Committee on Council confirms several board appointments, holds one nominee

Vice Chair Liliana Bakhtiari presided over the Committee on Council meeting that approved multiple appointments to city boards and commissions and held one nomination for the Office of Inspector General.

The committee approved two items taken as a block: the appointment of James Cheeks to the Zoning Review Board for a two‑year term and Mayor Andre Dickens’ appointment of Cyril Turner to serve as commissioner of the Department of Public Works for the City of Atlanta. Vice Chair Liliana Bakhtiari moved to approve the block and Council Member Ramos seconded; the clerk recorded 4 yeas, 0 nays and the items were approved.

The committee also considered three additional nominations. Drew Williamson, who identified himself as an attorney with Kilpatrick Townsend, introduced himself and said he was honored to be nominated to the Ethics Board and emphasized the importance of "ethical leadership" and safeguards to "ensure the integrity of our government employees and officials," remarks he made while seeking the appointment. Council Member Amos seconded the approval motion; Councilor Winston seconded the final motion to approve Williamson. The clerk recorded 4 yeas, 0 nays and the resolution appointing Williamson as the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce representative to the Ethics Board for a three‑year term was approved.

Deborah Snell was nominated to the Human Relations Commission for a three‑year term. Snell told the committee she had been active in the community, noted prior commission inactivity following the COVID‑19 pandemic and said she was interested in helping the commission "move forward." A motion to approve was seconded by Councilwoman Winston; the vote was recorded as 5 ayes, 0 nays and the appointment was confirmed.

A separate resolution to appoint Todd Gray to the governing board of the Office of Inspector General as a representative of the Atlanta Business League for a three‑year term was before the committee but Gray was not present. The committee voted to hold that item in committee and to ensure Mr. Gray is notified to attend the next meeting; the motion to hold was seconded by Council Member Wyckoff and recorded as 5 yeas, 0 nays.

Several motions and votes during the meeting were brief and procedural. The committee opened and closed votes for agenda adoption and minute approval at the start of the session. No public commentators were registered for this meeting and the nominations generated limited public discussion beyond the nominees’ brief remarks.

The appointments approved at this meeting take effect as stated in the individual resolutions and for the terms specified in each item. The Todd Gray nomination will return to committee when the nominee attends or otherwise responds to the committee’s request for presence.