Clarksville NowChris SmithClarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council offices.
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The director of a local government agency was fired in Clarksville after complaints led to an internal investigation, and two weeks later, taxpayers are still in the dark about why.
The secrecy surrounding the investigation and the discussion of it could be in violation of Tennessee laws surrounding open meetings and public records. And one member of the Industrial Development Board has resigned in protest of the way the matter was handled.
Director’s firing
Frank Tate was terminated from his role as executive director of the Clarksville-Montgomery County IDB during an Economic Development Council meeting on April 28.
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Millions of dollars in federal COVID-related stimulus money are coming to Montgomery, Stewart and Houston counties, possibly in the first half of this week, but how and where local governments and public school systems can spend it remains somewhat of a mystery.
That was the word Monday afternoon from Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury Jason Mumpower, when he addressed representatives from all three counties in Montgomery County Commission chambers at the courthouse. 22nd District state Sen. Bill Powers (R-Clarksville) hosted the gathering.
What is becoming clear, however, is how much funding each of the three contiguous counties will receive under the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP).
Clarksville NowFrank Tate
Update, 6:10 p.m.: The nature of the investigation that led to the firing remains under wraps, including, apparently, to Frank Tate himself.
Clarksville Now reached out to Tate for a reaction to his termination. His wife, Holly, responded by text.
“We were not given any information regarding the reasons behind the decision to terminate,” she said. “Frank has the right to defend himself and our family, and we can only conclude this is potentially a political matter.
“We have consulted legal counsel. I completely support and stand by behind Frank and (am) proud of what he has accomplished for the Clarksville community.”
Chris SmithThe Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council offices on Jefferson Street.
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Economic Development Council board this week fumbled the process of hiring a new CEO, causing some concern among board members about a reversal vote, with one calling it “borderline unethical.”
On Monday morning, April 12, the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council – the umbrella agency that oversees industrial development, tourism and related economic promotion activity – took a vote between two CEO candidates, referred to as Candidate A and Candidate B. Their identities have not been disclosed.
While board members seem agreed that both are good candidates, there were definite preferences, with Candidate A touted as “professionally trained and highly engaged with economic development associations” who would be new to the area, and the other, Candidate B, someone who already has “established relationship