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Council discusses naming public facilities, then moves into closed session for legal matters
Summary
Council members debated naming the recreation center and the new Public Safety Building for long‑serving officials and establishing a memorial for a fallen officer; multiple members expressed concerns about naming buildings after living people. The meeting concluded with a motion to enter closed session under OCGA for legal matters and a later ratification motion executed in open session.
Council members spent a significant portion of the Oct. 13 work session discussing whether to honor long‑serving public servants by naming city facilities and establishing a memorial.
An unidentified council member proposed recognizing Councilmember Farris and Chief Westenberger for 25 years of service by naming the Kennesaw Recreation Center after Councilmember Farris, naming the new Public Safety Building after the police chief once completed, and establishing a public‑safety memorial for a fallen officer. The speaker said the idea was intended to honor years of dedication.
Several council members expressed reservations about naming whole buildings for living people. One member noted an unwritten practice against naming buildings for living individuals and suggested alternatives such as interior dedications, plaques or donor‑style recognition. Another member cautioned that bringing the matter to a public vote could humiliate the honorees if the naming failed to pass.
Council members suggested staff and interested council members hold sidebar discussions to develop options, and the mayor encouraged individual conversations before returning the matter for a formal decision. Council did not take a final vote on naming during the work session.
Later the council moved to enter closed session to discuss legal matters under the Georgia Open Meetings Act. Speaker 14 moved to enter closed session citing OCGA 50‑14‑2 and 50‑14‑3(b); the motion was seconded and the council proceeded. After the closed session, Speaker 14 moved in open session that the body direct the presiding officer to execute an affidavit in compliance with OCGA 50‑14‑4 and to ratify actions taken in closed session; the motion was seconded and recorded as carried in the transcript.
