LEGISLATIVE MEETING MINUTES
8 OCTOBER 2026
The Chair Commissioner Evan Baddour opened the meeting asking for a motion on the 10 April 2026 Minutes and Commissioner Caleb Savage moved those minutes be approved, and with Commissioner Tommy Pollard providing the second, the minutes were unanimously approved. Public comments (none). No prayer or pledge offered since were provided in earlier same day meeting.
Rules of Order – A handout was provided of the Giles County TN Commission Rules of Order adopted as amended 16 Sep 2024 and highlighted with proposed changes/amendments.
Rule 1 – Board Sessions 1.2 addresses starting time of the full County Commission and showed 3 specific options (change from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for two of those options) Option 1, split 5:30 pm and 9:00 am, Option 2 all 9:00 am, and Option 3 all 5:30 pm. A fourth option was unspecified but possible. Motion by Commissioner Caleb Savage was made to adopt Option 3, seconded by Commissioner Mike Cesarini. Another motion was made immediately afterwards by Commissioner Rickie Carpenter to adopt Option 1, seconded by the Chair. Discussion included concerns about weather, especially in winter; most people employed in daytime and cannot attend those starting at 9:00 am; did 5:00 pm have more citizens attending (only when agenda covered controversial subjects); encourage younger candidates who would probably have other full time jobs; not broke, don’t fix; split a good compromise; site county weather policy; how to provide timely public notifications if weather was used to postpone meeting(s); only required to have four full commission meetings (although some issues require an additional meeting); have 21 commissioners so think for all, not an individual preference; school board and other counties meet at night; meet at 12 o’clock on Saturday; no new points today (discussed in previous meetings). The Chair asked for public comments and there were none. Vote was taken on first motion, Option 3 all meetings at 5:30 pm, and motion failed 2 – 5 with Commissioner Jan Beecham and Commissioner Mike Cesarini voting in favor. Vote taken on second motion, Option 1 split 5:30 pm and 9 am and motion passed 7 – 0.
Rule II – Order of Business Proposed amendment Add Agenda Concurrence after prayer and pledge and add public comments after new Business County. These changes are already put into practice and are to be approved later this month per County Executive Knox Vanderpool. Commissioner Matthew Hopkins asked are these for the full commission meeting or for committees as well, with the Chair saying for the full commission.
Rule XIII Resolutions and Amendments Both 13.1 and 13.2 show adding TCA codes and Public Chapter references. 13.2 also addresses resolutions and amendments be provided to the clerk at least seven calendar days prior to scheduled meeting. The CE noted that law requires only 48 hours and Commissioner Mike Cesarini suggested this be added to the next meeting agenda, and would it require a 2/3 majority to approve changing with the CE saying yes.
Rule XV Committees – a.1 Proposed change to F&A to convene meeting at 9 am on the first Thursday in keeping with recent BoE meeting time; a.2 Proposed change Public Safety convene at 9 am on first Monday; a3 Proposed change Infrastructure convene at 9am on first Tuesday and swapping RPC to second Tuesday. Motion to approve changes as written was made by the Chair, seconded by Commissioner Mike Cesarini. Commissioner Matthew Hopkins recommended starting at 8 am and a motion by the Chair, seconded by Commissioner Caleb Savage to have those meetings start at 8 am. Commissioner Lynn Asbury asked if that would give time for any needed paper work to be ready with Commissioner Gayle Jones saying she preferred 9 am. Commissioner James Gentry asked about the significance of changing for the one hour with some saying they could get back to work sooner. The Chair said he struck his first motion for 9 am. Vote was 4 -3 to change to 8 am.
The Chair asked if the full commission vote should be on all or pieces of the changes to the Rules of Order, with Commissioner Caleb Savage recommended doing in pieces since some might not vote for all if they disagree on one or more of the pieces.
Rule 19.1 19.2 County Attorney The proposed change “See also Private Act”.
Rule XXI Charitable and non-profit Organizations Proposed change to add TCA.
Resolution 2026-62 To Establish an Annual Review Process for County Employee Health Benefits. Motion by Commissioner Caleb Savage, seconded by Commissioner Mike Cesarini to approve and provide to the full Commission. Section 3. Proposed timing which included beginning the review no later than xxx and presenting its report to the County Commission no later than xxx was discussed. General agreement on the Insurance Chair’s recommendation for first review to start in January. However, the next date was discussed with consideration of when the state (current insurance provisioner) would provide their rates; shouldn’t lock into state when a broker can bring other rates to the county at any time; use historical data to get projection for use in budget cycle; public: do rates have an expiration date – usually 60 – 90 days. After the above discussion the CE recapped with Jan – Apr – August (for decision) to fill in the above blanks. Motion by Commissioner Caleb Savage, seconded by the Chair to approve those dates and the resolution as is currently written. The CE said County Attorney Tim Underwood would have to review. The motion was approved.
New Business – Commissioner Gayle Jones expressed her concern on receiving the budget binders in not enough time to actually review them sufficiently. Commissioner Matthew Hopkins also expressed his concern for the same reasons, suggesting 24 – 48 hours before the scheduled meetings. The CE noted this should show up in the Financial Management Meeting as well. Commissioner Gayle Jones also discussed who has the authority to change the secretary’s minutes and that she had discussed with CTAS and is awaiting a final determination. Public Comment addressed the agenda being made available to the public in a timely manner, specifically because of potentially wanting to request records beforehand.
Motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Caleb Savage, seconded by Commissioner Tommy Pollard, and was approved unanimously.
ATTENDEES: Members of the Committee Chair Commissioner Evan Baddour, Commissioners Jan Beecham, Tracy Wilburn, Rickie Carpenter, Caleb Savage, Tommy Pollard, Mike Cesarini Other Commissioners in attendance Lynn Asbury, Steve Woods, Cathy Roberts, Carman Brown, Gayle Jones, Brandon Beard, Chris Adcock, Judy Pruett, Richard Kemp, James Gentry, Matthew Hopkins Others in attendance County Executive Knox Vanderpool, Members of the public