The Meeting that Was then Wasn't then Was

Are you confused by Hendersonville City government? So is our Facebook Mayor!

He cancelled a meeting because it was Spring Break. Then, he was informed at least 8 aldermen could attend, meaning there'd be a quorum and that Vice Mayor Arlene Cunningham could chair.

Still, he cancelled the meeting and began searching for special meeting dates.

Turns out, almost the entire BOMA was present for the March 26th regularly scheduled meeting. Also in attendance: Clary, the very person who had attempted to cancel the meeting and find an alternate date.

The Hendersonville Standard has more on the circus that has become the day-to-day of city government in this town:

Although Hendersonville Mayor Jamie Clary cancelled Tuesday’s regularly scheduled Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, board members met anyway at the behest of Vice Mayor Arlene Cunningham. 

Clary, who cancelled the meeting because it fell during Sumner County Schools’ spring break, ended up attending and chairing the meeting. Eleven aldermen were also present.  

Clary cancelled the March 26 meeting on March 13 “due to spring break and activities around that” even though at least eight aldermen told him via email that they could attend the meeting. The eight who could attend included Cunningham who volunteered to chair the meeting in case Clary couldn’t attend.

At least one speaker at the meeting addressed Clary's Facebook antics:

During Tuesday’s meeting, Mary’s Magical Place co-founder Rachel McAuley tearfully addressed the board.

“I feel like tonight I am here after a verbal flood that occurred on March 18 by a source,” she said. “Normally you would see me with tears of joy and a big smile like my daughter’s, but that smile has disappeared. Now I’m just mad. I’m upset.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Facebook Mayor Struggles to Manage Reality

Hendersonville's Facebook Mayor, Jamie Clary, is really struggling to manage even the basics of his job - like scheduling meetings or counting.

Clary was previously unable to discern that a sufficient number of aldermen had responded that they would be present at a regular meeting (a meeting where Clary would likely be absent) so he cancelled that meeting.

In fact, as previously noted, it's been a bit of a circus to even get a meeting scheduled to discuss and approved necessary appropriations to address damage caused by flooding at Mary's Magical Place.

The latest, according to the Tennessean, is that a meeting will take place tomorrow - March 29, 2019 - to discuss and move forward with the necessary funding.

It's unclear whether Clary is seeking assistance by way of a scheduling app or by downloading a math game to assist him with the fundamentals of counting.


For more on news and events impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

The Facebook Mayor

When Hendersonville Mayor Jamie Clary doesn't get his way, he turns to Facebook to vent his frustration and attack fellow city leaders.

The Hendersonville Standard reports on Clary's latest outburst that may delay needed repairs to Mary's Magical Place:

While demolition work started on the playground on Monday, city leaders still need to vote to appropriate the rest of the money soon, according to Gilley.

Seven board members are needed for a quorum. When just five aldermen, including Clary, showed up for the special-called meeting on Monday, the mayor vented his frustration on Facebook.

“Some of our aldermen have reached a new low--discouraging attendance at a board meeting. Tonight we tried to hold a special board meeting, but only five board members showed up. Without a quorum, we could not address city business,” Clary wrote.

He then gave a time line of when board members were notified of the cancellation and special-called meeting.

“As of this moment, I am unsure when the board will meet to move forward with the repairs,” he added.

His post generated 300 comments in less than a day.

Clary failed to mention that a sufficient number of aldermen for a quorum would have been present for the regularly scheduled BOMA meeting, even though Clary himself could not be present.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @hvillenews

Sumner School Board Speaks Out on Vouchers

The Sumner County School voted unanimously to pass a resolution opposing Governor Bill Lee's plan to create a private school voucher program. Lee's plan uses public tax dollars to fund private schools. The initial investment -- money not available to public schools -- is $25 million and the proposed plan would cost as much as $125 million in the next three years.

Despite opposition from the Sumner County School Board, state representative William Lamberth, of Portland, is sponsoring Governor Lee's proposal. Additionally, newly elected representative Johnny Garrett has indicated his support for the scheme.

Senator Ferrell Haile has historically supported school voucher plans, but has raised concerns about this year's effort.


For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Got a news tip, email us: newshendersonville@gmail.com

Jumping Ship

Jamie Clary's City Hall is losing trusted hands fast. After a delayed audit of city finances, Finance Director and long-time city employee Ron Minnicks announced he's leaving city government.

The Hendersonville Standard has more:

City Finance Director Ron Minnicks said his department has been plagued by turnover and is short-staffed. Assistant Finance Director Dana Swinea left last March for a finance director position in Mt. Juliet. Swinea’s successor, Michelle Jilek, held the position for four months before returning to the City of Gallatin in September.

“In 46 years I’ve been here I’ve never been in a situation where I’ve had two assistants leave me at critical times,” said Minnicks.

The whole situation means Hendersonville is one of a handful of Tennessee cities not to have completed an audit.

MORE>

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Clary's Magical Meeting

Perhaps nothing better demonstrates Hendersonville Mayor Jamie Clary's incompetence than the recent exchange over whether or not and when to have a BOMA meeting.

The Tennessean has more on this situation that is an embarrassment to our fair city:

There was much ado about a special-called meeting of the City of Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Alderman held Friday to appropriate funds for repairs to Mary's Magical Place, which was damaged in recent flooding.

The board voted to appropriate general funds for the repairs, which will be reimbursed by insurance.

Dozens of emails were exchanged between Mayor Jamie Clary and aldermen regarding the need — or lack thereof — to cancel the board's regularly scheduled March 26 meeting.

Canceling the March 26 meeting was not necessary. Enough board members for a quorum responded to Clary affirming they could attend.

But Clary canceled anyway, scheduling a special-called meeting for March 18.

Not enough board members attended that meeting for a quorum, but many reiterated they could attend the regular meeting. Clary instead scheduled a second special-called meeting for March 22, going so far as to email Fire Chief Scotty Bush to ask him to have firefighters on hand to assist one of the aldermen facing health issues into City Hall from his car.

READ MORE>


For more on news impacting Hendersonville, TN, follow @hvillenews

Cost of Doing Business?

A contentious relationship between Mayor Jamie Clary and former Public Works Director Chip Moore is costing Hendersonville $35,000.

The Hendersonville Standard has more:

The city of Hendersonville has agreed to pay former Public Works Director Chip Moore $35,000 in order to settle Moore’s claims that Mayor Jamie Clary violated a state statute by attempting to limit the director’s interactions with city aldermen.

Moore resigned from his position in December to go to work for the city of Spring Hill, Tenn., after a tumultuous relationship with Clary.

Clary signed a settlement agreement on Tuesday following a contentious 9 to 4 vote directing him to do so.

MORE>

For more on news impacting Hendersonville, TN follow @HvilleNews