The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) is narrowing the alternatives for a multi-person commission down to three, with those options to be presented to the full CAC by the end of the month for deliberation.
At a joint subcommittee meeting last Tuesday, members of the structure and research groups identified six options they have found to be the best-suited for Pickens County based on the CAC’s research and information gathered from the first round of public hearings in July.
The research subcommittee is now looking into the cost of those six formats, utilizing (but not limited to) a survey of eight Georgia counties sent out in late June. The research group will discuss their findings with the structure subcommittee during the next joint subcommittee meeting on August 17. The structure subcommittee is then expected to present the three best alternatives to the full CAC during an August 24 meeting.
In an effort to gain some insiders’ insight, the CAC will hear presentations from leaders in Georgia counties that operate using these three final formats.
“We are hoping they will tell us some of the pros and cons of their governments,” said CAC Chair Phil Anderson.
All of the six variations now being considered by the CAC operate using a five-person commission format, making the five-person structure a likely outcome at this point.
“We recognized how awkward a three-person commission would be,” Anderson said. “If two of the members get together, under Georgia’s Sunshine Laws that would be a quorum. We also quickly realized that more than five commissioners would be excessive, particularly when considering cost,” which the CAC has identified as a top issue amongst voters.
“We will eventually be able to explain to voters, with this alternative over here, this is the value you are buying for the cost,” Anderson said. “Here’s what you will get for the money.”
Anderson also noted that an overwhelming majority of Georgia’s counties now operate under a five-person commission format and all eight counties surveyed by the CAC use the five-person board.
Here are the commission-structure options now being considered by the CAC:
•Five districts, five part-time commissioners elected by district, part-time chair and vice chair elected by board of commissioners, county administrator.
•Four districts, part-time chair elected countywide, four part-time commissioners elected by district, county administrator.
•Four districts, full-time chair elected countywide, four part-time commissioners elected countywide representing districts, county manager as determined by the elected board of commissioners.
•Four districts, part-time chair elected countywide, four part-time commissioners elected by district, county manager.
•Four districts, full-time chair elected countywide, four part-time commissioners elected by district, optional county manager/administrator as determined by the elected board of commissioners
•Five districts, five part-time commissioners elected by district, part-time chair and vice chair elected by board of commissioners, county manager.
You can find a chart outlining the strengths and weaknesses of the variations on Georgia county governments by visiting www.PickensProgress.com and clicking on the “Moving to a multi-person commission” link. The chart is the first bulleted item under the “Basic Information” heading.
The “Forms of County Government” link (also located under “Basic Information”) includes flow charts of the power structure of each commission style now used in Georgia.
Following Moving to a Multi-Person Commission links for other recent stories, including:
• October hearings to have different format
• Citizen Advisory Committee schedule for remainder of 2009
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