Albany mayor, city commissioners sworn in
City government kicks off new year with board appointments
By Carlton Fletcher
ALBANY — After Mayor Dorothy Hubbard and city commissioners Jon Howard, Roger Marietta and Tommie Postell were sworn into office for new four-year terms Monday evening, the Albany City Commission got down to business, appointing a number of citizens to boards and commissions for the new year.
In keeping with its recent trend of naming pastors to key positions, the City Commission selected Samuel Sneed over three other candidates to replace Jay Sharpe on the Utility Board. Sharpe chose not to seek a full term on the board after completing two years of an unexpired term.
The commission also returned Bob Hutchinson to the Utility Board but did not reappoint Chad Warbington, who left his post on the utilities authority for an unsuccessful run against Marietta for the Ward IV commission seat.
Commissioners selected Tom Gieryic, who has been instrumental in the “Back the Blue” campaign in support of local law enforcement, to fill a vacant seat on the Police Civilian Review Board and named Thronateeska Heritage Center/Flint RiverQuarium Director Tommy Gregors to the Citizens Transportation Committee.
Former Albany Fire Department Chief James Carswell was approved by the City Commission to serve on the Fire Code Board of Appeals, while Victoria Johnson, Michael Meyer von Bremen and Thomas Duck were appointed to the city’s Board of Ethics.
Other positions were filled by current appointees who asked to be reappointed.
The board also voted to name Ward III Commissioner B.J. Fletcher mayor pro tem for the calendar year. Fletcher follows Ward II Commissioner Bobby Coleman in the position, the method of succession determined by ward representation.
Prior to the swearing-in ceremonies, which were carried out by Probate Court Judge Nancy Stephenson, the commission voted to give City Manager Sharon Subadan the authority to sign a subordination agreement related to the city’s right of first refusal on property Albany Area Primary Health Care purchased from the city at 1300 and 1306 Newton Road; named Coleman the city’s voting delegate at the Georgia Municipal Association’s membership meeting Jan. 24, and signed off on the results of the Nov. 4 municipal election in which Hubbard and Marietta were re-elected.
Probate Court Judge Nancy Stephenson congratulates Ward VI Albany City Commissioner Tommie Postell after swearing the veteran official into office. Stephenson is among an alarming number of Probate Court judges who contracted COVID-19. Stephenson died of the disease.
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