County mayor’s staff to sit out commission meetings; letter cites ‘intolerable’ behavior
by: David Royer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’ staff will no longer be required to attend County Commission meetings, after the administration claimed behavior by some commissioners had become “intolerable.”
County CAO Harold Collins sent a letter on Harris’s behalf to Commission Chairman Michael Whaley this week, citing physical and mental strain on team members.
“The behavior of some Commissioners has become intolerable. The continued name-calling, verbal abuse, and verbal assaults have now become all too often,” Harris wrote.
Harris said if commissioners have any questions for a team member, they should email them to that person.
“We stand ready to consider a different remedy to this issue if you or Commissioners believe there is one. Thank you for your continued partnership as we navigate this new normal,” Harris wrote.
The letter was sent the same day as Harris presented a proposed budget to the County Commission, including what he called a 66-cent reduction in the property tax rate.
However, the tax cut claim was met with a response from county Assessor Melvin Burgess, who said Harris did not deserve credit for a tax cut because it was mandated by state law.
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