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HomeNewsClarification on a previous report about the Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission

Clarification on a previous report about the Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission

Hank Bonecutter
Hank Bonecutter

Clarksville, TN – Clarksville Online has been thoroughly covering the recent controversy surrounding the Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission.  In an update posted yesterday, we were contacted by Elizabeth Black, Communications Director for Montgomery County.

Our story was concerning the special called session of the full Planning Commission that occurred on Wednesday of this week.

At the end of the story, we reported this:

Clarksville Online has learned that just moments after today’s meeting adjourned,  an interesting phone call came into the Planning Commission office from the Montgomery  County Accounts and Budgets office asking for a list of all salaries paid to Regional Planning Commission employees.

Chairman Mike Harrison said that they have already submitted their budget to the county, with the ten percent reduction requested by the Mayor, and thought the timing of the phone call was “curious.”

The phone call has reportedly upset several employees who now feel that someone is looking to cut salaries, or make further cuts to their department or possible jobs.   Employee salaries are public record and a phone call to get them would be unnecessary, especially from someone from a county department.

Mrs Black took issue about the call asking for the salaries of the Regional Planning Commission employees, and asked for clarification about the call  from Accounts & Budgets and what they were really asking for.

According to Elizabeth Black:

“Historically the Planning Commission has offered their employees the same pay increase (COLA or step) offered to employees of the county departments.  They are also participants in the county (Clarksville Montgomery County School System) insurance trust.

This year when budgets were being prepared the Planning Commission included a 2.5% COLA for employees as that was consistent with the county’s plan at the time (end of March). So in the final stages of the budget review, the County Accounts and Budgets Department asked the Planning Commission to provide their new total request less the 2.5% COLA.

No specific salary amounts were requested by total or by line item.  The information is not included in the budget document and is of no interest to the County Accounts and Budgets Department.

The timing of the phone call was coincidental, as that office does not keep up with the many meetings that occur on a daily basis, to include the RPC.  The response to the County from Judy Burkart with the RPC was that the county didn’t have any jurisdiction over their salaries, because they were an agency and were asking for less funding than last year.  So the budget for RPC stands exactly as it was turned in at $311,112.”

Clarksville Online wants to be sure that the information is accurate, and that there are no misunderstandings about the story.  The original story was accurate, but we felt it was important to clarify just what Accounts and Budgets was asking for, and they assure Clarksville Online that they were not trying to add any further controversy on a story that does not involve them.

We apologize if there was any misunderstanding.

For more on the story, see: Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission votes to hire lawyers to investigate Employee Grievance

Hank Bonecutter
Hank Bonecutterhttp://www.clarksvillesmotorcycle.com/
Hank Bonecutter is a retired broadcaster and media consultant based in Clarksville, Tennessee. His career includes stints at WKDA/WKDF and WKQB Rock 106FM, WLAC-AM in Nashville. He concluded his career as owner/talk show host at WJZM-AM in Clarksville. Currently the President of Bonehead Promotions, he's an advertising consultant and media strategist. An avid motorcyclist, Hank blogs about his travels exclusively at www.clarksvillemotorcycle.com and www.clarksvilleonline.com You can follow Hank on on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dodgintheroadkill/, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/?lang=en, and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dodgetheroadkill/?hl=en  
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