Brookhaven City Council will meet during the first few minutes of the day Monday, Dec. 17, in order to officially open the new city for business.
Council members are scheduled to meet at 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, and conduct some final business. The council will then adjourn and start a new meeting shortly after midnight Sunday in order to start the new city, which is set by law to begin Dec. 17, council members said during a special called meeting Friday, Dec. 14.
The meetings will be held at St. Martin’s Episcopal School, 3110-A Ashford Dunwoody Road, and will include some special events, such as a presentation of the colors by the Cross Keys High School color guard, council members said.
City officials also plan to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new city office space on Monday, Dec. 17, at about 2 p.m. The city has leased office space at the Ashford Center North 200 office building in Dunwoody.
“It’s not pretentious. It’s not a Taj Mahal,” Mayor J. Max Davis said. “But it’s what we need and it’s very nice. … We’d all love to have our first temporary city hall in Brookhaven, but I’m very happy with what we have.”
District 2 Councilman Jim Eyre said residents had asked why the new city officials would not be in Brookhaven. “It’s simply because we sign the lease and Friday and we turn on the lights on Monday,” he said. “That’s unusual for a commercial office lease.… The next step is a semi-permanent location within the city of Brookhaven.”
The city now also has a phone number, Davis said. It is 404-637-0500.
During its meeting Dec. 14, the council approved recommendations from the Governor’s Commission for Brookhaven that Jacobs, an engineering company, be contracted to provide the city with municipal court services and communications and community engagement services.
The council also appointed J.D. Clockadale, a member of the governor’s commission, to serve as interim assistant city manager. Earlier in the week, the council named Marie Garrett interim city manager.