Roswell leaders taking heat over lake resort retreat

Roswell leaders are defending their decision to hold a leadership retreat at a luxury lake resort.

Georgia Newsday was there Thursday as several members of the council left City Hall for the two-day retreat at the Ritz Carlton Hotel at Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee.

"This isn't a vacation. This is work," said Mayor Jere Wood. "The focus of the retreat will be about dealing with the public, dealing with folks like you."

Wood said getting away is important for the council so that they can focus on the issues at hand without the distractions of day-to-day problems at home. City officials told Georgia Newsday eight city leaders and a facilitator would be attending the retreat.

Officials said the hotel rooms cost about $170 per night, plus the cost of meeting room rental and meals.

Officials said the hotel rooms cost about $170 per night, plus the cost of meeting room rental and meals. Geporgia Newsday requested an accounting for the trip, which city leaders said they would provide upon the council's retu.

"I think when you've got decisions to be made in the city of Roswell and the budget the council controls, this is an insignificant expenditure," said Wood.

Taxpayer watchdog group Roswell for Fiscal Responsibility doesn't see it that way. Co-founder Cade Thacker told Georgia Newsday the decision to stay at the Ritz-Carlton resort is a "slap in the face" to city taxpayers.

"We were extremely disappointed," he said. "There's no reason to go that far, no reason for the expense."