By Helen Borland / Staff

Attendees at Monday night’s Roswell Council meeting were greeted in the City Hall rotunda with live music provided by the Centennial Knights Jazz Band, flags from the Roswell HS Color Guard, and a Pledge by Tiger Cub Pack 797, Den 8.

As Mayor Jere Wood says: “It’s all good!”

NATIONAL INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS WEEK

Wood opened the meeting by proclaiming Dec. 7-11 National Inclusive Schools Week. Former councilman and mayoral candidate David Tolleson presented a short video about adults with Down Syndrome.  Debra Currere, co-founder of Great Prospects, Inc., an organization that serves youth and young adults with developmental disabilities, announced her organization opened their doors in Roswell in June.

FIRE ME UP GREEN

Assistant Fire Chief Paul Piccirilli was named the 2009 Outstanding Fire Official for the State of Georgia and Councilman Kent Igleheart informed citizens that Roswell is the first city in the state of Georgia to achieve silver level in its work with environmental issues. 

An award was presented to the City of Roswell by Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Green Communities Certification Program to validate Igleheart’s claim.

BUT ROSWELL IS STILL “UNFRIENDLY”

Jack Smith, the owner of a new business in Roswell called Sharpshooters USA, related the difficult and lengthy process of getting his local venture started.

“Roswell is not business-friendly,” he told the mayor and council.  Through some miscalculations done by the city, Smith is now required to erect a $1,126 fence on his property.  Councilman Rich Dippolito asked that Smith be reimbursed $1,126 in fees he had paid to the City of Roswell.  He also requested that the sign application fee for the new business be waived.  The motion passed unanimously.  Councilwoman Lori Henry recommended that the staff talk with Smith to hear about his experiences so that they don’t happen to future business owners in Roswell. 

MORE PAID TIME OFF FOR ROSWELL STAFF

Except for essential personnel, the day before Christmas and New Year’s Eve were added as two additional paid city holidays and approved by council.

Wood stated that employees who had to work those two days would be awarded compensatory time off. 

The practice has been going on since before Wood became mayor 12 years ago, and Councilman Jerry Orlans suggested that those two days either be in or out of the regular schedule as holidays for employees instead of voting on them every year.

So for Roswell city workers, it is indeed, “all good.”