Last Night at a Glance: Ethics Board holds first meeting to establish bylaws and appoint roles

The Ethics Board held their first business meeting on September 16, 2025 at 1245 Veterans Memorial Hwy, 6:00pm.

In attendance: Joel Cope, Patricia Thomas, Angela Weston, Tammi Daniel, Ebony McCants, and Brandon Mitchell.

Absent: Karen Clarke

The Ethics Board approved the minutes for their August 8th training meeting; in that meeting the Board watched a webinar recording about ehtics and ethic boards hosted by the Georgia Municipal Association.

The Board unanimously approved the minutes.

Serving as the stand-in attorney, Elle Whigham of Denmark Ashby & Matricardi, presided over the meeting until a chairperson was appointed by the Board.

Nominees for chair were Joel Cope and Tammi Daniel. When the vote was taken, each nominee received 3 votes, resulting in a tie.

One of the Board members asked if either of the nominees would be willing to withdraw their nomination as chair to serve as vice chair instead. Ms. Tammi Daniel withdrew her nomination; the board voted unanimously 6-0 to appoint Mr. Cope as chair.

The next appointment was for vice chair. The board voted unanimously 6-0 for Ms. Daniel to serve as vice chair.

The final appointment made was for secretary. The Board voted unanimously 6-0 for Ms. Patricia Thomas to serve as Secretary.

The next agenda item was for consideration and approval of the ethics board bylaws.

The Board determined the role of the secretary would be to oversee the minutes and take roll. The Board discussed committee meetings; they determined all committees should be compiled on three or less people.

The Board decided to allow for a public comment segment to be held at their monthly regularly scheduled meetings. Public comments will only be permissible for regularly scheduled monthly meeting and not for ethic hearings. Public comments will be limited to no more than 30 minutes for all speakers.

The Board voted on a regular meeting schedule. Monthly ethics board meetings will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm at 1245 Veterans Memorial Hwy.

The meeting adjourned a little before 8:00pm.