LEGACY. LEADERSHIP. MATURITY VOLUME 22 NUMBER 48
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MARCH 18, 2017
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
Jones files ethics complaint against DeKalb’s ethics officer
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tate Rep. Vernon Jones has filed an ethics complaint against DeKalb County’s Ethics Officer Stacey Kalberman for violating state laws that prohibit the ethics officer from involvement in the county’s political affairs. Jones filed the report on March 15, citing his own personal observations and media reports of Kalberman actively working to get legislation passed to make changes to the DeKalb County Board of Ethics. The state ethics law, passed in 2015, states in Section 22Å (i)(2): “The ethics officer shall not be involved in partisan or nonpartisan political activities or the political affairs of DeKalb County.” Additionally, the Board of Ethics’ own website states the ethics officer must have “no involvement in DeKalb County politics.” Jones said Kalberman was down at the Georgia Capitol on March 6, 13 and 14 lobbying members of the
DeKalb legislative delegation, also in violation of state laws prohibiting anyone who is not registered and approved as a lobbyist. Reached about the complaint, Kalberman said she could not comment on it because she had not seen it. Asked whether she had been lobbying at the Capitol, she said “No, I have not.” In Jones’ complaint, however, minutes from the Board of Ethics’ state the board voted 6-0 last October to direct the Ethics Officer to ask the DeKalb Delegation for changes to the Code of Ethics. Jones’ complaint against Kalberman comes amidst a battle between the House of Representatives’ DeKalb Policy Committee members who are trying to change the way the Board of Ethics members are appointed. The legislators deadlocked 3-3 on State Rep. Scott Holcomb’s local bill on March 13. Also introduced on the Senate side was SB273 mirroring Hol-
comb’s local bill. Jones said the bill should be halted until a judge decides on a legal challenge by former DeKalb Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton. “We need to wait for that decision before we start changing the laws,” said Jones. “The Ethics Board needs Stacey Kalberman State Rep.Vernon Jones a comprehensive overhaul to protect approved a referendum to establish the the innocent and hold the guilty acnew board last November, replacing countable, including the ethics board’s the former board previously chosen by members and their employees.” the CEO and county commissioners. The new board, which started Sutton’s attorney, Dwight Thomas, work in January, is responsible for said there are too many holes in the reviewing allegations of improper be- current law. havior of county employees and elect- “In her (Kalberman) zeal to pursue ed officials and hiring a full-time ethics officer to oversee the operations, according to House Bill 597. Voters See Ethics complaint, page 11
Arabia National Heritage Area unveils signage program South River Kyak Trail launched
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rabia Mountain National Heritage Area officials, DeKalb County commissioners and other key partners unveiled renderings of the signage that will mark trailheads and other areas of historic and natural interests in the National
Heritage Area. The unveiling followed another big announcement on the same day: the DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs’ launch of the South River Kyak Access Point at 4460 Panola Road, Lithonia.
Once that project is completed, a path will provide access to the edge of the South River Water Trail for non-motorized watercraft. Mera Cardenas, executive director of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, expressed excitement over the South River Water project as she announced the March 16 Arabia signage program. She said the comprehensive program would be constructed in phases for the “world class” attraction, which sits in far Southeast DeKalb. “This sign project will allow us to build gateways to welcome visitors to DeKalb County and the National Heritage area at sites like Vaughters Farm, the city of Lithonia and Flat Rock Archives,” said Cardenas, adding that trail users will no longer have to wonder how far they have to go when they enter the trail. She said every trailhead will
have a kiosk and a map. Roadway signage, Cardenas said, will help people unfamiliar with the area identify the sites of interest that have historic and natural interests. DeKalb County Commissioners Mereda Davis Johnson and Gregory Adams, helped unveil the concept drawings and the granite stones donated by the Lithonia Quarry for the signage project. Johnson, who represents District 5 where the National Heritage Area is located, was recognized for introducing a resolution to secure approximately $563,000 in funding for the project. The money will come from the county’s hotel/motel tax. Johnson said her husband, Congressman Hank Johnson, who was on DeKalb County’s Board of Commis-
See Arabia Mountain, page 11