November's Commission Meeting and the Importance of Civil Discourse

Hello everyone,

It’s the week after the County Commission meeting, when I get to catch my breath (whew!) and catch up on my work. At the meeting last Thursday, a number of important items were discussed, and positive steps taken.

• The Commission elected to move health insurance for county employees from the Highlands Health Partnership to Cariten which will reportedly save tax dollars.
  
  
• Long-awaited design standards were voted in for commercial building in the county. (Finally! Thank you, Planning Commission!)
  
  
• You also may remember that I questioned earlier an item that came up on committee night in which we were asked to endorse the creation of a Marine Institute at Tellico without any supporting documentation. The following day, Mayor Cunningham sent us additional information that showed this to be a joint effort by Roane State, Pellissippi and Cleveland State Community Colleges. These three schools are working together to develop an educational program that will lead to higher paying jobs for craftsmen and women in the boating industry. Some helpful and important questions were raised by a few commissioners, but all in all I was satisfied. I am a huge fan of our community colleges, and will almost always want to support their work.
  
  
  

Because we were voting on the county employee’s health insurance contract, it was also time to make a statement about how questions have been addressed recently around that issue and my profession. There are bright, thoughtful, well-intentioned men and women serving on this Commission. Whether or not we agree on any particular course of action, I have every confidence that we can and will handle difficult issues carefully and appropriately when given the opportunity to do so in an open forum.

For that reason, among others, I made the following remarks.

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Remarks for Citizen Input into Items On the Agenda, 11-15-07, with a Request that These Remarks Be Added to the Minutes of the County Commission Meeting on This Date

RE: Agenda Item L.1.: “Discussion and possible action regarding contract with Cariten as TPA Administrator for Blount County.”

On tonight’s agenda, we are being asked to deliberate and vote on a potential change in the county’s insurance contract with a Third Party Administrator for Blount County employees’ health insurance. I am listed as one of many available health care providers on the Highlands insurance panel currently rented by the county as part of it’s service to employees. I am also a listed health care provider with Cariten, and have served for many years on the Behavioral Provider Advisory Committee with that company. Because of this, I will not participate in the discussion of this item, nor will I vote on that contract.

In addition, as of today, I have read that “a number of you” have requested information from Rob Goddard, the County Mayor’s attorney, from CTAS, and apparently from the State Attorney General regarding my business relationship with Highlands Health Partnership. However, I have not known and still do not know who the phrase “a number of you” refers to. Other than a brief statement read aloud by Commissioner Helton in August, no one from the Commission, nor from the Mayor’s office, nor from the Accounting office, has spoken with me directly on this matter. Mayor Cunningham did not inform me of your requests, nor have I received a copy of any letters any of you, or he, may have submitted in regards to my service on this Commission.

In the one memo I did receive from Mayor Cunningham, dated October 19, 2007, coincidentally the day immediately following our last Commission meeting), he writes, and I quote:

“I send these letters to you for your information. I felt it better to provide them in this manner as opposed to any public forum.”

For the record, I submit that a public forum is exactly where these discussions should be held, as long as they are handled with professionalism and respect, are intended to safeguard the people’s interest, and are not intended to demean or oppress any individual. I respectfully request that, in the future, should any of my esteemed colleagues have specific concerns about anyone’s service on a committee or participation in a vote, that they voice those concerns within the context of the appropriate meeting, before that vote takes place.

Thank you.
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The Commission voted and agreed to allow these remarks to be added to the minutes, which I also appreciate.

Now, let's move on. There's much to celebrate as we move into the holiday season. Turkey and dressing anyone?

Until next time,

~Wendy