Hephzibah-area residents and a few familiar faces presented a skeptical perspective at the last of three scheduled public hearings on the revision of the Augusta-Richmond County charter.
The Augusta Commission-appointed Charter Review Committee conducted the hearing Tuesday at Diamond Lakes Regional Park. Input from the few dozen who spoke was recorded on video and posted on YouTube.
Several including former school system Trustee Wayne Frazier questioned the need to change the charter. The document lays out the structure of the consolidated government, with power concentrated in the Augusta Commission. Mayor Garnett Johnson has led the push to revise the document.
“Explain why the charter needs to be changed, and what part of the charter isn’t working,” Frazier said. Next Ellis Albright, president of the CSRA Business League, noted that 90% of city business is approved by consent agenda, meaning without discussion or disagreement.
Others sought change. Gayla Keesee, a community activist and co-president of the League of Women Voters of the CSRA, had multiple requests including for a professional city manager, who could “de-politicize day-to-day operations.” The new government should be “representative, responsive, transparent and accountable.” If the mayor has a veto, “it must come with sufficient safeguards,” she said. Moreover, the committee shouldn’t be allowed to recommend changes without an eight-vote supermajority, she said. Six of 11 votes are currently required.
Hugh Jones said he’d opposed consolidation in 1996, but now sees harm in shrinking the government, as some committee members want. “We don’t need limited government,” he said. “When you have three people, four people, you can get in cahoots and do what you want to do.” And a smaller commission would lessen representation of the growing Black majority, he said.
Former Commissioner Bill Fennoy, who now lives in south Richmond County, said the mayor and commission posts should be partisan offices, and their elections should be moved from mid-year back to November. Turnout in November is two and three times that of the mid-year contests, he said.
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Several speakers questioned the process being used. “Were these members vetted for conflicts of interest?” asked Ester Moore. The commission had few requirements other than residency and not being a current or former elected official or member of another board.
Others mentioned the area’s shortage of grocery and retail outlets. “I would like to see a grocery store and restaurants down on my side of town,” said Inger Carter.
“I punish myself daily to spend my money in Richmond County,” added educator Johnica Mitchell. The area wants more, but lacks the infrastructure, she said. Roads barely support the garbage trucks that use them, while new apartment dwellers uprooted from the city don’t have transportation, she said.
Clarence Kendrick asked why the committee’s revisions won’t be going back to the commission for formal approval. They will be sent to the legislature, which may change them, as well as the commission, then to voters in a referendum, according to committee documents.
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“I see you operating, and you got the same ineffectiveness as our commission,” Kendrick told the committee.
Former Commissioner Alvin Mason, who resigned last month for health reasons, spoke for several minutes. A government with “unchecked power” will likely see officials abuse that power, he said. Mason also disagreed with one proposal the committee is considering, giving the mayor power over city management, budgeting and other matters.
“I do not believe that we need a strong mayor government; I do not believe that,” Mason said.
Former Commissioner Marion Williams asked why the “elephant still in the room” – race – isn’t being discussed. In the community, people believe the committee’s intent is to reduce the number of commissioners to five and have them run at-large, he said. Williams also questioned why the committee is revising a document other than the original charter or an amended version of it.
Augusta’s Charter Review Committee meets to conduct business at 10 a.m. Thursday at Augusta Municipal Building. At 1 p.m., the committee’s subcommittees on finance and Augusta’s form of government are scheduled to meet.
