By Helen Borland / Staff

On the fifth Monday of a month, which happens once quarterly, the City Council has “open microphone” for citizens. On November 30, two citizens came to the City Council meeting with concerns that they hoped the council would hear and address.

The first was the Right Rev. Gregory Carl Davis. Davis informed the council that twice in recent months he was walking on sidewalks in public parks after dark, on his way home after prayer services at local churches. He was stopped and questioned by Roswell police. Both times he was informed it was illegal to walk in parks after dark and was told he needed to use the street. He was told he would be arrested for being in the park after dark. He countered that the sidewalk was the right of way. The second time he was stopped he was arrested for criminal trespass. To counter this, he filed charges against the arresting officers. In the legal paperwork with his case, the Magistrate Court of Fulton County left off his title; he feels he’s being discriminated against on religious grounds. He asked Mayor Jere Wood to help resolve this issue. Davis’ brother, David Davis, has put up $3,000 bond for him. Since his arrest, Rev. Davis has moved to Jamaica. He is asking for negotiation on the settlement.

Mayor Wood responded that citizens should be able to walk on the sidewalk and, for safety’s sake, should not have to walk in the street after dark. He also added that the council wouldn’t remove his title and would respect it. He told Davis that, after consulting with the city attorney, he would contact him to let him know if the charges could be dismissed.

The second citizen that came forward was Mrs. Carol Clem. She and her husband Richard live two houses away from the City of Roswell’s first planned roundabout. The roundabout will have five legs connecting Grimes Bridge Road, Norcross Street, Warsaw Road, and Melody Lane. Rumors are abundant concerning this project and she wanted to have two main questions cleared up. Mayor Wood asked Mr. Steven Acenbrak, Director of Transportation, to come forward to clear up the misconceptions. The first rumor concerned the sale of two houses at the end of the street in order to make way for the roundabout. Mr. Acenbrak said the city had no intention of acquiring any houses. The second concerned a right of way. Mrs. Clem was told Georgia Power needed an easement on her property for power lines. Mr. Acenbrak said he has no knowledge of Georgia Power plans. Mr. Acenbrak informed Mrs. Clem that she could go to the city’s website, look under Transportation Updates, and she’d be able to read information about the roundabout there.

Lori Henry asked Mr. Acenbrak to get a fact sheet together regarding the roundabout because she had received two phone calls in the past two days about it and it is obvious that there is some misinformation about the project.