The council chambers in Union City were packed Jan. 15 and the occasion for the standing room-only audience was clear. The year’s first meeting saw new council members Brian Jones and Vince Williams take the oath of office after their November victory at the polls. Also at the meeting, citizens were informed about new, increasingly strict rules for the public comments portion of public meetings.

Families, friends and well-wishers looked on as the two were sworn in. And while rarely the case at public meetings, the council chambers were temporarily transformed into an impromptu photography studio, with countless cameras flashing as Williams and Jones took the oath.

The meeting was not lost another agenda item where long-time Assistant Police Chief Chuck Odom was appointed interim police chief after the retirement last month of Chief Mike Isome.

Concerning a new procedure for citizens addressing the council, Mayor Ralph Moore did not explain the new procedure, but he did direct residents to pick up a copy of the new Rules for Public Comments available at the rear table in the council chambers. Now the most restrictive of south Fulton cities, the new Union City procedure requires that citizens fill out a Request to Speak form and submit it between 6:50-7:00 p.m. No forms will be accepted after 7 p.m., the notice said. Each speaker will limit comments to two minutes and must limit comments to the particular subject stated on the form. Public comments requiring a response will be accomplished by letter. The instructions did not mention how other residents interested in questions posed by others might be informed of the answers.

The council approved the acceptance of a $48,000 FIRE Act Grant award, of which $45,600 comes in the form of federal funds. Applied for in March 2007, the funds will be used to replace eight aging self-contained breathing apparatus at a cost of $40,000 and to acquire a washer/extractor for $8,000 that will assist with maintaining firefighter’s turnout gear.

Also at the meeting, an application to rezone 21.72 acres on Buffington Road from R-1 (Residential) and R-4 to Light Industrial was withdrawn by YP Investments. The proposed use for the property was the construction of small office and warehouse buildings. The proposal was unanimously recommended for approved by the planning commission Nov. 19.

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