The report concerning Collegedale’s police department that MTAS (Municipal Technical Advisory Service) was asked to do, is close to being finished. Honna Rogers, the city’s liaison with MTAS, has told Mayor Katie Lamb that she will be notified when it is ready. The mayor asked the commissioners how they would like to proceed when it is complete.
City Attorney Sam Elliott said the five commissioners could receive the information in an executive meeting where the public is not allowed, but there could be no discussion about it except in a public forum.
Because the board of commissioners wants to get the information first and before moving forward, it was decided that they will hear the results at an executive session following the commission meeting on Nov. 18. The report will be made public at the commission workshop on Nov. 25, where the public is invited.
The commissioners will make decisions about what improvements are needed in the police department and the city, based on this report. An alleged quota system for the police and accusations of officers who participated in a TBI probe being fired for cooperating are among the issues that will be addressed in the MTAS report.
MTAS has also prepared forms for both the commissioners and for key managers to use for evaluating City Manager Ted Rogers. Mayor Lamb told all involved that only Honna Rogers will see what is put on the evaluations or who did them. The commissioners will be presented with a summary.
Commissioner Ethan White asked for each commissioner to review the city’s personnel manual in light of what has taken place recently in Collegedale. He said employees can now be fired at will and without the opportunity of an appeal. He said he would like a system where employees have more rights such as knowing the reason they are fired and giving them the right to appeal the decision.
The city will be getting three new trucks for the public works department with money from a state grant aimed at reducing emissions. The lowest and best bid for a single-axle dump truck was accepted in the amount of $137,510. The city will be responsible for $27,502 of that. Approval was also given for a bid of $188,000 to buy a tandem-axle dump truck, with the city’s contribution being $37,600. A Ford F250 will also be bought, with the best bid being $35,086. It will replace a truck that was wrecked but repaired with insurance. The $17,086 left over from the insurance claim is equal to the city’s share of the cost for the replacement.
A condition of the grant is that the vehicles be American made and that the old vehicles that are being replaced will be decommissioned. Commissioner White asked for an update to the overall fleet in order to know the condition of all the vehicles for future planning.
The commission granted easements to Eastside Water Utility District at four locations along Apison Pike, all near the Collegedale Greenway. The easements are needed for moving water pipes.
A zoning ordinance was amended for property on Jetrail Drive that previously had been rezoned to I-1 Industrial with a condition that ingress and egress is prohibited from Watkins Street. Due to changes in the site plan, the revision will now allow traffic entering and exiting from Watkins.