Roswell, Johns Creek officials start tenures

Officials in Roswell and Johns Creek say their new mayors and city councils bring an opportunity for more civility following often contentious meetings.

“I think what we’re going to see and what I hope to see is that we have a mayor and council all civilly working together, hopefully for the betterment of our city,” Roswell incumbent Councilman Mike Palermo said during a Monday meeting.

New mayors and council members in the two north Fulton cities were sworn into office at the start of Monday meetings, in chambers that were filled to capacity.

In Roswell, Mayor Kurt Wilson presided over his first meeting with new City Councilmembers Lee Hills, Peter Vanstrom and William Morthland. In addition to Palermo, City Council also includes incumbents Christine Hall and Marcelo Zapata, who was absent.

Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry’s first meeting included new council members Bob Erramilli and Dilip Tunki. Councilwoman Stacy Skinner, who won election in November, had already started serving in the seat vacated by former Councilman Brian Weaver, who resigned his post in an unsuccessful bid for mayor.

Council members Erin Elwood and Chris Coughlin are the only two incumbents serving.

Bradberry served on City Council before he was elected and is only the second mayor to serve in the city since Johns Creek was incorporated in 2006, succeeding Mike Bodker.

During the meeting, the new Johns Creek council had its first disagreement in voting on mayor pro tem, but all remained cordial. Incumbent Councilman Chris Coughlin won the position in a 4-3 vote over Skinner.

Before voting, each council member made a brief case for their pick.

“We did that without being disagreeable, and I’d like to think that will be our new norm in Johns Creek and this council,” Bradberry said.