Fairview commissioners accept city manager Thomas J. Dougherty’s resignation after heated public pleas; interim appointment deferred

The Fairview Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on March 27 to accept the resignation of City Manager Thomas J. Dougherty, a decision that followed more than an hour of public comment and a divided discussion among commissioners.

Residents who spoke urged the board to retain Dougherty, who they credited with stabilizing the city’s finances and securing federal recovery work. "Tom Dougherty loves this city and loves his staff," said Janet Gatewood, one of several speakers who warned that removing him could jeopardize local projects. The board then voted to accept Resolution 17-26, which the commission framed as a response to a policy violation that Dougherty had self-reported after consulting MTAS, the state municipal technical assistance service.

Why it matters: The vote ends Dougherty’s tenure effective March 27, and it sets in motion a search for an interim manager and a permanent replacement at a sensitive moment in the city’s budget and capital work cycle. Supporters pressed the political and practical consequences of removing a manager they said had built relationships with federal and state partners; supporters cited a FEMA-related project they estimated at about $2,000,000. Commissioners who supported the resolution said their action was compelled by a personnel-policy breach and broader governance concerns.

Board debate and votes: Commissioner Hall said he "could not have ever voted to terminate Tom," noting he had hired Dougherty and preferred alternatives such as suspension or other remedial steps. Commissioner Roberts, however, argued the issue was not personal and said he was acting out of concern for policy compliance and staff accountability. "If you know that somebody is violating a policy and it's been brought out into a meeting...what are you supposed to do?" Roberts said. Vice Mayor Chris McDonald told the meeting that MTAS had been consulted and concurred that the city manager violated policy.

The motion to accept the resignation was made, seconded, and approved by roll call: Commissioner's Roberts, Vice Mayor McDonald and Commissioner Buffalini voted aye; Commissioner Hall and Mayor Anderson voted nay. The resolution passed 3-2.

Interim manager and next steps: The board then introduced Resolution 18-26 to designate an interim city manager and to direct a search for a permanent replacement, citing Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 6-21-107(b) and 6-20-205(a). Commissioners discussed outreach to potential interims and said one highly experienced candidate had asked to remain private while considering the role. Vice Mayor McDonald and others said they intended to conduct a national search that could include citizen involvement in vetting candidates. A motion to defer the interim appointment to the board’s next meeting on April 2 passed 4-1, with Mayor Anderson opposed.

Public reaction and claims: Multiple speakers accused the board of targeting Dougherty and of withholding information from the public; some said the timing — a 5 p.m. Friday special meeting — was aimed at limiting participation. Board members countered that the timing related to the city manager’s stated effective date and that outreach and legal consultation informed their options. Jewel English raised a potential conflict-of-interest question about a commissioner’s spouse running for clerk of courts; the board did not take immediate action on that claim at the meeting.

What’s next: Resolution 18-26 was deferred to the April 2 meeting so commissioners can continue recruiting and vetting interim candidates and finalize the search process for a permanent city manager.

Reporting note: Quotes and attributions in this story come from the March 27 special meeting transcript and public comment recorded at Fairview City Hall. The board cited MTAS guidance on the policy interpretation that prompted Dougherty’s self-report.