE FRIENDS GATHERING ROOM AT THE LIBRARY.
AND THIS IS THE ROOM DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU WHEN YOU ENTER THE LOBBY FROM THE MAIN ENTRANCE.
AND WE DO EXPECT INTERMITTENT CLOSURES OVER THE NEXT SIX WEEKS AS MATERIALS, UM, BECOME AVAILABLE AS PLANNED NEXT WEEK, THE NEW FLOORING WILL BE PUT IN AND IT WILL BE THE SAME FLOORING THAT'S IN THE CURRENT LOBBY THAT WE GOT, I DON'T KNOW, A YEAR AGO.
AND THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE ON INTO THE FORENSIC GATHERING ROOM.
OUR SPACE PLANNING COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO MEET TO WORK ON A LONGER TERM PROJECT.
THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME ON THIS PROJECT, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON RELOCATING AND REDESIGNING THE TEEN SPACE AT THE LIBRARY AS WELL AS THE QUIET READING ROOM.
THIS WILL MAXIMIZE THE BEST USE OF THESE SPACE FOR OUR PATRONS.
THIS WILL BE COMPLETED USING THE INTEREST GENERATED BY THE JOHN P. HOLT DONATION TO THE BRENTWOOD LIBRARY.
THE CITY SPONSORED EASTER EGG HUNT AT THE LIBRARY IS A COMMUNITY FAVORITE, AND IT WILL BE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 19TH AT 1:00 PM YOU CAN TAKE PHOTOS WITH THE EASTER BUNNY USING YOUR OWN CAMERA AND BRING YOUR OWN BASKET SO YOU CAN BE READY BECAUSE THE HEMP HUNT WILL BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 1:30 PM THE FIELD WILL BE DIVIDED INTO DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS SO THAT OUR TODDLERS ALL THE WAY UP TO AGE 12 WILL BE IN DIFFERENT AGE APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS.
TO GIVE EVERYONE SA KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AND GIVE EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND SOME EGGS, PLEASE CHECK THE LIBRARY WEBSITE TO SEE A FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM YOGA TO CROSS STITCHING TO CHESS CLUB, AND THE ALWAYS POPULAR BINGO WITH BAGELS.
SO, UM, ALSO AT THE LIBRARY, EARLY VOTING STARTS ON APRIL 24TH THROUGH MAY 1ST WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SUNDAY AND ELECTION DAY IS MAY 6TH.
AND, UM, I WILL HOLD MY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THE AGENDA ITEM UNTIL THAT AGENDA ITEM.
GOOD, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ANDREWS.
SO THE FREE BOARD MEETS TOMORROW MORNING, SEVEN 30 AND NEXT ROOM, NEXT DOOR.
HIGHLY ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME SEE THE GOINGS ON TO COME JOIN US.
IT'S, UH, MORE THE MERRIER FOR SURE.
BUT THE TREE BOARD IS A HARDWORKING BUNCH.
WE, UH, JUST HAD ARBOR DAY, WHICH IS A FANTASTIC EVENT.
AS COMMISSIONER MCMILLAN MENTIONED,
[00:45:01]
UH, GREAT TURNOUT.HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE CAME TO SEE IT, GAVE AWAY THOUSANDS OF TREES AND HAD A GREAT TIME.
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE PART OF THAT.
SO TOMORROW MORNING'S TOPIC IS SORT OF THE ARBOR DAY POSTMORTEM.
WE'LL SIT DOWN AND AS A TREE BOARD TALK ABOUT WHAT WENT WELL, WHAT COULD BE BETTER, AND HOW TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND, UH, KEEP MAKING BETTER EVEN YET NEXT YEAR.
UM, AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC WORKS, YOU KNOW, CHIEF AND CHIEF, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN TESTING THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
BEEN A LOT GOING ON IN BRENTWOOD, UH, WEATHER AND OTHERWISE.
AND, UH, IT IS REALLY, I MEAN, HAVING A DEPENDABLE CITY STAFF THAT GETS OUT THERE AND TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS IS FANTASTIC AND I REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL.
AND ALONG THOSE LINES, UM, HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS? WELL, THINGS LIKE THE TECH TEAM CHALLENGE AND A CERTAIN FIT FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED OF, UH, DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, BRIAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GONNA GET ANY OF THE FIREMEN OUT THERE TO DO THE TECH TEAM CHALLENGE WITH 'EM, IT'S COMING UP ON MAY 3RD.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT IT IS A HUMBLING AFFAIR, BUT IF ANYONE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, THE TACTICAL TEAM IS THE, THE GROUP OF KIND OF OVER AND ABOVE, UH, TACTICAL OFFICERS THAT REALLY DO EXTRA TRAINING.
THE FITNESS REQUIREMENT IS PRETTY AMAZING.
AND A FEW YEARS AGO AS COMMUNITY RELATIONS, THEY OPENED UP THEIR FITNESS ASSESSMENT TO THE PUBLIC WHERE, UH, ACTUAL MERE MORTALS CAN SIGN UP TO COME OUT THERE AND TRY THIS EVENT.
AND I, I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S, IT'S INSPIRING, IT'S HUMBLING, AND IT IS, UH, IT IS MEMORABLE.
SO, UH, SO COME ON OUT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IF YOU DO WANT TO DO IT.
AND, AND CHIEF, IS IT FULL RIGHT NOW OR THEY STILL SIGNING THE LAST COUPLE SLOTS? DO YOU KNOW? I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY FIT A FEW MORE IN
SO BE ALL, BE SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME OUT THE, THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT, THEY DID ONE WAVE.
I THINK THIS PAST TIME THEY HAD TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT STARTS, TWO DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE MORNING TO TRY TO FIT IN ALL THE PARTICIPANTS AND, UH, WITH THE LIBRARY BOARD AND FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.
AND WANDA, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT.
YOU KNOW, UH, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE FOR YEARS AND IT'S VERY EASY FOR ME TO COME UP HERE AND, YOU KNOW, GET, GET THE REPORT FROM THE FRIENDS AND SAY, OKAY, WE DID ANOTHER SALE AND WE SOLD 13,000 OR 15,000 OR THIS PAST TIME, WHAT, $15,824 OF BOOKS.
BUT THEY INVITED ME TO COME BY AND I DID THE CASHIERING LAST SATURDAY AND GOT TO SEE IN PERSON HOW TO RAISE 15 PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS, LIKE A BUCKET A TIME BECAUSE I MEAN, THE, THE, THE BOOKS ARE, YOU KNOW, TWO BUCKS FOR SOFT COVER, THREE BUCKS FOR HARD COVER.
AND IF YOU REALLY SPLURGE AND FIND SOMETHING EXCEPTIONAL, THERE'S A RACK OF $10 BOOKS THAT YOU CAN DIG INTO.
AND BEING OUT THERE AND JUST SEEING THE STEADY STREAM OF PEOPLE FROM, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT YOU'D EXPECT TO, I HAD ONE GENTLEMAN LOOKED LIKE A GRADUATE STUDENT, I THINK BOUGHT EVERY BOOK HE COULD FIND ON PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY.
AND HE HAD A BOX OF LIKE 12 BOOKS, UH, ALL HARDCOVER, UH, MAYBE THE BIGGEST PURCHASE I SAW.
BUT, UM, TO LITTLE KIDS COMING THROUGH AND JUST, YOU KNOW, ARMS FULL OF SOFT COVERAGE KIDS BOOKS AND GAMES AND DIFFERENT STUFF.
AND, UM, IF ANYONE WANTS TO HAVE A REALLY INSPIRING KIND OF DAY AND SEEING A LOT OF THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY, JOIN THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND WORK THE BOOK SALE.
SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, MAYOR.
I'M GONNA START OFF TONIGHT IN THE HISTORY BOWL MODE 160 YEARS AGO TODAY, APRIL 14TH, 1865.
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY? RAISE YOUR HAND.
MY HISTORY, FELLOW HISTORY, HISTORIC BOARD MEMBER KNOWS BACK THERE AND, YOU KNOW, ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS SHOT AT FORD'S THEATER WHILE WATCHING MY AMERICAN COUSIN 160 YEARS AGO.
TODAY, A TRAGIC DAY FOR OUR COUNTRY, I THINK.
BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH MENTIONING TONIGHT ALSO SPEAKING IN THAT VEIN, SORT OF, I, I WAS VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT OFFICER LUNDGREN HAD A HUNDRED PERCENT MARKSMANSHIP RECORD.
AND I PRAY HE NEVER HAS TO USE IT.
I THINK WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT EVER WHILE HE'S HERE.
BUT WE'RE GLAD HE'S PREPARED IF, IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARRIVE, ARISE.
UM, THE EVENTS FROM MAY 18TH AT RAVENSWOOD MANSION ARE FALLING INTO PLACE BEAUTIFULLY.
IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC AFTERNOON.
IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN IN THE HOUSE.
WE WELCOME YOU ALL TO COME GAMES FOR THE CHILDREN.
THERE'S A DJ, A FOOD TENT, A BEVERAGE GARDEN, AND WE ARE HAVING A PARADE AT TWO O'CLOCK.
IT WILL BE LED BY THE RAVENS RAVENWOOD HIDE VAN.
AND I WANT TO GIVE A TIP OF THE HAT
[00:50:01]
TO THEIR BAND DIRECTOR, MS. VO.WHEN I TALKED TO HER ABOUT IT, I SAID, IT'S A HOT DAY.
UH, AND IF WE CAN JUST HAVE EVEN PART OF THE BAND, 'CAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE A LITTLE SHORT PARADE OR JUST AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE HOUSE, THAT ROAD OUT THERE.
AND I SAID, AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO WEAR UNIFORMS. SHE SAID, IF WE COME, WE'RE COMING FULL UNIFORM AND FULL BAND.
AND THAT'S HOW THEY'RE COMING.
SO I HOPE YOU'LL ALL COME TO SEE THEM.
LEAVE THE PARADE, IT WILL BE WONDERFUL.
WE'VE GOT ALL SORTS OF THINGS GOING ON THAT DAY.
ALSO, THE BRENT VALE, UH, REPURPOSED CABIN TO THE NEW PAVILION WE'LL BE OPENING LATER THIS SUMMER.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
WE WILL BE STARTING OUR BOILING SPRING ACADEMY OPEN HOUSES IN JUNE.
JUNE THE FIRST SUNDAY IN JUNE.
AND WE WILL DO THEM THROUGH THE NICE WEATHER FROM TWO TO FOUR.
THERE WILL BE DOCENTS OUT THERE AND WE WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO COME.
AND, AND THIS PAST WEEKEND, THE TREE THAT HAS GRACED THE LIBRARY OF PROPERTY WHERE WE'VE DECORATED FOR CHRISTMAS FOR, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY YEARS AFTER IT MOVED FOR MARYLAND FARMS AND WE STARTED DOING IT AT THE LIBRARY, I GUESS IT'S BEEN SINCE LIKE 1992 WHEN THE LIBRARY WAS BUILT.
SO FORTUNATELY WE, WE KNEW IT WAS ON ITS LAST LEG, SO TO SPEAK.
SO WE PLANTED A NEW TREE A FEW YEARS AGO.
BUT IT, THE, THE LIBRARY HAD WONDERFUL PLANS FOR WHEN IT WAS SUPERIOR THAT, THAT IT COULDN'T LAST ANY LONGER.
THEY WERE GONNA HAVE SOME CARVINGS DONE OUT OF IT, JUST SOME, BUT IT, THE WAY IT FELT, THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.
AND I TOLD OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR, I SAID, I THINK OF THAT AS THE GIVING TREE.
I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU HAVE READ THAT BOOK TO YOUR CHILDREN.
THAT TREE GAVE SO MUCH TO THE COMMUNITY DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
I MEAN, IT WAS THE CENTER OF A, A CRIME DRAMA WHEN MR. GRINCH WAS STOLEN FROM OUT, FROM UNDER A FEW YEARS AGO, IF YOU REMEMBER.
AND THE VILLAIN ACTUALLY RETURNED MR. GRINCH TO THE TREE AFTER SOME GOOD, SOME GOOD PUBLICITY.
SO IT'S GIVEN US A LOT OF JOY AND, AND I'M SORRY THAT IT, IT MET ITS DEMISE IN SUCH A SAD WAY.
BUT, UH, WE DO APPRECIATE WHAT IT'S DONE.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT TO REPORT, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND BEING HERE.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER LITTLE, UH, HAD AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING THIS EVENING, AND I WON'T GO THROUGH EVERYTHING, BUT WE JOINED IN WITH THE TREE BOARD ON, ON ARBOR DAY, A GREAT CELEBRATION AND, UM, DONE AN INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL AT AL HILL PARK.
BUT ONE THING I'VE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT IS WE'VE GOT A POLLINATOR GARDEN GOING AT SMITH PARK.
AND IN THE FALL IN THE APPROPRIATE TIME, WE, WE PLANTED WHAT WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST DETRACTORS TO THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY, WHICH IS MILKWEED.
AND NEXT WEDNESDAY AT 5:00 PM WE'LL BE BACK OUT AT SMITH PARK.
IT'S JUST THE MANSIONS TO YOUR LEFT AND, AND THE TRAILS START UP THE HILL.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE WAYS UP THE HILL ON THE RIGHT.
AND WE'LL BE SPREADING WILDFLOWER SEEDS THAT ALSO ATTRACT POLLINATORS AND MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, BUT BEES AND BUTTERFLIES AND, AND THOSE TYPES OF INSECTS, WITHOUT THEM WE DIE.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY.
IN THE LAST 10, 20 YEARS, THEY'VE TAKEN A, UM, KIND OF ALMOST A BEATING.
UH, I KNOW IN ONE YEAR I BELIEVE THE MONARCH POPULATION WAS REDUCED BY LIKE 35% FROM, FROM WHAT THEY COUNT.
GREW UP WITH RELATIVES WHO WERE, HAD BEEHIVES AND HAD FRESH HONEY AND ALL THAT.
SO DEFINITELY A FAN OF TAKING CARE OF OUR POLLINATORS.
UM, ONE GREAT THING ABOUT ELECTION TIME IS MEETING ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE, UM, AND HAVE HAD SOME EVENTS THAT MEETING THE CITIZENS OF BRENTWOOD HAVE BEEN VERY ENJOYABLE.
UH, THANK YOU TO THE MU FAMILY ON, UH, MARCH 30TH AT THEIR HOUSE IN CHINLE WITH, UH, HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE I HAD NEVER MET.
AND SO THAT WAS VERY ENJOYABLE.
UM, VERY PLEASED WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND MIKE PED FOR THEIR FORUM.
UM, A VERY FAIR, IMPARTIAL, NON ENDORSING ORGANIZATION THAT IS NATIONWIDE AND HAS HAD FORUMS FOR DECADES.
AND, UM, IT WAS AN A, A ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO, TO ENGAGE WITH THE BRENTWOOD CITIZENS AND THE CITY WE ALL LOVE.
UH, FABULOUS TIME LAST NIGHT AT THE DAVIS HOUSE IN SOMERSET.
UH, LIVELY DISCUSSIONS WITH CITIZENS AND, UH, THEY LIVE VERY CLOSE TO CROCKETT PARK, SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INTEREST IN THAT AREA, UM, ABOUT THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN, UM, DISCUSSING FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
UH, GREAT EVENT THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE HERSCH'S.
[00:55:01]
GOT TO INTERACT WITH A NUMBER OF CITIZENS IN INDIAN POINT AND, UH, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY THAT NIGHT.I, OF COURSE, BY MY PROFESSION, I LOVE BEING AROUND PEOPLE AND I LOVE SERVING PEOPLE.
SO THAT'S THE FUN PART OF ELECTION TIME.
I'VE SERVED AT PANCAKE DAY AS A ROTARIAN FOR 25 YEARS.
UM, IT'S SUCH A JOY TO GET TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE.
UH, SO MANY PEOPLE COME OUT AND WE'VE COMBINED THAT WITH CARS FOR KIDS, WHICH IS GREAT.
THAT'S A FUNDRAISER FOR THE TENNESSEE BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOME.
AND I WAS, UH, BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE AWARDS DURING THAT AND, UH, UH, REALLY NEED ALL THE CARS.
UH, I THINK THE BEST OF SHOW WAS A 1920 ROLLS ROYCE SILVER CLOUD, UH, WHICH IS A VERY RARE CAR.
I GOT TO PRESENT TO AN INTERNATIONAL SCOUT WINNER, INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER WINNER, WHICH WAS INTERESTING 'CAUSE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, WE HAD AN INTERNATIONAL SCOUT WHEN THIS AREA WAS MUCH MORE RURAL AND THEY WERE ONE OF THE FEW FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES OF THAT DAY.
BRENTWOODS A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY.
I, I KNOW WE MENTIONED ABOUT SMALL TOWN, SOMEONE MENTIONED ABOUT SMALL TOWN AND, AND WHEN I WAS YOUNG IT WAS A SMALL TOWN.
'CAUSE WHEN I WAS IN FIRST GRADE, THERE WERE 3000 PEOPLE HERE.
SO IT'S, UH, IT STILL KEPT A LOT OF THAT FLAVOR.
SO APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
EACH NIGHT I START OUT MY PUBLIC COMMENTS WITH, UM, THANKING THE RESIDENTS OF BRENTWOOD FOR ENGAGING THE WAY YOU DO WITH US.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE MEETING TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR STOPPING US WHEN YOU SEE US OUT, THANK YOU FOR ASKING QUESTIONS.
UM, WHEN YOU ENGAGE WITH US, IT REALLY DOES MAKE THE BEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
YOUR QUESTIONS MAKE US BETTER, THEY MAKE US SHARPER.
AND, UM, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR ALL THE TIMES THAT YOU ENGAGE WITH US.
UM, JAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.
UH, YOU DID YEOMAN'S WORK DURING THESE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE BUDGET.
UM, AND YOU TWEAKED THE BUDGET FOR US ON OUR REQUESTS FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THAT CAUSED A LOT OF STAFF TIME.
AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE, UM, FOR CARRYING US THROUGH, UM, KEEPING A STEADY HAND ON THE WHEEL, UM, AND DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
SO THANK YOU, UM, CHIEF COLVIN, GREAT TEAM TODAY.
SO, IT JUST FILLS MY HEART WITH JOY TO SEE THESE, UM, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY CAPABLE, UM, WILLING TO PUT THEIR LIVES AT RISK FOR OURS.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO GET SUCH QUALIFIED PEOPLE HERE.
OUR LAST PARK BOARD MEETING WAS APRIL 7TH, AND THE PARK BOARD APPROVED THE USE OF CROCKETT PARK FIELDS ONE AND TWO FOR A SOCCER TOURNAMENT FOR THE UNITED SOCCER ASSOCIATION, NASHVILLE, I'M SORRY, NASHVILLE UNITED SOCCER ASSOCIATION.
YOU MAY KNOW IT IS NOOSA ON SUNDAY, MAY 11TH, AND THAT IS MOTHER'S DAY.
WE DISCUSSED THE RAVENWOOD MANSION TWO 200TH ANNIVERSARY PARADE, AND THAT WILL HAPPEN ON MAY 18TH.
AND WE ALSO UNANIMOUSLY APPOINTED RYAN REED TO SERVE AS THE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE TREE BOARD.
WE HEARD A REPORT ON ARBOR DAY AND THE LATEST LIBRARY, ARBORETUM TREE PLANNING THAT TAKE TOOK PLACE.
OUR NEXT PARK BOARD MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY MAY 5TH.
IT'S AT 5:30 PM AND IT ALWAYS IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR IN THE ANNEX ROOM, AND IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN COMING, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME.
UM, ARBOR DAY WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT HELPED WITH THAT.
THANK YOU TO THE TREE BOARD FOR ALWAYS PUTTING ON A WONDERFUL AND WELCOMING EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT THE LIBRARY EACH YEAR, ANOTHER YEAR OF CITIZENS FIRE ACADEMY IS COMING TO A CLOSE THIS THURSDAY EVENING.
I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF FIRE ACADEMY THIS YEAR.
IT HAS BEEN A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR PLANS TO BE A PART OF IT NEXT YEAR IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT, UH, BEFORE.
AND YOU CAN REACH OUT TO FIRE MARSHAL JEFF PENDER FOR MORE INFORMATION.
OR YOU CAN JUMP ON THE CITY WEBSITE OR GIVE A CALL.
UM, SPEAKING OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE RETIREMENT OF CHRIS BOWEN ON FRIDAY, APRIL 4TH.
IT WAS HELD AT HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THEIR PAVILION.
THE WIND WAS VERY BLUSTERY, BUT IT DID NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE CELEBRATION AS THERE WERE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PEOPLE THAT CAME TO CELEBRATE CHRIS AND HIS AMAZING YEAR, UH, 30 YEAR CAREER AT BRENTWOOD FIRE.
WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF BRENTWOOD, AND WE WISH HIM ALL THE BEST IN HIS RETIREMENT.
MY GUESS IS WE MIGHT SEE HIM AROUND SOME WORKING OUT AND, UM, VISITING HIS FRIENDS.
AS A REMINDER, WE'RE HOSTING THE SECOND ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL ON MONDAY, APRIL 12TH AT FIVE 30.
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED AND WE SURE HOPE YOU DO.
IT'LL BE BEFORE OUR CITY COMMISSION MEETING THIS YEAR.
UH, THE, ON THURSDAY MORNING AT OUR BRIEFING THIS PAST WEEK, WE DISCUSSED THE UPDATE OF THE
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NEW INITIATIVE FOR A PERMANENT VETERANS MEMORIAL IN THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD.THE CITY COMMISSION DECIDED THAT WE WILL HAVE AN AD HOC COMMITTEE OF RESIDENTS WHO WILL VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND EXPERIENCE TO HELP US PLANNING THIS PERMANENT MEMORIAL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING YOU INFORMED ABOUT THIS PROCESS IN THE COMING WEEKS.
IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, I'VE HAD A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT, FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT THE SEVEN CITY COMMISSIONERS AND HOW WE GET ALONG.
UM, IT WAS ADDRESSED TONIGHT, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU THAT I FOUND HELPFUL.
UM, I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH AND TOOK SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT THIS QUESTION.
I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION FOR TWO YEARS AND I'VE JUST NOT SPECIFICALLY COUNTED EACH ONE, BUT ON AVERAGE, FIGURED OUT THAT WE HAVE VOTED ON MAYBE 300 ITEMS SINCE I'VE BEEN A CITY COMMISSIONER.
AND OF THOSE 300 ITEMS, WE VOTED SEVEN.
AND ON THOSE LESS THAN 10 ITEMS, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ITEMS WERE TO PAUSE TO GET MORE INFORMATION BEFORE WE MADE A DECISION IN OUR DISCOURSE.
UP HERE WE ARE EXTREMELY CIVIL.
SOMETIMES WE DO DISAGREE, BUT I THINK IN DISAGREEING IT BRINGS A BETTER FORM OF GOVERNMENT FOR YOU BECAUSE WE DON'T JUST SAY SURE IN LOCKSTEP.
WE, WE TALK OUT THE IDEAS AND WE DECIDE WHAT'S BEST TO DO AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.
SO I JUST WANNA SHARE THAT DATA WITH YOU SO THAT YOU KNEW, UM, THOSE VOTE TOTALS.
UM, GREAT TO HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE.
WE SIT HERE MANY TIMES AND THERE'S TWO OR THREE PEOPLE OUT THERE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
WE WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE PARTICIPATING.
I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES TOO, THERE'S SOME FRUSTRATIONS.
IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST MEETING, YOU MAY EXPECT DIFFERENT THINGS TO HAPPEN.
YOU MIGHT EXPECT US TO INTERCHANGE TO SAY SOME THINGS DURING COMMENTS.
THERE'S, THERE'S RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO GO BY.
SO IT'S NOT THAT YOU, WE DON'T WANNA SAY THINGS SOMETIMES, BUT WE CAN'T SAY IT UNTIL THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
SO JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT AND WE'LL SEE THIS, HOW IT PLAYS OUT THE REST OF THE MEETING.
BUT, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GREAT POLICE OFFICERS.
UH, BRINGS US PRETTY CLOSE TO FULL, DON'T IT, CHIEF? PRETTY CLOSE.
AND, AND, AND YOU, YOU GUYS SAW THAT THOSE ARE HERE, THOSE ARE GREAT QUALITY PEOPLE.
THE LAST FEW HIRES HAVE JUST BEEN OUTSTANDING.
WE ARE SO BLESSED WITH OUR, BOTH OUR, UH, POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THE QUALITY PEOPLE AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE NEAR A HUNDRED PERCENT FULL.
AND PART OF IT IS, AND I TOLD THESE YOUNG OFFICERS TONIGHT WHEN I MET 'EM BEFORE, I SAID, BRENTWOOD, CITIZENS ARE GONNA LIKE YOU.
THEY WAVE AT YOU, THEY HONK AT YOU.
ONE, ONE GENTLEMAN SAID SOMEBODY ALREADY BROUGHT HIM BROWNIES WHEN HE WAS OUT THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD THING.
AND I THINK, I THINK WE DO APPRECIATE AND TREAT OUR PUBLIC WORK, PUBLIC SERVICE PEOPLE VERY WELL.
JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, PEOPLE PROBABLY ARE FAMILIAR WITH GLOBAL AUTO SPORTS.
USED TO BE A CAR DEALERSHIP DOWN IN COOL SPRINGS.
UH, THAT LOT IS BEING TAKEN OVER BY EV AUTO RENOVATIONS.
UH, IT'S AN ELECTRIC CAR SELLER.
THEY ACTUALLY HAD TWO OR THREE STOP AND GO TYPE MARKETS THAT WANTED TO GO IN THERE, AND THEY'RE STOP AND GO MARKETS ALL AROUND THERE.
SO I KIND OF THINK THAT'S A WIN THAT WE KEPT ANOTHER STOP AND GO MARKET OUT OF THERE.
UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION ALSO APPROVED A RESTAURANT TO GO INTO THE TENNESSEE'S TEACHER'S CREDIT UNION BUILDING.
IT'S THE VERY LAST BUILDING IN BRENTWOOD.
MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT'S BRENTWOOD ALL THE WAY DOWN THAT WAY, BUT THAT'S BRENTWOOD.
AND UH, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A, SOME KIND OF NEW, NEW, UH, RESTAURANT.
IT'S GONNA BE HEALTHY FOOD AND IT'S GONNA HAVE DRIVE THROUGH.
IT SOUNDS VERY INTERESTING IN THAT SAME AREA.
IT CAME UP THAT, UM, THERE'S AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT AT COOL SPRINGS MALL.
THE CITY OF FRANKLIN APPROVES REZONING OF 86 ACRES OF THE COOL SPRINGS GALLERIA PROJECT.
LOCAL LEADERS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVE THE REZONING OF OVER 86 ACRES, ACRES FOR REGIONAL COMMERCE TO PLAN DEVELOPMENT.
THIS APPROVAL WILL MAKE WAY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 1,659,584 SQUARE FEET OF NON-RESIDENTIAL SPACE, 120 HOTEL ROOMS AND 600 MULTI-FAMILY UNITS.
UM, I'M JUST TELLING YOU, THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH BRENTWOOD.
THEY DON'T ASK OUR OPINION, BUT IF YOU THINK MALLORY LANE'S CROWDED RIGHT NOW, IT'S REALLY GONNA BE CROWDED AND CHRISTMAS IS GONNA BE UNBELIEVABLE.
BUT, UM, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT GOES ON THERE, ANOTHER BIG HAPPENING THAT CAME UP WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHATABURGER WHATABURGER RIBBON CUTTING
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MAY THE 12TH AT 11:00 AM SO I THINK, UH, THAT'S THE LAST I GOT ON WORD ON THAT.BUT I THINK WHATABURGER WILL BE OPEN VERY SOON AFTER THAT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT WE HAD AT OUR MEETING ON THURSDAY.
IT'S A LONG MEETING, BUT IT'S VERY NEEDED.
UM, THE MEMORANDUM FROM THE CITY MANAGER STATES IN IT THAT THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE FIVE YEAR PROGRAM IS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITY EQUIPMENT NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
GIVEN THE STRONG PACE OF GROWTH IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE REGION, BRENTWOOD IS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS A DESIRABLE COMMUNITY TO LIVE, WORK AND TO DO BUSINESS.
THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER WAS VERY GOOD IN, IN PREPARING THIS AND AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH JAY.
UM, JUST TWO QUICK LAST THINGS.
UM, I ALSO HAD IN, IN MY NOTES THAT, UH, THE CITY COMMISSION ACTUALLY VOTES TOGETHER MORE THAN THEY VOTE APART.
IF WE DIDN'T, WE COULDN'T HAVE CONSENT AGENDAS, I DON'T THINK.
I THINK YOU'D SEE THAT THOSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'D ALWAYS BE A HAND GOING UP, BUT MOST, MOST WE'RE REALLY IN AGREEMENT.
OF COURSE THE RACKET CENTER HAS, IS A BIG FOCUS ON THAT.
AND THAT'S JUST CALLING OUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
THE ONE THING THAT I HOPE THAT GETS FIXED BEFORE I RUN AGAIN IS NEXT DOOR IS SO HATEFUL.
IF YOU'RE COUNTING ON GETTING YOUR, YOUR INFORMATION FROM NEXT DOOR, IT'S A MISTAKE.
IT'S HATEFUL, IT'S WRONG INFORMATION.
I ACTUALLY HAD A FRIEND WHO POSTED, AND BECAUSE IT WAS A DIFFERENT OPINION, IT'S TAKEN DOWN.
THERE'S, THERE'S A, THERE'S A ABILITY FOR THEM NEXT DOOR TO TAKE POSTS DOWN.
SO IF THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GETTING YOUR INFORMATION, IT'S NOT GOOD.
CALL THE COMMISSIONER, CALL THE MAYOR, CALL THE VICE MAYOR, WHATEVER.
WE'LL GIVE YOU WHAT DATA WE HAVE, BUT NEXT DOOR IS HURTFUL AND I JUST WANTED TO CLOSE WITH THAT.
UM, I'LL TRY AND BE BRIEF WITH, UH, WITH MY COMMENTS.
UH, JAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FILLING THE, UH, THE SHOES, UH, DURING THIS, UH, THIS INTERIM ROLE.
UH, YOU'VE DONE A, UH, A GOOD JOB, UH, KEEPING US HEADED DOWN THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY DURING THE, UH, THE BUDGET SEASON.
UH, THAT IS, UH, A HEAVY LIFT, UH, FOR SURE.
UH, BUT THANKS TO YOU AND, UH, AND KAREN AND, UH, AND STAFF, UM, CHIEF, UH, GREAT WORK WITH, UH, WITH OFFICERS LUNDGREN, UH, MALFORD AND, UH, AND SMITH.
UH, JUST FANTASTIC THREE COLLEGE ATHLETES.
AND, UH, NO TIME IN THE PENALTY BOX.
UM, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IF IT, IF IT'S EVER NEEDED.
UM, UH, AND I BELIEVE, UH, HE COULD HOLD HIS OWN.
BUT, UM, THAT'S A, UH, AN INTERESTING STAT.
NO TIME IN THE, UH, IN THE PENALTY BOX.
UM, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS, UH, TO GO TO, UH, THE PRESERVE, BRENTWOOD, UH, DEBATE, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, UH, AND BIKE WALK, UH, BRENTWOOD, UM, GOOD FORUMS, AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE VOLUNTEER WORK, UH, BY EVERYONE, UH, PUTTING THOSE, UH, TOGETHER.
ADDITIONALLY, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO ANOTHER VOL.
COUPLE OF VOLUNTEER EVENTS, UH, BRENTWOOD UP, UH, HAD EVENTS AT MAYOR BULLS AND, UH, CARRINGTON, UH, IN ROW, AND HAD OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH, UH, A LOT OF DIFFERENT FOLKS THAT I HADN'T MET BEFORE.
UH, HERE IN THE, UH, IN THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD RELATED TO THE, UH, THE REFERENDUM.
UM, SPECIFICALLY IT'S MT A S UH, 180 8 TCA NINE DASH 21 DASH 2 0 1 9 DASH 21 DASH 2 0 1.
UM, THAT'LL GIVE YOU THE, UH, THE INFORMATION ABOUT, UH, A REFERENDUM.
IT'S, UH, IT'S VERY CLEAR IN, UH, TENNESSEE STATE LAW.
UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON JUST REAL FAST, UH, AND ADDRESS, UH, SOMETHING THAT, UM, WENT OUT, UH, ONLINE.
UH, AND ALL THE INFORMATION WAS, UH, WAS PROVIDED, UH, TO, UH, THE PERSON THAT WAS, UH, PUTTING THIS, UH, ONLINE.
UH, HOWEVER, UH, IT WAS NOT REPORTED, UH, UH, ACCURATELY.
UH, SO I'M GOING TO READ A LETTER, UH, FROM, UH, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, UH, DATE FROM KRISTEN KORN, DATED THURSDAY, UH, APRIL 10TH.
ALL I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE EMAIL BELOW YESTERDAY EVENING, AND THAT IT HAD A COPY OF MR. JOHN HARRIS'S LETTER ADDRESS TO ME.
I'VE REVIEWED THE LETTER AND CLARIFIED WITH MR. HARRIS THAT IT DOES NOT, DOES NOT SET FORTH AN ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST MAYOR GORMAN.
THEREFORE, THERE WILL NOT BE AN ITEM TO CONSIDER, UM, THIS LETTER ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
RATHER, AS YOU HAVE READ, MR. HARRIS HAS INQUIRED ABOUT CERTAIN RECORDS FROM THE CITY.
I'VE DIRECTED MR. HARRIS AND THE CITY'S TO THE CITY'S RECORD REQUEST.
PORTABLE AND UNDERSTAND HE WILL BE SUBMITTING THIS RECORD REQUEST SOON.
AS WITH ALL RECORDS REQUESTS PERTAINING TO THIS, TO PARTICULAR EMPLOYEES OR COMMISSIONER'S.
STAFF WILL LET MAYOR GORMAN KNOW WHEN IT IS RECEIVED AND WHEN IS FULFILLED.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND STAY SAFE IN TODAY'S FORECASTED STORMS. CHRISTIAN CORN CITY ATTORNEY, BUT WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS IN THE, UH, IN THE RECORD.
UM, THERE WAS A, UH, LETTER THAT WAS, UH, WAS SENT OUT, UH, A SMEAR, UH, ON ME AND MY WIFE'S, UH, BUSINESS.
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REPORTED, UH, ACCURATELY WITH, UH, ALL OF THE INFORMATION TO THE NEWS.HOWEVER, THE NEWS FAILED, UH, TO REPORT IT, UH, ACCURATELY.
UM, SO DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU LEAD READ ONLINE, UH, EVEN LIKE PITCHING, UH, FOR A COUPLE INNINGS, RIGHT? UM, SO, UM, I'LL CLOSE WITH, UM, WE HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A, UH, A VERY HAPPY EASTER AND SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
WE'LL CLOSE, UM, COMMENTS FROM, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, AND WE WILL
[ Consent Agenda]
MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.PLEASE NOTE, ALL MATTERS LISTED UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION, EXCEPT FOR ANY ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS AT THIS TIME.
ITEM NUMBER ONE, RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 28 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE INSTALLATION OF TWO MEDIAN ISLANDS ON SUNSET ROAD IN THE MAGNOLIA VAIL SUBDIVISION AND AUTHORIZING A LANDSCAPE AGREEMENT WITH MAGNOLIA VAIL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION FOR MAINTENANCE OF SAME FOR ADOPTION.
AND THEN ITEM NUMBER TWO, RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 29 A RESOLUTION ENDORSING AN APPLICATION FOR FIREHOUSE SUBS PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION.
GRANT, DO I HEAR A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE? I'LL SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
IS THERE ANY OTHER OLD BUSINESS BEFORE THE COMMISSION THIS EVENING? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE.
[1. Ethics complaint from Rebecca Martinez alleging violation of Brentwood Code of Ordinances Sec. 2-233(b) by Commissioner Rhea Little]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER ONE, ETHICS COMPLAINT FROM REBECCA MARTINEZ ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF BRENTWOOD CITY ORDINANCES.SECTION TWO DASH 2 3 3 B BY COMMISSIONER RAY.
LITTLE DO I HEAR A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE.
SO, SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS THIS.
I'M SORRY, WHAT IS THE MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT.
APPROVE WHAT THE OPTIONS BY CODE ARE TO FIND THAT THERE WAS A VIOLATION, THAT THERE WAS NOT A VIOLATION, OR THAT YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION.
SO ONE OF THOSE THREE MOTIONS NEEDS TO BE MADE.
I GUESS IT'S WHAT, SAY THAT AGAIN.
I SAID THE OPTIONS PURSUANT TO CODE ARE TO FIND THAT A VIOLATION HAS OCCURRED, THAT A VIOLATION HAS NOT OCCURRED OR THAT THERE IS, THAT A FURTHER INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO OCCUR.
SO THOSE ARE THE THREE OPTIONAL MOTIONS.
I THOUGHT WE HAD TO MOVE, APPROVE IT SO THAT WE COULD DISCUSS IT.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE'S NOTHING TO APPROVE.
SO, UM, MOVE TO, UM, HAVE FURTHER TO IT WARRANTS, UM, FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
AND I'M SORRY, I SHOULD CLARIFY THAT.
'CAUSE THAT WOULD MEAN TO SEND IT OFF FOR LIKE AN INVESTIGATION FOR EITHER YOU ALL APPOINT ME TO DO AN INVESTIGATION OR, UM, DELEGATE SOME OTHER ETHICS OFFICER TO INVESTIGATE.
NOW WITH THAT SAID, I DON'T SEE A REASON PURSUANT TO CODE THAT YOU CAN'T GO AHEAD AND DISCUSS THIS WITHOUT A MOTION AND, AND HAVE STAFF PRESENT AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IT WITHOUT A MOTION AT THIS TIME.
ALRIGHT, SO WE CAN'T, YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE FINE TO DISCUSS WITHOUT A MOTION WHO SHOULD START? SHOULD, CAN I ONE OF US START, OR THE PERSON WHO'S BEING ACCUSED START? UH, MR. EVANS WILL DO THE STAFF REPORT, JUST LIKE OKAY.
TYPICAL IF, IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE COMMISSION.
MAYOR, ON MARCH 31ST, I RECEIVED THE ETHICS COMPLAINT THAT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD TONIGHT AND HAS BEEN INCLUDED AS A PART OF YOUR AGENDA PACKET AGAINST COMMISSIONER RAY LITTLE THAT ALLEGES VIOLATIONS OF TENNESSEE STATE STATUTES AS WELL AS BRENTWOOD CITY CODE.
IT IS THE BRENTWOOD CITY CODE PORTION THAT WOULD COME UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
AND IT REFERENCES OUR CODE OF ETHICS, WHICH IS LOCATED IN SECTION TWO DASH 2 33, AND ITS SECTION B OF THAT SECTION THAT WAS CITED AS THE VIOLATION AS IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE CODE OF ETHICS.
THE CITY MANAGER CAN COLLECT INFORMATION OR FACTS THAT MAY BE HELPFUL TO THE CITY COMMISSION AS YOU DELIBERATE THE MERITS OF THIS COMPLAINT.
SO I ASKED FOR A, UH, STATEMENT FROM COMMISSIONER LITTLE, A STATEMENT FROM OUR TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.
OTHER THAN THAT CITY CODE IS, AS THE ATTORNEY HAS, HAS TOLD YOU, IS SOMEWHAT SILENT TO THE METHODOLOGY THAT YOU WOULD USE TO CONDUCT TONIGHT'S PROCEEDINGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF YOU HAVE THREE THINGS THAT YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT, WHICH HE JUST STATED AND I WON'T REPEAT NOW.
SO A COPY, UH, COPIED IN YOUR PACKET IS THE COMPLAINT, THE CODE OF ETHICS, AND THE TWO STATEMENTS AS I MENTIONED.
AND MAYOR, THE REST IS FOR THE CITY COMMISSION MAYOR? YES, MA'AM.
UM, SO WE HAVE A COMPLAINT THAT HAS BEEN FILED BY A RESIDENT, UH, BRENTWOOD AGAINST COMMISSIONER LITTLE REGARDING A VIOLATION OF OUR CODE OF ETHICS.
UH, THAT COMPLAINT IS IN THE CURRENT AGENDA PACKET, WHICH YOU CAN VIEW ONLINE TO SEE ALL THE DETAILS.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE HEARD IT TONIGHT.
UH, WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY THAT WE HAVE THREE
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OPTIONS, FIND THE COMPLAINT, DOES NOT HAVE MERIT, DO NOTHING, FIND THE COMPLAINT, HAS MERIT THAT A VIOLATION HAS OCCURRED, AND THEN DECIDE WHAT ACTION WE AS A COMMISSION WILL TAKE FOR THAT VIOLATION AND FIND THE COMPLAINT HAS SUFFICIENT MERIT TO WARRANT, WARRANT FURTHER INVESTIGATION.THERE ARE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN FILED BASED ON A POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF CITY OF BRENTWOOD CODE OF ETHICS, AND THERE ARE ISSUES RAISED IN THAT COMPLAINT THAT COULD VIOLATE STATE LAW.
I'VE EXAMINED OUR CODE OF ETHICS AND OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WHEN COMMISSIONER LITTLE SENT AN EMAIL TO ALL COMMISSIONERS AND THEN INSTRUCTED CITY STAFF TO REMOVE THAT EMAIL FROM MY CITY COMMISSION INBOX.
THIS CONCERNED ME BECAUSE THOSE EMAILS ARE A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD.
WE DO NOT WANT RESIDENTS TO LOSE FAITH IN THE TRANSPARENCY OF THIS GOVERNING BODY.
WHEN I EXAMINED THE CITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS, ARTICLE 17 OF OUR GENERAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES UNDER SECTION H USE OF PR CITY PROVIDED TECHNOLOGY UNDER THE REASONS FOR MONITORING OR RETRIEVING EMAIL MESSAGES AND USE OF THE COMPUTER INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING.
NUMBER SIX STATES, WHENEVER THERE IS REASONABLE SUSPICION OF A CRIME OR VIOLATION OF THIS POLICY, THEN I READ FURTHER IN THE POLICY, IT STATES THAT EMPLOYEES ARE PROHIBITED FROM USING THE CITY'S COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER.
NUMBER ONE, INTERCEPTING, INTERCEPTING, EAVESDROPPING, RECORDING, OR ALTERING ANOTHER PERSON'S EMAIL MESSAGE.
SO WHAT WE HAVE IS, COMMISSIONER LITTLE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF SOMETHING SERIOUS, BOTH AT OUR LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL.
WHAT WE ALSO HAVE IS A VERY LIMITED AND VAGUE POLICY ON THE SUBJECT OF REMOVING AND RECALLING EMAILS.
SO LET'S NOT PRETEND THERE'S NOT A BIG GIANT ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
WE ALL KNOW THERE'S AN ELECTION COMING UP, BUT LET'S DEPOLITICIZE THIS.
I'D LIKE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE FACTS IN THE COMPLAINT ARE ACCURATE OR IF AN INTERPRETATION OF OUR POLICY IS CORRECT.
THERE ARE ISSUES HERE THAT NO ONE IN THIS BUILDING, WHETHER ELECTED, APPOINTED, OR HIRED, SHOULD BE ADJUDICATING TONIGHT.
WE NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE CITY POLICY AND OR SUNSHINE LAW.
WE NEED TO GET THIS RIGHT SO THAT WE CAN ALL HAVE GOOD GOVERNMENT SO WE CAN HAVE FULL TRANSPARENCY.
I PROPOSE THAT WE HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE AND WORK WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
WE NEED A QUALIFIED, INDEPENDENT, UNBIASED, APOLITICAL REVIEW OF THESE FACTS.
AND WE NEED THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS SO WE KNOW HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS COMPLAINT.
WE ALSO NEED OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO DO AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF OUR POLICY AND PROVIDE NECESSARY CHANGES.
I THINK THE COMPLAINT HAS SHOWN THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT MERIT TO WARRANT FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
WE ARE ALL FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT.
WE WANT TO BE FULLY TRANSPARENT.
WE WANT TO HAVE GOOD POLICIES IN PLACE.
WE NEED TO KNOW THE ANSWERS THAT SO THAT ALL COMMISSIONERS AND CITY EMPLOYEES CAN GIVE OUR BEST FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BRENTWOOD.
IF I MAY CLARIFY, ONCE AGAIN, THE ONLY THING IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION IS WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A VIOLATION OF OUR CITY ETHICS CODE.
THERE, THERE IS NO, IT IS NOT PROPER FOR THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR, OR HIRE SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS AN OPEN MEETINGS ACT VIOLATION OR A STATE LAW VIOLATION.
THOSE ARE HANDLED SEPARATELY THROUGH THE STATE.
UM, SO THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT AN OUTSIDE ATTORNEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK TO YOU ON.
UM, AGAIN, IT WOULD BE JUST RELATIVE TO OUR STUDY CODE AND, AND WHETHER COMMISSIONER LITTLE HAD USED HIS POSITION OF AUTHORITY TO HAVE SOMEONE DO SOMETHING FOR HIM.
WOULDN'T IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO READ MY STATEMENT SINCE THE STATEMENT WAS RECORDED AND I'LL DEFER TO MAYOR GORMAN RUNNING THE MAYOR THE, THE MEETING.
PLEASE CONSIDER THIS MY WRITTEN STATEMENT.
IN RESPONSE TO REBECCA MARTINEZ'S ETHICS COMPLAINT, THE COMPLAINT CENTERS AROUND AN OCTOBER 26TH, 2024 EMAIL I SENT IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM A BRENTWOOD CITIZEN EXPRESSING HIS OPPOSITION TO A TAXPAYER FUNDED RACKETBALL FACILITY, INSTEAD OF REPLYING ONLY TO THE CITIZEN, I HIT REPLY ALL AND THAT REPLY INADVERTENTLY INCLUDED OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
WHEN I REALIZED WHAT HAD OCCURRED, I IMMEDIATELY ASKED THAT THE EMAIL BE RECALLED TO AVOID CONFUSION ABOUT WHOM IT WAS DIRECTED.
THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR HAS PREVIOUSLY INSTRUCTED CITY LEADERS AT A PUBLIC MEETING THAT ALL CITY COMMISSIONERS CAN USE THE RECALL A MESSAGE OPTION.
I DID NOT SEEK AN EXEMPTION OR PRIVILEGE UNAVAILABLE TO ALL COMMISSIONERS.
I DID NOT VIOLATE ANY RULES IF I WAS CLUMSY AND INITIALLY REPLYING TO ALL RECIPIENTS.
THAT IS A HUMAN AREA, AN ERA, AND NOT AN ETHICAL VIOLATION.
THIS IS THE ENTIRE FACTUAL BASIS OF THE ETHICS COMPLAINT.
THE ETHICS COMPLAINT STATES THAT
[01:20:01]
I HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF VIOLATING BRENTWOODS MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION TWO DASH 2 3 3, USE OF POSITION OR AUTHORITY ABOUT B, WHICH STATES THAT AN OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE MAY NOT USE OR ATTEMPT TO USE HIS POSITION TO SECURE ANY PRIVILEGE OR EXEMPTION FOR HIMSELF OR OTHERS THAT IS NOT AUTHORIZED IN THIS ARTICLE OR BY THE CHARTER GENERAL LAW ORDINANCE OR POLICY OF THE CITY.THE ALLEGATION DOES NOT STATE HOW I USE MY POSITION TO SECURE A PRIVILEGE OR EXEMPTION.
I LIMIT MY STATEMENT TO THE ALLEGATIONS THAT I VIOLATED THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD MUNICIPAL CODE.
THE OTHER ALLEGATIONS OF STATE STATUTES ARE NOT APPROPRIATE SUBJECTS FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE BRENTWOOD LEVEL AS THEY PERTAIN TO STATE LAWS.
TO BE CLEAR, I HAVE NOT VIOLATED ANY STATE STATUTE CONCERNING OPEN MEETINGS.
ON THE AFTERNOON OF OCTOBER 26TH, 2024, I IMMEDIATELY SPEAK, SPOKE WITH THE SPURLAND CITY ATTORNEY FOR GUIDANCE TO ENSURE MY HUMAN ERROR WAS NOT VIOLATING THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW.
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST HOW THE COMPLAINANT, REBECCA MARTINEZ, WAS AWARE OF THE OCTOBER 26TH, 2024 EMAIL BETWEEN COMMISSIONERS AND WHY THE COMPLAINT WAS JUST NOW FILED MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS LATER.
IT SHOULD ALSO BE KNOWN THAT MARTINEZ WAS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE BRENTWOOD RACKET FACILITY AD HOC COMMITTEE.
IRONICALLY, THIS ISSUE IS BEING RAISED LESS THAN ONE MONTH BEFORE THE MAY 6TH CITY OF BRENTWOOD ELECTION.
A FINAL MATTER TO CONSIDER IS THAT THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION.
MY OPPONENTS VOTING ON THIS ISSUE WOULD BE A POLITICAL ADVANTAGE AND CONSTITUTE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
OUR COUNTRY HAS SEEN ENOUGH WEAPONIZATION OF LAW FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.
THE BRENTWOOD COMMISSION SHOULD BE ABOVE THAT.
I HAVE ALWAYS CONDUCTED MYSELF WITH INTEGRITY AND WITHIN MORAL AND LEGAL STANDARDS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AN ETHICS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST ME SINCE I HAVE SERVED BRENTWOOD OVER THE PAST 16 YEARS.
SINCERELY, RAY LITTLE THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DUNN.
I'VE SERVED ON THIS FOR 35 YEARS AND I'VE NEVER WITNESSED ANYTHING LIKE WHAT WE'RE SEEING TONIGHT.
THE ENTHUSIASM IS ZEAL FOR INVESTIGATING YOU IS QUITE OBVIOUS UP HERE TO ME.
IN MS. MARTINEZ LETTER, SHE ALLEGES THAT THERE WAS MISINFORMATION BY USING THE WORD PRIVATE CLUB.
I MIGHT HAVE PUT PARENTHESES AROUND THAT.
EVERYONE KNEW WHAT COMMISSIONER LITTLE MEANT THAT IT, MANY PEOPLE SEE IT AS A DESIRE FOR A PRIVATE CLUB WHEN IT IS INDEED A PUBLIC CLUB.
THAT'S HARDLY A CRIME TO MAKE THAT REFERENCE.
ALSO, SHE SAID THAT IT WAS DEFAMATORY TO CITY COMMISSIONERS, THE PHRASE WOLVES AND SHEEP'S CLOTHING.
I'VE BEEN CALLED A LOT WORSE THAN THAT.
I GUESS I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT WAS A CRIME.
IF YOU, IF THAT BOTHERS YOU, DON'T RUN FOR CITY COMMISSION BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TAKE THE HEAT.
THIRDLY, SHE SAYS THIS OCCURRED DURING AN ELECTION TIME.
THEY HAD NOT FILED THEIR PETITIONS AT THAT POINT.
THE ELECTION HAD NOT EVEN BEGUN WHEN THIS PHONE CALL, I MEAN, THIS EMAIL OCCURRED.
WHAT I FIND MOST INTERESTING IN HER STATEMENT, SHE SAYS, COMMISSIONER TRAVIS DISCOVERED IT THE NEXT DAY.
IF IT WAS SO EGREGIOUS, WHY DIDN'T COMMISSIONER TRAVIS FILE A COMPLAINT THAT MORNING IF HE THOUGHT THE LAW WAS BEING BROKEN IN SUCH A TERRIBLE FASHION AND THAT COMMISSIONER LITTLE WAS VIOLATING ALL TYPES OF PROCEDURE? WHY DIDN'T HE GO ON AND FILE A COMPLAINT? NO, BUT MY QUESTION IS, HOW DID MS. TRAVIS GET MRS. MARTINEZ GET THIS INFORMATION THAT I NEVER EVEN KNEW ABOUT IT UNTIL THIS HAPPENED.
AND IT'S, I THINK I READ IN HERE THAT OUR IT DIRECTOR WHO HAS BEEN DRAGGED INTO THIS, DID NOT GIVE, SAY SHE WAS GIVING ANYBODY ANY SPECIAL PRIVILEGES THAT YOU CAN RECALL AN EMAIL RAY WAS TRIPPING OVER HIMSELF TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, NOT VIOLATE THE SUNSHINE LAW.
[01:25:01]
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ACCUSING HIM OF DOING.YOU WERE TRYING TOO HARD TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
I FEEL LIKE I'M AT THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS TONIGHT IF I'M SORRY THAT MY HISTORIC BOARD SIDE KEEPS COMING OUT, BUT THIS IS A SHAMEFUL NIGHT FOR THE CITY OF BRENTWOOD.
AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOTTA SAY.
WHAT ELSE? I SAY SOMETHING THERE.
UH, THIS IS A HORRIBLE POSITION TO BE PUT IN.
AND WHAT I WAS, WHAT I WAS HOPE, I'M NOT A LAWYER, SO I DON'T KNOW.
AND I CAN READ THIS AND I CAN GIVE YOU MY OPINION, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE RIGHT LEGAL OPINION.
THAT'S WHY ACTUALLY WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP THAT COULD WE ASK AN OUTSIDE ATTORNEY TO GIVE US AN OPINION BECAUSE THIS GETS DUMPED BACK ON AND IT JUST BECOMES A POLITICAL BALL THAT'S BEEN TOSSED AROUND.
WHEREAS IF YOU COULD GIVE THIS TO A INDEPENDENT ATTORNEY AND SAID, REVIEW IT, TALK ABOUT IT, IS THERE A VIOLATION OR NOT? I, YOU KNOW, WE'VE EVEN, I I TALKED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THIS SEPARATELY, BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD, THE CITY COMMISSION SHOULD, SHOULD HAVE TO DO IS, IS POLICE IN THIS, THIS MANNER.
AND I, I STILL GUESS I'M JUST GONNA SEEK ONE MORE TIME WHY WE CAN'T SEEK, BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU CAN'T GIVE US AN OPINION ON THIS, BUT SOMEBODY SHOULD BE, SOME LAWYER SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE US AN OPINION.
SO I WILL TELL YOU AGAIN, IT, YOU CERTAINLY CAN REFER THIS TO AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATION OR THAT, OR SAY THAT IT NEEDS TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATION, EITHER BY ME AS THE ETHICS OFFICER OR BY SOMEONE ELSE THAT YOU WOULD DESIGNATE.
WHAT CAN'T BE CONSIDERED IS THOSE STATE LAW ALLEGED VIOLATIONS.
BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED OR WHAT WOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY THE ETH.
AGAIN, THE ETHICS OFFICER OR SOME DESIGNATED PARTY WOULD BE JUST WHETHER OR NOT COMMISSIONER LITTLE, UM, USED HIS AUTHORITY TO GAIN SOME KIND OF ADVANTAGE.
THAT CLARIFIES THINGS FOR ME JUST FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THAT TAKES IT OFF OF THE, YOU KNOW, SEEING THIS POLITICAL UP HERE ARE OFF OF YOUR PLATE THERE.
IF IT GOES TO AN INDEPENDENT COUNCIL WHO SAYS YES, EITHER THERE WAS OR WASN'T, I, TO ME, THAT'S THE LOGICAL THING TO DO.
COMMISSIONER ANDREWS, SO I GUESS IS THE, UH, THE LAST COMMISSIONER WHO'S NOT ACTUALLY RUNNING FOR OFFICE RIGHT NOW.
I GUESS IT'S MY TURN TO SAY SOMETHING.
BUT LOOKING AT THIS, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, VICE MAYOR, THIS IS, THIS IS ENTIRELY POLITICAL.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE TIMING AS WAS OBSERVED EARLIER, UH, YOU KNOW, THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN OCTOBER.
WE HAVE A VERY CONTENTIOUS ELECTION THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH, WELL, UH, UH, A, A RACKET AND PICKLEBALL, UH, PROJECT THAT MS. MARTINEZ WAS VICE CHAIR OF THE, THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT LOOKED AT IT.
AND YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, MS. GINO WHO READ THE COMPLAINT IS SITTING IN THE BACK WITH THE CHAIR OF THE, OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE THAT STUDIED THIS.
UM, AND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, SHE FILED A, AN ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST ME WITH A SIMILAR THING IN THAT CASE SHE DIDN'T LIKE MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER.
UM, BUT APPARENTLY, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WAS DISMISSED BY, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYING THAT THERE IS NO VIOLATION OF THE CITY ETHICS CODE IN THERE.
SO, BUT YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I GUESS IT'S SPECULATION, BUT MAYBE THEY WENT TO SCHOOL ON THAT TO TRY TO FIND OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS STICK A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT NOT MUCH.
BECAUSE AS YOU SAY, HITTING REPLY ALL IS SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN.
AND YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF, SO IF YOU WERE, AND I UNDERSTAND THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID THAT THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO DISCUSS OPEN MEETINGS, BUT THERE'S NOTHING IN THAT EMAIL THAT WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED HERE IN THIS COMMISSION CHAMBER MANY TIMES IN TERMS OF COST TO THE FACILITIES, NUMBER OF PEOPLE, DIFFERENCES OF, UH, A PERCEPTION ON THIS.
UH, AND IT'S ALSO NOT A, A NEW TACTIC.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THIS COMPLAINT AGAINST COMMISSIONER LITTLE, BUT JUST A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD A SIMILAR ORCHESTRATED THING WHERE A CITIZEN CAME AND MADE A COMPLAINT AGAINST ME ABOUT SOMETHING AND THEN HAD A COMMISSIONER JUMP ON IT.
AND I MEAN, THIS GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO A SIMILAR SITUATION WITH ROD FREEMAN OVER A DECADE AGO.
YOU KNOW, WHERE THIS IS A POLITICAL TACTIC THAT'S BEEN USED BY THE SAME GROUP THAT SEEMED TO BE DOING THIS AT, AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
YOU KNOW, AND, AND MAYOR, I THINK YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
UM, I THINK IT'S A TOOL IN SOME PEOPLE'S BAG THAT WAS CERTAINLY
[01:30:01]
BROUGHT OUT AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME.AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK VERY FAR TO SEE THE TIMING.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DIG VERY DEEP TO SEE THE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND THE INTERESTS INVOLVED HERE.
AND I THINK FOR EVERY REASON THAT TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT BRENTWOOD, THIS COMMISSION JUST NEEDS TO DISMISS THIS WITHOUT MERIT AS A POLITICAL STUNT AND NOT PRETEND THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT AS A FOR REAL SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEM WITH ETHICS IN OUR CITY.
COMMISSIONER ANDREWS, I WILL ADDRESS, UM, YOUR, UH, YOUR COMMENT, UH, FROM A FALSE SWORN AFFIDAVIT, UH, FILED, UH, AUGUST 14TH, UH, 2013, UM, AGAINST ME, UH, BY YOU, UH, WHERE, UH, I WAS, UH, SUBPOENAED, UH, TO THE, UH, STATE.
UH, AND YOU SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AGAINST YOU.
UH, BUT MY NAME IS MENTIONED IN THERE 36 TIMES.
UH, AND SO CHECK YOURSELF, UH, ON, UM, THE TACTICS, UH, THAT ARE USED.
'CAUSE THAT WAS, UM, UH, FILED AGAINST ME BY YOU AND, UH, AND 12 OTHERS OFFICIAL.
NOW, AS IT RELATES TO, WOULD YOU ANSWER MY QUESTION? NO, SIR.
SO, AS IT RELATES TO WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, UM, SOME FOLKS, UH, FEEL ONE WAY.
UH, OTHER FOLKS, UH, FEEL ANOTHER.
UH, I DON'T WANT TO BE ONE, UH, ESPECIALLY DURING, UH, THIS TIME, UH, TO SAY, UH, DOES THIS HAVE MERIT? UH, OR NOT? I DON'T WANT IT TO BE POLITICIZED.
I WOULD THINK THAT, UH, IT WOULD BE BEST TO GET IT TO, UH, AN OUTSIDE, UM, NON-BIASED, UH, PERSON TO SAY, HEY, UH, ATTORNEY, DOES THIS HAVE MERIT? YES OR NO? UM, I DON'T WANNA BE THE ONE, UH, TO ADJUDICATE, UH, THIS, THAT'S MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE IS SO IS THE DOCUMENT YOU JUST REFERENCED, MAYOR OR PUBLIC RECORDS? YES, SIR.
I WILL SAY, MAY I MAKE THE CLARIFICATION THAT THE INVEST IN THE INVESTIGATION WOULD JUST BE PROVIDED TO YOU ALL ULTIMATELY PURSUANT TO OUR CODE, YOU WILL BE THE DECISION MAKER.
THAT'S THE, JUST SO THE, THE PERSON OR FIRM OR WHOMEVER DOES THE INVESTIGATION, WILL NOT BE MAKING A DECISION.
THEY'LL JUST BE GATHERING FACTS.
OKAY? JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS ON THE SAME, ON THE SAME PAGE.
I, I'VE NOTICED THAT THIS COMMISSION IS CONTINUALLY DEFERRING, MAKING A DECISION, ALWAYS WANTING MORE INFORMATION, SPENDING MORE CITY MONEY, WHEN SOMETIMES IT'S, IT'S FURTHERING A SEPARATE AGENDA.
YOU'RE KEEPING THIS ALIVE INSTEAD OF CLEARING THIS GOOD MAN'S NAME BY HAVING A HEADLINE CITY HIRES ATTORNEY TO INVESTIGATE COMMISSIONER LITTLE, IS THAT YOUR GOAL TO DRAG THIS ENTIRE CITY THROUGH THE MUD FOR A CAMPAIGN? I WILL BE VOTING NO AGAINST THAT.
OTHER COMMENTS? WELL, TO WHAT MR. DUNN SAID, IT DOES FEEL VERY MUCH LIKE A PREMEDITATED POLITICAL TACTIC.
THE TIMING, AND THEN THE DECISION TO DRAG IT THROUGH THE PERIOD OF THE CAMPAIGN.
AND I THINK THAT IS INCREDIBLY POOR DECISION MAKING AND PUTTING SELF IN FRONT OF THE NEEDS OF THE CITY.
UM, WE'VE REVIEWED THIS BRIEFLY ON OUR THURSDAY MORNING BRIEFING.
UM, WE RECEIVED THE INFORMATION ON MONDAY.
WE REVIEWED IT BRIEFLY IN OUR THURSDAY MORNING BRIEFING, AND THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT TONIGHT.
UM, IT'S NOT A LOT OF TIME THAT WE'VE HAD, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF GUIDANCE IN THE CODE.
UM, BUT THE RESIDENTS OF BRENTWOOD NEED TO KNOW THAT WE AS A CITY ARE COMMITTED TO CLEAR COMMUNICATION IN A SOLID PUBLIC RECORD.
AND THEY DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT HAVING THE IMPRESSION THAT THE PUBLIC RECORD IS BEING TAMPERED WITH.
UM, SINCE THE CODE GIVES LITTLE DIRECTION, UM, AND BECAUSE I STILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN I HAVE ANSWERS BASED ON WHAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO US, UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THIS PROCESS YOURSELF FROM ANYBODY.
SO I'S JUST SAY TO OBSERVE BASED ON THAT YOU SAY TAMPERING WITH THE PUBLIC RECORD, BUT THERE'S NO TAMPERING WITH THE PUBLIC RECORD HERE AS EVIDENCE.
WELL, IN PART, BECAUSE THAT EMAIL IS ACTUALLY IN THIS COMPLAINT.
IT WAS NOT DELETED, NO PUBLIC RECORD WAS DESTROYED AND IMPLYING THAT IT WAS, IS DISINGENUOUS
[01:35:01]
AGAIN.ONE MORE TIME, IF I MAY JUST REMIND THE COMMISSION THAT THAT IS NOT WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU ALL TODAY.
IT'S NOT WHETHER OR NOT A RECORD WAS TAMPERED WITH WHETHER THERE WAS AN OPEN MEETING SITE VIOLATION.
IT'S WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A VIOLATION OF THE CITY'S ETHICS POLICY.
THAT IS ALL THAT'S IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION TONIGHT OR WILL BE EVEN AFTER AN INVESTIGATION.
WELL THAT AND POLITICAL BRINKMANSHIP.
WELL, HOW DO WE GET EACH THING ON THE FLOOR TO VOTE ON IT? SO, 'CAUSE WE GOTTA MOVE PAST THAT.
HOW DO WE NARROW IT DOWN TO VOTE? WE'RE DEPENDING ON AT THIS POINT, SOMEONE FOR THIS.
IF SOMEONE MAKES A MOTION FOR ANY OF THE THREE, THEN IT WOULD BE A VALID MOTION.
COMMISSIONER MCMILLAN, I MOVE TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO WORK WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
COME ON, WE BACK UP FOR A MINUTE.
WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE CIVIL DISCOURSE.
WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE THAT A RESIDENT HAS BROUGHT TO US AND WE HAVE THREE OPTIONS DO NOTHING SUFFICIENT IT, FIND THAT IT HAS SUFFICIENT MERIT TO WARRANT FOR THEIR INVESTIGATION, OR FIND THAT THERE IS, UM, A VIOLATION AND THEN WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO.
SO THE ONLY MOTIVE I HAVE, AND THE REASON I FEEL AS THOUGH IT NEEDS TO BE PUT OUT TO A THIRD PARTY INDEPENDENT COUNSEL, IS SO THAT IT REMOVES ALL OF US FROM HAVING TO DO SOMETHING POTENTIALLY TO, TO COMMISSIONER LITTLE.
UM, IN MY COMMUNICATION WITH CITY STAFF, WE, IT IS CLEAR WE DON'T HAVE A POLICY WRITTEN THAT GUIDES US ON THIS.
AND IN FACT, IN MY COMMUNICATION WITH CITY STAFF, THEY SAID IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS HAS BROUGHT TO THE, OUR ATTENTION THAT WE NEED TO GET A BETTER POLICY ON THIS.
SO I'M ADVOCATING THAT WE HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL LOOK AT THIS SINCE WE, WE CAN'T, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CLEAR EVIDENCE AND, AND CLEAR GUIDANCE ON WHAT TO DO.
AND WE DO NEED OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO LOOK AT OUR POLICIES BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING MISSING.
'CAUSE WE HAVE NOTHING IN IT RELATED TO RECALLING.
SO I MOVE TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO WORK WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, KRISTEN CORN, SO THAT THIS OUTSIDE COUNSEL MAY EXAMINE THE ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST COMMISSIONER RAY LITTLE.
THIS OUTSIDE COUNSEL SHALL REVIEW THE ETHICS COMPLAINT IN ITS ENTIRETY TO SEE IF A VIOLATION HAS OCCURRED.
THIS OUTSIDE COUNSEL WILL PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS TO THE COMMISSION IN A FUTURE BRIEFING FOR CONSIDERATION SO THAT THIS COMMISSION MAY DECIDE WHAT NEXT STEPS IT SHOULD OR COULD TAKE REGARDING THIS ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST COMMISSIONER RAY.
LITTLE, ADDITIONALLY, THIS OUTSIDE COUNSEL SHALL COMPLETE A THOROUGH REVIEW OF CITY POLICY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THIS COMMISSION FOR CHANGES AND OR IMPROVEMENTS TO CITY POLICY.
IF I MAY SPEAK UP, I THINK THAT THE POLICY REVIEW WOULD BE SEPARATE FROM THIS, AND I WOULD, IF I MAY ASK FOR THAT TO BE COMPLETELY SEPARATE, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE THE SAME FIRM AND I OKAY.
DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S, THAT, HAVING THAT TOGETHER.
SO WE CAN MAKE IT TWO MOTIONS.
I WOULD HONESTLY, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT BEING A LATER IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSION WANTS TO DO LATER.
BUT THAT NEEDS TO BE SEPARATE AND APART FROM WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING TONIGHT.
'CAUSE AGAIN, IT WOULD LIKELY BE TWO SEPARATE FIRMS TO DO THAT.
SO ULTIMATELY IT'S UP TO THE COMMISSION THAT'S JUST IN TASK.
IF WE'RE GOING TO PURSUE THIS, COULD MT A S GIVE US SOME DIRECTION? I DON'T KNOW.
I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK WITH THEM TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THEY COULD HANDLE.
I I REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS IS, THAT WE'RE KIND OF, UM, STABBING IN THE DARK RIGHT HERE IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING NEXT.
I I KNOW YOU CAME VERY PREPARED, SUZANNE.
I OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE HELPS YOU DRAW THAT UP.
WELL, WE DO AGAIN, WE DO, WE DO HAVE A, A PROPER MOTION ON THE WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE FLOOR.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
UH, IS THERE A SECOND? I, I'LL SECOND WITH COMMENTS.
I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING TO DO.
UH, DO YOU WANNA MAKE COMMENT NOW OR DO YOU WANT TO, UM, IF YOU, I'VE GOT A SECOND.
YOU, WE CAN HAVE COMMENTS AT THIS POINT.
NOW A AGAIN, TOO, IF WE VOTED TONIGHT AND IT CAME UP THREE TO TWO OR FOUR TO TWO, THEN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THE WHOLE THING COME UP.
AGAIN, THIS IS POLITICAL AS DIVISION IS WHATEVER.
IF YOU TEND IT TO SOMEBODY SEPARATE, AND I THINK COMMISSIONER DUNN HAD A GOOD IDEA WITH MTAS, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO BE SOMEBODY THAT CAN SHED LIGHT ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE HEARD AND JUDGED BY SOMEBODY TOTALLY IMPARTIAL THAT'S NOT GONNA GIVE, NOT GONNA HAVE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
I THINK WE'RE THAT WAY UP HERE.
BUT IT PUTS PEOPLE, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW HOW EVERYBODY'S GONNA FEEL OUT THERE ABOUT THAT.
I THINK, I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH DOABLE TO TAKE THE THIRD PARTY AND HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
AND IF THEY COME BACK AND SAY THERE'S NO NOTHING THERE, THEN THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
[01:40:01]
THE COMMENT THAT, UH, BASED ON COMMENT, UM, COMMISSIONER ANDREWS, GO AHEAD.BASED ON THE ADVICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY SPLITTING THIS INTO TWO SEPARATE ISSUES, I THINK IS GOOD ADVICE.
I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO EITHER WITHDRAW THE MOTION AND REDO IT.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT CLEARLY IF, IF YOU WANT TO NOT MAKE IT POLITICAL, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE ACCIDENTALLY HITTING REPLY ALL LAST FALL AND BRING IT UP NOW AS A POLITICAL STUNT AND DISMISS THIS ETHICS COMPLAINT HERE TONIGHT AS WITHOUT MERIT.
AND THEN IF WE WANT TO COME BACK AND TIGHTEN UP THE ETHICS POLICY, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT AFTER THE ELECTION.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, CLEARLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS THE POLITICAL STUNT IT IS AND AS A COMMISSION SET IT ASIDE.
OTHER COMMENTS? COULD YOU TELL THE AUDIENCE? 'CAUSE I DID READ MY STATEMENT BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY PART OF OUR PACKAGE, BUT THAT I HAVE TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM SPEAKING AND VOTING IN CASE YOU WONDER WHY I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING.
I'M TRYING TO FOLLOW THE RULES.
SO YES, PURSUANT TO OUR CODE, UM, IF AN ETHICS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN LODGED AGAINST AN OFFICIAL, THE THE OFFICIAL IS NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE OR PARTICIPATE IN CONVERSATION OR VOTE ON THE ISSUE.
UM, COMMISSIONER DUNN? OH, I ACTUALLY DO WITH THE CHANGE IN THE WORDING AS SUGGESTED BY CITY ATTORNEY KORN, DOES THE MOTION NEED TO BE RE-READ OR READDRESSED? I WOULD RECOMMEND AT THIS POINT BECAUSE WE HAD A MOTION IN A SECOND, SOMEONE MAKING AN AMENDMENT TO IF, IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSION'S DESIRE IS.
BUT AGAIN, I WOULD RECOMMEND OKAY.
SO I INITIATED THE AMENDMENT, THE MOTION, I'LL AMEND IT AND SAY I MOVE TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO WORK WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY CHRISTIAN KORUM.
SO THAT THIS OUTSIDE COUNSEL MAY EXAMINE THE ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST COMMISSIONER LITTLE.
THIS OUTSIDE COUNSEL SHALL REVIEW THE ETHICS COMPLAINT IN ITS ENTIRETY TO SEE IF A VIOLATION HAS OCCURRED.
THIS OUTSIDE COUNSEL WILL PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS TO THE COMMISSION IN A FUTURE BRIEFING FOR CONSIDERATION SO THAT THE COMMISSION MAY DECIDE WHAT NEXT STEPS IT SHOULD OR COULD TAKE REGARDING THIS ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST COMMISSIONER RAY.
LITTLE TO MS. DUNN'S POINT, WHO FIXED THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, SO YOU, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO SECOND IT.
'CAUSE AGAIN, I THINK THAT TAKES THE POLITICAL PART OUT OF IT.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR, UH, PLEASE HOLD YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, ANY OTHER, UH, DISCUSSION? I'LL MAKE A, UH, A COMMENT.
UM, THIS IS QUITE, UH, THE PLACE THAT, UH, THAT WE FIND OURSELVES AND, UM, UH, I DON'T WANT TO BE, UH, ONE THAT, UM, PASSES, UH, THIS, UH, JUDGMENT.
I BELIEVE THE ONLY FAIR THING TO DO IS GET IT TO SOMEONE THAT IS INDEPENDENT.
WHO PAYS FOR THAT? WHO'S PICKING THEM? SO NOW YOU HAVE AN AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THE MAIN MOTION.
UM, I, I WILL ASK FOR THE GUIDANCE OF, AND IS THE THIRD PARTY PERSON, AM I CHOOSING THE THIRD PARTY PERSON AND THEN BRINGING THEM BACK TO THE COMMISSION? I, I DO NEED A LITTLE GUIDANCE ON THAT, PLEASE.
AND AGAIN, WE HAVE AN AMENDED MOTION FIRST IF YOU WANNA YEAH.
SHOULD WE HANDLE THAT AND THEN HANDLE, UM, UH, HOW, UH, THEY'RE PICKED? YES, AFTER THAT.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, AN AMENDMENT, UH, AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE A.
UM, NOW, SO THE MAIN MOTION IS AMENDED, IS NOW BACK BEFORE THE COMMISSION.
AND AT THIS POINT, I WOULD REQUEST CLARIFICATION ON HOW THE THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATOR SHOULD BE CHOSEN, OR AT, SHOULD I CHOOSE THE PERSON? HOW DOES THAT, HOW, HOW DOES THAT PER THAT WORK? SO THE CODE SIMPLY PROVIDES THAT, UM, IF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DETERMINES THAT AN, THAT A COMPLAINT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT SHALL AUTHORIZE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE ETHICS OFFICER PROVIDED THAT THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MAY CHOOSE AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY OTHER THAN THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ACT AS THE ETHICS OFFICER FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE INVESTIGATION.
SO I WOULD RECOMMEND, I, I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE A NAME.
I DO SOME RESEARCH AND PROVIDE A NAME THAT, AGAIN, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S ULTIMATELY UP TO YOU ALL.
BUT IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT BEING IN, IN A MOTION.
[01:45:01]
SO I MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE CITY ATTORNEY KRISTEN CORN WORK WITH, UM, OUT FIND OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND PRESENT APPROPRIATE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO US.SECOND IN A SECOND DISCUSSION.
ANY DISCUSSION? UM, I'LL JUST SAY, UM, BECAUSE OF THE, THIS COMPLAINT, BECAUSE OF THE CONFUSION AND CONCERN FROM RESIDENTS FROM, YOU KNOW, SINCE THIS HAS BEEN IN THE PAPER, WE'VE HEARD FROM BOTH SIDES.
SO I PERSONALLY SOUGHT COUNSEL ON MY OWN TO GET GUIDANCE TO HELP ME WITH THIS.
AND THE ADVICE I RECEIVED WAS GET AN OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY BECAUSE THIS, THIS IS CONFUSING.
AND SO THAT IS WHY I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A, A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO US ADJUDICATING IT HERE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO ADJUDICATE IT.
AND I'LL MAKE THE COMMENT THAT I'LL NOT BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN DISMISSING THIS RIDICULOUS POLITICAL STUNT.
THERE'S NO CONFUSION OTHER THAN THAT SEWN BY SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS UP HERE AND THEIR CAMPAIGN STAFFS.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
UH, AND SECOND, AS, UH, AS WRITTEN OR AS, UH, AS READ INTO THE RECORD, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE A.
OPPOSED? A OPPOSED ABSTENTIONS.
SO NOW YOU HAVE THE MAIN MOTION AND AS AMENDED IN FRONT OF YOU FOR CONSIDERATION RIGHT NOW, BACK TO THE, UH, TO THE MAIN MOTION, UM, UH, ASD.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE, UH, THE MAIN MOTION? ALRIGHT, CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[2. Appointment of three (3) members to the Park Board]
WE WILL FINISH THE, UH, UH, THE EVENING.UM, WE HAVE, LET'S GET BACK HERE TO, UH, THE AGENDA.
WE HAVE, UH, APPOINTMENT OF THREE MEMBERS, UH, TO THE PARK BOARD.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE BALLOTS, UH, HERE IN, UH, IN FRONT OF US.
AND, UH, WE WILL GO THROUGH AND, UH, AND MARK, UH, THESE BALLOTS.
COMMISSIONER DUNN VOTES FOR NATASHA GREEN, WILLIAM KRAUS, AND VICKY SANFORD.
COMMISSIONER LITTLE VOTES FOR NATASHA GREEN, WILLIAM CROSS, AND VICKI SANFORD.
COMMISSIONER ANDREWS VOTES FOR NATASHA GREEN, WILLIAM CROSS, AND VICKI SANFORD.
COMMISSIONER MCMILLAN VOTES FOR RUSSELL BROWN.
CHUCK CZARNIK AND VICKI SANFORD, VICE MAYOR.
TRAVIS VOTES FOR NATASHA GREEN, WILLIAM KRAUS AND VICKI SANFORD.
MAYOR GORMAN VOTES FOR RUSSELL BROWN.
CHUCK CZARNIK AND NATASHA GREEN.
AND COMMISSIONER SPEARS VOTES FOR CHUCK CZARNIK.
NATASHA GREEN AND VICKY SANFORD.
OKAY, WE HAVE VICKI SANFORD WITH SIX.
WE HAVE NA, NATASHA GREEN WITH SIX, AND WILLIAM KRAUSE WITH FOUR THAT WE HAVE.
WILLIAM KRAUSE WITH FOUR VICKY, BILL KRAUSE, AND NATASHA GREEN.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR, UH, PUTTING IN YOUR, UH, APPLICATION TO BE ON, UH, THE PARK BOARD.
A DIFFICULT DECISION, ALL VERY QUALIFIED, UH, CANDIDATES.
ALRIGHT, UM, WHERE DID THE AGENDA GO? ALL RIGHT.
[3. Other new business]
OTHER, UH, FINAL ITEM, UH, OTHER NEW BUSINESS NOTICE OF FUTURE APPOINTMENT OF TWO MEMBERS TO THE LIBRARY BOARD FOR INFORMATION ONLY.HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, I MOVE, WE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING THIS EVENING.