FBMA approves Town Admin assistant

From the Farragut Press:

The Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the hiring of an assistant town administrator during its regular Thursday meeting, March 9, with four affirmative votes and one abstaining.

Alderman Thomas Rosseel abstained from the vote to hire Gary Palmer, 35, of Michigan, because of what he deemed was confusing language by Vice Mayor Mike Haynes.

Rosseel told the board during the Oct. 13, 2005, meeting, when the position of assistant town administrator was discussed, a motion made by Haynes referred to the assistant town administrator position as an “exempt” position.

Rosseel, after the meeting, said the personnel policy of the town basically has two designations. One is exempt service, which refers to a position that is hired and terminated at the pleasure of the FBMA. The other designation is an exempt salary position, which refers to a position that has an immediate supervisor and that supervisor decides whether to promote or terminate.

Rosseel said he believed the word “exempt” in Haynes’ motion referred to the exempt salary position, making the assistant town administrator subject to Farragut Town Administrator Dan Olson. “I’m sorry you didn’t understand what you were voting on,” Haynes told Rosseel.

As it stands now, Rosseel said Palmer would be hired and terminated at the pleasure of the FBMA. After the meeting Haynes said he didn’t know whether it was unusual for a town to have both a town administrator and assistant town administrator that answered to the FBMA.

“I have no idea,” he said. “I’m concerned with what we do in Farragut. I believe from a policy standpoint someone such as, in this case an associate town administrator who is also a person by the job description who steps in if the town administrator is incapacitated or unable to fulfill that role, I think that they should be responsive to the board. We’re the ones elected by the public and charged with seeing that the town is run properly.”

Haynes said while there are some philosophical differences in opinion, he said the board is unanimously in support of this position as being necessary for the town and in support of Palmer in this position.

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Town of Farragut best in state?

The Farragut Press has an interesting article about an award won by the Town of Farragut. My take on this is our town still has much work to do. Yes we have educated, skilled, and successful residents. But Farragut is not business friendly. Not yet, but improvements are being made.

The next step is a review of the existing ordinances especially the sign ordinances. The development of the Campbell Station Connector will be the real test of how our town is improving the business climate.

Let's not pat ourselves too much on the back. There is more work to be done.

The Farragut Independent gives their viewpoint:

OK, read the article above before proceeding. Seriously, read it first BEFORE you make any judgements, o.k.

I personally had to do a double-take when I saw it in the FP last night. But after reading the article, I must admit that based on the factors that were used for selecting the town, that they are probably right in selecting Farragut. That being said, Farragut still has much further to go to be truly business friendly. Why are we still losing businesses to Knoxville & surrounding areas? Why do we still have storefronts and other businesses that are empty? What else has the town done to encourage business to come in? Come on, is the town going to "rest" on the laurels handed to them, or raise the standards even higher?

Personally, the first thing I'd like to see consistent business signage in the ENTIRE TOWN! If that means we give those businesses that are not currently meeting the standards (for whatever reason) incentives to do so (as well as credits for those who have complied), then let's do it!

From the Farragut Press:

Tennessee Center for Policy Research president Drew Johnson presented the town of Farragut an award Monday, naming it the “Most Business-Friendly City” in the state.

Johnson said this is the first year for the award and the TCPR chose Farragut from more than 50 cities. The award was decided based on four categories — a fair and reasonable tax structure, a satisfying community environment that draws high-quality employees, a skilled labor pool that delivers high return on investments in human capital and local amenities that draw customers and make it easier to do business.

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