White County Commissioners failed Monday night to amend the Commission pay structure, making commissioner pay contingent on attendance.
The resolution would establish 12.5 percent of commission pay as a base rate, while 43.75 percent will be earned through attending Steering Committees or Full Court meetings.The vote ended 7-3, with eight required for passage. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson.
“The Ethics and Oversight Committee can take action upon commissioners not being present,” Robinson said. “The bylaws allow for you to take action. It doesn’t say what that action has to be and that’s what you’re doing tonight is deciding what action it will be.”
Commissioner Becky Golden flipped her vote, deciding to take a stand once she realized other commissioners felt the same way she did. Golden said she is on Steering Committee A and the Solid Waste Committee. Golden said the new rule would not be fair for her or anyone else.
“Most everybody on here either owns their own business or they get off early enough being here at 5 o’clock doesn’t hurt them,” Golden said. “Whereas I work in Cookeville, therefore I have to ask off early.”
Hutchings said he would like to speak with Golden more about the Committee schedules, as she has been consistent through the four years of her term. Cain Rogers and Chris Brewington voted against the resolution, as well.
Ethics and Oversight Committee Chairman and Commissioner Dakota White said the Committee discussed the resolution at length and determined a pay structure correction was the best course of action. White said he vocalized his reservations about the amendment during the Committee meeting, considering other possible solutions.
“My only thing that I don’t like about it is it’s not going to solve the problem,” White said. “I understand the concept and I’m fine with putting this in place, but I don’t think it’s going to solve our problem.”
Hutchings said the purpose of the amendment is to address frequent tardiness issues in the Commission, as many have stopped coming to the meetings. Hutchings said the seven who voted for the resolution agree it is unfair for Committee members who do not attend meetings to receive payment.
“Me personally, I don’t think those Commissioners should either,” Hutchings said. “If they’re not here, they don’t know what’s going on with the county and they can’t make educated decisions about voting for things that we have on the agenda.”
In other business, law enforcement received a training equipment grant from the Tennessee Correction Institute that will be used to purchase materials and equipment, helping law enforcement improve training capabilities.
E-911 Board Members Jason Sparks and Ashley Dicus were reappointed for four year terms.