The city of Rollingwood celebrated the career of retiring four-term mayor Thom Farrell at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, and incoming Mayor Roxanne McKee and council members Sara Hutson and Gavin Massingill were sworn into office. The three ran unopposed for their positions.
“Rollingwood is not only our home, it’s our community,” Farrell said. “My wife and I came here in 1980, and Rollingwood has just meant the world to us. I know the city is in good hands, and we’re going to go forward and do some great things.”
On behalf of the city, McKee presented Farrell a plaque for his leadership and community spirit as the longest-serving mayor in Rollingwood history.
“I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Thom Farrell for his tireless efforts, his leadership, his vision, his encouragement, his dedication to the betterment of this community, and last, but not least, his mischievous scenes of humor,” she said.
Farrell credited much of his success to the council members with whom he had the opportunity to serve.
“It’s been an honor to serve with them,” he said. “Rollingwood could not afford to hire the volunteers we have on our city council and boards.”
Hutson was sworn into her fourth term on City Council.
“Like Thom, Sara spent countless hours working for the good of Rollingwood,” McKee said. “In particular, she has focused on drainage, water and other utility issues, and since she’s a civil engineer we’ve really benefited from her expertise.”
Massingill began his first term on the council Wednesday.
“Gavin has been on the Planning and Zoning Commission and has contributed in significant ways,” McKee said. “He studied the drainage criteria manual and ordinance and has given some meaningful input to those documents, as well as others.”