Brookhaven appoints Parks Bond Citizen Oversight Committee
Members of the Parks Bond Citizens Oversight Committee with the Mayor and City Council. From left: Dist. 2 Councilmember John Park, Dist. 1 Councilmember Linley Jones, Lori Gray, Sean Pharr, Deborah Proctor, Mayor John Ernst, Mickey O’Brien, Dist. 4 Councilmember Joe Gebbia, and Dist. 3 Councilmember Bates Mattison.
Brookhaven, GA, Jan. 22, 2019 – Today, the Brookhaven City Council appointed five residents to the Brookhaven Parks Bond Citizen Oversight Committee (COC). A total of 15 applications were received to fill the five-member committee. Mayor John Ernst nominated, and the City Council subsequently approved, the following:
· Sean Pharr (Technical, 1-year term): Pharr is employed at AECOM Technical Services and has worked on a wide range of government capital contracts for 20 years.
· Lori Gray (Citizen, 1-year term): Gray is a resident living on the south side of Brookhaven.
· James Baugnon (Technical, 2-year term): Baugnon is a developer of large mixed-use communities and has experience with the Trust for Public Land.
· Mickey O’Brien (Technical, 2-year term): O’Brien’s experience includes managing the design and construction of several parks, notably Piedmont Park and Centennial Olympic Park and currently serves on the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Grounds and Facility Committee.
· Deborah Proctor (Citizen, 2-year term): Proctor, a Master Gardener since 2000, was formerly the Historic Preservation and Open Space Planner for Guilford County in Greensboro, NC, and a resident from the north side of Brookhaven.
“It was a tough choice, with so many Brookhaven residents volunteering to serve,” said Mayor Ernst. “I believe that we have five great committee members who have an incredible depth of knowledge and are ready to get to work.”
The COC shall advise and make recommendations to the Administration, the contracted capital program management firm and City Council on the implementation and execution of the construction of park amenities as funded by the Park General Obligation Bonds. In addition, the COC may also review Park Bond performance audits, assist the Capital Program Manager in recommending project phasing to minimize the impact on park operations, and assist in making recommendations to City Council for scope reductions or additions based on available resources.
On Nov. 6, 2018, voters approved a referendum which dedicates $40 million to capital improvements in Brookhaven parks and facilities, identified in City Council-approved master plans. The bonds were validated in DeKalb Superior Court on Jan. 8.
City Manager Christian Sigman updated the Mayor and Council on a related development regarding the parks bond. A competitive bid process to appoint a professional project management firm to manage the rest of the parks projects was completed and evaluations are underway. Sigman advised a recommendation would be made at the Feb. 12 City Council meeting.
The public is encouraged to view the recommended project lists and Park Bond Referendum report on the City’s website here: https://www.brookhavenga.gov/parks-bond-ref
