Augusta’s Charter Review Committee on Thursday formalized audit and ethics language for its recommendations but left some details for the city commission to finalize.
Roughly six pages of audit provisions outlined creation of an audit oversight committee and internal auditor position.
The committee approved a two-year contract term with unlimited renewals in a unanimous vote taken before committee secretary Angela Bakos arrived.
Consultant Rex Facer of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government said a fixed term is recommended, though Georgia local governments often appoint auditors indefinitely.
A longer term, he said, lets the auditor “have the difficult conversations without fear of losing their position.”
Committee member Lee Powell, who has pushed for the audit requirement, supported a term longer than one year. Member Frank Lewis said two years allows a first to get acquainted and a second to take a deeper dive.
The five-member oversight committee would include the mayor, mayor pro tem, finance committee chair and two at-large members who have financial and management expertise.
The oversight committee’s duties include:
- Reviewing the audit plan and submitting the auditor’s budget
- Presenting audits publicly and monitoring corrective actions
- Selecting and monitoring the external firm conducting the annual financial audit
The internal auditor would:
- Serve as a commission employee at department-director pay
- Conduct financial and performance audits of all departments, offices, boards, agencies, activities and programs
- Ensure legal authorization, proper resource use, program effectiveness and reporting accuracy
- Detect fraud, abuse or illegal activity
- Have unrestricted access to employees, information and records
- Report suspected illegal acts to the “chief prosecuting authority”
Ethics and transparency
By 10-0 vote the committee also adopted ethics and transparency language, including guidance on meeting attendance.
Participation language
Members are expected to attend and remain for the full duration of commission and committee meetings. Actual attendance rules are left to the commission, which must adopt a policy and investigate breaches.
Committee member Sheffie Robinson said the approach allows flexibility and inclusiveness.
The ethics provisions addressed conflicts of interest, the ethical use of public property and position, hiring and procurement guidelines and the reporting of violations, including anonymously.
The ethics board
An 11-member board of ethics — one appointee from each commissioner and the mayor — would serve two-year terms with term limits, investigate alleged violations, issue findings and recommend penalties.
Details left to ordinance
Interim General Counsel Jim Plunkett advised moving several item details to ordinance instead of the charter, including:
- Training and certification requirements
- Limits on lobbying by commissioners or senior staff on behalf of contractors
- A ban on commissioners, employees or their family members contracting with the government
- Specifications for banned gifts, honoraria or benefits
Most of the language approved Thursday appeared in PDFs on the committee’s website, but was not labeled as versions to be voted on.
The lack of clarity excludes the public, said Gayla Keesee, co-chair of the League of Women Voters of the CSRA.
“The structure of this charter review continues to shut the public out of participation,” she said.
