Mableton council approves grant-writing contract, composting pilot, interim comp plan, election agreement and staffing changes

Mableton City Council on March 26 approved a package of agreements and resolutions intended to accelerate city services and staffing as the newly incorporated city moves through its transition period.

The council voted to: approve a 12-month agreement with Fund It Forward for grant-writing services; adopt a memorandum of understanding with FoodWell Alliance, Beyond 0 Waste and Compost Cowboys to host a two-year pilot community composting program; adopt Cobb County’s 2040 comprehensive plan as Mableton’s interim plan while the city completes its own Mableton 2045 plan; authorize the mayor to execute an agreement with the Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration for administration of the November 4, 2025 general election (and a possible December 5, 2025 runoff); and approve a resolution amending the city’s pay and classification plan to add planning and building-inspection capacity.

Why it matters: the measures are intended to bring capacity and services online—grant revenue-seeking, neighborhood sustainability programs, meeting state planning requirements, and strengthening permitting and inspections—without pausing the city’s ongoing comprehensive-planning process.

Grant-writing contract

Council approved a 12-month engagement with Fund It Forward to pursue federal, state and private grant opportunities. Sustainability, Waste and Beautification Director Emily Groth described the arrangement as “a monthly flat fee for a 12-month term for an experienced grant writer,” and said the firm has worked with Norcross, Powder Springs and South Fulton. The contract amount was not read aloud during the meeting; council members said the figure is a public record and can be reviewed in the agenda packet.

Community composting pilot

The council approved a memorandum of understanding to join a regional community-composting pilot led by FoodWell Alliance, with operational and educational partners Beyond 0 Waste and Compost Cowboys. The two-year pilot will be free to the city and initially provide one drop-off host site at 6116 Mableton Parkway with one to two 65-gallon curbside-style bins, education sessions and participant sign-ups. Emily Groth said participants will complete a short quiz and receive a combination code to unlock the bin.

Interim comprehensive plan

By resolution the council adopted the Cobb County 2040 comprehensive plan as Mableton’s interim plan to satisfy Department of Community Affairs (DCA) requirements while the city finalizes its own Mableton 2045 plan. Xavier Ross, the city’s special projects manager, told the council the adoption is a legal “placeholder” that lets Mableton remain eligible for certain state grant programs while the city completes its public-engagement and adoption steps for its own plan.

Election services agreement

Council authorized the mayor to execute a substantial-form agreement with Cobb County for administration of the November 4, 2025 general election and any subsequent runoff on December 5, 2025. The city attorney explained the county will administer planning, ballot layout, staffing, absentee/provisional ballots and other routine election services; there is no additional cost for the general election, but runoff costs were not budgeted and would be assessed to the city based on precincts involved. The agreement includes standard indemnity language limited by an exception for gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Pay and classification amendments

The council approved an amendment to the pay and classification plan to add staffing capacity in community development and inspections. The city manager described a package to add four net new positions, reclassify one building inspector to a supervisor role, and create a deputy director of community development to establish a clearer career path and redundancy for inspections and planning as workload grows.

Votes at a glance

- Fund It Forward grant-writing agreement — outcome: approved; motion and second not specified in the public record; contract amount: not specified (public record). - MOU with FoodWell Alliance / Beyond 0 Waste / Compost Cowboys (two-year pilot composting) — outcome: approved; host site: 6116 Mableton Parkway; program free to city for pilot. - Resolution adopting Cobb County 2040 plan as interim Mableton plan — outcome: approved; purpose: meet DCA May 30 requirement while Mableton 2045 is finalized. - Agreement with Cobb County Board of Elections for Nov. 4, 2025 election (and Dec. 5 runoff if needed) — outcome: approved; general election cost: none beyond usual county allocation; runoff costs: will be assessed to city based on precincts. - Resolution amending pay and classification plan (planning/building additions) — outcome: approved; adds four net new positions and a deputy director/supervisor reclassification.

What the council did not state or did not resolve

- Contract amounts and some detailed budgetary impacts were not read into the record; council members said those figures are available in the public agenda packet. - The Mableton 2045 comprehensive plan process will continue; adopting the county plan is a temporary measure and does not replace the city’s public hearings and final adoption steps.

Next steps

Staff will finalize contract paperwork and MOUs, post any public records (including contract amounts) to the city’s records, begin outreach for the composting pilot sign-ups and continue work on the Mableton 2045 plan and the staffing transitions in community development.