Church Hill alderman accuses town of violating open meetings act

CHURCH HILL — Church Hill Alderman Kathy Christian accused the town of previously violating the Tennessee Open Meetings Act while at a Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting Tuesday night. Christian said the personnel committee met in a closed meeting to fire Senior Account Clerk Vickie Turner. Christian called for its decision to be overturned. Town Attorney Chris Raines denied the accusation and said there would be no change in the town's firing process. "Then we (Christian and attorneys) will look at litigation," Christian said. "I'm tired of employees being bullied in this city and I'm not going to sit back and let it go again. It's a clear violation of the open meetings act." "That's your opinion," Raines said. "Everyone's entitled to an opinion." The Tennessee Open Meetings Act, also called the Sunshine Law, requires — among other rules — that governing bodies meet publicly with adequate prior notice. Other updates Beforehand, the board amended its zoning code to allow for two accessory structures on a property. A lot must have a principal structure, like a home, in order to add an accessory structure. An accessory structure, such as a detached garage, supplements the principal. The accessory structure(s) must be in the rear or side yard and not closer than five feet to a property line. The combined square footage of the accessories' footprint can't exceed that of the principal building. Mayor Dennis Deal said the town had been getting complaints about the previous restriction to one accessory, as there are properties with three or four structures that had been grandfathered in. The board also adopted the upcoming year's budget and tax rate. Christian voted against this, and declined the Times News' request for comment. Alderman Keith Gibson was absent.