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Operations committee advances SPLOST 2 resident review committee with timeline oversight added
Summary
The committee voted to forward a revised resolution creating a SPLOST 2 resident review committee (Splash 2) that adds a stated purpose to track project timelines and goals, clarifies appointments and allows limited virtual meetings; the final form will return after legal review.
The DeKalb County Operations Committee voted to advance to the full Board of Commissioners a revised resolution to create a SPLOST 2 resident review committee (referred to in committee as SPLASH 2) and approved three substantive additions: a stated purpose to review project timelines and goals, a clarification that commissioner appointees must reside in the appointing commissioner's district, and language allowing virtual meetings in limited circumstances.
Commissioner Long Spears proposed adding a fourth purpose to the committee's charge: to advise on whether projects are meeting the timelines and goals initially set for each SPLOST 2 project. As an example, Long Spears cited the animal shelter renovation category originally listed at $7.5 million and said some of those funds have been redirected to build overflow units; she asked that the oversight committee be able to report on such changes.
County legal staff and Attorney Phillips said the draft had been revised in committee to remove language that would have made the oversight body's review a condition precedent to spending SPLOST funds. Attorney Phillips said paragraph 6 had been rewritten so the committee's assessment "does not have to happen to allow you to approve spending SPLOST money." He said a final legal review of the red-lined document would be required before the Board considers it.
Committee members also discussed rules of procedure. A commissioner suggested the committee's rules should be based on the county's standing procedural rules (the "blue book") where applicable and Robert's Rules of Order otherwise; staff cautioned that the blue book currently applies only to the Board of Commissioners and that applying it wholesale to a separate advisory body could raise difficulties. The committee agreed to refine language and have central staff and counsel produce a revised draft.
On membership and schedule, commissioners agreed each commissioner would appoint one member from their district, the county CEO would have two appointees, and super-district commissioners would nominate members from their super districts (which may overlap regular districts). The committee agreed to move the committee's first-meeting deadline to a later date (members suggested September 1) and to permit in-person meetings with a virtual option for inclement weather or other limited circumstances.
A motion to forward the revised resolution with those additions was made and approved in committee; counsel said he would provide language in a form he could approve prior to the Board vote. The committee directed staff to return the revised resolution in time for committee members to review before the Board of Commissioners meeting.
Why it matters: The review committee would provide public oversight of how SPLOST 2 funds are spent and — with the added purpose approved in committee — could flag timetable slippage or reallocation of project funds such as the animal shelter renovation category noted by commissioners.
