LAST WEEK: SHOULD AN ELECTED BODY BE ALLOWED TO REMOVE ONE OF ITS OWN?
The Stockbridge City Council convened a special called meeting earlier this month for a hearing to consider charges the city made against council member Robin Buschman relating to her duties as a member of the city’s Downtown Development Authority. Buschman is the only council member who is also a member of the DDA, which has been in litigation with city for more than a year.
The debate is over votes Buschman cast at DDA meetings March 30 and April 3. A letter from the city’s investigator stated that those votes were “incompatible with the proper discharge of your official duties as a sitting council member in violation of [the city charter] and/or your oath of office.”
The letter went on to cite another section of the charter that provides for her removal from office if the council finds that she committed any of the charges.
Buschman disputed the charges vigorously and called them purely political.
Here is what some readers had to say:
"The city was clearly in the wrong to try to remove her from office because of the votes that she took as a member of the City's Downtown Development Authority. The city appointed her to the DDA. The city then filed numerous lawsuits seeking to destroy its own DDA, and all of the efforts that the DDA put into creating economic development within the city. The city placed her in the position of voting her conscience for both bodies, and created a huge conflict with her in the middle (not to mention that the city has sued her personally). … Buschman is not a lawyer, and even lawyers would be confused by the mess this city administration has created. Should she be removed from office for this? Absolutely not! The city's officials should be ashamed of themselves. … this was a purely political witch hunt as to which all persons with a conscience should side with Ms. Buschman. I hope that [all involved] hang their heads low for acting like the lowest of the low. It is the city's taxpayers and residents that are suffering because of this foolishness. — camaris
Why is anyone surprised? A woman is trying to infiltrate the good ol' boys club. She's going to have to pay for her transgressions. — Dixie Cat
If the city council doesn't like it, they should let the people decide. Put an admendment to the city charter on the ballot. — IJS
In the South everything is political except politics, those are personal. — Anonymous
About a month ago, Marietta Mayor Steve Tumlin suggested the idea of building a parking deck next to the railroad tracks and the Kennesaw House. On May 13, the City Council approved “an exploratory inquiry.” Presently, the free parking lot on North Marietta Parkway has a two-hour limit.
No actual plans have been drawn up or costs determined, said city spokeswoman Lindsey Wiles.
“The initial thought was that the city could purchase the Kennesaw House from the Downtown Marietta Development Authority and then they could finance the construction of the deck. The mayor was also hoping to provide office space on the bottom for nonprofits with a green space at the top,” Wiles added.
The mayor’s plan includes moving the antebellum Root House museum for the third time from its present location on Lemon Street at North Marietta Parkway next to the new parking deck. In that way, the city’s historical attractions would be centralized, including the Marietta Museum of History, the Marietta Welcome Center and the Gone with the Wind Museum.
What do you think of the proposed parking deck? Would it be an eyesore or an enhancement? Or do you have suggestions for a better location for more Marietta Square parking?
We want to hear from you. Send comments to communitynews@ajc.com.
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