Flowery Branch council postpones meeting minutes

FLOWERY BRANCH - Flowery Branch City Council voted Wednesday to hold off approving some contentious meeting minutes because of what one council member said were erroneous, even potentially libelous, statements recorded in them.

Those statements are contained in the Feb. 6 minutes; the day the council approved a $300,000 investment purchase deal of Main Street property.

Freshman Councilman Craig Lutz said the purchase violated the city charter. Chris Fetterman, also newly elected, suggested leasing Main Street property for new administrative offices was a political favor to a developer.

Councilman Allen Bryans said in the minutes he wants it clear what is opinion and what is fact.

"Any statement you make I think it's either got to be opinion or it's got to be a fact, one or the other," Bryans said.

Bryans said the city attorney gave the council the go-ahead for the property sale and there was no favoritism motive behind the property lease.

Fetterman made the motion to postpone the vote on the Feb. 6 minutes until the next council meeting on March 19th and Lutz opposed it; he made the original motion to approve the minutes.

Lutz and Fetterman also took issue with a change in recording meeting minutes. Lutz said he wants summary minutes, including all council comments.
Bryans favors recording action minutes, which include voting and council comments on the voting session.

NO EVENING COUNCIL MEETINGS

City Council hung on to its 9:30 a.m. Wednesday meeting time as part of an ordinance it passed 3-2 on setting meeting days and times.

Fetterman and Lutz were opposed, with Lutz arguing that evening meetings are more available to the citizens.

"This still codifies the meeting times for 9:30 in the morning on Wednesdays and I don't believe that's what the public wants," Lutz said.

Lutz proposed holding council meetings at 6 p.m. instead of 9:30 a.m.

DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES RULES

Door-to-door salespeople would come under city regulations under an ordinance that got first reading approval from City Council.

Councilman Craig Lutz said he proposed the ordinance as a safeguard.

"People who have come and bought things feel like they haven't gotten the value they were supposed to, especially from these door to door type sales people, people selling pine straw, and people selling paint and siding," Lutz said. "You want to enjoy the peaceful use of your house and it's hard to when the door bell keeps ringing."

Lutz added the ordinance is also aimed at preventing potential burglaries. Anyone selling door to door would be required to buy a permit from the clerk's office to be worn like an I.D. tag.

They would also undergo a police background check before they be allowed to go out on the street.

The sales people would have to honor 'No Solicitation' signs posted at homes. Non-profit groups, such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, would be exempt.