10/25/1999

Staff Meetings Canceled - The Knoxville staff meeting scheduled for Monday, November 1 is canceled.

The Nashville staff meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 2 is canceled BUT I'll be in Nashville that day to meet with staff members one-on-one. We'll also spend time talking about our upcoming legislative briefing on December 9 with TML.

The Jackson staff meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 3 is canceled BUT I'll be with most of the west Tennessee staff at the meeting of the West Tennessee Mayors in Brownsville.

TCMA - The city managers had their Fall meeting in Kingsport last week. The conference was ably managed by Kirk with help from Armintha. Kirk found two dynamite speakers, Andy Reese who warned the managers about the new storm water regulations; and Lyle Sumek who talked about relations between the manager and the council or commission.

The meeting started with a version of the old Tennessee Innovations Group. That is, a group of city managers talking about innovations they have tried in their cities. I took notes during the meeting and have included them at the bottom of this email.

Monthly Reports - We continue to post monthly reports to the agenda for the management team meetings.

Campus Chest - Thanks for your help.


TIG notes October 20, 1999

We started with about ten in attendance and finished with about 18 as more and more managers showed up for the conference.

Jack Walker of Brentwood was very complementary of CGT and the help they gave with a staff retreat at Montgomery Bell SP.

Patrick Lawton of Germantown mentioned the need for first time supervisors training.

Roger Campbell of Maryville thought it would be a good idea to compile an inventory of which city staff member has a skill in what area. They could be called upon by other cities throughout the state.

We had a long discussion about emerging technologies. It was suggested that MTAS try to form a group of all the Information Technology staff members of the cities. The group would try to keep up with the latest in technology and would try to share information among all cities.

Germantown allows employees to purchase home computers off of the city contract. About 40 have already done so. Brentwood places a city computer in the home of each commissioner. It's used for Email.

Some cities have written policies on the use of the Internet at city hall.

Fayetteville is looking at the use of the electric system to transmit high-speed data. It will be used to read the meters and could be used for cable and email. Germantown is looking into allowing customers to pay bills on the Internet.

We spent some time talking about Chapter 1101. In Williamson County it may become Franklin versus the rest of the county. They are tackling the issue of urban sprawl around Nashville. Brentwood has negotiated an interlocal agreement with Nolensville to handle some of the issues.

Dover is on schedule with Chapter 1101; so is Shelby County. Maryville has requested an Attorney General's opinion on seven questions relating to Chapter 1101.

There was some discussion of the Germantown pursuit case that has gone to the TN Supreme Court. One issue is whether police officers can be held personally liable for the results of a pursuit.

Several cities compared notes on providing police escorts for funerals.

Germantown brought up the issue of dues check-off for the IAFF. They have turned the union down and are being sued. There was some general discussion about unions and union recognition.