Roswell’s new Downtown Development Authority held its first official meeting on Tuesday afternoon and the group got along smashingly.

There wasn’t a harsh word spoken, as the group elected Monica Hagewood to be chairwoman. Ralph Mills was selected vice chairman. David Lyon was designated secretary and David Schmit treasurer. Other DDA members are Lonnie Mimms, Charles McMillan and Richard Hessler. Hessler was out of town on business.

The group decided to wait until at least their next meeting to formalize the DDA bylaws.

Hagewood, a Roswell commercial real estate advisor, was diplomatic.

“We’re just all excited to be a part of the Downtown Development Authority and to be a part of Roswell’s successful future,” she said.

The seven-member DDA was selected by the city council from a group of about 60 applicants. Mayor Jere Wood, Councilmember Jerry Orlans and Councilmember Nancy Diamond all observed at least some of the DDA’s first meeting Tuesday.

“They take a broad view of the city,” explained Diamond. “They look at what the needs are. They see what their vision is for what can happen.”

The DDA makes recommendations and can even take some actions regarding parts of the city’s commercial corridors, like Atlanta Street, Canton Street, Alpharetta Highway and Holcomb Bridge Road.

The new authority didn’t do much other than elect its officers at Tuesday's meeting; but who could blame them. They had just finished eight hours of training, which is required of any authority under Georgia law. So their first official meeting, which was held at Roswell River Landing, only lasted about 30 minutes.

The DDA did make the decision to hold meetings on the first Tuesday of each month from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at Roswell City Hall. Their next meeting will be March 6. Their second meeting will be changed to April 10, because of the spring break.