Snellville votes down ethics ordinance

The Snellville City Council, by a 3-2 vote, on Monday night rejected an ethics ordinance months in the making. Proponents of the 19-page legislation, including Councilwoman Kelly Kautz, argued the local law would make elected officials more accountable to the people they serve, establishing a board to review citizen complaints. But opponents, including Councilman Tod Warner, called the law "heavy-handed" and would keep residents from entering public service. Currently, Snellville has no ethics ordinance, though the city's charter addresses conflicts of interest among elected officials.