[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6605332,"mediaKeyId","2987064-7566f066b510d0a3ce4f0f629afb809c","parentId",2987064,"title","Brentwood commission hires outside counsel to review ethics complaint against Commissioner Ray Little","audioSeconds",5617,"startMs",812000,"endMs",6429000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987064-7566f066b510d0a3ce4f0f629afb809c&start=812&end=6429","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987064-7566f066b510d0a3ce4f0f629afb809c/thumbnail_812000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6605332/Brentwood/Williamson-County/Tennessee/Brentwood-commission-hires-outside-counsel-to-review-ethics-complaint-against-Commissioner-Ray-Little","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605332-164064b23c01135476a84290c518b80d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441230&Signature=MJJ0JnQ5dUWf8dl-~sDVZXKeAedJ8AYAL3oUHWgTDvSGHjISz5VzU~-tr0yUV1096zAe56rsxqlNwSG058i4xSvXDeXPRP4xskzK7bt80hvJQY3BhRYywDmAK8u5ITE9j4o-Wbcq0b295ElxPqbJFLE60jEJ4FYPY5rpfrxqaInBf84ChVUbIZkRlLS9D4XkrKOCGWEYXVKmbxgJC-8YW76IxPby01NYZKFNvvAHZ0~N9joRs5~oeBH98oN-EVZvvgZD8hNOgNnzYnhiyjcS9CzKqaZNCl8sQ2I5G0fUkGG4OmG4-N4P7-axoxctu5bUidzKtT5x0g55GxdCnxN5Gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brentwood","date","2025-04-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Brentwood Board of Commissioners voted 4-2 Monday to hire outside counsel to review an ethics complaint filed against Commissioner Ray Little, after residents urged the commission to either dismiss the complaint or seek an independent review.

The complaint, read into the public record by Melissa Gino, cites a citizen’s October 26, 2024 email chain and alleges that Commissioner Little improperly asked city staff to rescind a reply-all email and therefore violated Brentwood municipal code section 2-2-33, “Use of position or authority.” The complaint also cites state statutes, which commissioners said fall outside the city’s adjudicative scope.

Commissioner McMillan urged the commission to remove politics from the matter and to get an impartial determination. “We need a qualified, independent, unbiased, apolitical review of these facts and we need the outside counsel to present their findings and recommendations so we know how to move forward,” Commissioner McMillan said.

Ray Little, who did not participate in the commission’s discussion or vote because an ethics complaint is pending against him, read a written statement to the commission and denied violating state law. “To be clear, I have not violated any state statute concerning open meetings,” Little said in his statement to the commission. He said he mistakenly hit “reply all” on the citizen email and then attempted to recall the message.

Interim City Manager Jay Evans described the packet of materials provided to commissioners and noted the city code gives commissioners three procedural options: find a violation, find no violation, or determine the complaint warrants further investigation. City Attorney Kristin Corn told the commission the review should be limited to whether a city ethics-code violation occurred; state-law questions would be handled by state authorities.

Public comment during the meeting included speakers who defended Little’s character and urged dismissal of the complaint as politically motivated, and others who said the city should respond transparently. Graham Matherns, George Buck, Paige Thompson, Raja Johnson O’Brien and John Eaton spoke from the audience in support of Commissioner Little during public comment.

After debate about timing and the limits of the city code, the commission voted to hire outside counsel to work with the city attorney to examine the ethics complaint and report findings back to the commission for consideration. The motion, moved by Commissioner McMillan and seconded by Commissioner Dunn, passed 4-2.

The commission also directed that the outside counsel present findings at a future briefing so the commission can determine next steps. Commissioners said the outside review would focus on whether Commissioner Little used his authority to secure a privilege or exemption in a way that violates the municipal code; questions alleging violations of state law were explicitly noted as outside the commission’s investigatory authority.

The commission did not set a public timeline for the outside review. The ethics complaint was filed in March 2025 and references an October 26, 2024 email chain and the May 6 election timetable discussed during the meeting.

The commission’s vote followed a lengthy public-comment period and internal debate about whether the complaint was politically timed. Commissioners who opposed the motion said the complaint appeared politically motivated and should be dismissed; those in favor said an independent review would preserve public confidence in the city’s records and processes.

The commission’s appointment of outside counsel does not itself determine whether a violation occurred; the outside counsel’s report will be presented to the commission for a final determination.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Brentwood - City Commission Meeting - Apr 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Brentwood Board of Commissioners voted 4-2 Monday to hire outside counsel to review an ethics complaint filed against Commissioner Ray Little, after residents urged the commission either to dismiss the complaint or seek an independent review.","taxTitle","Brentwood, Williamson County, Tennessee","taxId",62216,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6605322,"Brentwood commission: votes, appointments and consent items from April 14 meeting",3560,726000,4286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987064-7566f066b510d0a3ce4f0f629afb809c&start=726&end=4286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987064-7566f066b510d0a3ce4f0f629afb809c/thumbnail_726000.jpg","/articles/6605322/Brentwood/Williamson-County/Tennessee/Brentwood-commission-votes-appointments-and-consent-items-from-April-14-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605322-62d4831b4519c6ad698a5369dea5a25a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441230&Signature=Pb4UtJQX6r9y8DJstyBI7rE47LVMtknCmb6SOwkr-wjg8ra3XF173Hq1mOE~H~dcoEmFFuhqYHDSZu~1R1v4KzGNBgeLPHnYz2GCdynDsHbLx~XpyRODZziXtXUHKn2Cnbj5vxE78d7Tpy7SkUYHxUGJSBzaJ4ozqLG8hEeLxXIjHDWgocQmbEc7AwCIrhfWmKC3jmXjjEVMjrHfkq0C53NV34pQ~BnSkDt-zLcwMSyPXLUiJYZckgzojlJYBOqCWTjYUMsNKQPqUN7v7sLirmggj4c5ck3GvgAWRi5PwD2R4RG0naP1jDqirlDJXSzLJ0a7SgN3VEtmVqvrXlDlIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its April 14 meeting the Brentwood Board of Commissioners took several routine and administrative actions, including approval of meeting minutes, adoption of two consent resolutions, and appointment of members to the park board. The commission also received notice of an emergency purchase by the interim city manager that will be placed on a future agenda for ratification.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (03/24/2025): The commission approved the minutes of the March 24, 2025 meeting. Motion passed unanimously.

- Consent agenda (two resolutions): The commission adopted the consent agenda by unanimous vote. Items included: Resolution 2025-28, approving installation of two median islands on Sunset Road in the Magnolia Vale subdivision and authorizing a landscape maintenance agreement with the Magnolia Vale Homeowners Association; and Resolution 2025-29, endorsing an application for a Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant.

- Emergency purchase (informational): Interim City Manager Jay Evans reported he authorized an emergency purchase of replacement traffic-signal detection equipment after recent lightning strikes affected two intersections on Maryland Way. The purchase, from Southern Lighting & Transportation Systems, was described as approximately $57,000 and will be placed on the April 28 agenda for ratification.

- Park Board appointments: Commissioners cast ballots for three park board appointments. The commission announced Vicky Sanford and Natasha Green each received six votes and William (Bill) Krause received four votes. Those candidates were selected to serve on the park board.

- Ethics complaint investigation (see separate article): The commission voted 4-2 to hire outside counsel to review an ethics complaint against Commissioner Ray Little. The vote authorizes outside counsel to work with the city attorney to examine whether a municipal ethics-code violation occurred and to present findings at a future briefing.

Procedural notes

The meeting also included a public hearing on a rezoning ordinance for roughly 30 acres west of Hunters Lane in the Foxland Hall subdivision; no members of the public spoke during the hearing and the commission closed the hearing without action. Several members of the public spoke during the open comment period on unrelated matters, and the commission completed other informational items during the meeting.

What’s next

- The emergency purchase will be presented for ratification at the April 28 meeting.
- Outside counsel will report back to the commission after the review of the ethics complaint; the commission will determine any next steps after receiving the report.

The commission adjourned after completing the evening’s agenda items.","The Board of Commissioners approved routine minutes and two consent resolutions, was briefed on an emergency equipment purchase, and completed appointments to the park board. Key votes included a unanimous approval of the consent agenda and a 4-2 vote to hire outside counsel on an ethics complaint.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6605327,"Brentwood swears in three new police officers",529,73000,602000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987064-7566f066b510d0a3ce4f0f629afb809c&start=73&end=602","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987064-7566f066b510d0a3ce4f0f629afb809c/thumbnail_73000.jpg","/articles/6605327/Brentwood/Williamson-County/Tennessee/Brentwood-swears-in-three-new-police-officers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605327-9788803ad0b1be6104080e9eede5410c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441230&Signature=U~tXmYgAdzRt-Xtj7Xnj0Wyd4ISxmjp~9-eXD4UCc-XOjK4bGFZbQVZ6vUax8Qo6ioIoUVa5n-wkpFq-E8ma664WXe5debh27TRaq7ng770~IiFpgwfnsFomaRLMz92AF1hz5QSJF-bJNYInlz9fshSnUwqMm4UVPq6eMl5vgrz48FjGGH5pQAYM14YwgaWoHYsnOb4HtGwXQNyGyfR3x7P8zpe7FkMOclJ0LWqzGPcAbnbKxh12ubTlyTCfx8KvBRkABmsSqI3CLMM44L32HeOS7ZSID4zUld8l7OWd77QZ0E49b93UACgEk1JBjrV85JLYPvIwJnN3Op0UjQEn5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brentwood Board of Commissioners and city officials formally swore in three new Brentwood Police Department officers Monday: Maggie McCord, Connor Smith and Mason Lundgren.

Chief Colvin introduced the officers and provided background on their education and training before administering the oaths with the mayor and commission present. The chief said all three graduated from the academy late last month and noted collegiate athletic achievements for each candidate as biographical detail provided during the introductions.

Chief Colvin said Maggie McCord attended Utah Tech and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and that she performed as a four-year collegiate basketball player. The chief briefly summarized Connor Smith’s background, including four bachelor’s degrees from Aurora University and play in professional minor-league hockey, and described Mason Lundgren as a Lipscomb University graduate who received a marksmanship award at the state training academy.

Each officer repeated the standard oath to support the U.S. Constitution and the laws of Tennessee and to faithfully discharge the duties of a Brentwood police officer. Mayor and commissioners welcomed the officers and thanked the police leadership for the hiring.

No formal vote was required for the swearing-in; the event was recorded as part of the meeting’s regular agenda.","At its April 14 meeting the Board of Commissioners and the chief of police introduced and formally swore in three newly hired officers — Maggie McCord, Connor Smith and Mason Lundgren — who recently graduated the police academy.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Brentwood commission hires outside counsel to review ethics complaint against Commissioner Ray Little

Brentwood commission: votes, appointments and consent items from April 14 meeting

Brentwood swears in three new police officers