Playground Ethics

Earlier this year, the council put its signature on the East Bend by passing new zoning legislation that will help transform the former PSC Metals scrapyard into a mixed-use neighborhood near the East Bank. Though the rezoning legislation did not specifically include a children's museum, the changes helped advance discussions about potentially establishing a home for the Music City Children’s Museum in the East Bend.

As the legislation made it through council, an ethics complaint featuring Councilmember Courtney Johnston was filed by Melanie Cochran and Elizabeth MK Sullivan. The two East Nashville residents alleged that Johnston failed to disclose her position on the museum board and didn’t recuse herself from the council's vote on proposed rezoning legislation.

Ethics Board

This morning, the Metro Board of Ethical Conduct heard the complaint and decided to issue Johnston a written warning citing a violation for failing to disclose her position on the museum's board. The ethics board also found that Johnston's conduct gave a reasonable basis for the impression that another entity could improperly influence her.

The members took time deliberating over whether it was appropriate to issue a public censure before unanimously landing on the decision to issue the lesser written warning. Ultimately, the board found no evidence of wrongdoing, bribery, or personal financial gain and concluded that Johnston did not improperly influence other council members. Several members also stressed they did not want the decision to discourage council members from serving on nonprofit boards. Instead, they hope the case serves as a reminder to officials about the importance of disclosures and avoiding situations where a nonprofit role overlaps with official duties.

The Back-and-forth

Promptly after the complaint was originally filed, Councilmember Johnston corrected her disclosure and ultimately resigned from the Children's Museum Board. Johnston has been a supporter of establishing a children’s museum in Nashville since 2021, when proponents of the Music City Children’s Museum were eyeing a building in her district.

“I think it'd be wonderful to bring a children's museum to Nashville, and so I was absolutely supportive of that,” said Johnston while testifying. “When the ethics complaint was filed, I felt like it was, at that point, a distraction to the museum and counterintuitive to the mission there, and I don't want to be a hindrance to anything, and I just felt it best to step away.”

The complainants see Johnston’s involvement with the board differently. During the meeting, their lawyer, Bryan Pieper, painted a nefarious picture of Johnston’s relationships with the museum, the East Bend developers, and the lobbyist involved with the project.

When presenting Johnston’s exchanges about the project, Pieper categorized her communication as “belittling the concerns of people, mocking them.” At one point, the line of questioning disintegrated into a fishing expedition unrelated to the complaint in front of the board. The scrappy antics—more reminiscent of a middle school playground fight than serious discussion—were eventually put to bed.

Johnston’s Response

Councilmember Courtney Johnston will not be appealing the board’s decision and issued no comment in reaction to the outcome of today’s meeting.