Ripley aldermen debate proposal to create independent 5-member Ripley Power & Light board

Ripley aldermen debated a proposal to amend the city charter and create a five-member independent board to operate Ripley Power & Light, but legal counsel said provisions in the draft are not properly included in a charter amendment and the meeting ended with discussion but no recorded ratifying vote.

The proposed change would have removed Ripley Power & Light from general city department oversight and created an independent utility board “to supervise and oversee Ripley Power and Light pursuant to Tennessee Municipal Electric Plant Law of 1935,” according to the motion read into the record by Alderman Alston. The motion also named the mayor as the appointing authority and called for one member to be a member of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, subject to consent.

The city attorney told the board the specific provisions that set board size and membership are governed by separate state statutory provisions and are not properly included in a Private Act charter amendment; she advised the inclusion of membership rules in the draft made the motion improper. The…