After months on the job, Chief Operating Officer Antonio Adams and Chief Financial Officer Walter Person were unanimously approved during the council’s Tuesday, Aug. 6 meeting.
“I’m not sure if any other person could navigate the challenges of right now better than soon-to-be chief operating officer Antonio Adams…The city is better because he is leading and serving,” said Council Chair JB Smiley.
The introduction of Adam’s and Person’s nominations was met with applause prior to their votes during the full council meeting.
“Can we keep this spirit all year long?” Adams joked.
Adams and Person also served during the previous administration of Jim Strickland, along with several members of Young’s leadership team. Most were nominated and approved in January.
In April, Young’s team discovered an $11 million budget shortfall from the FY2023 budget. It failed to account for the hires of over 100 new Memphis Fire Department personnel.
Angered council members swiftly passed a resolution to cover the oversight. Holdovers attached to the previous budget – like Adams and Person – also lost the benefit of the doubt. Both denied knowledge of the lapse.
BUt the relationship was quickly repaired. During FY2025 budget negotiations, the pair kept in close contact with council members throughout the season. Approved in late June, the $858 million document includes a 49-cent property tax hike, along with an increase in solid waste fees.
Young’s original proposal featured a 75-cent property tax increase.
“I had the opportunity… to work with Antonio and Walter through what was probably the most complicated budget process in a long time,” said Council Member Chase Carlisle. “I just appreciate the effort, the candor, the honesty, the hard work, the intensity, the grace under pressure – publicly.”
Memphis Police Department Interim Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis remains the lone nominee to lack council approval.
Members tabled her nomination after her approval fell one vote short during a committee meeting. As a result, her approval will require a seven vote majority in committee before the full council can consider it.
Previously, Young said he intends to reintroduce Davis’ nomination after a new budget was approved.
Adams, Person and Davis were appointed as interim directors at the end of 2023. Young presented his nominations at the same time.
Massey approved to lead EDGE
Members also approved the nomination of Joanne Massey for President of the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) during Tuesday’s Personnel & Governmental Affairs Committee meeting.
Massey is the current vice president of operations. She was hired in 2023. Both Young and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris nominated her for the top spot.
“I expect nothing but great things from EDGE,” Young said.
A vote by the Shelby County Commission is next.
The post has been vacant for over two years. The previous president was Reid Dulberger, who resigned in 2021. He was also the fist EDGE president.
Randy Richardson, the Memphis and Shelby County Port Authority vice president, has also served as interim EDGE president.
“It’s up to us to do something about what we’re seeing, not just for businesses, not corporations, but for the kids in our community today who are going to be our leaders tomorrow,” said Massey.
Massey also worked in Strickland’s administration. She resigned as the director of Business Diversity and Compliance Department in 2021. At the time, Strickland was expected to place her on leave. The decision allowed Massey to receive severance pay. Non disclosure provisions were also put into effect.
Her resume includes work as a project manager and a lead supervisor at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
Other business:
Council members also approved a referendum ordinance to move a ballot question to the November 5 ballot. It was originally scheduled for the election which took place on August 1.
The amendment to the city charter would require candidates for Mayor and City Council to live in town two years prior to election day. Currently, there are no residency requirements for mayoral hopefuls.
In 2023, the charter’s five-year requirement was struck down in Chancery Court. It had been in place since 1966.
