Germantown board approves three temporary beer permits, moves Travier plan to consent; sets hearings for two commission ordinance changes

The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen, chaired by Vice Mayor Gibson in Mayor Palazzolo’s absence, approved three temporary on‑premise beer permits, adopted a consent agenda that included moving the Travier PD Phase 4 revised final plan to the consent agenda, and gave first readings to ordinance changes for the Germantown Education Commission and the Stormwater Advisory Commission during its Sept. 22 meeting.

The board unanimously approved three temporary permits to serve beer at nonprofit fundraisers: Forest Hill Elementary PTO’s Foxtail Fling on Oct. 3 at Pike and West Art Gallery and Venue (2277 West Street); the Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce’s Taste of the Town on Sept. 27 at the Great Hall and Conference Center; and Thistle and Bee Enterprises Inc.’s Honey Harvest on Sept. 28 at the Bobby Lanier Farm Park Harvest Moon Pavilion (2660 Cross Country Drive). Alderman Sanders moved each permit and motions were seconded; roll calls recorded five yes votes for each permit.

Forest Hill PTO president Anna Moore told the board the Foxtail Fling is an adults‑only fall fundraiser that raises money for the school. Janie Day, president of the Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber’s Taste of the Town has run since February 2001 (except during COVID) and that about “250 people who have registered” for this year’s event. Cathy Simonetti, event chair for Thistle and Bee, described Thistle and Bee as “a residential program. It's a two‑year program for women who've been trafficked and prostituted,” and said the Honey Harvest is a program event where participating women are beekeepers.

Alderman Sanders said he had verified nonprofit status for the applicants through the IRS and the Tennessee Department of Revenue and confirmed state special‑event liquor recognition and licensed servers had been supplied in the applications. The board’s clerk issued each successful applicant a permit following unanimous roll‑call approval.

The board approved a consent agenda that included routine purchasing and service agreements, grant and donation items, vehicle purchases, sports provider agreements, and professional services agreements listed in the board packet (items 9a–9j). During the consent‑agenda discussion the board voted to move agenda item 12, the revised final plan for Travier PD Phase 4, from the regular agenda to the consent agenda; Alderman Salvaggio explained the project includes retail and office only and described the requested design deviations as limited to landscaping, parking, frontage, and pedestrian access. The consent agenda passed on a unanimous roll call.

As part of consent‑agenda proceedings the board presented a check and briefly recognized the Germantown Education Foundation; board members thanked the foundation and its volunteer leaders for fundraising and support of local schools.

On first reading the board approved two ordinances and scheduled second readings and public hearings for Oct. 27, 2025: ordinance 2025‑7 to amend Chapter 2, Article 5, Division 16 (Germantown Education Commission) by updating the commission purpose language to reflect changes since 2002, including the addition of the Germantown Municipal School District and library; and ordinance 2025‑8 to amend Chapter 2, Article 5, Division 9 (Stormwater Advisory Commission) to change membership and liaison roles, designate an annually appointed member as chair for 2026 appointments, and add a nonvoting technology commission liaison. Jessica Comas, the city’s marketing and communications manager, presented the education commission amendment; Jennifer Johnson Allen, director of engineering, presented the stormwater amendment. Both ordinances were moved, seconded and passed on first reading with unanimous roll calls.

Procedural items including adoption of the Sept. 22 agenda and approval of minutes from the Sept. 8 regular meeting were moved and approved by unanimous roll call earlier in the meeting.

The board adjourned from the Germantown Beer Board session and reconvened as the Board of Mayor and Aldermen; Vice Mayor Gibson closed the meeting noting the next regular meeting is Oct. 27, 2025.

Votes at a glance: Forest Hill Elementary PTO temporary permit (approved, mover: Alderman Sanders; second: Alderman Hicks; roll call: 5 yes); Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce temporary permit (approved, mover: Alderman Sanders; second: Alderman Yulecki; roll call: 5 yes); Thistle and Bee Enterprises Inc. temporary permit (approved, mover: Alderman Sanders; second: Alderman Hicks; roll call: 5 yes); Consent agenda (approved, roll call: 5 yes; included moving Travier PD Phase 4 to consent); Ordinance 2025‑7 (Education Commission) first reading set for public hearing Oct. 27, 2025 (approved, roll call: 5 yes); Ordinance 2025‑8 (Stormwater Advisory Commission) first reading set for public hearing Oct. 27, 2025 (approved, roll call: 5 yes).

(Details on each consent agenda line item are listed in the board packet; the board recorded no separate roll‑call votes for individual consent items.)