What is happening at the Metro Council meeting on May 1?

 An appointment to the TLC, a couple sign bills and a Day of Prayer

You can get your own copy of the Metro council meeting agenda at this link: Metro Council Agenda.
From the agenda you can link to the analysis. Council meetings can be really, really boring if you don't know what the Council is voting on. With an agenda and an analysis, they are just really boring.

Below are the things that I think are worth being aware of that are on this agenda. Actually there is almost nothing of interest on the agenda. Unless some public hearing item has generated some local controversy, this ought to be a very short and very boring meetings.

The Council will vote on the reappointment of Mr. Brian Winfrey to the Transportation Licensing Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2014. This scandal-ridden department has been guilty of having inspectors impersonate police officers, extortion, intimidation, slow-walking and resisting approving application for competitors to established cab companies.

I don't know Mr. Winfrey, but I would prefer that anyone currently serving on this commission be replaced. There should be a house cleaning. The Commission is supposed to govern the agency. Anyone appointed to the board should have to convince the Council they support the rule of law, legal behavior on the part of employees of the department, competition, disapproval of favoritism and should convince the Council that they will aggressively work to correct the problems at this agency. The appointee should be made to clarify his position on these issues. If not, the Council should not approve.

The approval of the Mayor's appointees to boards and commissions does not have to be unanimous. The council should take their responsibility seriously. The council has little power: passing a budget and appropriating money is one power; confirming appointees is another. To learn more about the problems at TLC click here.

There are a couple sign bills on public hearing and there are always people who have an interest in sign bills. BILL NO. BL2012-107 would require replacement panels in multi-tenant signs to be consistent with the other signage on the property and BILL NO. BL2012-109 adds requirements in the conversion of nonconforming static billboards to tri-face billboards. These bills have been pending and deferred for some time.

 BILL NO. BL2012-134 extends the boundaries of the Belmont-Hillsboro Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District. If I understand this, what it would do is prohibit the tearing down of existing homes and building McMansions. It is an effort to preserve the character of the neighborhood. It is not as stringent as historic zoning.

There are some other bills on public hearing that would probably interest no one except the people in the immediate area.

On the consent agenda is RESOLUTION NO. RS2012-237 which recognizes May 3, 2012, as a National Day of Prayer.

Here is the copy of the resolution:

RESOLUTION NO. RS2012-237

A resolution recognizing May 3, 2012, as National Day of Prayer.

WHEREAS, May 3, 2012, is our 61st Annual National Day of Prayer; and

WHEREAS, the religious freedom guaranteed us by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution has made our land a beacon for people who seek freedom to worship GOD according to their conscience; and

WHEREAS, Americans of every race, background and creed come together in their places of worship, homes and work places to pray for guidance, wisdom and courage; and

WHEREAS, just as we rely on prayer for courage, hope and renewal in our private lives, so too do we turn to prayer at times of joy, crises, economic uncertainty and tragedy in our public life as a Nation, State and a City; and

WHEREAS, Congress, by Public Law 100-307, has called on our citizens to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society by recognizing annually a “National Day of Prayer” and many of our Nation’s Presidents have asked us repeatedly to pray for our Nation; and

WHEREAS, at this time in our history, we are mindful of the heroic men and women serving in our Armed Forces, especially those serving abroad and pray for their safety, for the recovery of the wounded, and for the peace we all seek and their families; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council recognizes the 61st Annual National Day of Prayer May 3, 2012, and encourage all residents to pray and give thanks for the rich blessing of our City, State and our Nation.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as recognizing May 3, 2012, as National Day of Prayer.

Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

I assume officially recognizing a day of prayer is not a violation of church and state and no one objects. Thank God.

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