With a sparse agenda, Memphis City Council members will take votes on two more holdover city division heads as Mayor Paul Young attempts to round out his leadership team during the Tuesday, February 6 meeting.
Up for consideration are current Director Public Works Robert Knecht and City Court Clerk Sukita Johnson, both holdovers from Mayor Jim Strickland’s administration. It will be the first vote.
A Jan. 23 scheduled vote on Knecht was postponed at Young’s request, after Knecht faced a tough round of questioning. In addition to being accused by several council members of being unresponsive, Council Chair JB Smiley Jr. also said members of Knecht’s team called him “dismissive.”
In addition to maintaining the city’s infrastructure, the public works department also splits duties with several other departments. These include long-running issues like blight and illegal dumping. The city division also addresses potholes and overgrowth in city-owned lots.
This will be followed by a vote on a reappointment of Sukita Johnson as City Court Clerk. There is a request for same night minutes.
Both Knecht and Johnson were appointed by former mayor Jim Strickland.
The meeting starts at 3:30 p.m.
Also on the docket for approval is Office of Youth Service’s nominee Brian Harris, who is scheduled for an interview with the Public Services, Arts & Youth Initiatives Committee at 10 a.m.
To date, 16 city division heads have been appointed, reappointed by the council, or been named on an interim basis by Young.
Meanwhile, a scheduled third vote on a controversial ordinance to provide lifetime health insurance for former council members who have served two terms has been postponed until April 9. Held from the January 9 meeting, it is in its third and final reading. It was sponsored by former chairman Martavius Jones.
Committee Meeting Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0prEeTMDS0
Council Meeting Link
