An anti-discrimination ordinance to protect gay and lesbian Chattanooga employees was delayed, but that didn’t stop a host of supporters from flocking to the City Council chambers Tuesday.
The ordinance, sponsored by Councilmen Chris Anderson and Moses Freeman, was set for a first vote next week but was delayed after others on the council questioned procedure. The council will discuss the issue during a planning meeting next week, then hold a committee meeting and vote on July 14.
In other business
The Chattanooga City Council on Tuesday: * Voted to support the Environmental Protection Agency’s clean power plan, joining cities such as Nashville, Knoxville, Austin, Texas, and Portland, Maine. * Voted to issue $15 million in bonds on a litany of infrastructure improvements at the Family Justice Center, city parks, intersections across the city and at Wilcox Tunnel. * Confirmed James Adams as the city’s new fire chief. * Confirmed Bobby Stone, husband of city spokeswoman Lacie Stone, and reappointed Bryan Patten and Mike Davis to the Stadium Corporation Board. * Accepted a $196,404 U.S. Justice Assistance Grant to buy 121 body cameras for city police. The city will contribute $98,202 toward the grant.
Concerned citizen Charlie Wysong makes his three-minute opinion comment to the Chattanooga City Council concerning the upcoming nondiscrimination ordinance Tuesday.The proposed ordinance would prohibit city employees from harassing their colleagues based on sexual orientation or gender identity. And it would keep the city from denying someone a job based on those two factors. Sexual orientation and gender identity would be added to a list of other protected qualities already in law, such as race, religion, ethnicity and political affiliation.
Local tea party leaders and others on the council said the delay was needed to make sure the ordinance was worded correctly.