As Chattanooga City Council members contemplate Mayor Tim Kelly’s suggested budget for next year, one newly elected member has proposed creating a staff position to help council members pursue their district priorities.
Council member Ron Elliott of Missionary Ridge told other council members gathered for a strategic planning session on Tuesday that the position would help the council develop policy and research initiatives. Currently, the council has one designated staff member, a council support specialist. The second position, which could report to the council chair or a designated committee under the proposal, would be titled director of legislative affairs and constituent services.
Elliott also said the new position, which he and council member Marvene Noel of Orchard Knob are proposing, could serve to protect council members who might get sideways with the Mayor’s Office and find their districts boxed out.
“There have been past administrations, not the Kelly administration, but there have been past administrations that have, if you did not go a certain way, they would oftentimes tighten their muscles on council folks and sometimes cut off constituent services needs to people’s districts,” Elliott told council members at the strategic planning session last week.