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Roswell council approves consent agenda, ethics recertification and Farmers Market MOU; public commenter criticizes bond projects
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Summary
At its April 13 meeting the Roswell City Council unanimously approved the consent agenda, adopted a resolution to seek recertification in the Georgia Municipal Association ethics program, approved an MOU with the Roswell Farmers' Market and scheduled a closed session for April 27; public commenter Jason Yell sharply criticized recent bond-funded projects and staff performance.
The Roswell City Council unanimously approved the consent agenda and several city attorney items at its April 13 meeting, including a resolution to apply for recertification in the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Certified City of Ethics program and a memorandum of understanding with the Roswell Farmers' Market.
Public commenter Jason Yell used his time during the consent-agenda period to criticize the city's bond program and recent capital projects, questioning a park project he said had a $600,000 price tag and a two-year schedule. "How does it take 2 years to do a grading plan and and throw up a few bathrooms and a batting cage?" Yell said. He called some projects "an abomination" and argued the bond program and staff should be held accountable.
Council members responded: Mayor Pro Tem Scribe Beeson said staff work on behalf of the city and pushed back against personal attacks on employees, calling such comments "classless" and stressing that elected officials, not staff, take ultimate responsibility for project approvals. After discussion, the chair called for a vote and announced the consent agenda passed unanimously.
City attorney Joe Cusack outlined a resolution to submit Roswell's recertification for the GMA Certified City of Ethics program at GMA's annual conference in Savannah. "This resolution upon adoption will be submitted to GMA for the certification at their annual conference," Cusack said, describing the program's five tenants and noting Roswell's history in the program. Councilwoman Scribe Beeson moved the resolution; Councilman Romilly was recorded as second and the council approved it unanimously.
Cusack also presented a memorandum of understanding between the City of Roswell and the Roswell Farmers' Market formalizing market dates and operational responsibilities. The MOU requires a facilities person and an off-duty Roswell police officer to be present at market events; according to Cusack, those positions "will be paid directly from the farmers market by the farmers market" and the city will not take a fee. Council member Christine Hall moved approval; Council member Alan Sells seconded, and the item passed unanimously. Hall thanked Christina DeVictor and staff for rebuilding the market at City Hall and encouraged residents to attend (the market's start was described in the meeting as occurring on the coming Saturday, "the nineteenth," with hours mentioned as 8 a.m. to noon).
Finally, Cusack recommended the council go into a closed session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 27, 2026, to discuss personnel, litigation and/or real estate; the council approved scheduling that session unanimously.
All votes reported at the meeting were recorded as unanimous; no roll-call tallies were read aloud during the meeting minutes provided.
