At a special called meeting on Oct. 7, members of the Tucker City Council voted to non-renew City Manager John McHenry’s employment agreement in order to renegotiate the agreement.
During Wednesday’s brief meeting, Mayor Anne Lerner addressed online speculation about the need to call for the meeting, saying it was “not a big shakeup.”
“This is good business reviewing deadlines, looking at current needs, and taking action instead of letting things linger,” she said.
The council members voted to non-renew McHenry’s agreement, which does not terminate or change the current agreement before the end of the term in January 2027. With the non-renewal, he and city representatives can negotiate a new agreement that reflects the city’s needs and priorities. Lerner said the renegotiation will establish a new term that aligns with the city’s fiscal year, which runs from July to June.
Members of the city council also voted to non-renew and terminate, respectively, agreements with Connect South and Jacobs Project Management Co. Sonja Szubski, Tucker’s Communications Director, told Rough Draft that these actions were considered in order to consolidate services within the city.
In their place, a contract with Civic Forward Strategies as the city’s governmental affairs firm was approved by the council members. Civic Forward Strategies will provide proactive governmental affairs services at the state, regional, and county levels. The firm’s founder and principal, Tom Gehl, will bring 22 years of experience directing governmental relations on behalf of Georgia’s municipal governments to Tucker.
“I think the other thing that’s been really beneficial from [Gehl’s] work is because of that experience with Georgia Municipal Association, he has really helped us align not just with what we as the city need and want, but understanding what other cities across the state are advocating for,” Council Member Alexis Weaver said, “so that we are able to sort of tie into those initiatives and efforts in a more streamlined and effective way.”
