The Charter Review Committee met last night, Committee member James Corcoran brought a Resolution that will require the Knox County Mayor to publish all contracts under the $100k threshold on the next County Commission agenda (following such contract being awarded) as a spread of record. It will not mean that the Commission will approve or reject the contracts, the Mayor still has the authority to enter into the contracts, it is a simple transparency.
Charter Review Committee Chairman Brad Anders during discussion mentioned the lobbyist contract. That contract went to the brother of Knox County Circuit Court Clerk Charlie Susano and son of former Criminal Court of Appeals Judge Charles Susano of the Eastern District, without Commission approval.
The Tennessee Ethics Commission showing the Knox County Government lobbyist Stephen Susano of the Stones River Group.
Stephen Susano bio on Stones River Group website
Charter Review Committee Member G. Mark Mamantov voiced some objection that it was micro managing the Mayor and was too many contracts with easements and such. It was quickly pointed out that easements are already spread of record. The first vote passed, it will be before the committee a second time before being presented to the voters on the November ballot.
- Charter Review Committee Member Bill Johns brought an item that would prohibit the Mayor from additional full time employment, like his work with the WWE. He stated that the Mayor’s book is a licensed product of the WWE, I guess I could look at a couple of copies I have around the house. It failed. I would agree if it is put to the voters, it should include all elected officials, like the fee office holders. Law Director Bud Armstrong voiced that it would prohibit one fee office holders from being the public address announcer for the Lady Vols Basketball team, referring to Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond, I presume. Charter Review Secretary Lisa Starbuck asked about if an officeholder brings embarrasement to the County is there any recourse. It was noted there is censure, which has been used on a former Mayor and a former Commissioner in recent years.
- Starbuck also attempted an item that would reduce the size of future Charter Review Committees stating that the current Committee is too heavily favored to the Mayor due to the Sunshine law restrictions, that he can talk to all 9 of his appointees, but the Commissioners can not talk to the 9 appointees they have and of course 9 of the 11 Commissioners are members. It was noted by Committee Member Mike Arms that at Large Commissioners like Larsen Jay can talk to every member, Jay has been in the audience of every meeting. It should be noted that during meetings, Commissioners and their appointees can make their views known to one another, would that happen?
- The issue of leaving the Knox County Commission at 9 district commissioner and 2 at Large Commissioners had to be revisited, due to the motion only having 13 votes in the affirmative at the last meeting. Commissioner Evelyn Gill proposed 11 district Commissioners and that failed. So Commission will not change.
- Committee member Nick Pavlis deferred his proposal until the next meeting and it apparently deals with appointed or elected Law Director.
Knox County Charter Review Committee Meeting
