Commission appoints Senior Citizens Committee after failed amendment to delay start date

The Claiborne County Commission on July 19 voted to appoint a seven-member Senior Citizens Committee to oversee the county’s two senior centers and to include the Office on Aging and county nutrition services under the committee’s purview.

Sponsor Commissioner David Mundy moved the resolution (Res. 2021-073), which names Steve Murphy, Carolyn Brooks, Brent Clark, Juanita Honeycutt, Stacey Crawford, Steve Brogan and Mitchell Cosby to the committee. The motion also specifies the committee’s authority to hire a director and to consult on operations and employment decisions affecting the senior centers, Office on Aging and Nutrition program.

During debate, Commissioner Peters successfully moved an amendment to add Commissioners Brogan and Cosby to the committee; that amendment passed on a roll-call vote. A separate amendment by Commissioner Mundy to move the committee’s start date to Oct. 1, 2021 failed on a roll-call vote (4 for; 12 against; 4 pass). The clerk’s roll call recorded the four in favor of the delayed start as Commissioners Brent Clark, Carolyn Brooks, David Mundy and James Hatmaker. Commissioners voting against the delay included Shuford, Vass, Campbell, Crawford, Nicholas Epperson, Mullins, Rowe, Cosby, Barnett, Mason, Brogan and Peters; Commissioners Honeycutt, Large, McCreary and Murphy were recorded as "pass." The final appointment motion passed 20-0.

The committee is empowered by the resolution to employ and oversee a director and to consult on daily operations. The resolution takes effect upon passage.

The commission’s recorded votes and the inclusion of Office on Aging and Nutrition program responsibilities were part of the motion as adopted.