Rules, Confirmations & Public Elections Committee approves multiple appointments, two consent resolutions and defers several nominations

The Rules, Confirmations & Public Elections Committee confirmed multiple board and commission nominees and approved two consent resolutions at its Sept. 2 meeting, while deferring several other nominations to the committee’s Sept. 16 meeting.

The committee, chaired by Council Member Truffle, approved the appointment of Camille Greer to the Metro Arts Commission for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2027; the reappointment of James Lassiter to the Board of Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical Examiners and Appeals for a term expiring Aug. 1, 2029; the appointment of Bradley (Brad) Pinson to the Employee Benefit Board for a term expiring June 30, 2028; and the reappointment of Marina Duppy to the Fire and Building Code Appeals Board for a term expiring June 20, 2029. The committee also voted to appoint Phil Claiborne and Betsy Phillips to the Historical Commission (terms expiring Aug. 10, 2029). Earlier in the meeting the committee approved two consent resolutions: RS20251462, approving election of certain notaries public for Davidson County, and RS20251476, recognizing the Metropolitan Department of Finance, Division of Purchases for a procurement designation by the Institute for Government Procurement (NIGP).

Why it matters: these boards and commissions advise Metro departments on topics ranging from arts funding and historic preservation to safety and employee benefits. Committee confirmation moves nominees to the full Council for final action in the next Council meeting cycle.

The committee heard brief statements from nominees before voting. Camille Greer, the nominee to the Metro Arts Commission, said she has been active in Nashville’s arts community for 14 years and “I care deeply about the arts community,” and described nonprofit-management experience she said would be relevant to commission work. James Lassiter, a trades professional reappointed to the mechanical/plumbing/electrical board, summarized his years in the field and described the board’s public-safety purpose.

Bradley Pinson introduced himself as a private-wealth adviser with 22 years in financial services and said he would bring private-sector benefits experience to the Employee Benefit Board. Pinson also stated, “I’m a proud member of the LGBTQ community,” while describing his interest in employee financial and health benefits.

Marina Duppy (listed in the record as Marina Dupi) said she has served on the Fire and Building Code Appeals Board since 2021 and as chair since 2022; she discussed recurring cases that raised questions about event spaces on agricultural properties and the limits of local permitting when state law applies. Phil Claiborne described long involvement in local preservation projects, including organizing Friends of 2 Rivers Mansion and helping oversee a recently completed $4.5 million restoration. Betsy Phillips, a local historian and author, said she seeks to surface untold stories in Nashville history and described ongoing work cataloging the headstones carved by William Edmondson.

Deferrals and omnibus actions: the committee deferred the reappointment of Weston Eiler (Board of Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical Examiners and Appeals) to the Sept. 16 meeting at the nominee’s request. The committee also deferred consideration of nominations that lacked completed questionnaires (for example, Morgan Miller Wallace and Shannon Raybon) to the Sept. 16 meeting. The committee approved an omnibus motion to confirm several additional nominees, read into the record together: the appointment of Ramon Andy Barry (Fire and Building Code Appeals Board, term exp. July 20, 2029), the reappointment of Defender Sandhu (Fire and Building Code Appeals Board, term exp. July 20, 2029), the reappointment of William “Bill” McKee (Historical Commission, term exp. Aug. 10, 2029), and the appointment of Matthew C. Smith (Historic Zoning Commission, term exp. Aug. 31, 2028).

Votes at a glance: - RS20251462 (resolution approving election of certain notaries public for Davidson County): approved on consent (voice vote recorded as “Aye”). - RS20251476 (resolution recognizing Metropolitan Department of Finance, Division of Purchases’ NIGP designation): approved on consent (voice vote recorded as “Aye”). - Appointment: Camille Greer to Metro Arts Commission (term exp. 01/01/2027): approved (voice vote recorded as “Aye”). - Reappointment: James Lassiter to Board of Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical Examiners and Appeals (term exp. 08/01/2029): approved (voice vote recorded as “Aye”). - Deferral: Weston Eiler — deferred to 09/16/2025 (motion and second recorded). - Reappointment: Morgan Miller Wallace — deferred (no questionnaire submitted). - Appointment: Bradley Pinson to Employee Benefit Board (term exp. 06/30/2028): approved (voice vote recorded as “Aye”). - Reappointment: Marina Duppy to Fire and Building Code Appeals Board (term exp. 06/20/2029): approved (voice vote recorded as “Aye”). - Appointment: Phil Claiborne to Historical Commission (term exp. 08/10/2029): approved (recorded vote 7–0–0). - Appointment: Betsy Phillips to Historical Commission (term exp. 08/10/2029): approved (voice vote recorded as “Aye”). - Deferral: Shannon Raybon to next meeting (no questionnaire submitted): deferred to 09/16/2025. - Omnibus approvals: Ramon Andy Barry (Fire & Building Code Appeals Board, term exp. 07/20/2029), Defender Sandhu (reappointment, term exp. 07/20/2029), William (Bill) McKee (Historic Commission, term exp. 08/10/2029), Matthew C. Smith (Historic Zoning Commission, term exp. 08/31/2028): approved together via omnibus motion (voice vote recorded as “Aye”).

Discussion vs. decision: most nominees provided short biographical remarks and were questioned briefly by committee members. Several nominations were deferred because questionnaires were not submitted or at the request of the nominee. Where the committee issued a formal affirmative vote, that action advances the nominee to the full Council for final confirmation, except where the committee deferred or the sponsor withdrew a filing.

Next steps: confirmed nominations will proceed to the full Metro Council during the next Council meeting cycle; deferred nominees are scheduled for review in committee on Sept. 16, 2025.

(Quotations in this article are drawn from committee proceedings recorded Sept. 2, 2025.)