12/1/05 TOWN MEETING,7 PM, BOARD OF MAYOR & ALDERMEN

Don't miss this last Town Hall meeting of 2005.
The complete meeting agenda is available online
HERE. Click on administation, scroll down the
page to current month agenda, December,
Nolensville Elementary School. Yes, there are a
lot of ordinances to consider 9 thru 18.

But as a local citizen you need to be in the
meeting and carefully follow along as each
item is considered. Looking at the agenda
there's a whole lot of switching going on?
Suburban Residential to Commercial
Services or Commercial Regional.
What's the differance between
Commercial Services and Commercial
Regional...who knows? Come to the
meeting and find out.

They are going to talk about roads, traffic lights
and sprinklers. You just can't miss those items.

Opps!...forgot about Estate Residential to Suburban
Residential! Think of it...your home may be listed in
Estate Residential...WOW! Sounds better that the
"burbs"...Suburban Residential.

Why would anyone want to go from Estate to
Suburban? Movin' on up to an Estate class is so
hard to do...why go backwards??

You all come to the meeting and find out! Can you
believe it!!! the Town Hall Meeting Agenda is avail-
able today. Monday online 3 1/2 days before the
actual meeting. Send us your comments and /or
emails.

"We Gather Together to Ask the Lord's Blessing"

A Thanksgiving favorite hymn goes back to 1597
that began as a folk song. Today in most schools
this hymn cannot be sung because it mentions
the Lord. Most of us can remember our teachers
leading us in this great Thanksgiving hymn.
It's majestic lyrics tell of the Pilgrims' struggle
in overcoming religious persecution.

All of us in Nolensville are descendants of those
brave Pilgrims who came to the New World from
somewhere else. "We Gather Together," is a hymn
that we sing to celebrate a unique American
holiday. And like most of us, the hymn has
it's roots in the Old World.

This 2005 Thanksgiving holiday many of us
will take inventory of ourselves since most of
us have survived some difficult times.
As our city grows by leaps and bounds we
need to gather together as the hymn's
message tells us to do."Beside us to guide us,
our God with us joining." This hymn lifts us
all up to a higher level and ends with
"O, Lord, make us free!"
All of us that live in Nolensville are blessed
and can share with everyone this message
in all of our gatherings.

"We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
The wicked opressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to His name: He forgets not his own."

May your gathering of loved ones be a very happy
time right here in Nolensville or wherever you are.
PS: Don't miss Tim Chavez's article in Wed. 11/23
Tennessean..'Enough' is not to much to ask.

MORE HOME DEVELOPMENTS ON THE WAY...WHEN IS ENOUGH...ENOUGH?

THERE IS SEEMINGLY NO END TO NEW PUD'S AND SUBDIVISIONS ALL OVER GREATER NOLENSVILLE AREA.
Local citizens need a score card to follow what's already been approved and what is in the process of being approved. Betcha can't tell from the following list of housing developments?

1. Nolen Park Subdivision.
2. Ballenger Farms Development.
3. Bennington Development.
4. Bent Creek Development.
5. Bent Creek Reserve.
6. Winterset Woods.
7. Silver Stream Development.
8. York Road Standard Development (1/2 acre lots).
9. Townhome Developments.
10.Britain Place.
11. Dugger Downs.(just kidding!) (sorta sounds like a race track)
12. Knapper Knolls.(it's got a nice sound..just kidding!)

We have missed some and others we don't know about, yet? We will update this list in near future. Nolensville's new Land Use Policy Plan just arrived for last planning meeting 11/10/05 so it may very well be true that many of the above projects got OK'd prior to the new land use blueprint. The Town Attorney, Bob Notestine, reminded planning commissioners that they wouldn't be making a blanket ruling on exactly what could be put on the land. Only the Board of Mayor and Aldermen can grant a rezoning request. So planning commissioners OK'd Option 1 of the Land Use Plan that allows the most density--300% more by some estimates. PAUSE! Where are we now?

...Here's where you need to connect the dots............................Ouch!

The Mayor appoints the Planning Commission members...right? The Mayor rules the board with an almost absolute majority vote in every issue that comes up before the board.. How SO? Well the Mayor votes and then two more board members vote with him--like robots everytime.The two remaining board members are always outvoted.

Now if the Planning Commission appointed by the Mayor of which he is a member and has voting rights recomends a Land Use Policy Plan with high density it goes to the Board which in turn approves it by a wide majority. Done deal..ain't it. Smooth, too! No fuss, no muss! That is, until one or both of those remaining board members starts asking questions?

Dang, it! Then in an open public meeting things can get heated! Why can't people just accept the fact that the "majority rules?" Well,when the people don't really know what's going on they tend to get a little testy!

Most local residents and even our good old country folk are not stuck on stupid. Why not invite local residents back to the meetings...prepare the future meeting agendas 7 days before the meeting...(put in online). Then after the meetings approve the minutes ASAP and make them available 7 days after the meeting (online). Email the final minutes'draft to the members get their approval via email and publish it on time (online) in 7 days. Stop playing "hide-in-seek" with the minutes for 75 days or more.
People have a right to know what took place in city meetings...ASAP!
Send in your comments and also to the Town Hall.

Nolensville's Land Use Policy Plan Just Arrived 11/10/05

"Long-range plannng maps will help leaders make decisions"..per Bonnie Burch, Tennessean Staff Writer. We cannot help but wonder how the planning commission made decisions without such plans? Bonnie says, "it was in the works for many months...a blueprint for the entire town's growth from commercial to infrastructure, recreational to street trees."

How many housing developments have been ok'd without this plan??
Town Planner Henry Laird said, "We get proposals all the time. The question is, how do you want that land to develop? "We should have something to go by when making these decisions." Duh? Henry you got that right!

How soon can you put together a "Public Meeting" to show local residents this plan? Contrary to Bonnie's headline..
"Nolensville residents consider options for future growth"...very few residents attend this planning commission meeting and never see the minutes.

So what about it? Tell us when the Public Meeting is going to take place and we will put in it on this website so you can fill the school gym.

Believe it or not people aren't really that "dense"...they know what "density" means and Nolensville is now afflicted with the density disease...big time. During the meeting it was stated that first option would increase densities by 300%. Oh, Boy here comes the "density dance tune" that developers love...it is money music to their ears. Email your opinion to Town Hall attention Mayor or specific alderman. Feel free to comment pro or con.

Our 24/7 Comment Policy For All to Read and Abide By!

Here's a brief summary of our 24/7 COMMENT POLICY that we have been using from our very first day of publication. Everyone needs to read it and understand why all of us need to abide by and follow these guidelines.

The sole purpose of this website is to distribute the accurate facts about issues and problems our formerly small town is facing. As of today, we know some 12,500 people are closely reading each post and encouraging us to keep up the good work reporting on town hall meetings and issues that affect everyone in the greater Nolensville area.

Over the past 10 years or so much very good work has been done by volunteers and part time citizens serving under the hard working leadership of our Mayor...Mr. Charles Knapper.

Our goal is to report on all of the efforts of our city leaders and commissions to keep pace with the extraordinary growth of Nolensville. No doubt the pressures of such instant growth creates conflicts and mistakes. It is important to keep our collective attentions on the issues. Together we can achieve outstanding progress using everyone's talents.

Our webmaster and staff want to serve the community in a positive manner so we cannot accept and tolerate comments that are nothing more than personal attacks intended to bring harm and a negative atmosphere to all who read it. Therefore, we have had to DELETE several recent comments of this nature. We will continue to monitor all incoming comments (as we have) so that the overall tone of comments continue to be positive.

Nevertheless, please understand that reporting on public meetings may include situations that represent a differance of opinions and some increased level of a anxiety. In these cases we will strive to accurately report the discussions and decisions as they happened.

Your comment and input are encouraged and welcomed. Please continue to give us your valuable insight and positive suggestions. Progress in local governments can be stressful and sometimes messy even when we concentrate on the issues.

The future is bright and filled with great opportunities for Nolensville if work together. Email your comments or click on comments on each post.

Nolensville Still Not Sure About Density vs: Open Space Tradeoffs??

In Sunday's Tennessean 11/6/05, Bonnie Burch, Staff Writer, hits the nail right on the head. Mayor, alderman (Dr. Joe Curtsinger) argue over plan for Britain Downs...a 141-lot project. Curtsinger said the plan looked like "Ballenger Farms on Steroids" with less than desireable setbacks. In a raised voice (eyewitness says he was shouting!) Mayor told Curtsinger that as the mayor, he can meet and talk to developers (anytime & in private?) and he (Mayor) "resents the implications of any backroom meetings"going on. Nolensville does not have a town manager. (But really does need one 24/7 to work with a part time citizen Mayor and part time citizen Aldermen.)

In her article, Bonnie Burch, reminds us--"Planned Unit Developments allow smaller lot sizes than traditional neighborhoods in exchange for open space."
And she recalls---"Last year, a city-wide survey found that about 74% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that these types of developments add to the character of a small town, while about 66% said they wanted only standard subdivisions with lot sizes at a half-acre or above in NOLENSVILLE."

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO "STANDARD SUBDIVISIONS?" Can anyone remember when a standard subdivision was last presented to Nolensville?
Obviously, our Mayor and aldermen and planning commission ARE NOT LISTENING TO WHAT NOLENSVILLE RESIDENTS HAVE SAID THEY WANTED OVER ONE YEAR AGO????

Our local city leaders are not aware of the new political reality even in Nolensville. Voters are unhappy, angry and no longer able to trust the whole local government process. How can it be fixed??? TOTAL OPENNESS!
No more secret, private meetings. Potential conflicts of interest must be revealed and resolved. What ever happened to PUBLIC FORUMS?

Our Mayor, Aldermen and Commission members are struggling with the thought of having to work in a greenhouse or goldfish bowl...and it is obvious it is a painful adjustment to the new voter demands!!!! It's not too early to start working to elect NEW CITY LEADERS. Send in your comments...phone or email the Mayor and/or Aldermen at TOWN HALL.

DID YOU MISS IT??? NO CODE OF ETHICS IN LAST NITE'S BOMA MEETING??

What in the world happened to Nolensville's Code of Ethics for city leaders and commission members?? It is nowhere to be found on last night's agenda. 22 items listed and no Code of Ethics??

Memo from: Nolensville Citizens to City Leaders: Your Party is Over, and Everyone Knows it but you all. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen will be judged by their action on Code of Ethics. The Mayor's decision to defer any action on ethics time after time is frustrating to all.

Today there are few to none ethical demands on our current Board of Mayor and Aldermen so for 11 years or more it has been whoopee do whatever seems good at the moment. This party time has got to stop. Nolensville taxpayers and voters deserve to know about any potential conflicts that our city leaders may have. Having no Code of Ethics for our BOMA leaves all transactions up to interpretation. Nolensville residents have a right to expect some accountability from CITY BOARD. And for the sake of city leaders and commission members they all need a blueprint (Code of Ethics) that spells out what is and what is not an ethics problem.

Now we cannot tolerate ."business as usual" Mr. Mayor you are making this ethics business way too complicated per Larry Daughtrey of the Tennessean. He says sit the average voter down with a pen and a napkin for five minutes: Open everything up and put it on the Internet quickly, limit special interest contributions, outlaw lobbyist (developer) gifts and
meals, make lobbyists (developers) tell what they're spending and how,
create a separate enforcement board with teeth." It's very easy. It's just not ."business as usual" PS: absolutely no "closed door/secret meetings" about a Code of Ethics.

Unfortunately, our governor is a poor example. Per Tim Chavez of the Tennessean..."The whole ethics process on Capitol Hill is corrupted. While the governor considers himself a leader on ethics, he broke an ethics law to get elected. Almost a decade ago, lawmakers limited contributions candidates could make to their own campaigns---$250,,000 for the primary and $250,000 for the general election. Elections should not be bought by the rich. Yet Gov. Phil Bredsen in 2002 gave his campaign $3 million. He used the excuse that the attorney general said the law was unconstitutional. But that is one man's opinion.
Until the courts render judgment, it remains the law."

"In our 2006 (Nolensville)Elections...character must be the most important issue, and local voters must tell our current city leaders and future candidates that either they serve the people first or don't bother to run for office at all." --Thank you Tim Chavez/Tennessean.

Watch for the December BOMA AGENDA...for any scheduled discussion of Code of Ethics. Send your emails to TOWN HALL..or phone the aldermen and/or Mayor.

It was a "hot time" in Ye Olde Towne Hall Meeting 11/3/05

Red Hot BOMA Meeting Thursday
Evening at 7 PM in Our Local School
Things got off to a tense moment when the first citizen that spoke up was a representative from Bennington subdivision. He informed the Mayor that if the city changed the "sprinkler ordinance" now after they had received city approval for their homes---they would have no choice but to file a lawsuit against the City. The Mayor stumbled through a reply that no one understood and finished with the position that they could go ahead and sue, but the city was covered against such suits????

Before tackling the long list of ordinances the Mayor strongly cautioned every citizen sitting in the meeting that absolutely no one was allowed to jump up and comment on the proceedings...PERIOD! Public Hearings permitted comments only after alderman had created a motion and a second and discussed it. Only then could a citizen talk...but make it fast.

The Mayor's report included his annoucement about sending a letter to TDOT Attn: Fred Stewart about including Nolensville in the 2006 Horizon Funding Plan for new town bypass. He also commented on Basic Road Paving for new developments, annexation roads and Nolensville city roads. The bad news is Nolensville only has money enough for certain road maintenance and any new paving plans have to be developed. Nolensville city streets that have been crushed...full of pot holes by construction traffic are out of luck.

Agenda items 10,11,12 & 2o were deferred to next meeting. Wonder why?
Item 10 was about a plan to annex lots of acres down Rocky Fork including the new subdivision "Silver Stream" by Tom Moon. Maybe the county gave Mr. Moon a better deal???--so Mr. Moon doesn't want to be annexed after all?????

Item 13 to create an annexation buffer overlay. This created a confused discussion that ended up with the conclusion that it complies with Brentwood so it must be OK...therefore let's pass it. Profound!

Item 15 to amend municipal code for roads. Like how wide?...parking allowed?...enough room for emergency vehicles?...No Construction Traffic?, etc. Alderman Curtsinger sponsored the ordinance and stressed how important it was to avoid accidents. Discussion scattered all over the place and was eventually delayed to next meeting.

Item 16 to make certain amendments to requiring automatic fire sprinkler systems. Total confusion...seems like very few on the board knew anything about details...Fire Chief reminded the Mayor that he had passed this ordinance long ago and the board should approve the amendment. Mayor refused...moved to delay it and stated that he didn't want another lawsuit because nobody read the details.

Item 17...to create a Commercial Regional zoning...to allow for bigger retail stores...bigger parking...bigger everything! Hold this thought...then the Mayor told everyone he had met with some really big developers who were interested in the Nolensville commerical plans centered around "Mom and Pop" stores...boutiques, etc...all smaller I assume? Contradiction...you got it...bigger retail stores vs: Mom & Pop??
Which is it??? Mr. Mayor??

Item 18..to approve concept plan for PUD known as "Britain Downs".
Alderman Curtsinger asked the Mayor how come this PUD never had to go before Planning Commission like the "Silver Stream" development.
Curtsinger wanted to know why the big "push" to approve it when the planning committtee didn't know the details along with the aldermen? Mayor asked his staff and members of planning commission how many times they had examined the plans/details of Britain Downs? No one could answer accurately. Seems very few if any had studied the details? Thought was suggested that there seemed to be some kind of "back room" deal going on to by pass regular procedures? Mayor got mad and told Curtsinger he was out of order. Mayor demanded motion and second be voted on and approved. Nobody could figure out why the plans called for sidewalks only half way around cul-de-sacs???

Item 19...to rezone Frank Marusa's property at 7149 Nolensville road from Suburban Residential to Commercial Services. Flood plain was brought up that exists in back part of property?? If we approve this will all of the other properties along the west side of Nolensville road have to fix their flood plains??? Nobody knows for sure??? Rumor says property was sold as residential, but deal was cancelled when they found out they could rezone it commercial for more $$$'s. Is this a great country, or what??

Overall impressions of meeting....very few aldermen and especially the Mayor seemed prepared for the meeting...they didn't know the details past or present...so they are really open to new lawsuits...just as the Mayor said.

On the way out of the meeting...the Mayor shouted to Mr. Curtsinger that he knew he was saying that the Mayor may be involved in "backroom" deals and that he (Curtsinger) had better watch it!

Send in your comments...call the aldermen and the Mayor there is no 3 minute limit on your phone call. EMail Town Hall. Attention Mayor.