MURFREESBORO n The Murfreesboro Beautification Committee presented a recommendation to the Murfreesboro Town Council to refurbish the conference room in the Town Hall.

The committee presented the recommendation to the council in front of a packed house during Tuesday night’s meeting.

The recommendation included six new window treatments/shades, six Hunter Douglas blinds and six Executive Highback chairs for the council members.

The projected cost for all of the new items was $13,140.38.

The Beautification Committee worked with Southern Interiors, Inc. of Suffolk, Va. to design the proposal.

“I think it is sort-of outrageous with the needs of the town,” council member Billy Theodorakis said. “This is not a good idea. We don’t have $13,000 for chairs and window blinds.”

“I agree with Billy,” council member Lloyd Hill said. “We have to buy software and finish several other projects.”

“The library could stay open for an extra hour every day for three years with that same money,” Theodorakis added. “We could pay half the salary for a recreation director for at least half of a year with that money.

“That is almost the total budget (for a year) for the recreation department,” Theodorakis continued.

The other council members concurred on the funding issue.

“Is there anyway we could go to something not quite as expensive,” council member Sarah Wallace asked.

“I agree this is too much” council member Bill Stephens said. “We can’t spend this kind of money.”

“I don’t want to sit on a $1,000 chair and I don’t see anything wrong with these chairs,” Theodorakis said. “I will sit on a bucket if I have to.”

“I agree that this is too much,” council member Gloria Odum said. “I would like to see this tabled.”

The council agreed unanimously to table the issue until an alternative recommendation is presented.