Alpharetta Council Proclaims and Rages

publication date: May 12, 2008

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author/source: Jonathan Copsey / STAFF

By Jonathan Copsey / STAFF

Mayor Arthur Letchas presented a proclamation commending the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra preceding the opening of the Verizon Amphitheatre. To receive the proclamation were (from left) Brandon Beach, Mike Nixon and Penn Hodge.

Things got a little heated at the usually docile Alpharetta City Council meeting last Monday, and it happened during the public remarks portion of the meeting.

The issue that sparked the spirited exchange was a Recreation and Parks Commission minutes report that implied that the commission members were in favor of disbanding several teams of the Ambush youth soccer program.

The emotional public outcry was fueled by the commission’s assertion that it would not rule on cutting teams until their March 22, 2009 meeting, which would be only a few weeks before next year’s try-outs. The program plays its games on tax payer supported fields--even though their constituents fall short of the 40 percent residency requirement.

Mayor Arthur Letchas made a clear statement before the first speaker came up saying that it was the duty of the Recreation Commission – and not the Council – to act on the concerns of the residents on this issue and that the Council would not be acting or voting on the issue.

“The unintended impacts, the unintended consequences of the proposal that are happening right now are what are killing the program,” said resident Don Wood. “One of the elite programs of the country is being reduced to a shell. [The U9 team] has worked their way up to number one in the state. Their team goes away next year because of this proposal because their trainer is leaving. Why is the trainer leaving? Because he has a U12 team and that is going to be broken up next year. The timing of the proposal came up within a month of tryouts for next year. The trainers will not stay with such a degree of uncertainty. They are leaving and that is a fact. We have lost the number one U12 team, the number one U11 and now the number one U9 team. If it hangs until March 22, it won’t matter what they [the Recreation commission] decide, because we won’t have a program.”

Two-term Councilman Doug DeRito spoke up on behalf of the citizens, asking that the Council agree to look into the issue and commit to the entire roster of teams until next year, thus calming the rumor mill.

“It may be a financial impact, but we can think this through and these kids can play,” he said.

The rest of the Council disagreed. Councilman D.C. Aiken made a clear warning to the speakers: “You need to watch it. You need to look at that 40 percent.” He added that only six citizens out of three teams worth of kids came out to speak, suggesting that the other children who come from other areas were recruited.

DeRito would not let the issue rest, and it took Mayor Letchas’ firm command that the Council would not have anything to do with the issue to quiet the debate. The best he offered was to ask the Recreation Commission to move its meeting up, thus addressing the problems faster than it otherwise would have.

The Commission rescheduled its meeting to March 12, 2009, a whopping 10 days earlier then scheduled previously.

Back to Business
Public Safety Director Gary George requested authorization of a contract with Wright Line for office furniture in the new public safety command and control center. The contract called for special chairs and desks for those who will man the 911 emergency call stations, to the tune of more than $67,000. Wright currently holds the State contract for such items.

While George and Paine both noted that the price tag was below what had been budgeted, the other council members were not impressed, especially Aiken. 

“$67,000 is two police cars. Do we need two police cars or do we need a keyboard that raises?” he said, adding, “I’m sure the fire department would love some Craftmatic beds, but we’re not going to buy them.”

DeRito was a little more diplomatic when he added, “We’re looking forward to some tough times, and we’re going to have to say no to some of these things.” The Alpharetta Public Safety Department frequently requests new equipment.

“This was approved by everybody,” said Letchas, apparently getting tired of the discussion. The original budget, which passed in the midyear budget session had allocated $100,000 for furniture.

Finally, Councilman David Belle Isle motioned to table the request to see other bids and for continued discussion. Mayor Letchas and Paine voted against the motion, but the other Council members voted for it. It passed 4-2.

• An ordinance specifying what constitutes a ticket scalper was passed with Belle Isle making the motion to pass. It passed unanimously.

• Second was an ordinance regarding the consumption of alcohol in public places and defining what constituted drunk and disorderly conduct, effectively restricting tailgating. It passed unanimously after a motion from Paine.

• Dr. John Moskaluk, director of public works, then presented an item about an annual pavement marking contract. This was a contract renewal for the company that currently paints the street markings. Councilman John Monson made a motion, and it passed unanimously.

• George presented the final agenda items of the night. A contract to supply the police and fire uniforms was awarded to Red the Uniform Tailor, of Marietta, with a contract for tactical gear being divided between two other companies. Paine made a motion and it passed unanimously.

Proclamations
The meeting began with the usual array of proclamations given by Letchas. First to receive recognition was the employee of the quarter, Nathaniel Reiss. Reiss, who works in information technology, was nominated based on his work with software to help the court system track payments and bonds of defendants.

National Public Works Week was the subject of the next proclamation, with Moskaluk accepting a plaque from the city. Thirdly, the sponsors of the Taste of Alpharetta were recognized and given a plaque. They included Bowen Family Homes, Comcast, Nalley Automotive and Publix supermarkets.

Finally, a proclamation was given recognizing and commending the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on the opening of the Verizon Amphitheatre, which happened last weekend. The ASO is the largest cultural organization in the Southeast and is now the only orchestra to have its own concert hall and two major amphitheatres. A round of applause erupted in the room as the proclamation was read.