Hiram City Council Appoints Ethics Committee

The Hiram City Council held a special called meeting Tuesday night, with the only item on the agenda being the appointment of an ethics committee as called for in two ordinances passed by the city in December.

Both ordinances are in connection with the qualifying process guidelines mandated by the Georgia Municipal Association’s established Certified City of Ethics Program.

“Because this was done under my administration, I felt very strongly that this should be set up,” Mayor Carmen Rollins said.

According to the GMA guidelines, one appointee to the committee is chosen by the mayor, one is chosen by the council and a third person is approved by the mayor and a majority of the council.

In addition to a list of criteria required to serve on the committee, appointees must be citizens of Hiram, serve a two-year term, and are not compensated.

Rollins named Bob Bookout, and recommended Attorney Randall Williams, who the council voted in favor of. The third member to the committee, chosen by the council and also voted in favor of was Helene M. FitzGerald.

Rollins also urged the council to consider an alternate in case any of the appointees would need to be replaced. Mayor Pro Tem Jack Paris responded that no alternate had yet been considered, but could be during the council’s July meeting.

Tuesday's action is set to be the final task completed by Rollins as mayor. The timing for Tuesday’s meeting to appoint an ethics committee coincided with the announcement a week ago by Rollins that she would resign as of July 1, but did not tie-in directly with last week’s event, though Rollins did cite at that time some conflict of interest issues that had played into her decision to step down as the city’s mayor.

In the future, Tuesday’s newly appointed committee members could be called upon in their role to resolve conflict of interest issues involving city officials.

Because the city is in an election year, a special election is not required to replace Rollins. Who may take over as mayor next year is uncertain.

Qualifying for November’s election is in August. Paris said he is considering whether he will run for mayor, but as yet has made no decision.

The Hiram City Council's next regular meeting is on Tuesday, July 12.