Council weighs replacing city manager with council member on Shelbyville Power & Water board

Council members discussed a proposed charter change to remove the city manager from the Shelbyville Power & Water board and replace that position with a member of the city council.

City Manager Scott College summarized a recommendation made by a council member to replace the city manager’s seat on the Power & Water board with a council member. Discussion among council members touched on conflicts of interest and representation — some members said a council member on the board would give the council a stronger voice on utility matters, while others noted the city manager handles day-to-day operations and that changing the board composition could be disruptive.

College and council members described the legal path for the change: it would require a special act of the Tennessee General Assembly and the governor’s signature. Staff said the special-act process can take months; College said such changes have been signed “as early as April” and “no later in July” in other instances and that, depending on drafting and approval, the change could take effect about two years out under some scenarios. Council members discussed logistics including board composition limits (seven members) and compensation differences between citizen members and council/ex-officio members.

Quote: “I think it would be kind of representation because they asked me if a Ford Probe came down to my interest with the city versus the interest with Shelbyville Power. My calling was awkward for the city. Right. It's my first and foremost, loyalty,” a council member said when explaining support for the change.

No formal council action was recorded at the study session; staff indicated a process to draft language and involve the city attorney would follow if the council chooses to pursue the change.