What began as a comment about the planned community center led to a lengthy discussion about transparency and ultimately a vote by the McDonough City Council to change the way information about some financial decisions in the city is distributed.

  Mayor Billy Copeland stated at the council’s August 17 regular meeting that the community center would be back on the front burner in February or March of 2021 after no progress has been made on the project most of this year. He acknowledged that “all council members are in agreement on wanting this” but pointed out that nearly all capital improvement projects were eliminated from this year’s budget because of a $3.3 million deficit, which still required an infusion of $1.8 million from the city’s reserves to balance the budget. Copeland said the city should receive its first check from the latest SPLOST program in April or May of next year, at which time projects like this can be ramped back up.

  Council member Sandra Vincent spoke up about the budget changes, saying that she had concerns about the mayor handling them unilaterally and said that she and the other members of the council will still be unaware had the community center not been on that meeting’s agenda for discussion. Copeland replied that everything handled by the budget committee in open meetings and the council was made aware. Vincent disputed this, to which Copeland responded that it was all in the current budget which was approved unanimously.

  After about a half-hour of “she said, he said” between the two elected officials, Vincent made a motion to stipulate that in the future, all future budgeted items can be changed only by a majority vote of the mayor and council.

  “That’s the way it’s always been done,” said Copeland.

  “Not, it isn’t,” said Vincent, referring to this year’s change regarding the community center.

  The motion was amended according to a suggestion by the city attorney to state that if an approved project is affected by adoption of a budget or any other action, it must be disclosed to the mayor and council. The motion passed 5-2 with Copeland and council member Roger Pruitt voting in opposition.

  In other business, city administrator Preston Dorsey discussed the estimated budget for the restructuring of Municipal Court. Vincent stated that the purpose of the restructuring is to ensure fairness and equity in the handling of court cases, and she raised questions about the current structure. Dorsey clarified that the court is overseen by the municipal judge and not any members of the police department, as Vincent suggested it might appear.

  Vincent requested that a vote on the matter be delayed until more information can be reviewed, and that McDonough Police Chief Ken Noble be present when the discussion is continued.