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Authority outlines CEO tri‑party contract, staffing hires and legal counsel options
Summary
The board received an update on a draft tri‑party employment agreement for the CEO, plans to hire a finance director and three other positions, and a discussion about using Metro Legal versus retaining independent counsel for conflicts.
The East Bank Development Authority received a status update on the CEO employment contract and staff hiring plans and discussed legal representation options.
Ben York, chief executive officer, said the proposed CEO employment agreement will be a three‑party contract among Metro government, the authority and himself; the draft was received from Metro on Friday and staff will circulate it to the board and counsel. York said the arrangement is designed to let Metro employees who transition to the authority retain benefit structures while changing formal employment status.
Anna Greider, chief operating officer, described legal representation plans: the authority intends to rely on Metro Legal for routine matters but would retain independent counsel if a conflict arises. Tom Cross of Metro Legal briefed the board on how Metro Legal typically represents authorities, noting that similar arrangements have functioned without requiring alternate counsel in past authorities. A board member requested that independent counsel be available sooner rather than later; staff noted budget constraints and that independent counsel can be retained when needed using purchasing authority under the enabling statute.
On staffing, Greider said the authority currently has a two‑person team and is planning four hires in the near term: a finance director (highest priority), a communications/public‑information role, and project/program managers for planning/engineering. Greider said the finance director job description was submitted to Metro HR and staff hope to post the finance position within roughly two weeks; hiring all four by the end of summer is an aspirational target.
York addressed how consultant staffing (HDR) will shift as authority staff are hired: HDR has supported day‑to‑day decision making and will continue as staff transition into permanent roles, with project managers eventually assuming operational responsibilities.
No formal board vote was taken on the CEO contract, legal counsel approach or staffing hires during the meeting; staff said they expect the CEO contract and related personnel matters to return for board consideration when drafts and budgets are ready.
