Roswell Mayor and Council Meeting - July 13, 2026: Budget Amendment, Transportation Contracts, and Appointments

The Roswell Mayor and Council met on Monday, July 13, 2026, for a regular meeting chaired by Mayor Mary Robichau. The council approved several commission reappointments, passed the FY2026 mid-year budget amendment by a 4–2 vote, and unanimously authorized a $9.49 million construction contract for the Riverside Road TSPLOST project and an intergovernmental agreement for 2026 TSPLOST proceeds. The meeting included public comments and discussion on budget transparency, road design, and pedestrian safety.

Consent Calendar

• Reappointment of Ron Jackson to the Historic Preservation Commission (motion by Councilmember Beeson, second by Councilmember Philippi, passed unanimously).
• Appointment of Tom Hamlin to the Design Review Board (motion by Councilmember Hall, second by Councilmember Brumley, passed unanimously).
• Appointment of Joe Zirkus to the Design Review Board (motion by Councilmember Zach, second by Councilmember Brumley, passed unanimously).
• Appointment of Patrick Caffrey to the Downtown Development Authority (motion by Councilmember Hall, second by Councilmember Philippi, passed unanimously).
• Approval of a resolution to apply for and accept a National Endowment for the Arts grant (included in consent agenda; motion by Councilmember Beeson, second by Councilmember Zach, passed unanimously).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Courtney Rosier spoke in support of the NEA grant item on the consent agenda, highlighting the story of Nancy Jackson—an enslaved woman who fought for her freedom—and thanked staff for including this history in the Roots Festival.
• Roman Pierzak asked a question about the mid-year budget amendment, specifically inquiring about the components of the $500,000 increase in insurance premium tax revenue and sales tax revenue. Director of Finance Adam Novotney explained the revenue sources.
• Jason Yowell, a former member of the Roswell Transportation Commission, opposed the Riverside Road project design. He argued that the proposed bicycle lanes (striped buffers) are inferior to segregated paths with landscape strips, criticized the north-side sidewalk as unnecessary, and stated the project would increase impervious surface and stormwater pollution. He urged the council to defer the contract for further study.
• Sue DuPont also opposed the north-side sidewalk on Riverside Road, citing safety concerns and low pedestrian usage based on her experience with other city sidewalks. She advocated for keeping the multi-use path on the south side near the river.

Discussion Items

• FY2026 Mid-Year Budget Amendment: Director Novotney presented a $1.1 million amendment (net zero impact) to adjust revenues and expenses for public safety, parks, infrastructure, technology, and personnel. Councilmember Hall expressed strong disappointment, stating the process lacked transparency and criticizing increased mayor’s office staffing costs (from $750,000 to $2.1 million over four years) and the addition of an administrative assistant. She voted no. Councilmember Beeson defended the amendment as standard practice and noted that prior administrations had higher executive staffing. The motion passed 4–2.
• Riverside Road TSPLOST Construction Contract: Director of Transportation Andy Flagar presented the project: an 8–10 foot multi-use trail with lighting on the south side, a 5-foot sidewalk on the north side, a roundabout at River Lake Drive, a new traffic signal at Taman Drive, and buffered bike lanes. The low bid of $9,489,436 from Backbone Infrastructure was recommended. Council discussion addressed lane width, speed impacts, the north-side sidewalk’s necessity, and the feasibility of protected bike lanes. Councilmember Sells questioned whether striped buffers effectively slow traffic. Councilmember Philippi asked about the consequences of deferral—Flagar stated it would require restarting design work and cost several more years. Councilmember Beeson noted the north-side sidewalk connects to Vickery Creek and improves park access. The project was approved unanimously.
• 2026 TSPLOST IGA: Director Flagar explained the agreement allows Fulton County to collect and distribute sales tax proceeds; Roswell’s share is 15.04% based on population. Councilmember Hall asked about the guarantee that $15 million allocated for resurfacing in tier-one projects would not be spent in one year. Flagar confirmed that council would approve each expenditure and that the funds could only be used for listed TSPLOST projects. The motion passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All commission appointments (Historic Preservation, Design Review Board, Downtown Development Authority) were approved unanimously.
• The consent agenda, including the NEA grant resolution, was approved unanimously.
• The FY2026 mid-year budget amendment passed by a vote of 4–2 (Councilmember Hall and one other opposed).
• The Riverside Road TSPLOST construction contract with Backbone Infrastructure for $9,489,436 (plus budget amendment and waterline IGA totaling $10,721,901) was approved unanimously.
• The 2026 TSPLOST intergovernmental agreement with Fulton County was approved unanimously.
• The council voted unanimously to go into closed session on Monday, July 27, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss personnel, litigation, and/or real estate.