Council committees review broad charter amendments including elections, department qualifications and parks governance

Baberton City Council committees spent the evening reviewing a package of proposed charter amendments submitted by the Charter Review Commission that would change how local elections are run, adjust the composition of council, add minimum qualifications for several department heads and reorganize the Parks and Recreation Commission.

The charter package includes a proposal to move the city to nonpartisan municipal elections and language updating candidate signature thresholds, a recommendation to reduce elected ward councilmembers (from six to four, with a president) and several new qualifying requirements for appointed or elected department positions, including the director of public service, the finance director and the law director.

“I'm asking everybody to please remain respectful because I know we might have some passionate views on things,” Charter Review Commission chair Angela Gearhart told the committee as the commission delivered its report. The commission also recommended adding stormwater management to the duties of the director of public service and clarifying that a parks director would be a civil-service position appointed in accordance with civil-service rules.

Council members debated several high-profile items in depth. Supporters of reducing the number of council members cited population decline since the charter's original drafting in the 1970s; opponents argued that at-large seats provide important citywide coverage and constituent access. Council members also discussed transition logistics if the city staggers or aligns election cycles, noting any changes could require two-year terms to re‑synchronize election timing.

On elections, the commission proposed removing party labels from the ballot; proponents said nonpartisan elections would reduce primary-related technical problems and make petitions easier to gather citywide. Opponents said party labels provide useful transparency for voters. Councilors repeatedly urged commissioners to take the proposal to public hearings so voters can weigh in.

On parks governance, the commission recommended that the mayor appoint all Parks Commission members with council confirmation and that the parks director be a classified civil-service position rather than selected by the commission. Supporters said the change would make hiring more consistent and increase accountability; several council members and residents said they wanted to protect neighborhood parks and keep high thresholds for park sale decisions.

The commission report also suggested adding specific minimum experience/education requirements to the charter for the finance and law directors and to explicitly place stormwater management under the public‑service director’s duties. City staff explained the changes align charter language with the existing pay‑grade and job‑description system used in personnel administration.

Council leaders and commissioners agreed to schedule additional public hearings and follow-up committee meetings to resolve timing, draft precise ballot language and consider council suggestions. Law Director Lisa Miller said she needed more time to draft conforming charter text if council decides to press forward with substantial changes such as eliminating at-large seats.

The commission asked the council to consider the at-large/council-size question early in the committee process so legal drafts could be completed in time for scheduled readings. Council members indicated they will hold further committee meetings and public hearings before deciding whether to place any amendment on the ballot.