CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Cleveland has reconvened a charter committee that was tasked in 1992 with making recommendations concerning the city charter that was adopted in 1993.
The resurrected committee will review the charter and recommend needed changes, city officials said. Cleveland also is conducting a comprehensive review and revision of its personnel polices.
"It just makes sense to reconvene this body," Councilman Bill Estes said. "We're too big and there is too much at stake for us not to be tip-top professional at all times."
The city has been working for the last year to get "its house in order" concerning personnel policies, and a review of the city charter cannot be overlooked, Estes said.
City Councilman and charter committee member Avery Johnson underlined the need for the review given the growth of the city's population, government and boundaries since 1993.
Bank of Cleveland CEO Scott Taylor has been appointed to serve as the body's chairman, repeating his committee role in 1992. Other returning committee members include Lee University professor Dr. Murl Dirksen, attorney Franklin Chancey, construction company owner Robert Burris and businessman Jim Thurman. Mayor Tom Rowland has announced plans to appoint Realtor Rufus Triplett to fill one of two committee vacancies left by nonreturning members.
Johnson highlighted areas of the charter requiring special attention, including the authority of the city manager. He cited concerns by "a few [city councilmen] who disagree" with the current charter language.
Johnson did not name any fellow councilmen, but Vice Mayor George Poe has said repeatedly that Cleveland's charter gives the city manager too much power, especially in personnel matters. Poe believes the City Council should have more say-so in personnel decisions, instead of only establishing policy.
Johnson wants to review the process for appointing committees, with an eye toward more diversity.
He said that while he supports the charter review, Johnson praised the city's 22-year-old governing framework.
"Personally, I feel that policies have gotten us into more trouble than the charter," Johnson said.
Estes elaborated, stating that it has been city policies that have fueled lawsuits with the city.
Two police officers - Lt. Steve Tyson and Officer Jeffrey Griggs - challenged Cleveland's disciplinary appeal process in court this summer.
Duff Brumley, a former detective with the Cleveland Police Department, and Josh Keller, a former firefighter, also have taken the city to court over their firings.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.