Nashville Metro Council SHELVES Ethics Bill--So what else is New?

Guess What? Nobody is surprised...not
one comment from a Nashville register-
ed voter. People have had it with political
posturing and dishonesty.
In today's Tennessean.."Metro Council
voted last night to delay any definitive
decision on a sweeping ethics proposal
that would place tougher disclosure
requirements on the city lawmaking
body." This vote comes after the council
delayed this vote in June '05. The plan was
created by task force in February 2004. Also
in today's Tennessean is another article about
"How council members plan to vote"...you
won't believe the excuses about the ethics bill.
Get this...... ...last night they proposed an
amendment that would give the council the
authority to appoint the very people who would
be enforcing the new rules. Talk about allowing
the foxes to guard the hen house..this beats every-
thing. This undermines the entire ethics bill.
We report all of this to show you how much of a
struggle Nolensville residents face in getting our
local Mayor, board and commissions to begin to
start to commence drafting any kind of code of
ethics for our local government. Alderman Larry
Felts showed a glimmer of hope, but it seems he
has been silenced. So again it is up to you as a
local resident and voter to continue to show up
at BOMA meetings and demand answers. It is
just to easy for ethics code to fade into outer
space. Of course this could all be for nothing if
indeed our Mayor convinced "God to forbid this
code of ethics nonsense." Nobody believes this
so let's keep up the heat on a rock solid Code of
Ethics for Nolensville. Email the Mayor and
Aldermen...better yet phone them..Good Luck
http://Mayor@nolensville_tn.com

NASHVILLE METRO ETHICS BILL FACES STRUGGLE??

14 Nashville Metro Council members may vote in support of ethics bill tonight. With 35 districts plus 5 at-large that means 14 out of 40 members will support ethics bill. This is the most comprehensive bill than any metro council has ever lived by. Nobody wants to appear to be against ethics, but most are uneasy about it. Some council members think that the ethics bill will probably make less people want to run for Metro Council. Wonder why? Let's sample some of the new rules in this bill...such as requirement for annual disclosure of souces of incomes including family members...business interests, property and any interests in present or future Metro purchases. Prohibits council members from using Metro property and/or information for personal uses. The metro ethics bill sponsor said..."I think my council members are pretty much tone-deaf to the outcry in our community right now about ethics reform, and if they vote against it, I think they'll both be making a mistake for their community and for themselves politically."
Good news! Nashville councilman quits due to conflict with ethics law.
See the article in today's Tennessean. Bad news! Lt. Gov. John Wilder
denies pushing family land for future auto plant. Said he wasn't trying to make money for himself or his relatives. But neighbors to the property in question doubt our Lt. Gov. would miss just how many millions he and his family would reap if sold to new auto plant. See article in today's Tennessean. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT NOLENSVILLE ETHICS BILL.
2 local neighbors submitted comments about our last ethics posting as follows: "Wonder what has happened to stop Mr. Felts from proceeding?
Much of his comments and concerns he admitted to be of no fact or validity. But who has stopped him from proceeding? Another comment as follows: "Time for Felts and Dugger to go.....WORTHLESS..." As we said in our last posting...the Mayor hopes God will forbid any work on a ethics bill now or in the future. Course we still have the Planning Commission members all appointed by the Mayor who is also a self-appointed member. And all together they allow one of their members to
sell his land to local developer for some $165,000 for new road around the cemetary and still continue to serve on Planning Commission. Any conflict of interest...guess not...nobody on the commissions said one word...not a whisper. Local neighbor commented on this private sale by noting that it appeared in Tennessean in very fine print so most people never saw it..nor connected it to Nolensville Planning Commission.
Nashville ethics bill faces tough vote...but at least they are working on it. Nolensville has yet to do anything about ethics...period. Send us your comments and email your comments to Mayor, Aldermen and Planning Commission members. http://Mayor@nolensville-tn.com

Hello Mr. Larry Felts...Where's our Code of Ethics?

Hey Folks... our Code of Ethics got
lost in the shuffle of items on the
agenda for our monthly
Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting.

Maybe the Mayor was right when he said
in August..."God forbid that we would
have to have a workshop on this...
Code of Ethics?). No workshop is in
sight and probably won't be listed on
any future BOMA agenda anytime soon.
Of course our Governor is no example
either on ethics...no meeting...
no nothing? Despite the Mayor's plea
for God to forbid a Code of Ethics
session most local residents know down
deep such a meeting is seriously overdue.
What can a local citizen possibly do?
For starters email Mr. Larry Felts today
www.eagle1016@united.net email address.
However while you are doing it
send a copy to our Mayor at
www.Mayor@nolensville-tn.com
and ask for a response.

9/1/05 City Board of Mayor & Aldermen Meeting Highlites

What ever happened to traditional housing
subdivisions in our city of Nolensville?
Our Mayor and Aldermen replaced them
with "PUD'S". Planned Unit Developments
with postage stamp size lots under 6,000 sq.ft.
(See picture above for PUD's in other cities)
How could this happen? Mayor says "the town's
boards are obligated to pass the projects if
developers meet the requirements set in town
ordinances." Who makes the ordinances??
The Mayor, Aldermen and the Planning
Commission create them and then get a precious
few citizensto vote on them in BOMA meetings.

Alderman Larry Felts complained that PUD's are
all they are presented by developers. OK Larry
tighten up the ordinances and get tough with
developers. Nolensville deserves better than a
"part-time" Mayor and board that are hiding
behind the very "ordinances" they created.
Developers know what Mayors and boards are
weak and ineffective and which one's they can
threaten with a law suit if after they meet
city ordinances the city board votes against
their PUD. Nolensville resident Cindy Arnold
said "I'd like to see a standard subdivision...
I think we (city) can ask for a better product
and we should keep asking fora better product."
Cindy is dead-on right...let's help her by
calling Town Hall or e-mail the Mayor,
Alderman and Planning Commission members.
Mayor@nolesville-tn.com