CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Clarksville City Council, with seven newly sworn-in members, got straight to work on several matters Thursday night, and not without some contentiousness during and after the meeting over a zoning application, a vote to purchase the Roxy Regional Theatre and diversity on committees.

Mayor Joe Pitts chalked it up to nerves.

“I don’t think it was necessarily tense, just nervous,” Pitts said. “First time, cameras on. It’s an official meeting, and they have to vote and want to ask good questions. I thought the discussion and the debate was really good.”

Final Roxy vote postponed

On the agenda was a final vote to approve the city’s purchase of the Roxy Regional Theatre for $810,000.

After a previous first-reading approval, the second vote was put on the consent agenda and largely considered a done deal. However, Ward 6 Councilwoman Wanda Smith requested it be moved out of the consent agenda for further discussion.

Smith, as well as Ward 5 Councilman Jason Knight, immediately moved to postpone the final vote so new council members could better familiarize themselves with the resolution.

“There are a lot of concerns in the community in regards to this; however, I do see the need to preserve a monument like the Roxy,” said Knight.

Ward 12 Councilwoman Trisha Butler spoke in opposition to the postponement, as well as other motions to postpone.

“I have been saying nay to all of the postponements because I already spent a lot of time already on this agenda, researching. And that’s not at anybody, honestly. I just wanted that to be known,” said Butler.

Following the meeting, Knight and Butler discussed the exchange outside the Council Chambers, with Butler suggesting Knight’s positions on both the Montgomery County Commission and City Council might be “too much for (him).”

Butler also expressed her opposition to the Roxy purchase, saying, “funding arts and heritage is not conservative.”

Pitts told Clarksville Now he remains confident that the purchase will be approved next month.

Diversity on city committees

In closing remarks, Ward 6 Councilwoman Wanda Smith criticized Pitts’ 2021 committee appointments, citing issues of diversity.

According to Smith, while Black members were equally appointed to committees like Parks and Recreation and Transportation, all three members appointed to the Finance Committee are white.

Smith said the appointments do not meet the standards of the NAACP, of which Pitts is a member.

“I’m looking and hoping that there will be some African Americans added to the Finance Committee. I know that there were requests, because I was one of them,” said Smith in her remarks. “I know that we are a diverse city. I hope and pray that you will add some African Americans to the Finance Committee. Is that all right, NAACP member?”

When asked about her comments at the meeting, Smith told Clarksville Now that she meant no disrespect to the Mayor, and that they have always worked well together.

Smith also stated that she considers the Finance Committee one of the most important bodies in Clarksville’s leadership, as it deals with important legal and budgetary issues.

As of Jan. 8, Finance Committee appointments include Travis Holleman, Wallace Redd and Stacy Streetman as chair.

“Why would you not allow minorities to be on the Finance Committee?” said Smith. “I don’t understand this when we are trying to practice equality and not inequality.”

When asked by Clarksville Now about the selections, Pitts said committee appointments are fluid over the first year, and changes could occur later in 2021.

Also at Thursday’s meeting, the council approved rezoning surrounding a quarry on Old Russellville Pike.

Correction: An earlier version of this article should have stated that Ward 6 Councilwoman Wanda Smith requested a resolution to approve the purchase of the Roxy Regional Theatre be pulled from the consent agenda.