MHRC pauses longstanding sponsorship payments after counsel says outside appropriations need council approval
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Summary
Commission staff told the Metro Human Relations Commission that the commission has historically sponsored seven community events but that Metro legal counsel advised payments to outside entities constitute an appropriation requiring Metro Council approval. Three sponsorships on the agenda were not approved because documentation was incomplete;
Ed Tucker, speaking for commission staff, said the MHRC has sponsored seven recurring events for years, including Southern Word's youth poet laureate prize, the Tennessee Food Summit and International Human Rights Day, among others. Tucker told commissioners staff is updating the commissions procedures for how those sponsorships are handled.
"The MHRC has been sponsoring for years 7 events that celebrate Nashville," Tucker said and listed the events on the commissions long-standing schedule. He told commissioners that the process used historically for those sponsorships "were not done correctly" and that staff are working to correct the practice.
Metro attorney Matt advised the body that whenever the commission provides funding to an entity outside Metro, the action constitutes an appropriation that must be approved by Metro Council under the Metro code. Matt said three grants on the meeting agenda still had outstanding documents and therefore were not ready for approval.
Staff quoted itemized amounts that appear in the meeting agenda: $1,500 for the youth poet laureate (Southern Word), $1,500 for the Tennessee Food Summit and $1,200 for the International Human Rights Day event (to cover catering). Commissioners discussed whether purchasing food as an in-kind contribution would change the procurement or approval requirements; Matt indicated Metro Council authorization is still the appropriate route for outside appropriations.
Why this matters: The clarification limits the MHRCs ability to unilaterally authorize cash or in-kind appropriations to outside groups and means the commission must work with council and finance staff to regularize long-standing sponsorships.
Sources and attribution: Reporting here is based on in-meeting statements from Ed Tucker and Metro attorney Matt.