College Park has had a turbulent year with unexpected twists and turns that included a censure of the mayor and multiple lawsuits.
Mayor Bianca Motley Broom recently discussed the resiliency of the city, its residents and other topics with the Voices of College Park podcast.
“This year has challenged us,” Motley Broom said.
She added that recent actions in city government have revealed how important it is for residents to be engaged in what’s happening at city hall.
“Knowing what’s going on in your local government… it takes effort by people, and if you aren’t paying attention, things can change very quickly,” the mayor said.
Residents, including Motley Broom, have filed dozens of complaints to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office regarding possible open meetings violations by College Park City Council.
Last January, city council approved ordinances that limit the mayor’s ability to speak during debates on agenda items and censured Motley Broom during the summer over her persistence in getting clarity on an issue.
The mayor filed a lawsuit against College Park as a result of the ordinance change.
The city is the subject of another lawsuit by College Park and South Fulton residents after approving a rezoning without public notice that allows for a lithium-ion battery energy storage facility to be located in a neighborhood of older longtime residents.
“Just about everything we do is subject to public disclosure,” Motley Broom said. “I don’t think there should be any mystery as to how we are going through our process.”
Shortcuts, such as a December change to the alcohol ordinance, could lead people to wonder if something unethical is happening out of public view, she said.
On Dec. 2, city council approved a change to the alcohol ordinance and the appeal process for business owners whose alcohol license was denied or revoked.
Motley Broom has said it would’ve been appropriate to delay voting on the change until January because documents were not made available to the public before the council meeting.
The mayor and council barely had time to “digest” the information before the meeting, she added.
“I don’t think that’s a really great way to do policy,” she said.
