Friday, August 9, 2002
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Friday, August 9, 2002 |
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PTC to spend $8,500 for community wide study on teen related issues By JOHN
MUNFORD
A professional facilitator will be paid up to $8,500 to help Peachtree City open a community dialogue on various teen issues. Against pleas to hold off on the decision until the budget is cut further, council approved the spending measure 3-1 at its meeting Thursday night with councilwoman Annie McMenamin voting against the proposal. "My concern is we're spending money we don't have," McMenamin said, noting that a group of seniors told her to pass along a message to council not to increase taxes since it was postponing the expansion of The Gathering Place, a recreation facility aimed at seniors. Councilman Dan Tennant said he felt the teen study project was important. "There is a void, a group of people who haven't been accommodated as much as other groups," Tennant said. "... This group of people, even though they don't vote, has been shunned." The contract for the teen study project was awarded to Jon Abercrombie of Common Focus, with the money coming from the council contingency fund. Mayor Steve Brown said he liked the fact that Abercrombie's plan would make sure "all groups were involved in the decision making process." Several citizens spoke out against funding the study, citing wishes that council would factor the funding into its ongoing budget talks. The teen "study circles" won't start up until January at the earliest, so the issues won't get caught up in the holiday season, said Randy Gaddo, director of leisure services. The study will involve as many as 200 different community members, including teens, Gaddo said. The idea is to represent members of church groups, businesses, government and schools, Gaddo said.
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