AJC > NorthSide > Blog > Archives > 2007 > July > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMilton on the couch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Milton City Council has some problems.
There’s a 4-3 split on the council and oftentimes the disagreements seem personal. And occasionally the dissension gets in the way of smooth government operations.
The good news is the council members know it and are trying to get therapy from an analyst specializing in treatment of dysfunctional boards of directors.
But there’s a snag. Doug Griest, the analyst, wants to conduct a group session in private. He has told council members that such a session would fall under the doctor-patient privilege.
Hollie Manheimer of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation says she’s sympathetic, but doesn’t believe that falls under any exemptions under the Open Meetings Act. It’s all the public’s business, she says.
Mayor Joe Lockwood would prefer to conduct the session behind closed doors.
“It would be a little like having marriage counseling with all your friends and neighbors there,” he said.
The council is trying to find a legal justification to conduct the session in executive session, and have asked the Georgia Municipal Association for help. They’ve also mused half-jokingly that they could go to some far off place and do it where the pesky press and public are unlikely to follow.
Should they meet in private or is this an issue of public concern where the public should be present?
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: Johns Creek, Johns Creek
Comments
By Milton Taxpayer
July 11, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this
Unbelievable! We, as tapayers, are supposed to pay for the leaders of city government to learn how to get along? This is total absurdity and a complete waste of our dollars. Every move these people make just makes them look worse. I hope everyone’s paying attention and votes the entire group out in the next election. The degree of incompetentcy of these people is amazing!
By Milton Citizen
July 11, 2007 7:52 PM | Link to this
The ones with big egos and personal agendas need to get over themselves and get REAL!!
By GaLiberal
July 12, 2007 7:13 AM | Link to this
Boy the whine from Miltonites are deafing. ‘I’m a taxpayer. I’m a taxpayer.’ So what. Get over yourself. You put 5 or 6 people in a room with different views and big egos and you’ll have problems. If you think you can do better, run for office and ‘Throw the bums out!’ Then people can be p** at you and vote you out of office. That makes for a real stable government. But instead of being part of the solution, you’ll just whine and whine like a bunch of babies.
By inou
July 12, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this
Who is supposed to pay for this counselling? (Three guesses).
By Milton Taxpayer
July 12, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this
If you put these people in a private business and they conducted themselves as they do, they would all be fired!
By Tim Enloe
July 16, 2007 12:12 AM | Link to this
In my view, folks need to see the trend and rectify it this fall. There are three council members who have to run again. They are:
Neal O’Brien Julie Zahner Bailey Rick Mohrig
Unless you want Jan Jones to continue to pull strings from behind closed doors with the infamous four, I highly recommend you educate yourselves on what each elected official stands for and make your decision from there.Take a look at how they have voted on topics such as sewer. I too agree that these monies spent are a waste pure and simple. I can think of many other arenas that such funds would be better utilized for our city than a “play nice” session. I also think it makes the entire city of Milton look pretty bad.
By Not a Milton Taxpayer
July 16, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this
And you people complained about Fulton County Government. Sounds like “just desserts” to me —and I am loving it! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
By Milton Taxpayer
July 16, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
To Not a Milton Taxpayer. You seem to be of the opinion that eveyone in Milton a. voted for the new city and b. complained about Fulton County Government.
I personaly did neither of these, so stop with the broad generalizations.
By What you wanted
July 16, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this
I think its funny how Milton is starting to exhibit the same behavior of the Fulton County Government. And you people want your own county, go right ahead and continue to make an a* out of yourself.