Proposed motions to consolidate Augusta law enforcement and create a strong-mayor city did not come to pass during contentious Thursday meetings about revising the local government charter.
The Charter Review Committee’s “form of government” subcommittee floated the motions on an agenda Wednesday, drawing concerned parties to its semimonthly meetings including Richmond County Marshal Ramone Lamkin.
Lamkin, an elected official whose department would be subsumed by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office under the proposal, said he was concerned and upset that the group would take up such a change without consulting him.
“We had no communication. Y’all are discussing my office, our office, and nobody contacted me in any form or fashion,” he said. “When you have too much power, it’s going to corrupt.”
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Roderick Pearson, Mayor Garnett Johnson’s appointee to the committee, admitted he authored four of the motions. They include consolidating law enforcement under the sheriff and granting the mayor sole authority over a city administrator or manager and the city budget — authority now shared with the 10-member Augusta Commission.
Pearson, who said he is related by marriage to Sheriff Gino Brantley, defended the merger as a way to get “all hands on deck.”
Pearson questioned 911 Director Daniel Dunlap, whose department he also proposed placing under the sheriff, about accountability. “Have you ever been evaluated?” Pearson asked. Dunlap replied not in 8.5 years, adding there was “constant check-in” with the administrator but no formal review.
Committee member Charlie Coleman opposed moving the marshal under the sheriff but supported shifting codes enforcement under the marshal. “You can’t put everything under one department – then you do not have proficiency,” Coleman said.
Former Commissioner Ben Hasan warned against merging city offices with elected departments. “Whatever department he takes on from city government, now the commissioners and the mayor have an opportunity to get into his business,” Hasan said.
Subcommittee chair Steve Foushee said no vote was planned Thursday. “These motions for consideration or discussion apparently are very contentious points for some people,” he said. “We’re not here to make any decisions today.”
Foushee added that the committee appeared in “complete consensus” that a manager form of government was preferable to an administrator, while many in the community had warned him against creating a strong mayor. At member Sheffie Robinson’s suggestion, debate over to whom a manager would report was referred to the full committee.
Survey and hearing disputes
The subcommittee met after a heated morning session where members questioned the integrity of a community survey and public hearings. Suspicions of ballot-stuffing and hearings stacked with like-minded participants surfaced, along with accusations that proposed charter changes are meant to dilute minority voting strength.
Pearson responded that the local government and committee are already saturated with Black voices.
“Just because a Black face is there doesn’t mean they’re supporting their people,” Robinson said.
Member Clint Bryant urged the group to stay focused and pressed consultants from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government for more data. He said community members were critical of the survey, which had about 1,300 responses as of Thursday.
“Based on the number and the percentage, how much can we really base our thought process on this survey?” he asked.
Robinson reminded members the survey was only informational. “We are not voting,” she said.
Serving as parliamentarian, Augusta staff attorney Zena McClain Haymon recommended training in parliamentary procedure and decorum for committee members.
