NPU-A elects officers … almost
The main item on the Neighborhood Planning Unit A Dec. 1 meeting agenda was the election of officers for 2010, a seemingly uncontroversial vote that ended up, naturally, with a problem.
During the vote, Ray Mock was re-elected chairman for the new term, which begins in January. But a week later it was discovered he is ineligible to serve, since he lives on Peachtree Road in NPU-B, not in NPU-A territory. Therefore, there will have to be a new vote for chair at the next meeting in January.
The other officers for 2010 are vice chairman Kirk Oppenlander, vice chair legal Henry Feinstein, vice chair planning and zoning Brinkley Dickerson, vice chair at-large Jimmy Nobles and recording secretary Linda Trower. One of these officers could become chairman, which would result in the need for an election for another post. NPU-A meets the first Tuesday of every month at the Atlanta Speech School.
Last Call vote put on hold by city committee
The Atlanta City Council’s Finance/Executive Committee decided Dec. 2 to hold a resolution to study the economic benefits of extending hours for serving liquor from 2:30 to 4 a.m. That means the council will not vote on the final study before year’s end. Mayor Shirley Franklin, Council President Lisa Borders and Finance/Executive Committee chairman Howard Shook have opposed the idea, citing strain on police.
Pennington, Dreher among city retirements
Several members of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin’s senior team have announced their resignations in preparation for the transition to the new administration in January. That included the resignations of Police Chief Richard Pennington and Deputy Chief Richard Dreher. Benita C. Ransom, the commissioner of human resources is retiring on Dec, 9 and Sherri Dickerson, senior HR administrator has been appointed acting commissioner. Chief Financial Officer Jim Glass has resigned and current budget chief, Roosevelt Council Jr., has been appointed acting CFO.
Others who have resigned or are retiring include: Gregory J. Giornelli, chief operating officer; Gregory Pridgeon, chief of staff; Joe Basista, commissioner of Public Works; Dianne Harnell-Cohen, commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs; David Edwards, the mayor’s policy advisor; Lisa Gordon, enterprise asset management director; Berverly Isom, communications director, and Bobbie Porche, director of the Office of Constituent Services.