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Nolensville commissioners approve parks MOU, adopt letter supporting Friends of Nolensville Parks after debate
Summary
After extended debate about timing and legal necessity, the Nolensville Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 26‑O‑6 (an MOU tied to the town’s parks master plan) by a 4–1 vote and amended and adopted a board-prepared letter of support for Friends of Nolensville Parks (26‑O‑17). Town counsel said an MOU is not legally required but can provide clarity for project-specific work.
The Town of Nolensville Board of Commissioners discussed two related items on Feb. 5: Resolution 26‑O‑6, approving a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Friends of Nolensville Parks, and Resolution 26‑O‑17, adopting a board-prepared letter of support for that group.
Vice Mayor/Commissioner (speaker 5) described the effort as an early-stage partnership and said the town may be “early in the game for the MOU process,” urging caution in finalizing lengthy MOU verbiage while affirming support for the partnership. Town Attorney Chuck Downham told the board there is "no legal reason to enter into the MOU," adding that an MOU is not required for donations or for the nonprofit to operate but can be advisable for a specific project where clearer terms are needed. "If there was a specific project, in that case, it would be a lot more advisable to have an MOU," Downham said.
Commissioners debated tradeoffs: some argued a formal MOU helps protect the town and provides fundraising confidence for donors, while others said the town lacks a final parks plan and that a letter of support alone would be sufficient at this stage. Commissioner (speaker 6) said the letter of support “does a lot to convey that there is town backing,” while Commissioner (speaker 3) urged only modest edits to the drafted letter so the board could adopt it.
The board amended Resolution 26‑O‑6 to reference the town’s parks and recreation master plan and added language drafted by legal counsel to clarify that proposals under the MOU should align with the plan’s recommendations. After debate and amendment, the motion to approve Resolution 26‑O‑6 passed 4–1. The board also amended language in Resolution 26‑O‑17 (changing phrasing such as "presented" to "prepared by the board of commissioners" and replacing "acknowledge" with "adopt") and proceeded with the letter adoption process.
Why it matters: Friends of Nolensville Parks is positioned to help raise funds and volunteer resources for the town’s emerging park system. Commissioners said that formal agreements and clear expectations can both protect town interests and make fundraising easier for the nonprofit. Town counsel’s advice that an MOU is not legally required framed the decision as policy- and process-driven rather than a legal necessity.
What’s next: The MOU will be handled under the amended language tied to the parks master plan, and the board adopted the amended letter of support. Commissioners and staff signaled further work to refine the MOU and the town’s internal processes before entering into more detailed agreements with outside groups.
