Ordinances / Resolutions of Note
- Approve settlement with Charles Hardy
- Delay racial justice resolution
- Approve “The Shoals” housing development
- Speak out against dissolving the ACC Board of Elections
- Allow the demolition of the Saye building
- Reject / proclaim support for racial equity and economic justice
- Approve roundabout at W. Hancock and W. Broad
- Purchase electric vehicles
- Approve Gaines School Road townhomes
- Approve ADDA agreement allowing student apartments downtown
- Approve FY 2026 budget
- Approve community garden for Triangle Plaza
- Authorize fire station on Old Lexington Road
- Place moratorium on new data centers
- Limit short-term rentals in multifamily zones
Approve settlement with Charles Hardy
The commission approved a settlement with Charles Hardy, former director of the First Step homeless encampment, to reimburse him for some personal items he claims to have left behind at the camp when he was removed as director in 2023. The only documentation Hardy provided for these items was a handwritten note.
Voting yes to approve the settlement: Taylor, Wright, Fisher, Culpepper, Thornton
Voting no: Davenport, Link, Myers
Abstaining: Johnson
Absent: Hamby
Proposal made by: Thornton
Passed on January 7, 2025
Delay racial justice resolution
In a chaotic and tense meeting, ACC commissioners chose to delay making a formal statement of support for racial equity on Tuesday despite a large turnout of constituents who urged them to do more for the Black community in Athens.
Read more about this vote here.
Voting yes to delay the resolution: Taylor, Wright, Fisher, Culpepper, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: Davenport, Link, Myers
Abstaining: Johnson
Proposal made by: Thornton
Passed on February 4, 2025
Approve “The Shoals” housing development
ACC Commissioners approved an ambitious housing development off Barnett Shoals Road called “The Shoals despite some disagreement about whether developments that are not affordable for average Athenians should be constructed.
Read more about this vote here.
Voting yes to approve the development: Davenport, Link, Wright, Fisher, Myers, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: Taylor, Johnson
Absent: Culpepper
Proposal made by: Myers
Passed on March 4, 2025
Speak out against dissolving the ACC Board of Elections
When State Representative Houston Gaines filed a bill to dissolve the ACC Board of Elections and take appointment power for the body away from the ACC Commission, Mayor Kelly Girtz drafted a resolution in support of the board’s current makeup.
You can read more about this vote here.
Voting yes to speak out against dissolving the Board of Elections: Davenport, Taylor, Link, Wright, Fisher, Johnson, Myers, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: Culpepper, Thornton
Proposal made by: Link
Passed on April 1, 2025
Allow the demolition of the Saye building
The ACC Commission approved an agreement with Athens First United Methodist Church to allow the demolition of the historic Saye building despite a flood of public comment in opposition.
You can read more about this vote here and here.
Voting yes to allow the demolition: Davenport, Wright, Fisher, Johnson, Culpepper, Myers, Hamby
Voting no: Link, Taylor, Thornton
Proposal made by: Wright
Passed on April 1, 2025
Reject / proclaim support for racial equity and economic justice
Under significant pressure, ACC Commissioners publicly pledged their support for a resolution drafted by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement and promised continued action on racial equity, affordable housing and youth safety.
The vote was not unanimous. In fact, Commissioner Stephanie Johnson made an attempt to vote down the resolution which almost succeeded. Immediately after, commissioners agreed to pass the resolution in an 8-2 vote.
You can read more about the resolution and this pair of votes here.
Voting yes to reject the racial equity resolution: Taylor, Fisher, Johnson, Culpepper, Thornton
Voting no: Davenport, Link, Wright, Myers, Hamby, Girtz
Voting yes to proclaim support for racial equity: Davenport, Link, Taylor, Wright, Fisher, Culpepper, Myers, Hamby
Voting no: Johnson, Thornton
Proposal made by: Johnson / Davenport
Failed / Passed on April 1, 2025
Approve roundabout at W. Hancock and W. Broad
The fate of a proposed roundabout at the intersection of West Hancock Avenue and West Broad Street was briefly thrown into limbo last week when the commission rejected the authorization of eminent domain to purchase the necessary land. The roundabout was later re-approved in a separate vote.
You can read more about this vote here.
Voting yes to approve the roundabout: Link, Wright, Myers, Hamby
Voting no: Davenport, Taylor, Fisher, Johnson, Culpepper, Thornton
Proposal made by: Hamby
Failed on April 1, 2025
Purchase electric vehicles
The ACC Commission approved the purchase of 42 electric vehicles and 36 charging stations for the price of $3.3 million. The expense was approved by voters in the TSPLOST 2023 referendum.
You can read more about this vote here.
Voting yes to purchase the vehicles: Davenport, Link, Wright, Culpepper, Myers, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: Taylor, Fisher, Johnson
Proposal made by: Hamby
Passed on April 1, 2025
Approve Gaines School Road townhomes
The ACC Commission rejected a new development that would have constructed 69 townhomes on Gaines School Road out of traffic and gentrification concerns. Read more about this vote here.
Voting yes to approve the townhomes: Link, Wright, Myers
Voting no: Davenport, Taylor, Fisher, Johnson, Culpepper, Thornton, Hamby
Proposal made by: Wright
Failed on May 6, 2025
Approve ADDA agreement allowing student apartments downtown
The commission narrowly approved a revamped agreement with the Athens Downtown Development Authority which is the first step in allowing a new student apartment complex downtown.
In exchange, the developer will contribute $7.9 million to the affordable housing trust fund and $2.7 million worth of sewer improvements that will be important for future phases of The View at NoDA (aka the Bethel Homes redevelopment). For more information on this vote, check out the Flagpole’s coverage here.
Voting yes to approve the agreement: Davenport, Link, Wright, Culpepper, Hamby, Girtz
Voting no: Taylor, Fisher, Johnson, Myers, Thornton
Proposal made by: Hamby
Passed on June 10, 2025
Approve FY2026 budget
Commissioners approved their fiscal year 2026 budget in a 7-3 vote. Among other things, this budget fully funds the police department’s Real Time Crisis Center, equalizes pay for sheriff’s deputies with that of police officers and cuts property taxes by 0.2 mils. It also cuts $6.7 million from SPLOST and TSPLOST and earmarks $1 million for traffic calming in certain commissioners’ districts only, bypassing the normal process.
To read more about this vote and the FY 2026 budget, check out our article here.
Voting yes to approve the FY 2026 budget: Taylor, Wright, Fisher, Johnson, Culpepper, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: Davenport, Link, Myers
Proposal made by: Fisher
Passed on June 10, 2025
Approve community garden for Triangle Plaza
The ACC Commission approved a community garden, better sidewalks and additional greenspace for 585 Vine Street (also known as Triangle Plaza or “the block”) despite angry comments from some nearby residents who mistakenly believe the new design could allow student housing.
To read more about this vote, check out our article here.
Voting yes to allow a community garden: Davenport, Taylor, Link, Wright, Culpepper, Myers, Hamby
Voting no: Fisher, Johnson, Thornton
Proposal made by: Taylor
Passed on September 2, 2025
Authorize fire station on Old Lexington Road
The ACC Commission authorized the purchase of land on Old Lexington Road for a new fire station #5, ending years of indecision and controversy. Learn more about this vote here.
Voting yes to allow the fire station: Link, Taylor, Wright, Culpepper, Myers, Hamby
Voting no: Davenport, Fisher, Johnson
Absent: Thornton
Proposal made by: Myers
Passed on October 7, 2025
Moratorium on new data centers
The commission voted unanimously to place a temporary ban on new data centers in Athens until standards can be developed to regulate their growth. The ban is currently scheduled to last until March 6, although this date is subject to change. Learn more about this vote here.
Voting yes to ban data centers: Davenport, Link, Taylor, Wright, Fisher, Johnson, Culpepper, Myers, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Link
Passed on December 2, 2025
Limit short-term rentals in multifamily zones
The commission voted 8-1 to expand their restrictions on short-term rentals like AirBnBs and VRBOs, further limiting these types of rentals in multifamily neighborhoods, agricultural neighborhoods and light industrial zones. Learn more about this vote here.
Voting yes to limit short-term rentals: Davenport, Link, Fisher, Johnson, Culpepper, Myers, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: Taylor
Absent: none
Recused: Wright
Proposal made by: Myers
Passed on December 2, 2025