Operations committee advances revisions to BAC handbook, recommends $25 stipend and TAD consolidation

The Government Operations Committee (GOC) operations committee on Aug. 18, 2025 reviewed a redraft of the Athens‑Clarke County boards, authorities and commissions handbook and endorsed a set of recommendations for the full commission to consider, including a proposed $25 per‑meeting stipend for locally appointed BAC members and consolidation of six tax allocation district (TAD) advisory committees into a single oversight body.

The handbook changes the committee discussed cover transparency (official ACCGov email accounts and open‑records guidance), meeting practice (streaming expectations and a limit on virtual attendance that does not count toward quorum), mandatory online training with a six‑month completion window and membership rules (restricting ACCGov employees and local elected officials from serving unless an ordinance specifically allows it).

Why it matters: The handbook will set standard procedures for advisory bodies that advise Athens‑Clarke County leaders. The proposed stipend and the shift of several advisory bodies into consolidated or reclassified commissions would affect members’ compensation, county staffing and the FY27 budget if the full commission approves the changes.

Committee recommendations and details

- Stipend. The committee recommended compensating locally appointed, county‑controlled BAC members $25 per meeting, limited to one meeting per month, with quarterly payments. Staff estimated the FY27 cost at roughly $60,000–$75,000 if paid at scale; the stipend would be included in the FY27 budget only if the full commission approves it.

- Email, open records and executive sessions. The handbook would minimize use of personal accounts and encourage ACCGov email addresses for BAC communication to streamline open‑records responses. The draft asks BACs to notify the county attorney at least one business day before an intended executive session so the attorney’s office can verify the stated legal purpose and attend if needed. Staff cautioned that some state or regional bodies cannot be required to use ACCGov accounts.

- Technology and internal communication. Committee members discussed using Microsoft Teams or other platforms for internal BAC communications, but staff cautioned about open‑records access and varying member comfort with technology. Staff described an existing process for training and account creation managed with IT and liaison support.

- Streaming and recordings. Streaming main BAC meetings is described as an expectation rather than a legal requirement; staff said recordings may substitute when live streaming fails and that official records remain the minutes.

- Training and removal. The draft requires online BAC training within six months of appointment and provides a 90‑day notice if training is incomplete; failure to finish by 180 days could lead to termination of the appointment with an appeal process described in the handbook.

- Membership, appointments and reappointments. The draft clarifies that BAC members must generally be Athens‑Clarke County residents and should not be ACCGov employees or elected officials unless an ordinance explicitly permits that role (examples cited where ordinance requires representation are pension and deferred compensation boards). The committee recommended a limited expedited reappointment path: the mayor would convene a three‑person working committee to recommend first reappointments; if that committee declines an expedited reappointment, the seat would be opened in the normal “all‑call” process.

- TAD oversight and other reorganizations. The committee recommended consolidating six TAD advisory committees into a single oversight committee (with the recommendation that each TAD be represented) and formalizing SPLOST/TSPLOST oversight as a single commission rather than multiple mayoral committees. Staff also noted prior recommendations to return the construction board of appeals to state jurisdiction and to move the commission on people with disabilities’ scope under the human rights commission.

- Attendance and virtual participation. The handbook reflects state law allowing virtual participation in limited circumstances. The draft restates that virtual attendance beyond the allowed exceptions does not count toward a quorum and describes an attendance expectation (roughly 50% of prior meetings) and a BAC vote procedure for removal when absenteeism is a concern.

- Website, social media and visual identity. The draft discourages independent BAC websites and prefers ACCGov pages maintained by liaisons; social‑media accounts are discouraged but may be authorized through liaison review. Staff said a small number of legacy BAC sites exist and would be grandfathered until formally changed.

Committee action and next steps

At the meeting the committee approved the April 21 meeting minutes (motion moved and seconded; “All in favor” was stated). The committee also agreed to forward its recommended handbook revisions, the stipend concept for FY27, and the conceptual changes to tier‑2 BACs to the full commission for consideration and ordinance drafting. Staff provided a timeline for the appointment cycle: advertisement Oct. 24, 2025; applications due Nov. 7; selection Nov. 13; interviews tentatively Nov. 20.

Quotations from the meeting

Staff summarized the draft handbook changes and described the editing process as "a Frankenstein of a track changes document," urging the group to review discrete topic sections rather than the entire marked‑up document at once. On technology, a staff member warned, "I don't know that we're super well set up for open records issues related to those platforms at this time." On training, staff said the county receives automated completion reports every two weeks and that the system shows progress in percentage steps.

What was not decided

The committee endorsed the conceptual changes and recommended forwarding them to the full commission; final approval of the handbook language, stipend funding in FY27 and any ordinance changes will be determined by the full commission and, where required, during the FY27 budget process. The committee noted there may be pushback on consolidation of TADs and on stipends once cost implications are reviewed.

Ending

Staff will prepare the revised manual and supporting materials for a full commission meeting; ordinance changes to implement the membership and TAD recommendations will be drafted between staff and the attorney’s office and returned to the commission as stand‑alone items or as part of the commission packet for approval.