In response to repeated requests from Marietta citizen Larry Wills, the Marietta City Council decided 6-0 on March 11 not to include citizen comments in the City Council minutes - at least not at this time.
Ward 7 Councilman Joseph R. Goldstein said he thought it was “a good thing to at least give people an idea of what was talked about” by including “small snippets” of citizen comments in the Marietta City Council minutes.
Mayor Steve Tumlin said, “If you want to bring that to JL (the Council’s Judicial/Legislative Committee), that would be fine.”
Regarding the Feb. 12 minutes, “was there anything handed in (by Wills) that we would need to add to the minutes?” Goldstein added.
Requesting of the mayor to speak, Marietta City Attorney Doug Haynie said, “These minutes belong to the Mayor and City Council. They do not belong to the public. The city clerk is correctly recording what is done.
“If a citizen brings a written document to you, that does not go in the minutes. If you want to send this back to JL to amend that, you would have that right,” Haynie said.
“What is being requested of you tonight - to add things from the public into the minutes - is not correct. I would refer you to the Robert’s Rules of Order and to Georgia law,” Haynie added before the vote.
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