Lewisburg council approves routine business, adopts social-media and retirement measures

Lewisburg Mayor Jim Bingham and the city council adopted a slate of routine agenda items during their March 11 meeting, including minutes, financial statements, several appointments, a zoning change, a retirement-plan resolution and a social-media policy for elected officials.

The council approved the minutes and the bills and financial statements after brief discussion. Council members also confirmed appointments to multiple advisory bodies and adopted second reading of Ordinance 25-01, which amends parts of the city zoning ordinance. The council approved Resolution 25-02 to permit employee participation in a TCRS 401(k)-style plan and adopted an ordinance adding a social-media policy for elected officials to the Lewisburg Municipal Code. A proposed payment of $56,061 to cover prior-service employee contributions for TCRS received no motion and was not acted on.

The measures were largely procedural and passed on roll calls.

Votes at a glance - Approval of meeting minutes: Motion by Councilwoman Thomas, second Councilwoman Michael. Roll call: Councilman Burns — Aye; Councilwoman Michael — Aye; Councilwoman Thomas — Aye; Councilman Crutcher — Aye. Outcome: approved. - Approval of bills and financial statements (includes $3,750 Confluence Consulting line item for Parks & Recreation grant writing): Motion by Councilwoman Michael, second Councilwoman Thomas. Roll call: Burns — Aye; Michael — Aye; Thomas — Aye; Crutcher — Aye. Outcome: approved. - Ordinance 25-01 (second and final reading): Motion by Councilwoman Michael, second Crutcher. Roll call: Burns — Aye; Michael — Aye; Thomas — Aye; Crutcher — Aye. Outcome: adopted (second reading completed). - Appointment of Pete Brown to Industrial Development Board (term discussed as approximately six years): Motion approved. Roll call: Burns — Aye; Michael — Aye; Thomas — Aye; Crutcher — Aye. Outcome: approved. - Appointment of Millie Summers to Cemetery Advisory Committee (unexpired term): Motion approved. Roll call: Burns — Aye; Michael — Aye; Thomas — Aye; Crutcher — Aye. Outcome: approved. - Appointment of Emily Gordon to Board of Zoning Appeals (by recommendation of Mayor Jim Bingham): Motion approved. Roll call: Burns — Aye; Michael — Aye; Thomas — Aye; Crutcher — Aye. Outcome: approved. - Disposal of an old nonworking computer at the recreation center: Motion approved on roll call. Outcome: approved. - Item to fund employees' contribution of $56,061 for prior TCRS service for 26 employees: No motion; no action taken. - Resolution 25-02 (allow employees to participate/contribute to a Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System [TCRS] 401(k] plan): Motion by Councilwoman Thomas, second Crutcher. Roll call: Burns — Aye; Michael — Aye; Thomas — Aye; Crutcher — Aye. Outcome: adopted (recorded as Resolution 25-02). - Ordinance 24-02 (social-media policy for elected officials, added to Title 1, Chapter 8 of the Lewisburg Municipal Code): Motion by Councilwoman Michael, second Councilman Crutcher. Roll call: Councilman Burns — Aye; Councilwoman Michael — Aye; Councilwoman Thomas — Nay; Councilman Crutcher — Aye. Outcome: adopted (3–1). - Ordinance 25-03 (amend Title 2, Chapter 5, Sec. 5-101 — miscellaneous boards appointed by the mayor): Motion approved after discussion; roll call recorded as: Councilman Burns — No; Councilwoman Michael — Yes; Councilwoman Thomas — No; Councilman Crutcher — Yes; Mayor Jim Bingham — Yes. Outcome: adopted.

Why it matters: The votes implement routine governance (minutes, bills, appointments) and adopt new workplace/ethics policy (social-media ordinance) and a retirement-savings option for city employees. A requested one-time funding payment for prior TCRS service was not moved, so no fiscal change occurred on that item.

Council members spoke during roll calls and brief discussion; no lengthy policy debate occurred on the listed measures.

Ending: The meeting proceeded to city-manager and department reports after the roll-call votes.