Blue Ridge council adopts ethics and civility resolutions, plans vote on code of ethics ordinance

The Blue Ridge City Council voted to approve two resolutions committing the city to formal ethics and civility standards and moved an accompanying ordinance toward a future vote.

Resolution BR2026-02, pledging to practice and promote ethics and to seek certification from the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), was approved by voice vote; councilmembers then signed the document. The council also approved Resolution BR2026-03, a pledge to practice and promote civility and to seek GMA certification as a city of civility.

City attorney Chuck Connelly explained that a separate ordinance (BR2026-1) will establish a code of ethics by creating a new chapter in the municipal code, enumerating 16 prohibitions, addressing conflicts of interest and establishing a complaint and appeals process. He told the council that, under the city charter, an ordinance requires a second reading before adoption and that councilmembers can propose amendments before the final vote.

"It would create a board of ethics to consider ethics complaints," Connelly said, noting that the council could decide whether to use a board or an alternative complaint-review mechanism.

During public comment, Troy Sherburn, president of the Brewers Business Association, praised the council's steps on ethics and civility and said clear rules and predictable processes help businesses and investors plan and operate.

The council signed the resolutions at the meeting. The code-of-ethics ordinance will return as a voting item at a future meeting after members have had time to provide feedback and consider amendments.