A happy group last Saturday. From left, Marshall Stair, Nick Pavlis, Duane Grieve, Brenda Palmer, Mayor Madeline Rogero, Dan Brown, Nick Della Volpe, George Wallace, Mark Campen and Finbarr Saunders
I know this is one of those posts that has the real potential to come back to haunt me if things go south. But right now, the members of Knoxville City Council are on a love-induced high. I’m not kidding. These folks are crazy about each other!
Case in point: Last Saturday following a day-long retreat, Vice Mayor Nick Pavlis and his wife, Joy, invited the whole group over to their house for dinner. (They invited The Blue Streak, as well. Thanks for that!)
A very friendly group! Councilman Duane Grieve kisses Vice Mayor Nick Pavlis' wife, Joy.
As everyone gathered before dinner, Pavlis took me on a tour of the fabulous home he and Joy built about six years ago off Alcoa Highway in South Knoxville. “You wouldn’t believe how great this Council is,” he confided. “I have such high hopes for what we can accomplish. Everyone genuinely likes one another. Even when we don’t agree, we respect each other’s opinions. I just can’t tell you how excited I am!”
Wow. The others seemed to feel the same way. They told jokes and kidded one another. They chatted with one another’s spouses. There were no cliques. Nobody was ostracized or ignored, as I have seen on some past Councils. (And I’ve seen a lot. I started covering City Council as a reporter 30 years ago and have been involved with them in one way or another ever since.)
Just to be sure I wasn’t imagining things, I checked in with Tim Young. He is the CEO of Summit Medical Group but he also acts as a facilitator through his role with Leadership Knoxville. He was one of three facilitators of the City Council retreat last week.
Vice Mayor Pavlis entertaining his colleagues.
He confirmed what the vice mayor said. “The spirit of collaboration and cooperation among the group was palpable,” Young said. “And it was heightened by the effort and progress made at the retreat.”
He said the members of Council respect each other’s differences and are able to disagree without being disagreeable.
“They truly are working really well together and they realize the importance of personal dynamics and how that will impact the way we are able to face tough issues as a community,” Young added.
Young was so impressed by the success of the retreat and the way City Council members bonded that he wants to see other elected bodies do the same thing. Or perhaps, he suggested, several bodies could have retreats together to try to figure out how to benefit the larger community.
As for me, I walked away pretty darn impressed Saturday night. I just hope they aren’t singing “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” any time soon.
Nick and Joy Pavlis welcomed everyone to their home.
Council members Brenda Palmer and George Wallace with Mayor Madeline Rogero, right.
Councilman Finbarr Saunders with Cathy Brown, left, and Donna Della Volpe
Erin and Rob Frost. Frost, a former member of City Council, is now Council's attorney.
Councilman Dan Brown, who was interim mayor before Rogero's election, with Vice Mayor Pavlis.
From left, Councilman Duane Grieve, Alan Carmichael and Mayor Madeline Rogero
The food, from Dead End BBQ, was good. Here is one of the appetizers, spicy barbecued shrimp and fried onions.
Stuffed mushrooms were another pre-dinner offering.
From left, Councilmen Marshall Stair and Duane Grieve with Alan Carmichael and Bill Lyons, one of the mayor's top staff members.
From left, Gay Lyons, Mayor Rogero and Ellen Bebb, who is married to Councilman Finbarr Saunders
Councilman Nick Della Volpe and Ellen Bebb
Councilman Finbarr Saunders with Emily Campen, the wife of Councilman Mark Campen
Two mayors: Madeline Rogero and Dan Brown
This is Council member Brenda Palmer's husband, Don, talking to my husband, Alan.
From left, Nick Pavlis, Marsha Grieve and Ellen Bebb
Councilman George Wallace and Gay Lyons
Pavlis had everyone laughing with tales from the retreat earlier in the day.
Everyone paused to listen.
And laugh.
From left, George Wallace, Nick Della Volpe, Finbarr Saunders, Mark Campen and Mayor Rogero
Then it was time to eat. Here's Cathy Brown's plate. Yum.
I liked this tower of corn muffins.
Alan's favorite item of the night: banana pudding.
Joy showed Emily Campen the patio.
Duane Grieve and Mark Campen showed a lot of interest in the Pavlis' Big Green Egg!
