Municipal Judge Report on Roswell Council Agenda

A report laying out options for the future of Roswell's Municipal Court Judge will be presented at the Roswell Mayor & Council work session Monday. 

The work session (full agenda packet here) begins at 5:30 p.m. in Room 220 of City Hall, 38 Hill Street, followed by a regular business meeting at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers. 

The report, compiled by Ted Baggett of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia, was commissioned by the Mayor & Council last fall following the resignation of longtime city judge Maurice Hilliard. 

Roswell and Atlanta are the only cities in Georgia that elect municipal judges. Alpharetta switched from an elected to an appointed system in 2011, and some Roswell council members have expressed an interest in doing the same, which would require a change in the city charter.

The council has approved a special city judge election for May if it decides not to switch. On Monday's regular council agenda is an action item that would set qualifying fees for the special election.

Baggett concluded in his report (pp. 3-10 at this link) that "local expert experience all weigh towards appointing rather than electing municipal court judges."

However, he said, if "appointed judges become subject to political interference by the city government, they will not be fulfilling the proper role of the judicial branch in serving the public."

Also at Monday's business meeting is the first reading of an ordinance to create a Unified Development Code map (pp. 40-42). This is part of the continuing process of adopting the UDC. 

A special called work session has been scheduled for Wednesday, and a second public design guidelines workshop has been added for Feb. 5. 

Another item for action (pp. 31-40) would prohibit the Mayor & Council from giving direction to city employees, and does not allow them to “reprimand, rebuke, reproof or scold” staff.

Mayor Jere Wood explained the reasons for wanting a rules of conduct policy with the Roswell Neighbor, saying the intent is to "foster an environment of civility and effectiveness."

Here's a quick summary of the other items on Monday's regular meeting agenda.