Council committee confirms multiple nominees to Metro boards and commissions, hears concerns on staffing and greenway uses
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Summary
The committee interviewed and confirmed nominees to more than a dozen boards and commissions, including nominees for the Greenways and Open Spaces Commission, 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District and the procurement standards board. Members questioned candidates about 9-1-1 turnover, greenway transportation and contractor compliance.
A Rules, Confirmations & Public Elections committee on May 13 conducted interviews and confirmed more than a dozen nominees to Metro boards and commissions, including appointments to the Emergency Communications District (9-1-1), Greenways and Open Spaces Commission, Procurement Standards Board, Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Human Relations Commission.
Daniel B. Dwyer was confirmed to the Emergency Communications District for a term through Feb. 14, 2029. Members pressed Dwyer about high dispatcher turnover and workplace concerns at the 9-1-1 center. Dwyer described past local-government service and investigator experience, saying he would work to ensure employees "have resources that they need" and noted prior experience conducting outside harassment and EEOC-style investigations.
The committee confirmed three Greenways and Open Spaces nominees: Cedric Duncan (term expiring 08/31/2027), Murray Hill (term expiring 02/11/2026) and James Moore (term expiring 02/10/2027). All three described greenways as important for recreation and expanding multimodal transportation; Duncan and Hill explicitly said they support use of class-2 e-bikes on greenways. Moore, a landscape architect, emphasized maintenance planning for native plantings and public communication to avoid confusion about intentionally unmowed native areas.
Jermaine Cole, a 19-year-old community organizer, was nominated to the Human Relations Commission and confirmed; sponsor Chair Gamble highlighted Cole's organizing and youth perspective. Jeff Haines was confirmed to the Metropolitan Transit Authority; Haines cited his planning commission and real-estate experience and said it would inform his MTA service.
On procurement oversight, the committee advanced several nominees to the Procurement Standards Board, including Sarah Martin, Bob Braswell and Roger (Roger/Robert) Ligon. Committee members discussed the new contract-and-compliance board's role and asked whether the procurement board would consider barring contractors for repeated violations. Martin said she would be "open to feedback" and emphasized focusing on outcomes and clear processes to inform future procurements. Braswell and Ligon said they brought construction, safety and process-improvement experience.
Other confirmations included nominees to the Cheatham Rail Authority, Nashville & Eastern Rail Authority (reappointment of Aaron Evans), the Tourism & Convention Commission and the Work Release Board (reappointments including Ron Parham and Father Edward Steiner). Most votes were unanimous or near-unanimous; individual tallies were announced for each item in the committee record.
The committee conducted candidate interviews on multiple items; where nominees raised operational issues (9-1-1 staffing, greenway routing, procurement enforcement), members noted follow-up through the relevant departments would be required.
