John Coffelt, Editor

The Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted during the Dec. 2 meeting to send a recommendation to the Finance Committee to raise the city’s donation to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Alderman Ryan French made the motion to send the request along with a recommendation that the committee also reconsider its recommendation to redistribute the remainder of the city’s tourism fund allotment ($13,000 for the remainder of the year) away from the Chamber to go into a proposed Tourism Department coffer.

French recommended the city increase its contribution to the Chamber from the currently budgeted $10,000 to $25,000. This would be separate from the city’s $27,000 tourism fund contribution that comes from hotel/motel tax money.

The Finance Committee during the Nov. 18 meeting voted 2-1 with Vice Mayor Mark Messick voting not to recommend the cut in tourism funding to the Chamber.

French said a Memorandum of Understanding between the Tourism Commission and the Chamber can only be successful if led by the Tourism Commission.

French said the MOU had the intent of Tourism leading the process that the Chamber would carry out. He further said both roles work hand in hand in a mutually beneficial collaboration of missions.  

“It was never designed to be a standing document for the Chamber to just go and do to tourism. When we created that understanding, there was an understanding that the Chamber’s role also lends to the role of tourism.”

French said the city’s support of the Chamber should be increased to better support the small businesses of Manchester and the impact they make on the local economy.

“The Chamber of Commerce continues to facilitate the effective service of the businesses. I work with chambers across 13 counties. I know which ones are great and which ones are terrible. We have a great one,” French said.   

The motion to send the matter to Finance passed 5-1 with Messick offering the no vote. Messick told the Times after the meeting that his “no” was not against the Chamber — rather that he felt it would be more appropriate for the Chamber to bring the request to Finance.

“If they need it, I’ll be glad to listen to them at Finance,” he said.

Alderman Threet criticized the Chamber earlier in the meeting for its passiveness in regards to  the County Zoning Resolution limiting the lots to 5-acres in the Agricultural district. A resolution that he said would negatively impact recruitment for the I-24 Industrial Site (megasite).

“In my estimation it’s a terrible look for Coffee County and for Manchester,” Threet said. “It was beyond belief to me that the Chamber could not muster the strength to at least publicly to disagree with that vote.”

Chamber Member Billy Levengood said during the public comment section of the meeting that removing the Chamber’s funding mid-year would harm the continuity of work already begun, and impair a proposed Director of Tourism’s leadership in the future.

“This isn’t simply  about an organization absorbing a financial impact, it is about whether Manchester chooses continuity, collaboration and a unified approach to tourism and economic development during a moment of transition.”   

He said the partnership between the chamber and the city has supported the city in tourism and economic development for many years.         

French said the vote to recommend the shifting of tourism money by the Finance Committee was procedurally out of order because it did not receive a second before a vote. He said that while a chairman’s motion has the right to bring a vote without a second, those are usually for procedural votes like closing meetings.

Procedurally, budget amendments would go before the Finance Committee for consideration then go before BOMA for two readings.   

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.