Augusta’s Charter Review Committee takes up a series of motions Thursday that could significantly alter the city’s form of government, if they pass legislative and voter approval.
The seven motions move forward from a subcommittee meeting two weeks ago that one member called “dysfunctional.” Three of the motions arrive with no recommendation by the subcommittee, while four were approved by it. All may be voted on by the 11-member committee.
The motions are:
- Transition to county manager from a county administrator form of government. This received a 2-2 vote at the subcommittee level, so it has no recommendation.
- Mayor appoints and removes county manager and attorney, subject to “advice and consent” of Augusta Commission. No recommendation.
- Manager reports directly to mayor, subject to advice and consent of commission. Manager can hire and fire department heads. Recommended for approval.
- Mayor shall be spokesperson, advocate and enforcer of city ordinances. No recommendation.
- Transition to county manager form. Similar to the first motion, this passed the subcommittee 4-0.
- Manager reports to the commission and has authority to hire and fire department heads under established policies. Recommended for approval.
- Mayor is official spokesperson, advocate and enforcer. Recommended for approval.
The committee meets at 10 a.m. in the Augusta Commission chamber at 535 Telfair St. The committee’s subcommittee on finance meets at 1:30 p.m. in Room 492.
Ahead of the motions, the committee will hear from three speakers including Gayla Keesee, whose topic is transparency and public input. Keesee, co-chair of the League of Women Voters of the CSRA, has been vocal about the public’s right to participate in and be informed about the committee’s actions.
Tuesday, she spoke to the Augusta Commission of a need to hold the University of Georgia consultants being paid $320,000 to guide the charter review process accountable.
Also scheduled to speak Thursday is Angie Cox, president and CEO of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce. The chamber has been a constant presence at charter committee meetings and supports creating a more efficient government.
The third speaker is Anita Rookard, the city’s human resources director.
At the 1:30 p.m. meeting the Finance subcommittee is scheduled to hear an overview of a proposed independent internal audit department and to vote on creating such a department.
The plan calls for creating an audit oversight committee consisting of the mayor, manager and county attorney. The committee would select an independent auditor with commission approval.
