[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6164132,"mediaKeyId","5431256-79a310e4e396c5c1e9edd0fbac7f4e3d","parentId",5431256,"title","Council debates 3% cost-of-living raise for finance director; part‑time fire chief raise deferred","audioSeconds",682,"startMs",922000,"endMs",1604000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5431256-79a310e4e396c5c1e9edd0fbac7f4e3d&start=922&end=1604","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5431256-79a310e4e396c5c1e9edd0fbac7f4e3d/thumbnail_922000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6164132/Westmoreland-City/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Council-debates-3-cost-of-living-raise-for-finance-director-parttime-fire-chief-raise-deferred","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164132-2b9aed947d170c83d3290c49a91a59a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112634&Signature=BYCs2hAMYFn1m3j1AWlFd8z1I1Ng6GNmadSmiR2Kh~5nOS5JeQr8g-SWJbS0-9Q4hP-vsAJr6EAUFMmmfnZ3Vq2RehbfaXvOsdbBb7vOPo-L6cyu2YqytDcWC~fzchxXTtfD3SVDB7MJijW14oS466PgklkMxGjeBXyZsSHLaHHIBtsnIzk6pofLky459S9GJheq3v0tEiGcRlkf2VqZfwp~spdGJ~J304nH71xIEMq61hz4tHHZJB380ASeaIP0aN3J68D7Jvuxia31KnALCiMqhwNKv7gyA-kiD4V7n09-77SJKiLOWFjqNmjLjZ40CAUoV~mATgQw2ZjJj0-GZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Westmoreland City, TN","date","2025-07-20T08:08:52.203Z","article","The Westmoreland City Council spent extended time discussing a proposed 3% cost-of-living adjustment for Meredith Jenkins, the finance-related staff member named in the agenda, and debated pay for part‑time Fire Chief Mark Jenkins.

Council members proposed and debated motions to defer and to approve the 3% adjustment. Councilman Calvert moved to approve the 3% cost-of-living raise for Meredith Jenkins; Councilman Brown seconded the motion and the council discussed attendance at work-study meetings, succession planning for city positions, and overtime concerns. One council member asked Jenkins to attend planning and work-study meetings more frequently; another raised the need for a succession plan so services would continue if someone left unexpectedly. A council member asked about overtime in the department and said as of April \"we were over $597.25, with 2 more months left to go.\"

A public commenter, Larry Simpson, urged a larger increase for two long‑serving city employees and criticized 3% as insufficient. \"3% raise is not much to give a person that's dedicated their time and effort to the city of Westmoreland,\" Simpson said. \"If we could double that, it would be so fine with me ... they're worth 10% or more.\"

The transcript records multiple procedural votes and attempts to defer the Meredith Jenkins item; it also records a roll call after a motion to approve the 3% raise, but the meeting record as presented does not explicitly state the clerk's final declaration that the measure passed or failed. Therefore the transcript does not allow this article to state a definitive final outcome for the Meredith Jenkins 3% raise.

Separately, the council received a motion to approve a part‑time fire chief pay raise for Mark Jenkins but that initial motion received no second and therefore did not advance. Later, Councilman Calvert moved to defer consideration of the part‑time fire chief raise to the next committee; Councilman Borders seconded, and the motion to defer passed unanimously (5–0).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Westmoreland City Council 7-17-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council debated a 3% cost-of-living raise for Finance Director Meredith Jenkins, with votes and motions recorded but the transcript does not clearly state the final outcome; the council unanimously deferred consideration of a pay change for part‑time Fire Chief Mark Jenkins to the next committee meeting.","taxTitle","Westmoreland City, Sumner County, Tennessee","taxId",54299,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164137,"Council advances zoning amendment on horizontal property regime",64,807000,871000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5431256-79a310e4e396c5c1e9edd0fbac7f4e3d&start=807&end=871","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5431256-79a310e4e396c5c1e9edd0fbac7f4e3d/thumbnail_807000.jpg","/articles/6164137/Westmoreland-City/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Council-advances-zoning-amendment-on-horizontal-property-regime","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164137-c90e27dc9ef8edb77905a88b6cc3182c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112634&Signature=fmde73H77h6U-9nHoDi1lO0AqGSQbk2i-2nDUsaN~FMZoosZRe-ij9CKnprXgBpvnrKPvMd6I8O4vlo-SGLqBx5VeWTTgnlHdBajzxb1ohzWYKO2avJFTRet6q6aocQ5Do0dBKczkBadH16OCr6Y9MvO5KmOwx4qdkgygNuuxWkTkr5uzzzaTU27gW8va-9657ajRbMBDi8xNcFuoCSG9Ql6OZt9v0zoEWD~8srScE0DmzfUokVNbDP--vcYbF-PVgCGP2QnKTiEBYUUxavYZoC2Y7oXDfmRPwv6vFCjSOGQIOjOnpNuk3on1dR1YtLONXL69B0z268U3IEtWoBGcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Westmoreland City Council on second reading approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance concerning the horizontal property regime. Vice Mayor Jones moved to approve Ordinance 0062025-1; Councilman Staples seconded and the council recorded a unanimous vote.

The council offered no additional amendments during the second-reading action and took the vote following a short call for the question. \"Let the record reflect it passed unanimously,\" the clerk noted after the roll call.

The item will now proceed under the town's ordinance adoption schedule for a final reading or implementation steps consistent with the town's code.","On second reading the council approved Ordinance 0062025-1 amending the zoning ordinance regarding the horizontal property regime; the vote was unanimous.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164142,"Council approves municipal court training fee increase",58,746000,804000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5431256-79a310e4e396c5c1e9edd0fbac7f4e3d&start=746&end=804","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5431256-79a310e4e396c5c1e9edd0fbac7f4e3d/thumbnail_746000.jpg","/articles/6164142/Westmoreland-City/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Council-approves-municipal-court-training-fee-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164142-d075360d88580db277be0b08ee743d69/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112634&Signature=MrNKUpRfk2Xsma-OnYJcRvDuyfjVlbLQu~BxAgdlWcFqMi~VPnR~sJfIpVdgR3-z1H68uiU1-7uEUqx-SvfHbNsD46GTj7uOzXKIznhhH0qDYjliPm0JiBFBGnT8JXed-uZZUoK4XCXSlFOp1FuPWYMlPQ3PP5WJxkojxpfT-CkdIZ4WyBuLq1i8VxpGTyGEK6X-~RqX5EJ3F3MhWGflUBZA6oiPkSICyp18r1VPoLu-Nsl~feYj0-trVLCt12A6~r8MaWeiM7lpyvowAye44dtXfmkZjn~Zm7fy7RfSYkZXsQSYLHCmXBAYJxxnQT6EkeTvjC2sIt6bE5m1NwmeYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Westmoreland City Council approved, on second reading, an increase to the municipal court training fee to align with a state-mandated change. Councilman Calvert made the motion to approve Ordinance 0062025-2, and Vice Mayor Jones seconded; the ordinance passed on a unanimous roll call.

Council members said the adjustment was prompted by a state increase. \"State went up, so we had to go up,\" a council member said during discussion. The clerk then called the roll and the council recorded unanimous approval.

No public comment was offered on the ordinance during the meeting, and no amendments were proposed during the second-reading vote.","On second reading the council approved Ordinance 0062025-2 to increase the municipal court training fee to reflect a state increase; the vote was unanimous.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164146,"Council defers capacity-fees ordinance after public plea to keep fee at $3,500",579,320000,899000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5431256-79a310e4e396c5c1e9edd0fbac7f4e3d&start=320&end=899","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5431256-79a310e4e396c5c1e9edd0fbac7f4e3d/thumbnail_320000.jpg","/articles/6164146/Westmoreland-City/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Council-defers-capacity-fees-ordinance-after-public-plea-to-keep-fee-at-3500","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164146-f5b54e8aae3c0d6f10f8ffc56a191455/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112634&Signature=gc4n9~5pgdmhfD7g81KdDeij8041a2v27D-4KfcKJ~KQNGrGUesqKXL1zZ6S41lOoAuBS35jsnd9IyOSlCucEr8L1IZachiIsAcTys2x5Zyq9GJf16fm3DUxwDsp1JnxS07NGq-EtypZxwd-03InGGZwotcQSorAq4Rtyn5uZV06TsH1IjvchLW-fT~dICxoLR696Lc2qgTycVz5i9o4pLveoy2VFyIJWlM3oyIIJpysqpWaNM028JQwTv6QfdTIMcJ866Z2vus7AxPBDhaln6YAiO4IsG8YDY3JQMewvPCfuhWM6bJvOCSULm9ZKtVeqcEGl1A27iaxUgTYAm4Ztg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident urged the Westmoreland City Council not to reduce the development capacity fee, and the council voted unanimously to defer consideration of the capacity-fees ordinance to an August work study.

Chris Jones, who signed up for public comment, said he had reviewed a recent water study and recalled that the town \"brought in 83% of the water income from what we needed, and we're short 17%.\" He told the council that the study recommended roughly a 20% water-rate increase over two years and asked council members not to reduce the capacity fee for builders from $3,500 to a proposed $2,000. \"I don't see how if we're gonna have to increase our water and sewer rates for the citizens ... you all assess the capacity fee on the builders ... at $3,500 a few months ago. And now ... voting tonight to try to lower it to 2,000. I don't understand how you in your right mind can vote to lower that knowing the condition of our water and sewers budget,\" Jones said.

Jones asked that, if council members lowered the fee, they explain their rationale to residents after the vote. He also referenced a nearby community's larger increases, saying Watertown increased water bills by \"80 something percent\" and that even after the increase their rates remained lower than Westmoreland's.

On the council floor, Vice Mayor Jones moved to defer the second reading on Ordinance 0062025-3 (capacity fees amended) to the August work study; Councilman Staples seconded the motion. The council voted to defer the ordinance unanimously. The record shows the motion was made and approved with no additional substantive discussion during the vote.

The transcript did not record a new fee level being adopted at this meeting; instead the amendment will be reconsidered at the work study session. No formal budgetary offsets or amendments were adopted at the deferral.","A resident urged the council not to lower the capacity fee from $3,500 to $2,000 amid a reported water and sewer revenue shortfall; the council unanimously deferred the capacity-fees ordinance to an August work study.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164151,"Westmoreland council adopts 2025–26 budget after brief public hearing",85,601000,686000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5431256-79a310e4e396c5c1e9edd0fbac7f4e3d&start=601&end=686","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5431256-79a310e4e396c5c1e9edd0fbac7f4e3d/thumbnail_601000.jpg","/articles/6164151/Westmoreland-City/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Westmoreland-council-adopts-202526-budget-after-brief-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164151-2d3e69aa808999e43d1061706416afd8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112634&Signature=l4lPCJjoroLwEkwubWH42FfQUIh9Ol-uUcSluD-Ywj9WAefPs7cwVnFNmZhN0NZLhdY7OP0RkGIroL9jUbMImcnvBmeDSkhRsYmMNpH2pyJ6zO~7zudaLY-ltMR69IV6Hnt46rrij31FllpEMYThE~5snkllcKeZv8u0rWJ1rxl47jBMFEejqBOLph1rFmSaER~SamblNSFlCx5RbLQg~qXgxbGaobcntn-1-5o7iR8aKoPCxDfn3CBpfRxRUSWuPdrOnYShDbN5nacKSgYnCKympaN8KFg~j9g3yZIqETXwfx1faF3tccWSaIQ7zIq3Oe9ZbLJIAMdsQnFtfuuCPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Westmoreland City Council adopted the 2025–26 budget on a unanimous vote after holding a short, formal public hearing. Vice Mayor Jones moved to approve Ordinance 0052025-1, the 2025–26 budget, and the motion passed unanimously following a roll call.

The ordinance was read as part of a required public hearing. The council opened the hearing at approximately 6:10 p.m. and closed it a minute later, with no members of the public signing up to speak. \"I'm gonna open up, public hearing at 06:10. Hearing on the ordinance 0 0 5 2 0 2 5 dash 1 20 25 20 26 budget,\" the presiding official said; the hearing was then closed with no public comments.

Karen Dunham called the roll for the final vote. The record shows votes in favor from council members present and the measure passed unanimously. The council did not record any amendments to the ordinance during the meeting.

The council completed other routine business at the same meeting, including approval of minutes and other second-reading ordinances. No further public hearings on the budget were reported at this meeting.","The Westmoreland City Council held a brief public hearing and approved Ordinance 0052025-1 adopting the 2025–26 budget; the vote was unanimous.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council debates 3% cost-of-living raise for finance director; part‑time fire chief raise deferred

Council advances zoning amendment on horizontal property regime

Council approves municipal court training fee increase

Council defers capacity-fees ordinance after public plea to keep fee at $3,500

Westmoreland council adopts 2025–26 budget after brief public hearing