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PTC considers city attorney, term limits

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The Peachtree City Council is expected to reappoint Ted Meeker as city attorney at its regular meeting Thursday night.

The move is necessary because Meeker is switching law firms, according to a staff memo circulated to council members.

City Manager Bernie McMullen notes that Meeker has represented the city for the past two and a half years and has developed a working relationship with staff. Meeker has agreed to use the same fee structure and terms of service as when he was originally appointed in 2002, McMullen added.

Council is also expected to select a part-time solicitor to prosecute cases in municipal court when its full-time solicitor is unable to attend court due to illness, vacation or other leave.

In other business, council will discuss the possibility of adding term limits to those appointed to various commissions and authorities. Each of those bodies — such as the planning commission and development authority — has established term lengths, and after their original term has expired, that member can volunteer again, but must be reinterviewed along with other applicants for the post.

Mayor Steve Brown has stated in the past that he would like to see term limits put in place for the various authorities and commissions the city employs.

The city’s planning commission, library commission and recreation commission have three-year terms, the development authority has four-year terms and the airport and water/sewerage authorities each have five-year terms.

In a memo to council, McMullen noted the city could also consider including the tourism association, board of ethics, youth council and senior adult council for term limits also. Council could either limit appointees to no more than two consecutive terms by policy or by an official ordinance amendment, McMullen suggested.

Council will also hear a commercial rezoning request for 4.03 acre site at the intersection of Wisdom Road and Ga. Highway 74 north. The property is currently zoned agricultural reserve but is surrounded by other commercial uses; in this case the applicant is seeking a limited use commercial designation.

The development sought is for two multi-tenant office buildings and associated retail space, according to a position paper filed by City Planner David Rast. The buildings would be connected by an enclosed atrium, and the Delta Employees Credit Union would occupy the lower floor of one of the buildings.

The development, adjacent to the Fairfield subdivision, would have substantial landscape buffers between the developed area and the subdivision, and there would be room for extensive planting areas throughout the site, according to city documents.

Staff is recommending the rezoning be approved with a variety of conditions including a limit of no more than 37,600 square feet of retail space. The site will be limited to one right-in, right-out access point on Hwy. 74 and must have a landscaped entrance off Wisdom Road.