Newly elected Brookhaven City Council makes first decisions

The Brookhaven City Council made its first official vote Dec. 10 only moments after members were sworn in.

The four-member council appointed a temporary city attorney, and city clerk, and authorized a temporary lease agreement for a city hall building and city court space.

Bill Riley was named interim city attorney. Riley, who serves as city attorney for Johns Creek and Sandy Springs, also worked with Gov. Nathan Deal’s Commission for the City of Brookhaven. Lyn Rosser was named as interim city clerk.

“They’ve done a great job and I extend my sincere gratitude to all the members on the commission as well as the citizen volunteers,” Brookhaven Mayor J. Max Davis said of the commission.

Riley, who worked pro bono as the commission’s legal representative, appointed commission Chairman Ben Vinson, who has worked on every governor’s commission since Sandy Springs was established in 2005.

Jim Eyre, the only council member who didn’t face a runoff after November’s election, said the council needs to begin working on the city’s first-year budget. He also said, after the contentious elections and cityhood vote, his only concern now is the best interest of Brookhaven.

“We’ve got to get the city on strong footing with a balanced budget—we’ve also got to put away some reserves,” Eyre said.

Additionally, Brookhaven will be leasing a 12,636-square-foot building located in an office complex on Ashford Dunwoody Road for $246,402 for one year. According to officials, the building is fully furnished.

For its temporary court, Brookhaven is leasing an office building on Buford Highway for $60,800 for one year. The 3,800-square-foot space, located in Brookhaven, will need to be refurnished and rewired for court use.