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New Tennessee transportation finance authority adopts bylaws, public-comment rules, hires special counsel and names assistant secretary
Summary
At its first meeting May 8, the Tennessee Transportation Financing Authority adopted bylaws and written public-comment guidelines, authorized engagement of Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP as special counsel and appointed Sandy Thompson assistant secretary; all items passed by voice vote.
The Tennessee Transportation Financing Authority on May 8 adopted its draft bylaws and written public-comment guidelines, authorized retention of Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP as special counsel, and appointed Sandy Thompson as assistant secretary to the authority. Each item was adopted by voice vote during the authority’s inaugural meeting.
The bylaws, presented by Rachel Buckley of the Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury, set routine governance provisions for the new authority, including that the board may be convened by the chair or vice chair; members must comply with applicable ethics laws; the board may designate an assistant secretary; bylaws may be suspended by unanimous consent; and the bylaws require review at least every three years. "I wanted to keep it short, but I am happy to answer any questions you may have about the bylaws," Buckley said.
The authority also adopted written public-comment guidelines to comply with Tennessee Code Annotated section 8-44-112. Buckley said the guidelines mirror those used by similar state bodies: a two-minute limit per speaker per agenda item, a maximum of two proponents and two opponents by default, and discretionary authority for the chair to extend time or the number of speakers when circumstances warrant.
On legal services, Sandy Thompson, director of the Office of State and Local Finance, asked the authority to authorize the engagement of Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP as special counsel to assist the comptroller in administering TTFA activities. The authority approved the engagement by voice vote.
Comptroller Mumpower, participating virtually, asked whether the board needed to take official action to appoint an assistant secretary under the bylaws and moved to appoint Sandy Thompson to that role. The authority approved the appointment by voice vote.
What the board did: The authority approved the draft bylaws, adopted public-comment guidelines to satisfy TCA 8-44-112, authorized Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP as special counsel, and appointed Sandy Thompson assistant secretary. Each approval was taken by voice vote with a physical quorum present.
Next steps: The board did not set a public date for its next meeting; staff said future meetings will be publicly posted and that interested parties should check the authority’s website for updates.
