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Charter Review Committee votes to meet biweekly and to put public comments at start of meetings
Summary
On May 1, 2025 the Charter Review Committee voted 7–4 to meet every other Thursday at 10 a.m. and separately voted 10–1 to begin meetings with public comment; the clerk outlined the commission's delegation rules and submission deadlines.
The Augusta-Richmond County Charter Review Committee on May 1, 2025, voted to meet every other Thursday at 10 a.m. and to begin each meeting with public comment.
A motion to meet biweekly (every other Thursday) with public hearings scheduled as needed passed 7–4. Committee members voting yes were Miss Wilhelmi, Miss Turnley, Mr. Cole, Mr. Powell, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Fouche and Mr. Pearson. Members voting no were Dr. McCorn, Miss Bacchus, Miss Cody and Mr. Wimberley.
The committee later voted to put public comment at the beginning of each meeting. That motion passed 10–1; Mr. Powell was recorded as the lone vote against.
Earlier in the meeting the clerk explained how the consolidated government currently manages delegations for the commission: public delegations must submit a request-to-appear form to the clerk’s office by 9 a.m. on the Thursday before the commission’s Tuesday meeting; the commission’s rule limits public comments to five minutes (the clerk said the chair or mayor enforces the limit). The clerk told the committee the CRC’s timeline can be designed to match the committee’s meeting schedule, and members discussed whether publishing the expected agenda topics in advance would help citizens decide when to sign up.
Committee members debated the submission deadline and whether the committee should publish a subject outline in advance to help the public decide when to speak. Some members argued placing public comment first gives citizens a more meaningful voice before votes; others raised logistical concerns about timelines and agenda publication. The clerk said the commission posts delegation instructions on AugustaGA.gov and that CRC scheduling can be aligned to the committee’s calendar.
Ending: The committee asked staff to circulate the approved biweekly schedule and to post the new rule placing public comment at the start of CRC meetings so members of the public and interested stakeholders know the deadlines and how to sign up.
