Monday, March 25, 2024–8:10 p.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

By an 8-0 vote, the Rome City Commission has approved a new code of ethics.

The code would apply to members of the city commission, the city attorney, assistant city attorneys, and municipal judges.

Areas covered by the code include the acceptance of gifts, conflicts of interest, use of public property, coercion by city officials, voting on matters of personal interest, unauthorized use of city staff, restrictions on contracts with former city officials, improper use of official non-public information, unauthorized attempts to bind the city, improper influence in city judicial matters, retaliatory action against city employees, and restrictions on compensation or other employment.

It also outlines investigative procedures, hearings, and penalties.

The commission also approved a code of conduct, but the vote was not unanimous. Commissioner Bill Collins expressed concerns about the wording of the document pertaining to preserving order and decorum during the commission meetings, suggesting it could stifle open debate.

“According to our current statute, all of the commissioners who sit on this board have the same power, I don’t care if you’re the mayor, mayor pro tem, or etc., you are elected by the people,” Collins said. “Every one of us who sits in these chairs are grownups. In fact, that’s the way we are expected to act. When you out your name to this [code of conduct], you are expected to go exactly by these rules. I checked with the attorney, and he said it means if you are really interrupting a meeting or you are really demonstrating in a different manner. But that isn’t what your signing up for.”

Collins did join the other commissioners in voting in favor of a City of Civility resolution.

“The City of Civility is actually a program developed by the Georgia Municipal Association about a year ago,” said Rome City Commissioner Randy Quick. “All of Rome’s surrounding cities have agreed to go by this as a model of public decorum and professionalism.”

The Rome City Commission has approved a recommendation from the Alcohol Control Commission to levy a $2,000 fine and a 60-day suspension of the package license at Mi Tienda Food Mart at 611 Shorter Avenue.

The business was called before the ACC last week to answer to an allegation of alcohol consumption inside the store. The business does not have a pouring license, so drinking is not permitted on the premises.

Also Monday, the commission approved a temporary crane agreement for work on West Third Street. They also placed a standard price for the 50-50 food-to-drink ratio and an assembly permit ordinance onto first reading. A public hearing and vote on both will be conducted during the next commission meeting.