With its new Republican majority, the Hamilton County Election Commission voted Tuesday to drop its existing handbook for employees and put employees under the county’s employee handbook.

“An employee of the Hamilton County Election Commission should not be under a different handbook,” said Mike Walden, the new chairman.

Jerry Summers, one of two Democrats on the commission, said he had to “respectfully differ” with Mr. Walden.

“Are you saying the employees are being treated unfairly?” he asked.

Mr. Walden said that was not his intention.

Chief Deputy Elections Administrator Charlotte Mullis-Morgan said the Election Commission uses the different handbook because of state laws that govern elections.

Elections Administrator Bud Knowles asked the Election Commission’s new attorney, Chris Clem, to look into those laws.

The new makeup of the commission is:

* Republicans: Mike Walden, J.B. Bennett, Jeff Lewis

* Democrats: Jerry Summers, Jim Anderson

CITY OF ART

Chattanooga ranked No. 2 among midsized cities in a top 25 list in AmericanStyle’s June 2009 issue of top cities in the country for art.

AmericanStyle is a bi-monthly magazine launched in 1994 that focuses on handmade objects of art, according to its Web site.

Readers of the magazine voted for the top 25 art destinations, the Web site states. It was the 12th annual poll for arts cities.

The magazine also did a stand-alone article focusing on the city and what it has done as far as the arts, such as placing art along the Tennessee Riverwalk instead of just conventional mile markers. One reader for the magazine commented on the amount of public art in the city.

“Chattanooga has art everywhere,” the reader was quoted in the magazine.

GPS student wins essay contest

Girls Preparatory School junior Ioana Florea, of Hixson, was Tennessee’s winner in the United States Institute of Peace’s annual National Peace Essay Contest, the institute announced in a news release.

The 17-year old titled her essay, “Confronting Crimes Against Humanity: Addressing the Tripartite Objectives of International Response.”

According to the GPS Web site, Ioana’s win marks the second straight year a GPS junior has won the contest.

For winning the contest, Ioana receives a $1,000 scholarship and a trip to Washington, D.C., where national awards will be given.

She is also one of only two juniors in the state to score a perfect 36 on the ACT.

COMMITTEE LOOKING FOR A FEW GREEN MEN (OR WOMEN)

To find volunteers, the Chattanooga Green Committee will hold an event on Earth Day Wednesday at the University Center on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus.

The Green Committee recently released the “Chattanooga Climate Action Plan” report that addresses how the city could help curb global warming. The report posted 47 actions the city could take.

“Now is a great time to step up and volunteer to help bring to life one of the 47 potential actions,” said Green Committee Chair Gene Hyde. “Many people have asked us how to get involved and this is the time and place to learn more and how to sign up.”

The event will be 5:30 to 8 p.m., officials said. Short briefings will be held at 5:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

Citizens can sign up to be a part of action teams, a news release states.

The meeting will be held in an open-house manner at the Tennessee Room and Chattanooga Room of the University Center.

SUMMIT PLANNED

City Councilwoman Carol Berz will hold a District 6 summit at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the University of Phoenix, according to a news release.

The focus of the “Economic Development: The Value of Responsible Contracting” summit will be on jobs, Dr. Berz said.

Five summits previously have been held, focusing on community learning, the library, sidewalks and public art.

The meeting will be held in Suite 100 of the University of Phoenix, which is located at 1208 Pointe Center Drive.

Anyone wishing to attend Thursday’s summit is asked to contact Dr. Berz’s office at 423-266-4050.