Board of Mayor and Aldermen

February 20th, 2025

The meeting was called to order, Alderman Wall was absent. The agenda and minutes were approved. There were three people in attendance, and no proclamations or public comments.

11. Communication from Mayor, Aldermen, City Attorney, and City Administrator Mayor Corbitt thanked Isiah Manfredi from the public works department for the response to the weather and water over the past few weeks. He did a great job. Alderman Sisk and Spicer agreed with the sentiment. Alderman Matthews also added that he appreciates the work they department had done. City Administrator Herman reported that the Sage Road bid goes out March 3rd. They are utilizing the new software and have already seen vendors not seen before. A temporary gas meter has gone in at the rec center. After the water is inspected, they will be able to start the boiler. They will need heat in order to put in the gym floor. A team meeting with the inspectors will be necessary in order to open the gym for volleyball in April. They are hoping to have the lower parking lot done and then block off the rest of the building. It will depend on the state’s electrical inspection. Herman also thanked the public works department. We went from flooding to snow, and if there were an employee of the year, it should go to Manfredi. Herman also thanked the mayor for shutting down the developers and added that many improvements have been made. Some of the developments are building again, and one is facing a fine.

Reports were acknowledged.

13. Consideration of the Following Resolutions:

a. Resolution 25-02: A resolution approving certain amendments and revisions to the Personnel Manual.

The changes discussed here are all highlighted in yellow in this gallery. The form is the new compensation review request form. Amanda Brewton, human resources, spoke to these changes. The first is for new hire rate of pay. This is to include the new form for pay requests if they are higher than what is on the pay scale. The next change is to address promotional increases in pay in a lateral reassignment. This will account for experience outside of the city in a lateral move. An example….if an employee is currently working in waste water where a CDL is not required, they are at one level of pay. If they make a lateral move to another department where CDL experience is needed, the city can count previous CDL experience when looking at pay in the new position. The next change is to the probationary period. In the policy they have added a couple of words. Matthews asked if this form allowed for voting on an employee’s pay. Brewton said that it is a discussion, not a vote. Matthews asked if there were minutes taken during these meetings about employee pay or promotions. Brewton stated that employee pay is not discussed in public. Approved- (Matthews No)

b. Resolution 25-03: A resolution adopting Section 125 Premium Only Plan for the Plan Year ending March 31, 2026. This comes to the board every year. This is asking that the insurance premiums be taken out of the employees’ pay pre-tax. Approved

14. Consideration of the Following Ordinances:

a. Ordinance 25-01: An ordinance amending the Municipal Code Title 8 Chapter 3 Package Liquor Stores Section 8-305. First Reading. Herman spoke to this item. The city has had multiple inquires about adding another liquor store. As a city, we could add one more, but then not another until we hit 24k in population. If approved, the city will request applications to open another liquor store. BOMA will determine who gets the license. They will still have to follow the restrictions, so they will not be all over town. Spicer asked which part of town. Herman stated that the rules will still apply as in not next to a church or a school. Right now they are looking at 31W. Matthews asked if there had been requests. Herman stated that they have had many requests. Approved

b. Ordinance 25-03: An ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance Article V, Section 5.053.2, C-1, Central Business District. First Reading. Ceagus Clark, planning director, spoke to this item. Life Christian is looking at the old TN Flea building to move their school. Most schools are built in a residential area, and this is on the edge of an R-15. At this point, we are just looking to add a special exception to the C-1 zoning. This will still need to go before BZA, so it is not a blanket change. This is the best scenario for Life Christian. Spicer made a comment about more traffic over there. Clark added that they will still need to go before the BZA and meet all state regulations for a school. They are looking at about 150 cars a day, very similar to a daycare. They won’t need a site plan since the building is already there, but they will need to meet all state regulations. Approved.

15. Purchasing: a. To approve or reject City Administrator Gerald Herman to sign a sole source agreement with Source Technologies for one (1) year in the amount of $31,050 to provide Evergreen Odor Scrubber operation and maintenance at the Wilkinson Lane and Copes Crossing Lift-Stations. The Wastewater Director recommends approval. This is the contract renewal for the scrubbers. The current contract has expired and the city is on month to month. This is a slight increase in cost, but adds the chemical refresh. This will be a one year contract and is not over budget. Approved

16. Other Business:

a. To approve or reject a Certificate of Compliance for MAPCO located at 100 Hwy 76. The attorney for Mapco has reached out and they are looking to sell wine at their location. Approved

b. To approve or reject Willis Towers Watson’s recommendations for Cigna Healthcare for medical, vision, LIFE/AD&D and long-term disability insurance coverage, Abacus for short-term disability insurance coverage, and Delta Dental for dental insurance coverage for plan year ending March 31, 2026. The Human Resources Director recommends approval. Todd Harrison negotiated the rates with Cigna for the city. Cigna had first presented the city with a 14% increase. Harrison negotiated that to 5%. Brewton stated that the city is very happy with Cigna and they have received $750k back over the years. Cigna provides excellent service. Approved

c. To approve or reject the City absorbing the 5% increase in health insurance premiums for the plan year ending March 31, 2026. The Human Resources Director recommends approval. Brewton explained that the increase in insurance costs this year is 5%. She handed the board a financial breakdown of various ways to distribute this cost. The list included the employee absorbs it all, the city absorbs it all, a split, and a couple of other options. (I did not receive a copy of this breakdown) Spicer stated that employees just received large raises with the pay study in 2024 that addressed cost of living. Brewton said they did, but that the minimum pay at the city is $14.47/hour and that not all employees will receive merit increases this year. 16 employees will get that increase, and eight are topped out. The rest will have to absorb the 5% increase in insurance. The cost to the city, if they absorb the entire 5% increase will be $105k. If they also add the cost of living increase in d) it will add another $425k. Corbitt added that this is on the heels of a large pay raise. He asked when that went into effect and when this would go into effect. The pay increase went into effect in July of 2024. If the city gives the cost of living increase that will go into effect in July of 2025. The insurance absorption would go into effect in April. Matthews stated that they should not be making these decisions before the budget is completed. They have not seen all of the information yet, and good questions have been raised. At this point, they need the entire picture. Brewton said that the cost of living discussion can wait, but they will need to make a decision on the insurance because of open enrollment. The pay study last year did account for inflation through 2022. Looking at inflation in 23-24, it would only be 3.5%. That cost of living increase would only cost the city $300k. Corbitt added that employees at his job have to eat the cost of insurance increases at his job. Sisk added that it is a great benefit. Brewton stated that only nine employees don’t take the benefits and that could be down to eight. (both items c & d were discussed at the same time in this section) The board voted to Approve absorbing the cost of the increase for the employees.

d. To approve or reject a 5% cost-of-living increase for all city employees for the 2025 – 2026 fiscal year. The Human Resources Director recommends approval. Approved to move to the March or April meeting.

e. To approve or reject scheduling a Joint Study Session with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and Planning Commission regarding land use regulations updates. Approved