New Metro Council Meets

After being sworn into office Friday, the new Metro Council met for the first time last night.

It was the shortest meeting in recent memory, lasting little more than 10 minutes. Mayor Karl Dean gave a short address, saying he wants to have open lines of communication with council members.

Only three bills were on last night’s agenda which were passed together and without discussion, as is tradition for first reading bills. But Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors says things won’t be that easy for long.

“I think we’ll be facing the convention center, what’s going to happen with the Predators, the East Bank development. I’m not sure where we are in the negotiations for the Thermal Plant or the Sounds, but you know, those first three, we’re going to be hitting the ground running on those three.”

Committee assignments were announced yesterday, with Erik Cole taking over as chair of Budget and Finance. The entire council will elect the chair of one of the most important committees: Planning, Zoning and Historical.