This past Wednesday there was a brief press conference held in front of the Municipal Building. It made me think of the great singing group, the ” Temptations.”
The song? None other than “Cloud Nine,” because that is what the mayor will be on when he gets the people’s vote for the mayor’s seat to have an equal vote.
Mayor Garnett Johnson spoke with deliberation and directly to the reasons why the mayor should have a vote; not an authoritarian vote, but an equal vote.
Many notables and much respected people stood behind the mayor at his press conference. Co-author of the city charter Senator Charles Walker spoke of the need to address the 30 year-old charter.
Former Mayor Bob Young spoke as to the need to vote to allow the seating mayor a vote.
Even Mayor Deke Copenhaver, who has been sidelined recently with his successful battle against cancer, came out in support for the mayor to have a vote.
Former Mayor Hardie Davis Jr. also made a rare appearance and spoke as to the financial benefit it would bring to help move the city forward.
While there is always talk of Augusta’s mayor having more power behind the scenes, our mayor really doesn’t.
The office is only responsible to answer to the mayor’s office budget. The power the mayor has is to sign official city documents. In the mayor’s absence even the mayor pro tem can sign them, as can current Mayor Pro Tem Branden Garett.
The mayor’s vote will be only as powerful as a commissioner’s vote. No more, no less.
Giving the mayor a vote will help with the abstentions, the get up and go to the back room to avoid a vote and just plain no-shows when a commissioner just doesn’t want to vote on an issue or item.
The “abstain” vote has become a tool of manipulation and vote control. It has slowed the forward progress of some matters to a stalemate.
If a voter is worried about a mayor misusing the vote, just think of some of the commissioners that are elected. Ask yourself, “Do they really vote in my best interest?”
Every voter should actually vet the candidates.
Voters should make it their business to see what qualifications the candidates have. What about their experience, both in life and business? What points of view do they have on important issues?
Voters need to know more than just the platform they are running on; keeping in mind that one commissioner can never accomplish anything on their own. It takes six votes.
Also this past week Dr. Donna Marain presented to the commission a preliminary jail population study.
The presentation was with quick and in depth information. It was complete with charts, sections and numbers to support the findings. Now, the report is too long and in-depth to include here. However, you may go back to the finance committee and watch. It would be worth the time.
I personally agreed with much of the report, but not all in the entirety.
A part I did pay close attention to was the bail and probation portion. Many minor offenders go back into jail simply because they run afoul with the probation cost and can’t afford to make the probation payments.
It appears that Commissioners Wayne Guilfoyle, Marion Williams and Sean Frantom desperately tried to address this problem six or seven years ago to no avail.
Some first time minor offenders may do as well with a fine and unsupervised probation. Other offenders of minor offenses could do as well with a ticket and a court date. It is a violation by violation call.
Make room for repeat and hardcore offenders. Some have been in jail for years with no court adjudication. Why? Some past offenders that are under a no-gun order have been released without charges when caught with a weapon. Why?
A felon caught possessing a firearm is committing a felony even if the gun is never unholstered.
Maybe the court system should have a night court to clear cases with more efficiency. This might help clear the jail population of the less violent and threatening inmates. Heck, weekend court would be a plus. But again, no one in the government works nights and weekends except law enforcement and first responders.
It is interesting to note that Marain compiled and presented the report on her own volition without payment. She was just being a concerned citizen. Kudos, Dr. Marain.
Now, no committee or commission meeting would be worth its salt if there was not a huge blunder to occur. This past Tuesday was no exception.
One of the city’s household and business garbage collectors was to give a presentation.
There were booklets all passed out to the commission, the pages of plus material and of course the flash drive was at the ready for insertion so all could be seen on the chamber screens.
All that was missing was the director of procurement.
As all waited for her tardy arrival, a small bit of other business was handled.
When the presentation was about to begin, Procurement Director Geri Sams went into a state of “the vapors.”
It seems she had no idea that a presentation was going to be given. No, no, no you can’t do that, Sams protested, the bids for the contract are still in procurement. So, no presentation.
They gathered up their materials and went home.
Commissioners Sean Frantom and Jordan Johnson were to make an appearance at the WWF show at the arena this past Saturday. Yes indeed, Augusta’s tag team the Arena Boyz was in the ring, trash-talking and laying the smackdown on the last WWE show to be held in the old JBA.
I sure hope someone taped the occasion so it can be shared.
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
