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Council appoints Councilman Waters to Visit Marietta board; attorney clarifies open-records timing for candidate materials
Summary
After suspending the rules, the council added a Visit Marietta appointment to the agenda and approved the substitute motion selecting Councilman Waters as the council's representative to the Visit Marietta Board. The city attorney explained when candidate materials trigger open-records disclosure.
The Marietta City Council added and filled the council’s periodic appointment to the Visit Marietta Board of Directors, approving a substitute motion to select Councilman Waters as the council’s representative.
A council member explained that Visit Marietta — formerly the Marietta Visitors Bureau — administers tourism grants funded by hotel-motel and auto rental taxes, leases office space at the old train depot and passes grant funds through under state requirements. The council member said the board is nonprofit and that the council historically appoints one council member under bylaws established in the 1980s. "Visit Marietta ... is the organization ... for our tourism grants," the council member said.
After discussion about transition options and whether the current representative would continue to assist, a substitute motion to appoint Councilman Waters was made, seconded and approved; the clerk announced, "Motion carries and welcome board." Members thanked Mr. Gilsey for his service and said he would continue to attend meetings as needed.
The city attorney clarified a records question raised during the appointment conversation, cautioning that disclosure timing for candidate materials is governed by open-records rules rather than the open-meetings provision. He said materials that constitute records must be made available 14 days ahead, but that simply listing names under consideration does not trigger that requirement.
Why it matters: The Visit Marietta board helps allocate tourism-related grant dollars and administers events and marketing that affect local businesses and hospitality revenue. Council-appointed representation can raise potential recusal needs for members when tourism contracts come before the council.
Next steps: The appointed councilor is scheduled to attend the next Visit Marietta meeting; council members offered to attend the first meeting to onboard the new representative. The attorney advised staff on records timing but did not identify specific materials that must be produced at this meeting.
