Friday, May 23, 2003
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Friday, May 23, 2003 |
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Council more good-natured, gets down to business By J. FRANK
LYNCH
At the end of last week's Peachtree City Council meeting, which was a somewhat warm and cordial affair considering the mood of city politic of late, Councilman Murray Weed declared, "I feel a tremendous need for a group hug." It never happened. But the sentiment was sincere, perhaps. In the first meeting since The Citizen reported on growing division among councilmembers, it was mostly business as usual. At least one councilman confided that an unspoken "truce" of sorts had been declared out of respect for new city manager Bernard J. McMullen, who was officially hired Thursday at an annual salary of about $110,000. But that didn't stop the barbs from flying, if more good-natured than in the past. Councilman Steve Rapson prepared a report on the history of votes taken by the council that showed the panel agrees unanimously on city business the vast majority of the time, and in fact disagrees more often on issues revolving around the business development. But Dan Tennant interjected that a diverse council which doesn't disagree on at least some of the issues is "not a bad thing," and Annie McMenamin agreed. Mayor Steve Brown accused Tennant of going behind his back to put two issues relevant to the Development Authority on the previous meeting's agenda, which Brown missed due to a trip to San Francisco. Tennant said Brown never told him about the trip and, as mayor pro tem, he should have known. In an electronic message to Mayor Brown dated Tuesday morning, Tennant wrote, "You have an uncanny knack for never knowing when to simply let things die." As for official business conducted during the meeting, in additional to accepting the contract for McMullen, the council: Approved an alcohol license for Mike & C's Family Sports Grill at 1200 Ga. Hwy. 74 South. Tabled a request by Creekside Chevron at 2763 Ga. Hwy. 54 West to change the name on its alcohol license after McMenamin pointed out that the store sells rolling papers, traditionally used with illegal drugs, and asked the owner to look into the matter. Approved the appointment of Mary Ann Browning to another term on the Library Commission. Turned down an appeal of a permit application denied by the city for 141 Kenton Place to build a partially above-ground swimming pool. The owner, Scott Weller, said the pool was a gift and his family wants to use it, but council felt it would be bad precedent to grant an exception to present covenants and stood by earlier staff recommendations, 5-0.
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