The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
Freddie O'Connell, Mayor
Executive Order 32
Subject: Nashville Health and Well-being Leadership Council
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government desires to improve the health and the economic and social well-being of its residents by assessing resident’s health status, the current economic systems, policies, and services available to support health and economic and social well-being, and potential forces of change affecting resident health and establishing strategic priorities for community health improvement; and
WHEREAS, much of the community’s physical and mental health and its social and economic well-being are impacted by factors largely beyond an individual’s control, including the cost of living, poor access to quality jobs, the displacement of historical communities, and institutional and structural racism both past and present, all of which can lead to inequitable access to resources; and
WHEREAS, community-wide action is necessary to improve health and well-being, including action by individuals, families, schools, employers and businesses, community groups, religious communities, and various agencies within government; and
WHEREAS, the Healthy Nashville Leadership Council has been successful in drawing community-wide attention to and encouraging ownership of important public health and well-being problems and their solutions and establishing the Nashville Health and Well-being Leadership Council to carry on in its place will further improve the health and economic and social well-being of Davidson County residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Freddie O’Connell, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me, do hereby find, direct, and order the following:
- Nashville Health and Well-being Leadership Council: There is a Davidson County council called the Nashville Health and Well-being Leadership Council (hereinafter “Council”).
- Council’s duties: The Council shall be charged with:
a. Assessing the health status and quality of life of Davidson County residents, assessing health systems that promote and support health, and assessing potential forces of change;
b. Assessing and promoting an understanding of the forces affecting the economic and social well-being of residents;
c. Establishing strategic priorities and mobilizing collaborative and effective community initiatives to achieve improvements in health and economic and social well-being; and
d. Assessing and promoting the consideration of the health impacts of programs and policies across the Metropolitan Government, [i.e., Health in All Policies]. - Council members: The Council shall be composed of eighteen (18) members appointed by the Mayor.
a. One of the members shall be the Director of Health or her/his designee.
b. One of the members shall be the Director of Social Services or her/his designee.
c. One of the members shall be a member of the Metropolitan Board of Health.
d. Other appointees to the Council shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of health care organizations, community organizations, and other interested community members.
e. Members of the Council shall be appointed with a conscious intention of reflecting a diverse mixture with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, and age. Davidson residency is strongly preferred although non-residents may be considered if they are strongly invested in well-being, health, and equity for Davidson County residents. - Terms for Council members:
a. Except for the Directors of Health and Social Services, the regular term of a member of the Council shall be three (3) years.
b. However, of the initial membership of the Council, five (5) members will serve one (1) year, five (5) members will serve two (2) years, and six (6) members will serve three (3) years so that the terms are staggered as to replace no more than one third (1/3) of the members each year. The Mayor will designate the term length for each initial Council member at the time of appointment.
c. Members of the Council shall continue in office until the expiration of the terms for which they were respectively appointed and until such time as their successors are appointed unless a member is administratively removed from the Council pursuant to section 10 below.
d. Metropolitan Departments/Commissions shall have six (6) non-voting appointments to the Council. These Ex officio members represent but are not limited to:
i. Metropolitan Parks and Recreation Department,
ii. Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure,
iii. Metropolitan Nashville Police Department,
iv. Metropolitan Nashville Fire Department,
v. Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools,
vi. Metropolitan Planning Department, or
vii. Metropolitan Department of Codes and Building Safety.
Ex officio members are permitted to appoint a designee to serve in their stead. These members do not count toward determining a quorum. Ex officio members will attend all meetings and provide program updates and support to the Council as needed and requested. - Vacancies: A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as a regular appointment.
- Compensation: Members of the Council shall not be compensated for services rendered.
- Chair: The Mayor shall appoint a chair from among the members. Chair position must be occupied by a Davidson County resident.
- Officers: The Council shall elect other officers as the Council finds necessary and appropriate.
- Quorum: A quorum for approving decisions by the Council shall consist of a majority of the currently filled positions on the Council.
- Removal of Members: A member who fails to attend three (3) or more meetings in a calendar year will cease to be a member absent a vote of retention by the Council.
- The Council shall conduct meetings in accordance with its bylaws.
- Staff: The Metropolitan Public Health Department and Metropolitan Social Services Department shall share staff support responsibilities for the Council.
Ordered, Effective and Issued: January 17, 2024
Freddie O’Connell
Metropolitan County Mayor