City Commission - Regular Meeting

Thank you.

Good evening, everybody.

Sorry we're a few minutes late, but welcome to the Rome City Commission June 8th meeting. And I'm glad to see everybody. As we begin our meeting tonight, caucus ran longer than we anticipated. But as we begin our meeting tonight, we always begin with an invocation and a pledge to our flag. And I would ask everyone to please stand. As Commissioner Wayne Robinson will Do the invocation and lead us in the pledge.

Since we have so many of these nice-looking Shriners here tonight, Mr. Charlie Carney back there is with us. He's the chaplain with the Shriners, and I'd like to ask you to do our prayer tonight, if you would.

Be glad to. Let us pray. Father, once again, we come to you just as humble as we know how, thanking you for the day you've already given us and the opportunity for us to serve you one more day. Father, as we go forward of this meeting, Father, we ask it begin in peace and end in harmony. Father, we ask we go through it as peaceful as we can and orderly as we can and obeying you from our heart how we should act and how we should proceed. Father, I thank you for this opportunity. Father, it will go for us today. Father, just go with us throughout the rest of this meeting and in all these things we'll ask. In Jesus' loving, sweet name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Carney. That was almost as good as the prayer Saturday at the car meet.

Charlie, I didn't see you hiding back there. I'll tell you the work that man has done for the Shriners. I don't know if everybody really knows. And it goes way back to the days of the Shrine football game. And I'm sure some of y'all were involved in that. But... Sir, you did all 53 years, didn't you? He tried to throw me out of there one night. He made me pay twice. Anyway, we welcome everybody again. And as we begin, Mr. Clerk, will you call the roll?

Yes, sir. Mayor Bojo. Here. Commissioner Robinson. Here. Brock. Here. Cochran. Here. Beaman. Here. Fisher.

Here.

Hickson. Here. Collins. Here. McDaniel. Here.

Everyone should have received the minutes from our May 26th meeting. And if no one has any corrections or additions, we will accept them as they are printed. Tonight we have one proclamation. And Commissioner Beaman, if you will come forward with the proclamation, please.

So it is an honor to be able to stand here and present this proclamation on behalf of the city and our mayor and the commissioners. And you guys do an amazing job of making sure that we keep that history alive in the ownership. And today we salute you. So whereas on June the 19th, 1865, Union soldiers led Major General Gordon Granger arrived on the shores of Galveston, Texas to declare the end of the Civil War, and to enforce President Abraham Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation issued more than two years prior to proclaiming freedom for all enslaved individuals in the Confederate States. And whereas at the oldest American holiday, June 10 commemorates the freeing of formerly enslaved individuals and their descendants. It has historically been a time of prayer, reflection, and family reunions. And whereas June 10th also highlights the artistic and intellectual achievements collectively preserved through the pre and post Middle Passage and slave trade, the Emancipation Era, and the Civil Rights Movement, as well as more recent accomplishments of African American cultural expressions. And whereas although June 10th is specific to the emancipation of African descendants, its message promotes the continued freedom and economic prosperity of individuals from all races, colors, creeds, and cultures. And whereas the Rome Floyd NAACP is hosting the fourth annual June 10th parade in downtown Rome, Saturday, June the 20th, 2026, marketing the federal holiday with community, collaboration, and reflection, and the city of Rome honors the occasion as a solemn recognition of the past suffering and the hopeful reaffirmation of progress and unity. Now, therefore, be proclaimed that I, Mayor Jim Bojo, along with the Rome City Commissioners, would like to recognize and honor the observance and celebration of June 19th, 2026, as June 10th. Giving my hand and seal on this eighth day of June in the year of the Lord, 2026. We salute you, we thank you, and we celebrate

On behalf of the Rome, Florida NAACP, we would like to thank the Rome City Commissioners. Commissioner Beaman, thank you for all that you do to help the NAACP and your community. To all commissioners, you are invited to put a float, walk, or whatever in the parade collectively or individually, city manager and city clerk included. And all the visitors here are invited as well. You can see us for a registration form or you can go to the... NAACP website to register. We would love to have every one of you. We are family. We are a community, and we are family. And Ms. Jenkins, there's no peace. Ms. Jenkins is our chairperson, so if you want to see her before we leave, thank you. Thank you all. And Sharonis, thank you for all that you do. We are family. Thank you all.

Next on the agenda, we do have a special recognition. And Mr. Sam Moss will be presenting that recognition on behalf of the Roma Area Heritage Foundation.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'm here on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Roma in recognition of the community's partnership in the restoration of the 1932 Myra H. Powell boat. And in addition to this, the second preservation award was presented yesterday to the Eco Center for their work in preservation. So again, on behalf of everybody interested in preservation,

And this will be put on the mileage. If you're familiar with the mileage down at the park, that was a project that took a little while. All right, moving along, we've got no public comments on agenda items, no resolutions, and we have several items on first reading. Joe.

Yes, sir, Mr. Perry. We do have, I believe, five items that are coming before us tonight, five or six, from the Planning Commission. The first is an annexation request for property at 203 Burnett Ferry Road, no changing zoning, community commercial. The second two are closely linked. They're both on East 8th Street. The first one is for 321 East 8th Street and the second for 318 East 8th Street. Both requests are to change from multifamily residential to neighborhood office commercial. The next two, I'm sorry, the next one is for 207 1⁄2 North Avenue. This is a request to rezone this property from light industrial to high density traditional residential. Final two, both involve Asbury Drive. The first request for 101, 102, and 105. Asbury Drive, the second for 103 and 104. And for all five addresses, six individual parcels, I believe, the request is to rezone from office institutional No, I'm sorry, the first three are from office institutional to suburban residential, and the second request, 103 and 104, are from office institutional to multifamily residential. All these come to you with a favorable recommendation from the Planning Commission, and we'll hold a public hearing two weeks from tonight on these requests.

Thank you, Mr. Clark. We have nothing on second reading, nothing continued on first reading, nothing on public hearing. Mr. Clerk. No report, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Manager.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just a brief announcement. The City of Rome offices will be closed on Friday, June the 19th in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. Those interested in garbage and recycling, the services will be business as usual on Monday and Tuesday. Thursday and Friday's garbage and recycling both get picked up on Thursday and and no yard carts on Thursday. And then additionally, our Walker Mountain landfill will be closed on Friday the 19th. And Mr. Mayor, that concludes my report.

Mr. Attorney.

Mr. Mayor.

During my time, I will let you know that the Rome Floyd Development Authority will meet on Tuesday. I believe your agenda is to say June 16th. That meeting has been moved to June 23rd at 9 o'clock at 800, at the Development Authority offices, 800 Broad Street. Commissioner Robinson.

Mr. Mayor, the only thing I have is the Finance Committee will meet Wednesday morning at 8.30 in the Sound King room, and the public's welcome to attend. That's all I have.

Thank you. Mr. Brock. Downtown Development Authority will meet Thursday, June 11th at 8.30 in the Milner Building. They will have their evening farmer's market on Thursday, June 18th from 5 to 8 at Rotary Plaza. And then Rome, Florida, Parks and Rec will meet on Tuesday, June 16th, 12 o'clock, Shag William Shannon Center. And that completes my report.

Thank you. Commissioner Cochran? No reports, Mr. Mayor. Commissioner, I know we talked the other day about a landmark meeting. Do you remember the date on that?

Joe? That's going to be on Monday, July 13th.

Thank you for reminding me. Yes, sir.

2.30 in the afternoon, perhaps.

Yeah, it was in the afternoon, but I couldn't remember.

That will be here at City Hall.

Sam Kingron.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Commissioner Cochran. Commissioner Beaman.

No report, Mr. Mayor. Commissioner Fisher.

Mr. Fisher.

Public Works, Traffic, Transit, and Trails Committee will meet on Wednesday, June 10th at 10 a.m. in the Sam King Room. And although the Solid Waste Commission does not meet again until July, we do have two invoices that need approval to cover the first quarter of the recycling shortfall. It's divided up by three. The deficit's divided up by three. Floyd County Solid Waste Fund One-third comes from the Solid Waste Commission, and one-third comes from our general fund. And the amount is $60,948.36. And I have one for the City of Rome recycling deficit invoice. That's the first one that needs to be approved. The second one is the Solid Waste Commission recycling deficit in the same amount. Can I do that separately or at the same time?

Same.

Same time. I motion that we approve both invoices for payment. Second.

We got a motion and a second. Any discussion? Mr. Clerk, call the roll, please. Sir.

Commissioner Robinson? Yes. Brock? Yes. Cochran? Yes. Beaman? Yes. Fisher? Yes. Hickson? Yes. Collins? Yes. McDaniel? Yes.

Mr. Hickson. Yes, Mr. Mayor. The only report I have is the Alcohol Control Commission will meet on Monday, June 15th here, and the commission chambers at 5 o'clock.

Mr. Collins.

No report this afternoon.

Commissioner McDaniel.

Committee on committees. Two weeks ago, we put two names out for the Rome Redevelopment Agency So those will come as a motion for approval tonight. Tabitha Helms and Joseph Wright. So I put those before you tonight as a motion. I'm going to do them separately. Yeah. So we're going to do Rome Redevelopment Agency bring a motion to approve Tabitha Helms and Joseph Wright. for the Rome Redevelopment Agency. I have a motion and a second. Yeah. I'm sorry. Old habit.

Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion?

Yes, I'd like to have a discussion. I'd like to have a discussion about the nominations, and by no means it is not a reflection on any of the individuals that are nominated, but I would like for us once to just have a conversation with each other Let's talk to each other and talk about it without talking at each other. I don't feel that the process that we have in place is fair. I don't feel that it's unbiased, and I don't feel that we're consistent, and I'm going to tell you why. If you look at the sheet that we received that talked about all the nominations that we had and all the people who put in an application who've been sitting there, can you please tell me about how each representative was who we brought forth how we went into the selection process. Tell me about their bio, their background. And how do you go about selecting these nominees? Because if you look at the dates of when people put in applications, they've been bypassed. Some of the ones who are just qualified for it. And therefore, I just feel like that. And I mentioned to Sammy that I wish that we could go back in and see that other cities who have a committee on committees, how they go about selecting their people to represent the citizens of Rome But I just feel like right now it's unfair, it's biased, and it's inconsistent.

Madam Commissioner, I appreciate your concern, and I know transparency is something on all of our minds. We have not changed the process since I've been on the seat of commission. I've been on the commission for 11 years. We follow the same process. Do you think that something has changed?

I do, because we appointed people on certain committees who didn't even fill out an application. So how is that consistent?

I'll share what Commissioner Beamer is saying. One of the questions that I asked when I first got on the commission was, how do we do our appointments? And what is the process? And I don't believe that there was a process given, certainly to compare with the backlog that the clerk gave us with the applicants that went back to 2018. And it's tough because I go places. I go, whether it's to the grocery market or to the park or if I'm just out somewhere, a lot of people come and ask, how can I get involved? And it's more than just coming up here and filling out an application for a committee. You know, they'll come, but they won't get a return phone call. And I don't know if there is a solid process, even specific to a few names on this application. They weren't there in the sheet that we got a couple of months ago. And so, you know.

I will address what I have found. Again, I've only been here 11 years. I haven't been here as long as my friend Commissioner Collins. I think he's been here close to 30. We haven't used a different process in the 11 years that I have been here in terms of putting people on committees. Now, what I have found is that when people sometimes don't get their way, they complain about the process. They say, well, I don't like the way that worked. And I think that's frustrating for people who show up and try to be consistent and try to be fair and try to put the best people on committees. My intention is to put qualified people on every committee, and that's what I'm trying to do. These two names are qualified people. I spoke to both of them. We have a motion and a second. We've had some discussion, but I'm very comfortable with this process. If the commission as a whole wants to change the process, I would say that we go through a discussion, and you get five votes and change the process. But if you don't have enough votes to change it, then we continue with the process we have. If you don't like the outcome, you're just going to be frustrated.

I'm not frustrated. I'm upset with the fact that we're not consistent, we're biased, and it's unfair, the process that we have in place. And so I did ask again, what is the process?

We all know where we've been with the fact that meetings was not held in the public arena. Be that that day, now that we have got it into a place where it's on the committee and had the opportunity to be that among the other commissioners, that actually is not taking place. when those nominees come in brought by the clerk and this paperwork, which has all of these names on it, which some of the names have been on there for quite some time. Some of those names have been there quite some time. It's overlooked. It's also an opportunity for us as the chair of this committee to further our agenda and by putting the people on these committees to help further whatever it is that we want. versus what it is, what should be fair, is what Ms. Beaman is talking about. It is a non-partisan. But that's not how it's playing out. It's playing out like it's partisan. And if you sitting there in the chair, and I got my colleagues sitting beside me that can make this nomination, well, quite naturally, I'm gonna overlook what's already on this paperwork and I'm gonna choose who it is that I wanna put on there. I'm not calling your name or any of your name. I'm just telling you, that's how the process has been working. And when we get phone calls, I get phone calls saying, wait a minute, I put my name in that hat, Mr. Manager, some time ago. How did this person just put his name in the hat two weeks ago, move up ahead of me? That's what Commissioner Beaman is speaking to, and what I'm speaking to is the fact we need to take out the opportunity of using individuals, volunteers, to further agendas which is already preset. There's no way that we should, Mr. Chair of CC Committee now, have people sitting on committees that never filled out an application. if you're talking about doing this fair. You're my dear friend. Yes.

I'm going to say this. I sat here one night, and Commissioner Jamie Dawson, Commissioner Quick served on committees with you. And downstairs, they came up here with a name, and you got here, and you came forth with a name. that was not the recommendation of the committee. He came up with the name of Commissioner Wendy Davis to serve on the Supposed Committee. That was not the recommendation of the committee.

No, it was not. Was that right? Absolutely. Make it right. Let me help you out. The fact that I included all nine of the commissioners that had a chance. I can't vote Wendy Davidson by myself. But what it did do is it put it out here on the table so she could either be voted up or voted down. That's the difference.

Let me say this right here. for all of you that are thoroughly confused right now. The committee on committees met, and Commissioner McDaniel is the chair. Commissioner Collins was in that meeting. Commissioner Robinson was in that meeting.

And Commissioner Beeman was in that meeting.

Commissioner Beeman was not on the committee. She was there, as I was. We are non-committee members. We did not have a vote. Commissioner Beeman didn't have a vote. I didn't have a vote.

And Commissioner Beaman didn't have an opportunity to speak.

Commissioner Beaman, please let me finish speaking.

And Commissioner Beaman did not have an opportunity to speak. If you mention my name, let me speak on my behalf. I have a voice.

When I call on you, I'm speaking. No, sir. That was very rude to interrupt.

I have a voice. You mentioned my name. If you don't mention my name, I'm going to comment.

She is not on this committee. Okay? These two names were brought before the committee to accept for the Rome Redevelopment Agency. As I said, there were three people on the committee. It was a unanimous vote in committee to bring these two names before the full commission for a vote. That's the way this committee works.

So there was a full commission vote.

So I didn't have a vote. Commissioner Beeman didn't have a vote. We could have said, I didn't say anything. I think she did.

And I was rudely told that I did not serve on the committee and I had to be quiet.

Because she's not on the committee, okay? But I am a commissioner. That's where this went down. So now. Mayor, excuse me. No, ma'am. No, you need to sit.

You don't talk to that side of the room. You talk to all of us.

She needs to be sit. I didn't point at you. Can I ask a question? Just a minute. I think you had something to say.

I've got one thing to say, Commissioner Collins. In the purpose of a committee to evaluate all things within a decision-making process and to make recommendations to the full city commission to be voted on, you've got an opportunity right now to vote yay or nay on this particular nomination, but that's the whole purpose of a committee is to bring a recommendation to this full city commission, which is exactly what Commissioner McDaniel has done. It doesn't matter to me if somebody put their name on a list 10 years ago or 10 days ago. If they're the better candidate that was recommended to be nominated, that's the best candidate for the position. You agreed at the meeting that these two were great candidates.

On that particular one, I did. I'm just saying that I think the process, no different than Commissioner Beaman is saying, we need to do way with the list, and we're not going by it. It's causing people to call up and say, hey, man, I put my name in the hat some time ago. How did y'all skip over me? And things of that there nature. All the citizens are asking for this opportunity to volunteer. It's not that we got... Up here, when I put Wendy Davis on there, we was not having the chance to have media or anybody else there to vet what we was doing. We did not. And the fact that what I was doing was using the right, which I had was to bring it out here to the public, discuss it, no different than we did, Jamie, as well as Mr. Quick, which is on my committee, And they had an idea, no different than what Mr. Robinson is talking about, and they made the nominee. All I did was made a substitute motion to put her name in, and it passed with five votes, no different than what Commissioner Craig McDaniel is telling you. That's what the process is for.

Mr. Mayor, may I have a... So, thank you. First of all, According to Robert's Rules of Order, the last time I read it, even if something comes out of a committee, which we by practice don't do this here, if it comes out of a committee, it technically doesn't need a second, but we do that. So if Water and Sewer wants to vote on something and the committee passes it, it's sent to the commission, and technically it doesn't have to have a second. What Commissioner Collins did that night in terms of Wendy Davis was he did a legal procedural maneuver in which he put Wendy Davis's name out there and it received a second. If you want to do something that the committee does not want to do, that's the proper channel according to Robert's Rules of Order to do it. That is what Commissioner Collins did. It passed. In my opinion, he followed the rules. Secondly, I don't think anybody's questioning that. Okay. Secondly, I understand everybody's concern about wanting to have competent individuals on committees. I don't think anybody here would argue regarding wanting the best people on our committees. I think the concerning part that's been raised by commissioner Beeman is, and I'm not saying this is happening, but it certainly looks like a good old boy system. if you have a whole bunch of people that have been listed for six years and signed up to be on a committee and you don't like any of them, and then you go and find your favorite and then put them on there to be heard without them having ever filled out an application to start with. I'm not saying it is the good old boy system. I'm just saying sometimes it can appear that way. Thank you.

Can I ask something? Sure. It's been stated twice that there was no application from these two members.

Is that correct?

That's what I've heard. There were no applications. These two committee members had no applications. I'm sorry?

That's incorrect. That ain't what you hear.

I talked about the inconsistency, but one of the applications that we're voting on right now did not fill out an application to serve on the redevelopment committee. So tell me how he got that nomination. I'm just asking.

There are applications on those two individuals.

He did not fill out an application, but he filled out an application for the Housing Authority because he stated that to me.

Joe Wright did fill out an application for the Housing Authority.

He filled out an application for the Housing Authority, but that is not what he's been recommended for. Commissioner, all you've got to do is vote no. It's simple.

Just vote no.

This is what I'm talking about. Why can't we talk to each other and not at each other? We are having a conversation about it.

And... Oh, no, on Joe Wright. Nobody is mad. We just want a consistent process. Nobody's upset, Mr. Commissioner. I know I don't have any biases. We just want a consistent process so that it will be an equal opportunity for everyone. And if someone who just put in an application a week ago or whatever, haven't filled out one, that's not the process.

So let me ask you a question, and you are not here.

Right.

The committee of three, Randy Quick, Jamie Doss, Bill Collins, they had a name. Came upstairs, Bill Collins put forth Wendy Davis' name. The name that was approved by the committee was never even mentioned. Was that fair?

That's incorrect.

That's incorrect. Did you bring forth that?

I made a substantive motion. I made a substantive motion.

Did she have an application?

Yes, yes. I don't think so. All right. We've had enough discussion about this. There is a motion and a second on the floor.

Would you mind if I finish? I mean, Eric. I started talking, then everybody else started talking. Do you mind if I finish?

Sure, go ahead, Commissioner Brock.

Were there applications for those two people? Did we have applications for those two people?

We do have applications.

I don't have them with me. That's the only question. Can I finish? The only other thing I would like to say is there's been discussion about, I think Commissioner Collins at the first meeting this year said, I went to one meeting and realized that something wasn't right. I think that was a quote in the paper. I mean, am I... Am I right about that? I'm not sure that you're right about that, but that's what was quoted.

We definitely wasn't in the right.

Okay. Since 2010, Commissioner Collins, you were a member in 10, you were a member in 11, you were the chairman in 12, you were a member in 21, you were the chairman in 22, you were the chairman in 23, and you were a committee member in 26.

Sir, I was a member when I first got on the commission, pretty much tried to bring the CC committee into compliance then. But as you heard this commission here say, it takes five votes to do that. That's all I have, Mayor. That's all I have. It takes five votes to do that. I'm the one that made the recommendation since you called me out. to tell this commission along with our sitting attorney over there that we were doing things wrong and that we was in violation of the Public Records Act because we was not advertising that we had a committee going on behind Mr. Manager's office where us three members get together, choose some people to serve and then bring it out here on the floor and put it down these folks throat. And I thought that it should have been handled like every other committee. Did I do something wrong? I don't think so. All I was asking for was the opportunity for this here committee to do things right and quit politicizing and putting people in these positions what furthers these commissioners' agenda. That ain't how these citizens should be treated, like proms.

When you were the mayor, you could have changed it.

When I was the mayor, you're absolutely right. And probably if I had had the votes, I would have brought it forward. But at that point in time, I really didn't think we were doing anything wrong. I just had, I guess, a brainstorm in it and became knowledgeable that we was in the wrong.

Everything was right when you were mayor, and when somebody else is mayor, it's all wrong. I get that. No, sir, that's not.

All right, listen, we have a motion and a second on the floor, and we've had plenty of discussion about how the system should work or doesn't work, but as it works right now, this meeting was, when this was done, it was posted for anyone that wanted to attend could attend. So, Mr. Clark, would you please call the roll? He wasn't able to talk.

Yes, sir. This is a reminder. We're voting on the Rome Redevelopment Agency, Ms. Tabitha Hounds and Mr. Joseph Wright. Mr. Robinson?

Yes.

Brock? Yes. Cochran? Yes. Beeman? Heck no. Fisher? Yes. Hickson? Yes. Collins? Yes. McDaniel?

Yes. The second appointment is to the Northwest Georgia Housing Authority. Kedwin Ruiz comes forth. She is an employee of Floyd Medical Center Patron. That comes forth as a motion. I'll second.

I'll second over here.

Let's have a motion and a second.

With the advice of the attorney, Mr. Chairman, I will be abstaining on this vote.

Any discussions?

Oh, yes. So first of all, I want to go back to the point that, and I want to give some statistics, and I'm sure we're not going to talk about it, and I'm sure I'm going to be talked at, but I'm going to give them anyway. So there are 976 female-headed rental households living in Northwest Georgia Housing Authority. and 87% of these are served by females. And then the racial breakdown shows that there are African Americans, there are 819, Caucasians, 349, and Hispanic, 36. My concern is that currently we have representing us on the Housing Authority Board, which are four males and two females. Now, if the housing authority is represented by underserved women in low-income housing that are minority, which are the majority, we need to have representatives who represent so we will have fair and unbiased decisions made on them. It is very critical that in diversity is in a committee that is crucial for enhancing decision-making, fostering innovation, and ensuring behavior representatives to all stakeholders now my concern is i understand that we do have females that are on the housing authority board right now and i understand that that uh we do have males representing us but the males that are representing us right now the housing authority board they're all they're making decisions for women i got i got a serious issue with that we need to make sure that We have voices that represent and voices that are listening and who can make decisions. All men, four men, that represent our area are making decisions for African American women that sit on that Housing Authority Board. So the nominations that is being recommended right now is Hispanic, is a Hispanic female. And that is great because I feel that that population needs to be represented. But why not you choose a committee, someone from the Housing Authority, to represent that and make sure that we have the right representation that's making decisions for women that we're trying to transition off of family self-sufficiency. So that is my reason for asking that we change the nomination.

I'm not going to talk about the racial quota because I don't deal in quotas. We're past that. But I had lunch with the housing authority director the other day. I met with the chair of the current housing authority. I talked with the vice chair of the housing authority, and I ran this candidate by them. She's a Hispanic female. There are a lot of Hispanics that live in public housing. You heard the other day what I heard about Rome City Schools. We have more Hispanics that are enrolled in Rome City Schools today than we do African Americans or whites. The reality in Rome right now is that we have a larger Hispanic population than any of us ever imagined. And it's time we address that. They are very much underrepresented in our community they don't sit on enough boards they're not represented in the chamber of commerce but they own businesses they own far more businesses than african americans own and it's time they're represented now i didn't interrupt you i did not interrupt you i mean i'm just commenting well you're interrupting me so let me speak i am a grown woman yeah i appreciate that this is a qualified lady i have interviewed her but i also talked with the housing authority Housing Authority is operating very well right now. They have a director of finance. They're having financial reports at every meeting, and it's running flawlessly right now. It's running very well. And this lady comes very well qualified, and they look forward to having her on their boards.

So my concern is I like to meet people where they are right now. And there are people that I'm telling you right now who are the majority that are there. So we turn our backs on what's there right now to make sure that they have a voice. We're not even equally represented on this commission. But then when I want to talk, I'm talked at and not talked to when I'm talking to you guys this way. So the disrespect starts at home. I'm asking right now to put someone in there in a position that can be a voice to help translate people to be able to go into positions where they can work, have child care, and move out of public housing. This is what I'm asking for. Put a voice there for those people who are the majority.

Mr. Mayor, may I say something? I think it's important. You know, you guys have been here. So when I ask questions or if I try to figure out the process, I think it's important so that I get it right going forward. You know, Commissioner McDaniel, you asked me a question about Bill. I wasn't here at that time. But what I do know, you spoke about Commissioner Quick. I replaced Randy Quick in November. In January, he was on the Planning Commission. And I wonder how was that able to be out of all of the volunteers who came and put in their application wanting to volunteer. So those are the things that we're talking about. And you're speaking as if there's a problem with us even bringing these questions up. We just want some answers. The people are qualified. I'm sure of that, the applicants. who are on the agenda, I'm almost certain they're great people. There's nothing against them. It's the process. And so, you know, with that, I would like to make a recommendation for Yashica Pitts to be on the Housing Authority, if I could get a second.

I second it. Wait a minute.

We got a motion on the floor. We can't get another motion on the floor or recommendation until this one is satisfied. Um...

I think we ought to hear from the attorney.

Sir, you have abstained. Mr. Attorney, is that so?

Any more discussion? You do have a motion on the floor, and you were discussing it. And your motion to add another name at that point would not, I think the proper order would be to either vote yea or nay or table the motion that's currently pending. and then if you had a Substitute motion or something else you could then make that motion, but you can't have another motion on top of a motion that's pending Can I make a motion to table it? You may I second it Mayor you have a motion to table. There's no discussion. It's an immediate vote Mr.

Clerk call the roll

Mr. Attorney, do you not have to call the vote that we started?

If there's a motion to table, it ceases all discussion. And once it's seconded, there's no more discussion about it. It's strictly a vote whether to table or not.

So we're voting on the motion to table. Commissioner Robinson?

No.

Brock? No. Cochran? Yes. Beaman? Yes. Fisher?

No.

Dixon? Yes. Collins, I'm assuming yours is abstention. McDaniel? No. No. The motion does not pass. There are three yes votes, four no votes. So the motion to table has failed. What about me?

Do I vote? If you like.

No. That defeats the motion. It defeated the motion to table and did not pass.

So I make the motion that we approve. We've already got a motion on the floor. Do you not have to start all over? I don't know. Okay. All right.

We've had the motion and a second. And, again, plenty of discussion. So, Mr. Clerk, call the roll.

Okay. Commissioner Robinson? Yes. Brock? Yes. Cochran?

No.

Beaman? No. Fisher?

Yes.

Hickson? No. Extension? McDaniel? Yes. In this case, Mr. Mayor, we have four yes votes, three no votes.

I vote yes.

You vote yes. That passes the motion. Mr. Ruiz is appointed.

Mr. Mayor, if I may just have a moment of personal privilege.

Mr. Attorney, he's asking for a point of personal privilege.

You're the chair. You can make that call at this point.

Okay, I know that we had discussed that before about when you could and couldn't. I was looking for clarification, so go ahead.

I just basically wanted to say that I have to resort back to what O'Colley used to say.

Mr. Collins, can you hang up just a minute, please? I'd like to get the comments from over in this section. I don't know where they're coming from. Get them to cease. Thank you.

Now, sir. With this point of personal privilege, I want to take a page from one of my old colleagues, Jamie Dawes, and say that this has not been our finest hours as commissioners. And then again, it has been, because I think it brought out a great deal of what this commission is experiencing here in this year, year of 2026. You see, me being an African-American man, a black man, or however you want to call it, There's no way I would bail out some of the things that said to Commissioner Beeman to our other female colleagues sitting here. Ms. Fisher, I have the utmost respect for you and I'm not going to be doing some of the things I see going on towards my colleague down there, Ms. Beeman. And I would just ask this commission, if you guys would, to kind of refrain from doing that. I'm going to always get these ladies as much respect as I possibly can. She is sure. She's been around here for a while, and she's experienced, et cetera. And Miss Fisher, even though she's new and is on this group, she has just as much power It's not what us sitting commissioners do. It's no different. Once you're elected and you take that oath, you got the exact same power. But I would never ever, I have, I apologize. I'm not going to disrespect you in any manner, especially out here in the public. I'm going to talk to you just like you're talking to my wife. And that's all I have, mister.

Thank you. Mr. McDaniel, continue, please.

Health Department will meet Thursday, June the 11th at 12 noon at Floyd County Health Department. International Committee will meet Wednesday, June 10th at 2.30 in the Sam King room.

Thank you. We have one public comment, non-agenda item. Mr. Minter. Will you please go to the podium, state your name and address, please, sir. You have three minutes.

Good evening, Mayor and members of the city commissioner. My name is Tim Minter. I'm a lifelong resident of this community and past president of the Rome Shrine Club and a volunteer fundraiser for the Shriners and the Children's Hospital. I come before you tonight. I ain't here to attack anybody or any individual. I'm not here to seek any kind of punishment, and I'm not here to create a conflict. I'm here because of an incident that occurred during the first Friday night concert this Saturday night on Broad Street, and because I believe it highlights the need for cleaner policies, better training, and better understanding of the constitutional rights of the citizens engaged in charitable activities. On the evening of the concert, I attended the event wearing my shrine fez just as I am here tonight and I was carrying this exact bucket for the Shriners. I spent several hours enjoying that event with my son walking around. We supported local vendors and restaurants. We went and ate and interacted with members of the community. I've met several of my friends there and we sat and carried on the conversation. I was not standing anywhere I wasn't supposed to be. I was not blocking the sidewalks. I was not using a megaphone. I was not harassing anyone. and I was not aggressively soliciting. In fact, I never directly asked anyone for money. I simply walked through the event wearing my Shriner attire and carrying this bucket. And I think every Shriner in here can attest, I have never seen any Shriner go up to anybody and ask for a donation. We stand on the streets or the sidewalks. We hold our bucket and hold our fez, and people who want to donate, they come up and give their money if they want to. We never go and ask for money. That's not what we do. It's completely voluntary if you want to donate to us. Those who wish to support our cause were free to do so voluntarily. After several hours, that's probably almost three hours, I was approached by two Rome officers, and I was advised I could no longer continue to do what I was doing. And I looked kind of confused there because I was literally standing there watching the band up on the stage, holding my bucket. My son was standing beside me, and he told me to stop what I'm doing. I'm not doing anything but standing here. And I understood. He told me I had to quit because I was trying to raise money. And I asked him, I said, well, who made this complaint? Because I haven't done anything wrong. And he said, I was advised it was the DDA had made the complaint because it was their event and they didn't want me there. I asked them, well, have I violated any laws? He said, to do what I was doing, I needed a permit. And I say, at that point, I just took my hat off, went and put my bucket in the car, and we ended up leaving the event. And I asked him what law or violation I was breaking. Again, he just said I needed a permit. I want to be very clear. The officers were very professional. I was a police officer for 15 years. I'm friends with most of them on the department. They were courteous and respectful, and I was just as courteous and respectful back. I'm not going to stand there and argue with an officer on the street. He's doing his job, and I understand that. I really do. They were just acting on information and direction they had been given from the D.D.A. My concern is whether a citizen engaged in peaceful charitable solicitation on public property can be prohibited from doing so simply because someone does not want the activity occurring. The courts have consistently recognized the charitable solicitation as protected speech under the First Amendment. The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly held that charitable fundraising and solicitation are forms of protected expression.

Mr. Minter, your time is up. I'm going to grant you just a little more time to wrap it up.

Okay, I'm Well, I'm not going to go through that. I just want to also read it. I'm not here seeking this lawsuit. I'm not here seeking damages. I'm here seeking reform. And I know people bring issues, and they don't give you any kind of solution, but there is a solution.

I'm sorry. That's fine. Your time is up, and I can't let you continue, but I will say this. I ask you to come meet me after this meeting and with Kelly. And we're going to show you, and Kelly knows how we can work this thing to where you can be out there. Thank you. Okay. You guys do a great job. Thank you. I don't think there's anybody up here that will argue that you guys don't. And I've never been asked for a dime, but I've seen your buckets. And I really like the slogan that you have, to be one, ask one. Yeah. I think that is outstanding because you don't push yourself on people. And, um, I can say nice things about you guys, but your head, your ass wouldn't put your heads anymore. But anyway, if you'll meet me up here, Kelly, if you'll come, we can, uh, we can get this and come to an understanding and an agreement. Okay. All right. Um, one other thing I want to pass through the, um, just on, on, uh, before we adjourn and go home, um, June is a big month for a lot of things that are happening outside and all. But it's a big month for five people who are sitting up here on this panel. Sammy Rich, Wayne Robinson, Craig McDaniel, Harry Brock, and Jill Fisher. Put your hands up. Everyone, I'm having a birthday this month. Well, yours is today. Saturday. Saturday? Mine was yesterday. Okay. They're getting older, but they don't look any better, except for Jill down there. She's rocking it. All right. Thank you all for being here tonight. We appreciate you all being here, and this meeting is adjourned.

Happy birthday. No team. Good job, guys.

My daughter won Best Car at that Mustang.

She's still up here. She's still floating. Oh, yeah, yeah. We'll be back. Thank y'all. Thank y'all for all you do. Thank you, guys. I appreciate it. Thank you for doing the invitations. You did a lot of the problems at the car show this Saturday.

What all y'all have done over the years is just beyond commendable. Y'all give your time and you don't ask anything back.

Exactly. As it does us. No, they don't. Yeah, that's worth. Thank you.