Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Acrb Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public speakers and council debate more staffing and funding for ACRB; ordinance to add inspector posts held for follow-up
Summary
Public commenters and the Atlanta Finance and Executive Committee urged added investigators and funding for the ACRB; the committee received an ordinance to add four inspector positions but voted to hold the proposal pending further HR and finance review.
Retired and current ACRB members urged the City of Atlanta Finance and Executive Committee on Jan. 29 to increase funding and investigative staff for the ACRB, and the committee agreed to hold an ordinance that would add four inspector positions while administration and committees complete follow-up work.
Several public commenters told the committee the ACRB has operated with limited staff while handling hundreds of cases. Cecilia Houston Torrance, who said she is a retired community involvement officer for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, said the ACRB “has investigated nearly 700 complaints since 02/8” and described the office as historically understaffed. Sherice Johnson, who said she served as an initial member of the reconstituted ACRB, said the agency “had no office, we had no staff, no including director, and we had no governing documents” when it relaunched.
Jermaine Austin, whom he identified as the current chair of the ACRB board, told the committee investigators have left for higher-paying jobs and said additional investigators are needed because “we're getting ready to get a large caseload” and need “the bodies and the personnel in place to make sure that that caseload moves efficiently.”
Amber Robinson of the City of Atlanta Department of Law told the committee that two separate papers were in play: one referred from Public Safety to Finance to create the four positions (the matter that requires HR and finance confirmation) and a separate paper produced by Public Safety asking that the ACRB executive director present to the Public Safety Committee in February.
Committee members discussed whether adding the four positions was the correct operational response, and several members asked for additional briefings by Human Resources and Finance on timing, budget impact and reporting. Councilmember Juan (committee member) said the positions “are needed to do away with the backlog” but supported holding the ordinance while HR and Finance complete their review. The committee voted 7–0 to hold the ordinance, directing staff to deliver follow-up information and to coordinate with Public Safety and HR.
The committee record shows a referral from Public Safety proposing personnel and funding changes for the Atlanta Citizens Review Board (ACRB) that would add four inspector positions; the item was held to permit further review of operational needs, budget implications and reporting lines before a final vote.
The public comments and subsequent council discussion focused on staffing and pay competitiveness, operational transparency and the need for a formal briefing by the agency to the Public Safety Committee. No formal additional budget appropriation was approved at this meeting.
The committee chair closed the discussion with instructions that HR and Finance provide timing and cost estimates and that the ACRB executive director and Public Safety Committee present updated information in the coming weeks.
Ending: The committee did not enact the proposed personnel ordinance on Jan. 29; it remains held for follow-up review by HR, Finance and Public Safety. Members and public speakers urged faster action to reduce backlog and to stabilize investigator staffing while officials complete the requested technical reviews.
