[{"_1":2,"_85":-5,"_86":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6365523,"mediaKeyId","2160116-d8c5ca07b18f55977b98f283c670f751","parentId",2160116,"title","Board gives first reading to ordinance moving public comments back to end of agenda","audioSeconds",308,"startMs",789000,"endMs",1097000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2160116-d8c5ca07b18f55977b98f283c670f751&start=789&end=1097","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2160116-d8c5ca07b18f55977b98f283c670f751/thumbnail_789000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6365523/Bluff-City/Sullivan-County/Tennessee/Board-gives-first-reading-to-ordinance-moving-public-comments-back-to-end-of-agenda","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365523-ca79b1e7a543953a42f56bc87d407a66/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157360&Signature=VtZyvTvnzV8JOplbAscPbWf-vliV0Y66X8J8CnbcGR1Um0ZeFlP8CmXO4FJZ-XKwbrlgZ5PxS2XnMqGTSKCgCKKdb-3~gZAQltSZC14vDoA7jN9HlAdUK8IIBMgWrpt1Jy~xcAph3T0Q12RpfhZlOkc0aV8QO-a-AyPrRpzCtkKDvtMGKWxk94po1q3Mp0EJWxH-yjaqgbqwbr1jWWYLn0pfzxfRd8m6Z684368oHMa2xWxFC7D3paylnFIoiSbuFuf6476jq~Pf7nqGoU1Uvprqhwf4vncxQr5vhiSGewGdTNwfQDJrtvRu680EGC96mOXFYibR3NeP8N1bAoZZbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-28T22:30:16Z","article","The Bluff City Board of Mayor and Aldermen gave first reading to Ordinance 2025-001, an amendment to Bluff City Municipal Code section 1-102 to change the order of business by moving the second public comment period to after new business and before adjournment. The first reading passed and the item will come back for a second reading and public hearing.

Nut graf: The measure responds to citizen feedback and board discussion about when the public should be allowed to speak during meetings. Board members who supported the change argued that returning the second public comment period to its previous place on the agenda better matches community expectations and preserves a clearer ordinance history for future reference.

Board discussion noted that an earlier ordinance change in 2023 (Ordinance 2023-001) had been implemented informally and the town’s ordinance numbering and text history did not clearly reflect that change in the municipal code. One member said that, when researching the record, she had to trace ordinance numbers back through prior entries and that including a cross-reference to Ordinance 2023-001 in the new ordinance language would help preserve the historical trail. The board discussed the draft as prepared by their attorney (identified in discussion as Paul Fry) and whether to add language explicitly referencing the prior ordinance; members agreed to leave the draft as written for the first reading and to address editing at final reading if needed.

A motion was made to restore the public comment placement to its prior position on the agenda (item 11, as read in the meeting). The motion was seconded and passed on first reading with a roll-call affirmation recorded by the presiding officer. The board announced the item will proceed to a second reading and a public hearing at the next step of the ordinance process.

Ending: The first reading passed; the board will consider final edits and hold a public hearing at the second reading.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Called Meeting 1/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","On first reading, the Bluff City Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved Ordinance 2025-001 to amend the Bluff City Municipal Code (section 1-102) to move the second public comment period to after new business and before adjournment; the ordinance passed first reading and will return for a second reading and public hearing.","taxTitle","Bluff City , Sullivan County, Tennessee","taxId",76661,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":44,"_47":79,"_49":80,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6365528,"Bluff City board approves pay and back pay for interim town manager Michelle Roberts",673,116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2160116-d8c5ca07b18f55977b98f283c670f751&start=116&end=789","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2160116-d8c5ca07b18f55977b98f283c670f751/thumbnail_116000.jpg","/articles/6365528/Bluff-City/Sullivan-County/Tennessee/Bluff-City-board-approves-pay-and-back-pay-for-interim-town-manager-Michelle-Roberts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365528-9db14a2ba2a8c44ec3d116ca207fc069/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157360&Signature=hXVRhuHoLX8nEIY-wOQvcX-bQ-bbyO50RYy72CbF9I53IX7aacp49Ptfnzk0dliMbqruzlmF2alqKVIXFKdnvoNHrAJWOZI6qdii1uGV5d~wVez5pym7~~qdiylvQq7i4C2OUHd962oo5PQ4LA2hiKQjaCQtKjfh0ez-bszMDh485~OS61gaxodOD40fDpOHgD3pEBtdHcD4yLOZljcfB1ZJA7TqlZpnG-Fo9F1LSsA1GAUoOaSaFxZQktr9uhD02sIv8kMZe3tBg1EFS2iy9MkCC7QuDxwFdF8KMsUXaRNjztu9hYCtgb~2hnle5GqA4X1E7dhT9yX0GBrOn46Iig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bluff City Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to approve pay and back pay for interim town manager Michelle Roberts, agreeing to $35 per hour for a 30-hour work week and to provide back pay to her start date (noted in the meeting as Oct. 9 or Oct. 10; date not specified).

The action, taken during the regular meeting, establishes an annualized salary of $54,600 when the $35 hourly rate is stretched across a full year at 30 hours per week and noted a 37-week figure of $38,850 that was discussed during the motion. The board also agreed to revisit the interim compensation during the March regular meeting and schedule a workshop the day before that meeting (March 3) to firm up the job description and salary for a permanent city manager search.

Nut graf: The board said the pay decision is intended to compensate Roberts for work already performed while staff and aldermen finalize a job description and budget for a permanent city manager. Members said they expect to reexamine the compensation as they build next year’s budget and to confirm a job description and salary range before recruiting for the permanent position.

Board members discussed the payment structure and timing of a future review. A motion was made to pay Roberts at the stated hourly rate with back pay to her start date; another member seconded the motion. Several aldermen confirmed “yes” votes during roll call, and the mayoral presiding officer announced the motion carried. The board directed that the compensation be revisited in March, and scheduled a workshop on March 3 to finalize the job description and discuss the budget implications.

Michelle Roberts, identified in the meeting as the interim town manager, told the board, “I’m happy to be here to serve the community and service board. And I understand there are budget restrictions.” She added that she did not want to jeopardize municipal finances and would accept the board’s decision for now.

Members noted the town’s limited salary resources for a full-time city manager and that benefits (discussed in the meeting as an additional roughly $10,000 in value) might be added to any future offer for a permanent hire. The board did not adopt a permanent salary for a city manager at this meeting; members said determining a final offer will depend on the approved job description and the municipal budget process.

Ending: The board’s motion to authorize interim pay and back pay for Roberts passed and the item will be revisited during the March regular meeting after a workshop on March 3, when the board expects to finalize the city manager job description and proposed salary range.","The Bluff City Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved pay for interim town manager Michelle Roberts at $35 per hour for 30 hours per week, authorized back pay to her start date (October 9 or 10, date not specified), and agreed to revisit the compensation during the March budget review with a preceding workshop on March 3.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board gives first reading to ordinance moving public comments back to end of agenda

Bluff City board approves pay and back pay for interim town manager Michelle Roberts