by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At the Aug. 23 meeting, the Sewanee Community Council voted to continue the $10,000 project funding program indefinitely. The Council also reviewed protocol for the upcoming election and discussed the rational for and equitability of transfer fees.
In the summer of 2014, the Council approved the project funding program on a two-year trial bases. Under the provision of the program, the municipal service fee paid by leaseholders was increased to generate $10,000 to be used for physical improvements and amenities on the Domain, the funds to be disbursed at the council’s discretion.
In discussion about whether to continue the program, council representative David Coe asked if any residents complained about the increase in the municipal service fee. Superintendent of Leases Barbara Schlichting said one community member objected to the Council overseeing the disbursement of the funds and would have preferred the decision fell to the leaseholders.
In the two trial years, an appointed committee composed of both council members and non-council members reviewed projects and made recommendations to the council.
Council representative Pam Byerly said she preferred the review committee be composed entirely of council members. Other council members concurred, arguing an all-council member review committee could increase interest in serving on the council, which was the initial intent for establishing the program.
Vice-Chancellor John McCardell pointed out deferring the selection process decision until after the upcoming council election could be an incentive to a potential candidate who favored one mechanism over the other.
The council voted to continue the project funding program at the present level of funding indefinitely and to defer a decision on the selection mechanism until after the election.
The council also approved a motion by Coe that any proposed increase in the amount of funding be announced at two consecutive meetings to allow for community input.
Updating the council on the upcoming election, council representative and election officer Pixie Dozier reminded the council that to accommodate redrawing of district boundaries and restructuring of the council’s composition, all council representatives’ terms would end in November. “All seats are open for election,” Dozier said. In addition to electing three representatives in each of the four districts, the council will elect four at-large representatives.
To ensure continuity, half the newly elected representatives will serve two-year terms and the other half will serve four-year terms, with the candidates receiving the most votes serving four years. Beginning with the 2018 election, all representatives will serve four-year terms.
Candidates must be Sewanee residents for at least two years. All candidates must return a nominating petition signed by 10 registered-voter residents by Oct. 15. Candidates running for a district seat must have 10 signatures from residents of their district. See the district map attached for information on district boundaries. Nominating petitions are available at the lease office.
Voting takes place during the general election, Nov. 8. Early and absentee voting will be offered Oct. 25–Nov. 7 at the Lease Office.
Reporting on the University’s proposed intention to reduce transfer fees, Provost John Swallow said both the amount of the fee and formula by which it was determined were under review. The transfer fee is assessed when leaseholds change hands.
Echoing community complaints, council representative Drew Sampson expressed disappointment a $7,000 transfer fee was recently assessed the nonprofit Folks at Home. He argued the transfer fee was, in fact, a tax, not a fee, since no service was provided in return. He also argued the transfer fee was unfair, since it originated to offset loss of revenue when ground rent was frozen 30 years ago at a rate based on the assessed property value at the time; in 2011 ground rent was unfrozen for new leases and so increased with assessed property value, but the transfer fee continued to be levied.
Schlichting pointed out that since revenue from ground rent increased in 2011, the transfer fee was slightly reduced.
McCardell introduced the student council representatives for the 2016–17 academic year. College representative Abbey Shockley is a junior majoring in politics. Jeremy Carlson representing the School of Theology is studying to be an Episcopal priest.
Community Council Districts
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