NEWPORT - The Newport City Council on Tuesday approved on second and final reading an ordinance that freezes property tax rates for city residents 65 and older.

The Council voted unanimously for Ordinance No. 2009-3 after City Attorney Terry Hurst explained that the ordinance was intended to benefit elderly, low-income residents as authorized in state law.

The ordinance will freeze 2009 property tax rates for city residents65 and older, according to Mayor Connie Ball.

After moving quickly through a lengthy agenda, near the conclusion of the meeting, two business owners accused Alderman Dennis Thornton of, in effect, targeting their businesses and themselves with harassment, and questioning whether the two owners had business licenses.

Kathy Holt, the owner of Pit Stop Mobile Mart, and Charlie Owensby, proprietor of Two Guys and a Pig, both located on the Cosby Highway,addressed the Council for approximately five minutes each, which is the time allocated for members of the public to comment and address Council members.   

Holt said, "I don't appreciate Mr. Thornton coming into my store. It's not his job to micromanage a business."

Following her remarks that criticized Aldermen Thornton, she passed out to each council member and news media representatives an open letter to "members of board of mayor and aldermen" for the City of Newport that contend Thornton has conflicts of interest.

Included in Holt's packet were photocopies of what appeared to be check stubs and invoices for two purchases by the City of Newport of items from Poe's Sport Center on Highway 25-E. The alderman co-owns Poe's with Wanda Thornton, according to records in the county clerk's office.

One check appeared to be for $3,782.80 made out to Poe's for"sports equipment" and dated May 2, 2008.

Two combined invoices and a related check appeared to be made outfrom Newport Parks & Recreation to "Poe's Sport" for $1,820.56.It was dated Jan. 29, 2009. The two invoices said it was for the purchase of"uniforms printing," nets and signs.

A third check appeared to be made out to Poe's for $40 for a"key to the city." The photocopied check was dated Oct. 30, 2008.

In the open letter, Holt states, "I am disturbed to find that it appears that a member of this body is violating the law with respect to self-dealing."

Holt further states in her cover letter that the photocopied checks and invoices "clearly establish that a violation of" Tennessee Code section 12-4-101 "has occurred." Her packet included a copy of the code.

Holt also included a copy of what appeared to be code section12-4-102 titled "Penalty for unlawful interest," which states the following:

"Should any person, acting as such officer, committee member,director, or other person referred to in 12-4-101, be or become directly or unlawfully indirectly interested in any such contract, such person shall forfeit all pay and compensation therefore. Such officer shall be dismissed from such office the officer then occupies, and be ineligible for the same or a similar position for ten (10) years."

City Council members read parts of Holt's packet, but did not comment on her allegations of conflicts of interest by Alderman Thornton.

"I don't think the (City) Council will do the right thing," and investigate her charges, Holt said. She added, "This will go further and it won't go away because I won't be ignored."

Owensby said during his remarks addressed to the Council that he has a "legitimate" business license to run his deli, but that Holt and her husband on March 16 told Owensby that Alderman Thornton was"making accusations he (Owensby) didn't have a business license."

Owensby said Thornton came to his deli on March 18 and "demanded" he stop attending to a line of six customers in his deli and talk to him.

Owensby said he then went outside behind his deli and got into an argument with Thornton. Owensby said he was so upset that his son had to restrain him from assaulting Thornton.

"I have a right to do my job," Owensby told the Council.He added, "Mr. Thornton owes the community, the Council, and me an apology."

Thornton did not apologize or respond to Holt's or Owensby's accusations. After the meeting, he told the Plain Talk "the only reason" he went to the two businesses was because he was invited by the owners to stop by and talk to them. He acknowledged he had two businesses, but would not name them to a Plain Talk reporter.

In response, Owensby firmly denied that he had invited Thornton to his business.

"He (Thornton) is harassing me and abusing his position "as a member of the City Council, Owensby said. "He came to my business to say I didn't have a business license." Owensby said he produced evidence to Thornton he had a business license. Owensby also said he leases the space for his deli from Kathy and James Holt.

"I was born and raised here," Owensby said. He added,"I'm no trouble-maker."

In other business, the Council voted unanimously in support of Cocke County Administrator of Elections Joyce Slagle keeping her job. (See accompanied article.)

In other business, City Mayor Ball set the date of Wednesday,April 22, at 5 p.m. to evaluate City Administrator Scott Collins, discuss an employee pay scale Collins has been working on, and give an opportunity to individuals to discuss why they are interested in being appointed to the Newport Utilities Board, which is a paying position. The workshop, which is open to the public, will be held at City Hall in the Council chambers.

The deadline for applicants interested in joining the Newport Utilities Board is Friday, April 17, at 5 p.m., at City Hall.

Mayor Ball officially appointed Diane Grooms to the Downtown Newport Association.

He also announced he had signed a proclamation that recognizes the75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains.

The mayor also said the Nashville River walk project was in the preliminary engineering phase, or "one step from going to bid for construction."

The council also unanimously approved a budget appropriation amendment to increase the City's public relations account $1,200 for a total of$6,200.

The Council also increased its budget for GradFest from $100 to $500. GradFest recognizes graduating seniors from Cosby and Cocke County high schools with events at the city's community center.

Collins encouraged citizens to post upcoming events on a new Facebook page called "Newport Pride - Be a Part of It."

Alderman Goddard was recognized for having a birthday on the same day the Council was meeting.

The Council also voted unanimously to sign up the city to join the National League of Cities for two years. Collins said that at $949 for the first year, membership was "expensive, but also a very good investment" for the city.

The Council also approved a resolution relative to participation in the Tennessee Municipal League Risk Management Pool that Collins described as merely "a housekeeping action."

The mayor said a request to add an executive secretary position to the city administrator's office, which was listed as an agenda item for Tuesday's meeting, had been "temporarily" withdrawn.

The Council also briefly discussed the railroad crossing on Industrial Road, which the mayor said the City of Newport would be partly responsible for, as well as a street light replacement at 472 Smith St.

A citizen encouraged those present to participate in a Relay For Life fund raising car wash on Saturday, April 18, at 9 a.m. at Sparkle Wash on the Cosby Highway.