Now that the mayor has been given a mandate from the public and the so-called “gang of five” will shortly become a gang of four, it is time for the Augusta Commission to get to work on the city’s most pressing issue: hiring a permanent city administrator.
Much of the talk in the Marble Palace currently centers around a proposed charter review committee; however, the ship that is Augusta’s government has been helmed by a junior officer when a competent first officer is needed.
Takiyah Douse has served in an interim capacity for longer than the last permanent administrator’s entire tenure.
Douse could have moved easily into the permanent role with skilled leadership, but that never happened. In fact, her tenure has been marred with incompetence and controversy.
When Gold Cross effectively walked off the job, Douse responded like a deer caught in headlamps; she froze up, and it was the mayor who called the governor and made sure that ambulances remained on the streets.
When the city’s computer network was hacked, Douse froze again; this time it was Tamika Allen, director of the city IT Department who saved the day, working with the mayor and the city attorney to make sure no sensitive data was compromised while Douse hid in her office.
Douse has protected problem department directors such as Maurice McDowell. In that case, again, it was the mayor who stepped in and demanded McDowell resign, lest his skirt-chasing and arrogant behavior be made public.
At this point, the mayor has made his nomination, and,according to the charter, it will take a member of the commission to place the nomination back on the agenda.
As soon as July 1 rolls around, a member of the commission needs to revive the nomination of Tamika Allen and get the city’s ship back on course.
