Election Commission chairman Bob Brown outlines options and locations of early voting sites at the commission's Tuesday morning meeting. Election Administrator Anne Beard looks on.

Action puts decision in judge's hand; no hearing Thursday
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
There will be no early voting in Brentwood next month in the weeks leading up to the March 6 Presidential Preference Primary. Instead, votes can be cast at a to-be-determined Nolensville location or Berry’s Chapel Church of Christ in Franklin.

On Tuesday, the full Williamson County Election Commission unanimously voted to hold early voting at Berry's Chapel, located at 1777 S. Berry’s Chapel Road, just west of Hillsboro Road.

The decision does not, however, end the legal wrangling between the commission and the City of Brentwood over use of the Brentwood Library as an early voting site.

The commission also approved a recommendation from its chairman Bob Brown to amend the lawsuit that it filed on Jan. 6 against certain Brentwood City officials, dropping the request for a court order forcing the city to make the library available Feb. 22-28 for early voting.  

Brown told his fellow commissioners that they had been asked to change its Writ of Mandamus to a Declaratory Judgment, which attorneys representing both the commission and the City of Brentwood have agreed to.

Election commissioner Tom Murdic made the motion for the change, noting that it was “the right route” to follow. He added the declaration will determine the legality of using public buildings “not just in Brentwood, but all of the government entities we deal with.” His motion unanimously passed.

A third motion, by commissioner Phyllis Streiff, was made and passed that the commission not seek the state Attorney General’s opinion on the case.

“The City of Brentwood welcomes the decision made today by the Election Commission to amend its lawsuit,” Brentwood City Manager Mike Walker said in statement released late Tuesday afternoon. “Once we have seen the actual amended complaint, the City will make a decision about how to proceed.

“It is unfortunate that the Election Commission chose not to have early voting at any of the many locations in Brentwood that are suitable for early voting in high turnout elections. Whether this action by the Election Commission is a responsible decision in the best interest of voters in Williamson County will be for others to decide.”

In an interview before the press release was distributed, Walker said, “This will be a better approach but it’s still costly for all parties.”

The longtime city manager said he remains confident that Brentwood has the right to control the use of its buildings, but noted that if the Chancery Court judgment is not in the city’s favor, the city has the right to file an appeal.

At Tuesday morning’s meeting, Brown told the commission that two locations had been offered as an alternative to the library. First he outlined his conversation with Bob Knestrick of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee who volunteered the Brentwood Family Y on Concord Road.

While convenient, Brown said the first-floor gymnasium was not available so voting would have to take place in the second-floor Teen Room, which has access by one “slow elevator” as well as stairs. Parking is also limited at the busy Concord Road facility, he noted.

Berry’s Chapel church offered a “very nice, very private” room and has sufficient parking, Brown said. He noted that if selected, a cable would need to be installed for internet access.

Berry’s Chapel associate minister Dennis Makins said the church “has been a long-standing member of this community. We recently added a fully ADA compliant educational wing and with this expanded campus and our central location we now have the capability to be of more service to the community.

“This opportunity to serve was brought to us by the election commission and, hopefully, will be a blessing to the people in the surrounding areas.”

Election officials will meet with Nolensville officials today to check out the new town hall building as a possible early voting location for the upcoming primary. County election director Ann Beard said she has already received permission from the Williamson County Parks and Rec department to use the former Nolensville Elementary School building.

Other commission members attending were Dana Smyth and Paula McCord. Only three members were present at the election commission’s past two meetings, the first when the commission voted to file the lawsuit and again last week when it voted to continue with its action against the city.