Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen and Beer Board Meeting – March 24, 2025

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of Germantown, Tennessee, met on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 1930 S. Germantown Road. The board adopted the agenda, approved the prior meeting minutes, heard one citizen comment, presented special recognitions, then convened as the Germantown Beer Board for three temporary beer permit public hearings and approvals, and closed with approval of the consent agenda.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the March 24, 2025, consent agenda as presented by roll-call vote with no items pulled. Items included:
  • Change Order No. 1 for dehumidifier unit replacement at the Germantown Athletic Club, approximately $59,000.
  • Donation of unmanned aircraft systems valued at more than $35,000 from the Memphis Shelby County Law Foundation.
  • Parks and Recreation donations consisting of five separate gifts valued close to $5,000, including a horse carriage to Bobby Lanier Farm Park from the Carroll/Childs family.
  • PSA Amendment No. 1 for the Stormwater Design Manual, $95,000.
  • Annual cloud storage purchase, $40,000.
  • E-citation equipment replacement purchase, just over $91,000.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kathy Boestra, 7120 Corsica Drive, a retired teacher and principal with 46 years in education, expressed concern about the March 14 executive order to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services. She stated that Tennessee's public libraries rank 49th in the nation in total operating expenditures per capita and asked what the city plans to do to fill the financial gap if federal funding is no longer available for school and public library programs such as curriculum support, summer reading, preschool literacy, computer and internet upgrades, librarian training, services for people with disabilities, and delivery for older citizens. The Mayor said he and the city administrator would continue the conversation with her after the meeting.

Discussion Items

• During agenda setting, Alderman Sherry Hicks requested moving item 7A to 7C so the Exceptional Student Award would be the third Education Commission award. The agenda was adopted as modified without objection.
• No corrections were offered to the minutes of the March 10, 2025, regular meeting. The minutes were approved; Alderman Salvaggio abstained.
• No board member requested that any consent agenda item be pulled for separate discussion. Vice Mayor Gibson thanked the Carroll/Childs family for the horse carriage donation to Lanier Farms and acknowledged Robert Childs' years of city service.

Special Recognitions

• The Germantown Education Commission presented the March 2025 Teacher of the Month Award to Corby Bonanno, a kindergarten teacher at Forest Hill Elementary, recognizing her inclusive classroom, use of technology, mentoring of new teachers, and service on the bullying prevention and School Improvement Plan committees.
• The March 2025 Youth Excellence Award was presented to Amalia Shapiro, a St. Mary's Episcopal School senior who will have completed 11 Advanced Placement classes with all A's. She was recognized for leadership in the Wilson Society, service as captain of the track and field team, and involvement in the Jewish community and other service organizations.
• The first-ever Germantown Education Commission Exceptional Student Award was presented to Mark Posey, a Madonna Learning Center student in his final year of working toward a special education diploma. The award will now be presented each March and November. Posey was honored for character, service, and workforce preparation.
• Alderman Brian Ulicky read a proclamation declaring April 11, 2025, as Blue & Green Day in Germantown to promote organ and tissue donor registration. He noted it was the fifth year for the proclamation and dedicated it to his late nephew. The proclamation stated that more than 100,000 Americans, including 4,000 in the Mid-South, are on the transplant waiting list; one person is added every 10 minutes; and, on average, 20 people die each day waiting for organ donations.

Beer Board Public Hearings and Permits

The board reconvened as the Germantown Beer Board and held three public hearings for temporary on-premise beer permits. No members of the public spoke during any of the three hearings, and each permit was approved by unanimous roll-call vote.

• Bobby Lanier Farm Park, Inc.: permit for the Bluebird Nature Fest and Crawfish Boil on Saturday, April 26, 2025, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at 2660 Cross Country Road; proceeds benefit Bobby Lanier Farm Park. Vice Mayor Gibson disclosed that she chairs the nonprofit board and Alderman Yanda serves as treasurer.
• Memphis Oral School for the Deaf: permit for the Speakeasy Gala on Saturday, April 5, 2025, 5–10 p.m. at 7887 Poplar Avenue; proceeds benefit school programs. Alderman Sanders noted the servers hold Mississippi permits and that this was acceptable for the single-evening event.
• The Grand Krewe of PTAH: permit for the 2025 Black Tie Tennis Shoe Ball on Saturday, April 12, 2025, 6–11:30 p.m. at the Great Hall and Conference Center, 1900 S. Germantown Road; proceeds benefit the Carnival Memphis Educational Fund.

Announcements

• The Mayor announced that the Tennessee Governmental Finance Officers Association, during its annual meeting at the Great Hall, donated and raised more than 150 pounds of pet food, blankets, toys, paper towels, and cash for the Germantown Animal Shelter. He also thanked the officers, the GM TV crew, and everyone in attendance.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted the March 24, 2025, agenda as modified.
• Approved the March 10, 2025, meeting minutes; all recorded votes were yes except Alderman Salvaggio, who abstained.
• Approved three temporary beer permits unanimously for events hosted by Bobby Lanier Farm Park, Inc., Memphis Oral School for the Deaf, and The Grand Krewe of PTAH.
• Approved the consent agenda unanimously as presented.
• Proclaimed April 11, 2025, as Blue & Green Day in Germantown.