GUESS WHO HAS PICKED UP REGISTRATION PAKS TO RUN FOR NOLENSVILLE MAYOR?

BOO! GUESS WHO WANTS TO BE OUR
NEW MAYOR? Confidential sources tell
us two board members have already pick-
ed up registration packets. Potential can-
didates fill out forms and include 25 signa-
tures of endorsement. Candidate must file
by August 17th, 2006.

Here's where the fun really begins! It's like
a poker game! Certain people may have pick-
ed up a packet, but does it really mean they
intend to run for office? Could be that they
want others to think they are going to run
and thereby discourage others not to run?

NAW! You say who would do such a thing?
Why that's not fair and it's not very honest.
Welcome to the wonderful world
of POLITICS!

Yeah...picture above tells you interim mayor
has already picked up his packet. Think he's
going to run for Mayor? Well if he does he is
going to have to really work some miracles
between now and Nov. '06!
So far his "do nothing" record really
does not inspire anyone to vote for him.

Now will the real "mystery candidate"
please stand up! Stop peeking and no fair
asking leading questions. This "mystery
candidate" may actually believe his long
record as a metro bureaucrat qualifies
him to run for Mayor.
You know who we are talking about the
"Pudmeister" Alexander the not so great
"flip-flopping" alderman.

Remember his campaign slogan--"Pud's
don't work in Nashville and they won't
work in Nolens-ville!" Once elected he
flipped and voted for every PUD since.
Great record to run on for Mayor. So he's
got a packet let's let him know no need to
fill it out and no need to run for Mayor.
We know him and his record tells us why
he should not be our next Mayor.

Look at the straw poll on this blog site
and you will quickly see these two potential
candidates for Mayor aren't even in the
running. So ask yourself why they picked up
a registration kit? Vanity? Ego? Greatly exag-
gerated reputation? Maybe all of the above
and more? No mattter there is still plenty of
time for a well qualified candidate to file to
run.

Email us your thots and suggested candidates.

VERY IMPORTANT BOMA MEETING THURS.6/1 @ 7 PM re:2007 Budget, 5 Yr. Plan and Code of Ethics are You Ready?

Maybe we all should stick together and get
some real answers as to where we are headed
as of now and onto into 2007?

CLICK HERE for June '06 Meeting Agenda.

#10 on agenda is to adopt a budget for 06-07.
Betcha you haven't read it? Ok..get a copy at
town hall before meeting. Also ask for 04-05
Actual, 05-06 Estimated plus the total payroll
line by line.

Now you are in the business of being able to ask
detailed questions Thurs. nite @ 7 pm.It's really
not that hard to understand...get a neighbor to
help you compare one to the other. It 's no diff-
erent than your checkbook and home budget...
just bigger sums. Now on the payroll...why not
ask why they are paying XXX so much money?
Get board to point out how much more $$$$'s
the fire dept. and police dept get in new budget?

#11: URGENT WARNING: Interim mayor
wants to hire a consultant to observe construc-
tion? What happened to town engineer? 65K
per yr. ought to be enough to observe construc-
tion? How much does this cost????

#12 & 13: URGENT WARNING: Interim mayor
wants to hire not ONE but TWO consultants
to study road impact fees for new developments?
What about current 11 developments why do
they not pay road impact fees? How much does
TWO consultants cost the city???

#14: What's this??? Alexander has "updated"
an old 5 year economic plan? Ask who wrote
it and does it include most recent census?
Also what per cent commercial vs: residential?

#15: Resolution to oppose Spring Hill Hospital..
is this is really any of our business? Ask questions
about this competition between hospitals???
CLICK HERE for letter from Spring Hill!

#16: Code of Ethics...nobody's name is on this
one? Wonder why? Interim mayor and none of
the alderman want to touch it? Maybe FELTS
will present his too long (borrowed) draft from
some other town???? Where's the ethics in that?

This BOMA sounds like fun! Come prepared
to ask questions...it's your money so fire away
and demand answers. BEWARE of KTCDTR
cop-out that is "kick the can down the road"
ploy is what is used for an answer. When they
don't have an answer. Watch for it!

Send your comments before and after meeting.

It's Memorial Day!!! Let No Flag Remain in the Closet!!!

This 2006 Memorial Day Weekend, let no flag
remain in the closet. No matter old worn flag
or a brand new one let's fly our flag proudly.!

CLICK HERE..for what this day really means
to every American. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Share your comments with us about this day!

Franklin Refers to Our Town as Having the Most Lawsuits & Do Nothing Government?

Everybody knows who this is and nobody takes
him seriously even though he is the head of his
party...he's a joke! Better get used to this kind
of treatment folks because people in nearby
towns refer to our town as the one with the most
lawsuits and "push-over" town government.

CLICK HERE for comments about Nolensville.

Yes, you are absolutely right! We can do some-
thing about it starting right now and working
very hard right up to Nov. 06 election. New
candidates running for Mayor and Alderman
seats must register by August 17th. We need
a new Mayor and two new aldermen to replace
the "guaranteed majority" mafia now in place
in our town hall. If we are very fortunate we
may have three new aldermen to vote for if
Alexander would do the "right" thing and re-
sign prior to November election. Of course,
doing the right thing is in short supply at town
hall. All we hear about is yes, we made some
serious mistakes, but we are working on doing
better. It's too late for "prep-school" we need
professionals right now...to stay out of trouble
until November 2006.

As one reader said..."enough with the part time
part timers...let's elect a professional team this
November." Got any suggestions for new people
send them in to the blog and we will give each
one time to tell us "how they can help our town."

Send in your candidates and comments.

WELCOME TO TOWN! NEW WEBSITE "HISTORIC NOLENSVILLE"-Ready to Help!

"HISTORIC NOLENSVILLE" area needs all the
help our citizens can give! Photo above shows
outdoor historic area dining as it could be with
help from our town leaders, local citizens and
this new website.

CLICK HERE for new "Historic Nolensville."
We assume "Darin" from Feed Mill is the main
force behind this new website and that's good!
His overall redesign of his property will start the
ball rolling in the historic area. Be sure to tell
him "thank you" for his investment in Nolens-
ville.

Local citizens will remember our previous
mayor promising to do big things for the
historic area i.e. sewer grants, antique light-
ing, brick walk ways, quaint shops and re-
design streets. Sad to say he really only want-
ed big commercial enterprises that will pay
"fat" taxes to town. (Town needs a balance of
both...not one to the exclusion of all others!)

Historic Nolensville area as pictured on one of
the many Bent Creek sales brochures is much
closer to what people want. And it is why they
moved here. Quaint antique shops, unique res-
taurants,craft shops, Bed & Breakfast,Furnit-
ure Refinishing & Chair canning and new Feed
Mill Complex. These are just a start & very much
worth keeping in business. Strip malls and
"big-box" stores aren't what current residents
and new people want in Nolensville.

Problems to overcome? Need sewers in entire
area via Mill Creek extension? Need new street
traffic pattern--i.e. Open Sam Donald "dead-
end" absolutely no reason to close it..period!
Extend King Street North to Sunset and then
create short connecting streets off King street
to Nolensville road for a real town square pat-
tern. Add old brick walk ways and antique light-
ing in historic area. Also draft binding design
rules to create a geniune historic "feel" for the
total area. This overall effort will only succeed
if driven by local citizens who have a stake in
the area. Current Historic and Planning Com-
mission according to our polls rate an F-minus
for lack of planning and performance.

Come November 2006 with a new Mayor and a
new team of appointed & qualified people in all
positions on boards, commissions and commit-
tees the Historic area will begin to come alive.

Let's all get behind this new Historic website!
Send in your comments and emails...today.

Fairview PUD OK'd with 13 Amendments on 725 Units!

After months of controversy, Fairview OK'd
new PUD with 13 amendments. Get tough
with developers policy pays off for Fairview!
CLICK HERE for article about Fairview!

Nobody in Nolensville can remember when
our BOMA got this tough with PUD promot-
ers? History shows just the opposite our fear-
less Planning Commission rolled over and
over...giving PUD developers whatever they
wanted. Small lots? You got it! Narrow streets?
No problem! No impact fees? Absolutely not!
No road improvements? Of course! More open
spaces? Sure! Less space for houses? Yep!
OK to cram 1,000 homes into 200 acres?
Why not? Flood Plains and Limestone Cliffs
are hard to landscape! Anybody knows that!

Oh what a magnificent "CON" 2,000 acres
of Tennessee's most beautiful countryside
bull dozed down to 200 acres with houses
crammed door to door. It's called a PUD...
"Planned Unit Development" to squeeze the
absolute last dollar out of the site leaving
the home owners to pay for the maintenance
of the 2,000 acres. Thus allowing the deve-
loper to leave ASAP never to return knowing
the city will have to service the area with
police, fire protection, etc.,etc.,etc.

Is this a great country or what??? 1500 sq. ft.
houses on a slab squeezed into an 8,000 sq. ft.
lot starting at $250K. Get'em while they last!

How many more PUD's do you want our city
leaders to OK before the Nov. 06 elections?
None you say! Well you better get yourself
down to all the BOMA meetings between now
and Nov. 06. If enough local citizens keep
coming and commenting we just may be
able to prevent anymore PUD approvals!

Here's another variation on the "kick the can
down the road" policy. It's goes like this.."time
out, let's defer this so we can rethink this and
come up with a better "planning plan." WOW!
How come we haven't thot of that before now?
A better planning plan! Pardon me what it is?
Well nobody really knows, but it sounds good!

Other city/town leaders and the County
Commissioners have told our BOARD..they
have to get tougher on developers and
insist on impact fees! Period!

Tell us what you think? Comments & Emails!

URGENT NOTICE! JUNE BOMA MEETING IS STILL THURS. 6/1/06 @ 7 PM!

Rumor around town that BOMA meeting
had been changed NOT TRUE! Thursday
6/1/06 @ 7 PM is still in effect! Article in
Dispatch suggested it had been changed.
Not so, not yet! Not until BOMA passes on
the motion will it change to first tuesday.
This is an important meeting on the 2007
Budget so don't forget to come. Bring your
friends and your budget questions...last
chance to find out what budget plans are
in place for 2007! Copy of budget is avail-
able at town hall...get your copy today.

Creative comments welcome also emails.

NOTICE! TO ALL "PUD LOVERS" ON NOLENSVILLE BOARD! Buyers want SPACE!

Welcome to your average PUD playground!
It's called "open space" usually located too
far away from your new home on postage
stamp lot. What? You can't send your kids
to playground because it isn't safe! Well, it's
either that or let them play in the street. Oh!
The street is too narrow and too many cars
park on street. What to do??? You won't believe
this, but older homes in established neighbor-
hoods are in "red-hot" demand. Sellers in our
Stonebrook and Greystone areas get over 10
offers on each home! WHY? Bigger lots, wider
streets, larger homes & established neighbor-
hoods.

Ironically PUD lovers on town board have creat-
ed a "red-hot" sellers market for older homes in
town.

CLICK HERE for "Resale property is as hot as
new these days." "A larger yard that often accom-
panies an older home in Williamson county is an
amenity with which neighborhoods of new
(PUD) construction CANNOT COMPETE."

Hello #1 & #2 interim mayor & vice-mayor both
dedicated PUD lovers. Your PUD people are
having second thots...let's sell and buy an older
larger home on larger lot. Don't believe it...ask
any local realtor. OH! ask our interim mayor
(realtor) and/or town attorney (title company)
and town hall webmaster (realtor & town paper
publisher). They know what homes are selling
and why ...it's their primary business income.

The proof is in the PUD "pudding" people taste
it and later wish they hadn't been tempted to
buy. So they start looking for a better deal.
Sadly, there are only so many older homes
available.

As one of our readers put it...D & A (Dugger &
Alexander) PUDS are more and more DEAD
on ARRIVAL with local citizens & new home
buyers. Our flip-flopping #2 interim vice mayor
was right: "Pud's won't work in Nashville and
they won't work in Nolensville." Too bad he
didn't stick to his word. Now he's doing the old
D & A two-step that will make both of them
totally unqualified for office come Nov. '06.

Our Williamson County real estate market has
proven once again why PUD's are afflicted with
"buyer's remorse" more often than not. Bad
news is our board has left our town with the
overwhelming responsibilty of servicing these
PUD's no matter what? Thanks to infamous
"guaranteed majority" on the board citizens
will have to pay far into the future for PUD's.

Keep a stiff backbone and be at next BOMA.
Bring your budget questions and keep on
keeping on fighting for our special town.
Comments welcome...vote in our polls now.

New Nolensville Design/Review Committee to Find & Reclaim Quaint/Small Town Atmosphere?

(Our Mill Creek Right? No!But it could be if
local citizens got together and demanded it!)

BREAKING NEWS!
A Design Review Committee is being formed to
serve the Town of Nolensville. (What happened
to Planning Commission & Historic Team?)
The Committee will make recommendations to
enhance and preserve the quaint, small town
charm of Nolensville. (Precious little left? Old
Historic Area without sewers?) This committee
will study community models (Planning Com-
mission already did this? Ask Mr. Haines who
went to Pleasant Hill?) and propose design
standards for new commercial buildings.

(Good Luck! Sonic has already landed, Blue
Bell is here, 2-Banks & a Re-Do on Old Feed
Mill). What do they all have in common?
Nothing! Quaint they ain't! Small and charm-
ing? Not really? And an electronics store is just
about to pop-up on Nolensville retail strip
with neon lights/logo and retail razzle dazzle?
TIP: watch and see if city has any control over
this new retail store? It won't happen cause the
store is Mr. Fred Y. developer of Brittain Downs.
City refused to get him to pay one cent of impact
fees on his luxury $400k to $700k development.

All interested citizens are encouraged to sub-
mit their name with a short description of what
they believe they can contribute to the commit-
tee. Citizens with architectural or design exper-
ience are specifically needed. (Which means you
work for FREE!)

Submissions may be dropped off at Town Hall
to the attention of Alderman Weaver-Lothers
by June 1st. (Hop to it...committee has only 6
months until November to do miracles). After
that a new board will take over and decide if
the committee will live or die?
Committees are formed when nobody knows
what to do and it guarantees nothing will get
done. BUT office-holders can point to commit-
tee and say look how much it appears we are
doing? And it makes the voters happy. They
stop bugging interim mayor for a while.

If this was a "serious" effort to produce an
overall town design for Nolensville city leaders
would hire a professional, qualified team to do
it. They would present their plan to a public
meeting for feedback and final approval by
board. This would include inside track on how
to secure grants to pay for it.

Sorry...folks this is a page out of the "kick the
can down the road" manual for politicans run-
ning for office. Worst part of it...it really works!

Old "cut-n-run" previous mayor always told
people in historic area...don't worry I will get
some "grants" for sewer and antique lights,
old brick walk-ways and quaint shops. Turn-
ed out it was total (b.s.). He didn't care a twit
about historic area. Now we're gonna get a
new committee? To do what? Recommend
something to Planning & Historic commissions
and then onto board. Those four steps will take
6 months. No need to worry then, the town will
be safely in the hands of professionals. New
Mayor and 24/7 City Manager. This team will
appoint qualified and prepared people ready
to serve without any conflicts of interest.

Our challenge as local voting citizens is to keep
the current inmates in town hall from doing too
much damage. This means you gotta continue
to attend meetings and make your opinion count.
Six months of this current town hall performance
could really set the town back for years...don't
let it happen! Help us keep the pressure on!

Keep those comments coming, emails too! Tell
your neighbors and friends to keep reading the
blog for the best behind the scenes happenings.
Polls show people look to the blog for the truth
about local government and the people trying
to run it. Comments welcome and suggestions.

The Devil Is In The Details of New 2006-07 Nolensville Budget: Start Digging Now!

Devil in Nolensville's budget details is some-
thing local taxpayer's need to know! No way
around it...not short cut...just do it! Start
now and get your copy at Town Hall and then
study the minutiae (details). Write down the
account numbers/names and your questions?

For starters ask about current budget ending
in June 2006? Are we over budget and by how
much? What accounts are over and why?

Next, the new budget needs to be scanned in
detail. Proposed budget of XXX dollars and
how much more is that over current year?

Spring Hill's general fund budget is $6.06
million and increase of 26.02 percent. They
have zero property tax rate.

Franklin's proposed budget is $52.2 million
an increase of 11.3 percent over current year.
Their budget is an exciting 144 pages long.

Brentwood's proposed budget is $27.2 million
or a 8.5 percent increase. The average tax bill
for residents will be $515. Their budget is 332
exciting pages long. Click here for article/info.

As you can see Nolensville is bursting at the
seams in the shadow of Franklin and Brent-
wood both with huge budgets and lots of
"clout" with county. Get this Franklin gets
46 percent of it's general fund revenues from
sales taxes.

Now about Nolensville where our property
taxes are low (as of today)? Town has about
11 developments approved for building with-
out any impact fees established thanks to
previous and current BOMA "out-to-lunch"
policies. Nolensville does not have enough
diversity among revenue sources to cover all
the services city is required to provide the
new housing developments.

Yes! Nolensville has "adequate facilities taxes"
estimated $2,000 per new house, but these
funds will not provide enough money to ser-
vice 11 new developments and more to come.
As local voting citizens we must DEMAND
answers! Specific $$$$'s & cents budgets to
cover required "Plan of Services" required
by state for new developments. Trouble is
nobody has seen ONE plan of services for
these new developments. Now is the time
to ask to see not only ONE but 11 or more
for each development and costs?????

Folks, if we don't uncover the details of this
budget on June 6th meeting it will come back
to bite each one of us in the form of a higher
property tax. Is that a serious enough reason
to take apart this budget line by line..let's do
it and do it right up front before fellow citizens
and probably an "unprepared" BOMA.

Get real people...we aren't living in the Land of
Oz...this isn't Disneyland and we can no longer
ignore the people behind the local curtain of
our government. Where does the buck stop??

Yeah...we got a (default) interim mayor and
a (default) vice mayor...we didn't pick'em but
we got'em. Let's squeeze them for what ever
their worth...it may very well be they cannot
come up with any answers? If so, there's enough
numbers people in town to get this budget out
in the open where people can understand it
and deal with it. If anyone tells you that "they
are doing the best they can" run the other way.
This is accountability time...no more milk and
cookies...no warm and fuzzy fragmented think-
ing! This budget is real and serious...forget
the "kick it down the road" mentality that this
board is afflicted with...don't tolerate it one
more minute. If you do it will cost you bigtime!

Do your budget homework and come to the
June 1st* meeting prepared to fight for the
absolute truth on this budget for 2006-07.
Warning! The agenda will probably have a
brief citizens input and then a very quick,
"slip.....sliding" guaranteed majority vote!
***NO CHANGE THURS.--June 1st!!!!

Launch your comments and emails to us
ASAP. Email your neighbors about this very
important meeting. No emails..then phone!

Nothing stays the same anymore in Nolensville?

Life keeps changing lanes and shifting
gears.Racing down a road that literally
disappears. (Sam Donald). Where do
we go from here?? Most everybody feels
the same way...until they realize there
may not be anybody that knows what
to do? Sound familiar?

Oh Yeah! Same feeling one gets at local
BOMA meetings. Nobody in the driver's
seat. Interim mayor and vice/mayor both
defaulted into warming their respective
seats. Unqualified and unprepared!!!!!

Polls show our planning commission
with a minus -F grade for failing to plan
for home developments.

At last meeting, vice/mayor Alexander
proposed larger PUD lots of 14,000 sq.
ft & 70% back loading garages for all
future PUD's? Proposal failed so his
"flip/flop" reply was..."I have some
developer friends that I will ask what
they think and would like????

DUH? Developers like small lots like
8,000 sq. ft. no more than 11,000 sq.
ft. ala' Bent Creek. More houses=$$$'s.

Now you know the real truth...that is
Alexander prefers to represent the
developers not local (voting) citizens.
Remember? "Puds won't work in Nash-
ville and won't work in Nolensville."
That weasel-worded phrase got him
elected "once", but never again. Alex
you'll get defeated next time...so don't
even think about running ever, again!

Now you know why Bent Creek got tiny
lots 8,000 up to 11,000 sq. ft.courtesy
Alexander & the guaranteed majority.

PUDS requiring larger lots will result
in lawsuits against the city based on
previously approved smaller lots.

Sorry, but the board brought all this
on themselves! Developers will demand
smaller lots and SUE to get them.
"PRO" developers know they can get
what the want from Nolensville board.

Old Texas saying goes..."It's like having
a bird nest on the ground."

Old "cut-n-run" mayor may be gone,
but his maarvelous guaranteed major-
ity is still in superb working order. And
it is gearing up to "slip/slide" the new
budget past entire voting public in next
June lst meeting. So don't let up..start
making your list of questions to ask
about both budgets. Current year and
next year. Previous blog questions will
help you sharpen your questions.

Send in your comments and vote in our
three important straw polls. Votes count.

Heads Up for Nolensville BOMA: "Developers will pay their own way in Brentwood"

Brentwood has moved to take over
some water coverage area from
Nolensville/College Grove Utility
Dist. due to high number of sub-
divisions in east Brentwood. They
would invest $3.5 million in
Split Log and Ragsdale area roads.

Heads Up Nolensville BOMA: "as a way
to recover the costs of providing those
water services, Brentwood will charge
a higher tap fee of $5,000 per home to
developers building new homes in the
area." Surprise! It can be done and is
being done in Brentwood. Now what
about Nolensville?? Anne Dunn on the
board in Brentwood said.."I think this
is the only thing we can do...developers
will pay their own way here. I know it
might seem a burden...but that's their
cost of doing business."

Reminder to People of Nolensville...there
isn't ONE IMPACT FEE in place for one
developer in Nolensville! Not one fee for
our developers. Yet Brentwood gets it
done...$5,000 per home. When will our
leaders wake up???

Send in your comments ASAP and vote
in our straw polls. Do it today...thanks!

Nolensville Community Garage Sale 6/3, Sat. 9-3, Winterset Woods Grassy Knoll Space

Nolensville Community Garage Sale in Winter-
set Woods, Sat. 6/3rd,9-3.Look for the grassy
spot just below the bear getting a snack from
the bird feeder. NAW! No bears in Winterset
Woods, but it got your attention..Ha! Call
Carrie @ 776-3337 for more information.
Bring all your good stuff to Winterset Woods
Sales Center till 6/2, 5 PM.

Congratulations to Jason Para our new County Commissioner

Hello Para Family! Welcome to our nearby
Nolensville neighorhood. What a great family
and what a victory! "Newest commissioner
a proponent of slower growth in county." so
says Tennessean headline in today's paper.
That's good news to almost everybody in
Nolensville. "At 34, he is currently the young-
est commisioner. And, perhaps most notably,
he's the only challenger who beat an incum-
bent in this year's election." Para favors man-
aged and responsible growth, things he says
are in short suppy. Please take the time to
send him an email of congratulations to:
jasonpara@comcast.net and tell him and
his family welcome to Nolensville! He has
a website: www.JasonPara.com for info.

Has Mr. Felts Borrowed His Code of Ethics Script? Maybe it's Ok to copy one?Wrong!

Mr. Larry Felts is circulating the following
document and asking for feedback prior to pre-
senting it to next BOMA on 6/1/06. Question is
where did he get it or copy it from another "un-
known" city document? Surprise Mr. Felts ever
heard of the term "plagiarism" and"copyright?"
Our blog readers would like to know where did
this script come from and in fact who owns it?
Hopefully,some of our 25,000 readers will iden-
tify it and send us an email with such informa-
tion. We will keep everyone posted. Until then
read on,and on, and on thru this Code of Ethics
that really doesn't fit Nolensville. Email your
comments and opinions ASAP. And don't for-
get to vote in our straw polls. Don't forget Nash-
ville & State passed Code of Ethics with HUGE
loopholes shot thru it...love those politicans????

Tennessee ranks 32nd in nation on ethics laws.
State got a grade of F on it's Code of Ethics.
Voters cannot determine lawmaker's financial
holdings, owned real estate and his employer's
business and his job title. So much for ethics?
CLICK HERE for Tennessean article.

CODE OF ETHICS
TOWN OF NOLENSVILLE (unknown author?)

Preamble
The proper operation of democratic govern-
ment requires that decision-makers be indepen-
dent, impartial, and accountable to the people
they serve. The Town of Nolensville is committ-
ed to the highest standards of conduct by and
among town officials in theperformance of their
public duties and to promote and maintain the
highest standards of personal and professional
conduct in the Town’s government. Individual
and collective adherence to high ethical stand-
ards by public officials is central to the mainten-
ance of public trust and confidence in govern-
ment. Because we seek public confidence in the
City's services and public trust of its decision-
makers, our decisions and our work must meet
the most demanding ethical standards and de-
monstrate the highest levels of achievement in
following this code. While town officials agree
on the need for proper conduct, they may exper-
ience personal conflict or differing view of
values or loyalties. In such cases the principles
contained in this Code of Ethics provide valuable
guidance in reaching decisions, which are gov-
erned, ultimately, by the dictates of the individ-
ual conscience of the public official and his or
her commitment to the public good. Certain of
these ethical principles are best expressed as
positive statements: actions, which should be
taken, courses, which should be followed, goals,
which should permeate both public and private
conduct. Other principles are expressed as neg-
ative statements: actions to be avoided and con-
duct to be condemned.
The Code of Ethics for Town Officials has been
created by and for elected town officials. How-
ever, these principles apply to the day to day
conduct of both elected and appointed officials,
Town staff, volunteers and members of Town’s
boards, commissions and committees.
The Town of Nolensville recognizes that this
Code of Ethics should serve as a valuable refer-
ence guide for all those in whom the public has
placed its trust.

The ethical town official should:
Properly administer the affairs of the town.
Promote decisions, which only benefit the public
interest. Actively promote public confidence in
town government. Keep safe all funds and other
properties of the town. Conduct and perform the
duties of the office diligently and promptly dis-
pose of the business of the town.
Maintain a positive image to pass constant
public scrutiny. Evaluate all decisions so that
the best service or product is obtained at a
minimal cost without sacrificing quality and
fiscal responsibility.
Inject the prestige of the office into everyday
dealings with the public, employees and asso-
ciates. Maintain a respectful attitude toward
employees, other public officials, colleagues
and associates. Effectively and efficiently work
with governmental agencies, political subdivis-
ions and other organizations in order to further
the interest of the county.
Faithfully comply with all laws and regulations
applicable to the town and impartially apply
them to everyone.

The ethical town official should NOT:
Engage in outside interests that are not com-
patible with the impartial and objective per-
formance of his or her duties. Improperly in-
fluence or attempt to influence other officials
to act in his or her own benefit.
Accept anything of value from any source,
which is offered to influence his or her action
as a public official. The ethical town official
accepts the responsibility that his or her miss-
ion is that of servant and steward to the public.

Acts in the Public Interest
Recognizing that stewardship of the public in-
terest must be their primary concern, Town
Commissioners will work for the common good
of the people of The Town of Nolensville and not
for any private or personal interest, and they will
assure fair and equal treatment of all persons,
claims, and transactions coming before the The
Town of Nolensville.

Compliance with Law
Town Commissioners shall comply with the laws
of the nation, the State of Tennessee, and the
Town of Nolensville in the performance of their
public duties. These laws include, but aren't
limited to: the United States and Tennessee
constitutions; the Town of Nolensville Charter;
laws pertaining to conflicts of interest, contracts
with public entities, election campaigns, finan-
cial disclosures, employer responsibilities, and
open processes of government; and town ordin-
ances and policies.

Respect for Process
Town Commissioners shall perform their duties
in accordance with the processes and rules of
order established by the Town Commission gov-
erning the deliberation of public policy issues,
meaningful involvement of the public, and imple-
mentation of policy decisions of the town Com-
mission by town staff.

Conduct of Public Meetings
Town Commissioners shall prepare themselves
for public issues, listen courteously and atten-
tively to all public discussions before the body,
and focus on the business at hand. They shall
refrain from interrupting other speakers, mak-
ing comments not germane to the business of
the body, or otherwise interfering with the
orderly conduct of meetings.

Communication
Town Commissioners shall publicly share sub-
stantive information that is relevant to a matter
under consideration by the Town Commission,
which they may have received from sources out-
side of the public decision-making process.

Full Disclosure
A Town Commissioner in the performance of
their public duties shall not act upon any matter
in which they have a material financial interest,
or where they have a legal or fiduciary duty to
another organization or entity or personal rela-
tionship that may give the appearance of a con-
flict of interest, without disclosing the full nature
and extent of the interest to the other members
of the Town Commission on the official record.
Such disclosure must be made before the time
to perform their duty or concurrently with the
performance of the duty.
The disclosure required by this subsection shall
not supplant, but instead shall supplement, any
disclosure of a personal, contractual, financial,
business, employment or pecuniary interest re-
quired by state statute. Gifts, Favors, and Loans.
A Town Commissioner should refrain from
financial and business dealings that would tend
to reflect adversely on the Commissioner's im-
partiality, interfere with the performance of
their public duties or exploit their official posi-
tion. A Town Commissioner should not take
any special advantage of services, goods or
opportunity for personal gain that is not avail-
able to the public in general.A Town Commiss-
ioner and any family member claimed as a
dependent of the Commissioner shall refrain
from soliciting or accepting any gifts, loans or
favors except that a Commiss-ioner and a
family member claimed as a dependent of the
Commissioner may:i) Accept a gift or honorar-
ium, not exceeding a value of $100, for ser-
vices rendered in the performance of their
public duties or other activity devoted to the
improvement of cities, communities and the
lives of citizens.ii) Accept ordinary social hos-
pitality; a gift, bequest, favor or loan from a
relative; a wedding or engagement gift; a
loan in the regular course of business from a
lending institution on the same terms as gen-
erally available to the public; and a scholar-
ship, grant or fellowship awarded on the same
terms as applied to other applicants.iii)
Accept any other gift, favor or loan only if the
donor is not a person or entity whose inte-
rests have come or are likely to come before
Town Commission.iv)
Solicit and accept campaign contributions,
ANY AND ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MUST BE
MADE PUBLIC FOR REVIEW BY THE
CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF
NOLENSVILLE.

Confidential Information
Town Commissioners shall respect the con-
fidentiality of information concerning the pro-
perty, personnel or affairs of the City. They
shall neither disclose nor divulge to an un-
authorized person confidential information
acquired in the course of their duties in
advance of the time prescribed for its author-
ized release to the public without proper legal
authorization, nor use such information to
advance their personal, financial or other
private interests.

Use of Public Resources
Public resources, including Town staff time,
equipment, supplies, and facilities, not available
to the public in general shall only be used for the
benefit of the public and not for a Town Com-
missioner’s personal or private use.

Representation of Private Interests
In keeping with their role as stewards of the
public interest, a Town Commissioner shall not
appear on behalf of the private interests of third
parties, including their spouses and family mem-
bers within the third degree of consanguinity to
the Town Commissioner or their spouse, before
the Town Commission or any board, committee,
commission or proceeding of the Town.

Advocacy
Town Commissioners shall represent the official
policies or positions of the Town Commission to
the best of their ability when designated as dele-
gates for this purpose. When presenting their in-
dividual opinions and positions, Town Commiss-
ioners shall explicitly state they do not represent
their body or the Town of Nolensville, nor will
theyallow the inference that they do.

Policy Role of Members
Town Commissioners shall respect and adhere
to the ELECTED /CHAIN OF COMMAND
structure of the Town of Nolensville govern-
ment as outlined by the Town of Nolensville
Charter.In this structure, the Town Commiss-
ion determines the policies of the town with
the advice, information, and analysis provid-
ed by the public, subordinate boards, com-
mittees and commissions, and Town staff.
Town Commissioners therefore shall not
interfere with the administrative functions
of the Town or the professional duties of
Town staff; nor shall they impair the ability
of staff to implement Town Commission
policy decisions.

Independence of Boards and Commissions
Because of the value of the independent advice
of subordinate boards, committees, and com-
missions to the public decision-making pro-
cess, members of the Town Commission shall,
except when the Commissioner is a member
of the public body, limit their participation in
the proceedings of such subordinate public
bodies to the communication of requested
information and providing factual informa-
tion relevant to the discussion at hand and
shall not otherwise attempt to unduly in-
fluence the deliberations or outcomes of the
proceedings.

Positive Workplace Environment
Town Commissioners shall support the mainten-
ance of a positive and constructive workplace en-
vironment for Town employees and for citizens
and businesses dealing with the Town. Town
Commissioners shall recognize their special role
in dealings with Town employees so as to in no
way create the perception of inappropriate direc-
tion to staff nor, except for the purpose of inquiry,
give specific orders to subordinates of the Town
Manager or Town Attorney. Because Town Com-
missioner actions and comments contribute to
the environment in which all Town employees
must work, in order to create and promote a
positive work environment under no circum-
stances shall a Town Commissioner, either in
public or private, intimidate, humiliate, or
otherwise abuse a Town employee.

Compliance and Enforcement
This Code of Ethics for Nolensville Town Com-
missioners expresses standards of ethical con-
duct expected for members of the Nolensville
Town Commission. Town Commissioners them-
selves have the primary responsibility to assure
that they understand and meet the ethical stan-
dards expressed in this code of ethics and that
the public can continue to have full confidence
in the integrity of government.
All Town Commissioners shall have a responsi-
bility to intervene when actions of another Town
Commissioner that appear to be in violation of
the Code of Ethics are brought to their attention.
Upon acquiring reasonable suspicion of a vio-
lation of the Code of Ethics, the Mayor shall set,
or any three Commissioners may require the set-
ting of, a public hearing at a regular or special
meeting of the Town Commission to determine
whether a violation of the Code of Ethics occurr-
ed and, if so, what sanctions shall be imposed for
the violation.
The Town Commission may impose sanctions on
Town Commissioners whose conduct does not
comply with the City's ethical standards. Sanc-
tions may include reprimand, formal censure,
loss of committee assignment, restrictions
budget or travel., and removal from office by
the governor in the manner and for the causes
provided by law. A violation of this code of ethics
shall not be considered a basis for challenging
the validity of a Town Commission decision.

Implementation
As an expression of the standards of conduct for
Town Commissioners expected by the public,
this Code of Ethics is intended to be self-enforc-
ing. It therefore becomes most effective when
Town Commissioners are thoroughly familiar
with it and embrace its provisions.
For this reason, ethical standards shall be includ-
ed in the regular orientations for newly elected or
appointed Town Commissioners. Town Commiss-
ioners entering office shall sign a statement
affirming that they have read and understand
The Code of Ethics for Town of Nolensville
Commissioners.

In addition, the Town Commission shall annually
review The Code of Ethics for The Town of
Nolensville Commissioners.

Wow! Really long (boiler plate) document?
Don't you wonder where it came from???
Maybe one of our readers will tell us. Tell us
what you think ? Best question from reader--
who will enforce it? Think about this: if town
adopted a Code of Ethics it may very well be
missing real estate agents like interim mayor
and town webmaster Lenderman. Also our
town attorney working for Southern Land
Title. Also some selected contractors and
many more we don't even know about?

Last thurs.5/4 BOMA-BUDGET Meeting Attendance Very Low!

Seems Nolensville citizens aren't really inter-
ested in Town's Budget SOoooo eventually
our $$$ chickens will come home to (roost)
much to the absolute surprise of everyone
including our town leaders. Since our in-
terim mayor's father passed away he could
not attend the meeting. Vice-mayor Alex-
ander again tried to chair the meeting with-
out having any facts to offer on the budget.

Even though not many attended the meeting
it was difficult to ask any questions about the
budget. No lowly citizen is allowed to have a
copy of the existing budget and there probably
isn't any existing copy/draft of the next 2006-
07 budget.

Do you get the uneasy feeling the "blind are
leading the blind on the town budget?". You
wonder about existing budget? Are we ahead
or behind? Where will budget be June 30th?
Has anyone prepared a new 2006-07 budget
and can lowly citizens get a preliminary copy?

Question was asked "How much money has
the town collected for adequate facilities taxes?
Remember this is the $2,000 or more for each
new home building permit. No dead certain
accurate answers were offered. The existing
annual budget for this item shows $400,000.
with Ytd Actual at $717,740 as 0f 4/30/06. But
another facilities tax figure of $1,126,413.84
surfaced in the treasurer's report of 5/2/06.
Yes, your guess is as good as anyone's? Yes,
this money (per state) can only be spent on
certain items...like a new fire truck. But
not a penny can be spent on general fund
expenses.

We won't bore you with anymore dull, dead
budget details except just one (sorry) can you
believe the Miscellaneous Fund is 338.53%
over budget??? Budget was $9,425. and as of
4/30/06 town has spent $41,331.24. WOW!
That's a whole lot of "miscellaneous" stuff
stuffed into a single budget item. Wonder
what is in it? Can you say dumpster account?

Travel account is 157.96% over budget? And
there is only $2,808. in Legal Fund? Is that
enough for lawsuits like the man in the moon...
Mr. Moon, that is? (BTW Mr. Moon lost his
re-election run for county commissioner.)
How much $$$'s for Frank Wilson's lawsuit
waiting in the wings? Hovering over his new
scenic duck pond along side new cemetery
road courtesy of Bent Creek road builders.

Nolensville needs a professional city manager,
accountant and contract pro on the job 24/7!
NOW! We cannot afford not to hire this person.
No one on the board or in the commissions is
qualified to do this job assignment. Why not
hire a professional to create new year's budget?

Can you believe this? We are now down to one
last BOMA-Budget meeting on 6/1/06 to find
out what's in existing budget and next year's
budget? Probably have a Public Reading part
of meeting for lowly citizens and then "speed-
read" next year's budget and vote on it ala' the
old guaranteed majority scheme...done deal!
Just in time for 7/1/06 budget deadline. So
much for full disclosure...due process and
open detailed discussions--lowly citizens are
just too...too..."slow & uninformed" we the
elected ones...only we can devise all the ways
to "cook-the-books" and say everything is OK
and balances! Trust us we know what's best
for Nolensville even though we have made very
serious mistakes--that we don't talk about.

People of Nolensville...time is short...it is time
for each one of you to act now to change this
"slip-sliding" into no reponsibility land. Tell
us how you really feel about this leadership!

CLICK HERE for info on new Nolensville total
property assessment of $82 million that will
drop tax rate from 4 cents to 2 or 3 cents. But
no one knows what town budgets will do to the
future tax rates?