The Citizens Advisory Committee on Commission Structure has selected, by vote, the form of government that will appear on the November 2010 ballot as an alternative to the current sole-commissioner format.
While voting was tight, with each of the final three options receiving a comparable number of votes, Option C ultimately came in ahead of the pack.
Of the 42 original CAC members, 24 cast votes in the Thursday meeting.
Option C operates with four districts, four part-time commissioners elected by district, a part-time chair elected countywide and a county manager.
Winning option C is known as a commission-manager form, one of five commission forms now used in Georgia.
According to the Carl Vinson Institute’s Handbook for Georgia’s County Commissioners, just over 30-percent of Georgia counties utilize the commission-manager form. Under this structure the elected board of commissioners is responsible for prime policy-making roles and acts as overseer for executive functions. However, a board-appointed county manager (similar to a CEO) handles the “day-to-day” functions of the county, including appointment of county department heads and budget preparation.
The manager is hired for his or her expertise and experience in administrative/executive duties, and, while the manager is held accountable for these executive functions, he or she reports to the board.
The board of commissioners maintains its ultimate control over executive functions through its ability to remove the county manager.
CAC members were allowed to make final comments before voting began, with members pointing out what they felt were the pros and cons of remaining options.
Member Larry Butler offered that a Pickens resident he recently spoke with, “saw all the work [the CAC] was doing and felt they didn’t have anything to add…they were confident this committee would come back with the best one.”
Following discussion, members selected their first choice from the three choices remaining on the table. And the choice least favored by the group as a whole was removed from the running. Members then voted again, selecting their top choice between the two options that remained.
“There was very thoughtful voting,” said CAC chair Phil Anderson in closing. “There was very thorough discussion, and the close voting tells me how good the three options were.”
The CAC is now working to draft legislation for the option chosen, legislation that will need approval by the Georgia General Assembly before the county can legally add a multi-person commission/sole commission question to the ballot in 2010.
The draft of this legislation will appear in next week’s Progress for public review.
Three public hearings will be held in late October, early November. The public will be asked for final comments and input regarding the legislation drafted to place the question on the ballot.
Public hearing dates are as follows:
Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. – Public meeting, Chamber of Commerce, Jasper
Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. – Public meeting, Hill City Elementary School
Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. – Public meeting, New Lebanon Presbyterian Church.
In November, 2010 voters will be asked which form of government, multi-person or sole-commissioner, they prefer. That 2010 vote will be binding. If a majority of voters choose the multi-person commission, the new form of government will go into effect January of 2013.
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| PHOTO BY CARL VINSON INSTITUTE |
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