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East Point council adopts standard onboarding program, sets inaugural session by April 1
Summary
Council adopted a resolution to standardize onboarding/orientation for newly elected officials, requiring the program within 60 days of new terms and directing the inaugural 2026 onboarding be held by April 1; the measure authorizes the city manager to allocate funds subject to budget rules.
The East Point City Council voted Jan. 20 to adopt a resolution creating a standardized onboarding and orientation program for newly elected officials, with a timing requirement and a budget-direction clause.
Councilwoman Starr Cummings, who sponsored the proposal, said the program is intended to provide “continuity, clarity and collaboration” and to preserve institutional knowledge. "Structured onboarding and continuing education are recognized best practices that strengthen governance, improve compliance, and build trust with the public," she told colleagues during debate.
After discussion about sequencing with state-mandated training, councilmembers approved an amendment specifying that the onboarding program be delivered within 60 days after newly elected officials begin their terms. Because of scheduling constraints in the earliest implementation year, the council added that the inaugural onboarding for calendar year 2026 must occur by April 1, 2026.
The resolution assigns coordination responsibility to the city clerk and authorizes the city manager to allocate funds, subject to budget availability and procurement rules. Council members said the program should draw on state resources where useful but include East Point–specific orientation, covering the charter, roles and responsibilities, committee processes, financial oversight and city operations.
Councilman Atkins, who offered a friendly amendment to have the city manager be the official implementer of the funding language, said the change was intended to make the budget process efficient while keeping final spending decisions in the council’s hands. Council members asked the city manager to report back with a recommended budget line for the program during the normal budget calendar.
What happens next: the clerk and city manager will coordinate implementation and return a recommended budget allocation and schedule; the council set April 1, 2026 as the target date for the inaugural session.
