Augusta’s Charter Review Committee has released what’s expected to be the first of several surveys for local residents.
The survey consists of 12 questions that focus primarily on Augusta’s form of government, including how commissioners are elected and who has authority over top city staff.
Committee members have been posting the survey on social media. Member Steven Foushee asked his Facebook friends to complete the survey by Thursday if possible. The committee has its first public hearing scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Augusta Municipal Building.
The survey begins by asking respondents what commission district they live in or if they don’t know. It does not provide an option for non-residents to respond and is generally limited to one response per device.
TAKE THE CHARTER REVIEW SURVEY HERE
The survey goes on to ask if 10 is the best number of commissioners to serve on the Augusta Commission. Reducing the number or eliminating the two super district commissioners is a potential change being considered by the committee.
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It also asks if commissioners should be elected by district, as they are now, or at large. Changing to at-large representation is one change being suggested by the committee.
The seventh question makes several assertions – including that the city administrator reports to the mayor – then asks if Augusta needs an administrator or manager to run the government. In the current structure, Augusta administrator Tameka Allen reports to the commission and mayor.
A city administrator operates as an assistant to the mayor, running day-to-day operations. A city manager runs day-to-day operations and is accountable to the commission, usually, without a mayor. Do you feel Augusta-Richmond County needs a city administrator or city manager to be most effective? City Administrator (current) City Manager Neither Unsure
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Committee Chair Marcie Wilhelmi said the question was designed to “draw a distinction” between the administrator and manager.
The committee is working with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia on the charter review process. It has an eighth meeting scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday followed by a subcommittee meeting and the public hearing.
