Canton council delays decision on articles for proposed Community Land Trust

The Canton City Council on Sept. 4 discussed proposed articles of incorporation and bylaws to create the Canton Community Land Trust but agreed to delay final action until a future meeting to allow council input on board composition and bylaws.

City staff and the city attorney presented the draft articles and bylaws and said the documents could be filed with the Georgia Secretary of State to incorporate the entity while the council continues to shape bylaws and director appointments. City attorney Dyer told council “we didn’t name directors in the articles,” and staff recommended naming an incorporator to enable the corporation to be filed and initial work to begin.

Council members debated whether the council or staff should appoint the initial board; options discussed included a three-member initial board, a staggered three-year term, or a larger seven-member board with appointments by council members. Several council members recommended adding vetting criteria and minimum qualifications to the bylaws and requested staff provide recommendations on potential initial board members and candidate backgrounds.

The council voted to revisit the articles and bylaws at the next meeting in two weeks. Staff said they will send council members suggested criteria and potential candidate types; planning staff noted common land-trust boards include an attorney and a real-estate professional and citizen volunteers, and that this trust would be focused on affordable housing rather than purely conservation uses.

Votes at a glance: Motion to postpone final action on articles of incorporation and bylaws for the Canton Community Land Trust until the next meeting — approved (voice vote; counts not specified).