During a brief specially called meeting, the Brookhaven City Council on Jan. 5 swore in recently reelected council members Jennifer Owens and John Funny, and renewed contracts for key personnel, including city manager Christian Sigman and Jeremy Berry.
After the meeting, supporters joined the councilors for a reception.
Owens, who is serving her second term on the council as the District 2 representative, said being in that position “is more than a title to me.”
“I’m eternally grateful that my children get to grow up in a community like this,” she said.
She complimented her colleagues on the panel, saying that they have no egos or personal agendas, and work for the good of the city.
Funny, who serves District 4, thanked the city staff, community leaders, and his fellow councilors for supporting the city through its years of growth.
“Your confidence is something I don’t take lightly,” Funny said. “Our shared commitment to the city is what unites us.”
Both Owens and Funny highlighted significant accomplishments during their first terms, including updating ethics laws, increasing pedestrian safety, redeveloping Corporate Square, improving Buford Highway, and building affordable housing within the city.
“About 80 percent of new and redevelopment will occur in District 4 in the next 10 years,” Funny said.
In addition, the council renewed the contracts for city manager Christian Sigman, city attorney Jeremy Berry, city clerk Sandra Bryant, Laura Stevenson as senior judge for the Brookhaven Municipal Court Bryan C. Ramos as chief judge for the Brookhaven Municipal Court, Schwarz Law Firm, LLC for solicitor, Michael F. Johnston, CPA, CIA as Internal Auditor for the city.
The council will resume the business of the city at its Jan. 13 meeting.