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Charter Review Committee narrows manager qualifications, keeps mayor's role in appointments and sets six-vote removal threshold
Summary
The Charter Review Committee approved changes to proposed charter language that limit how the city manager is qualified, appointed and removed, advancing the draft toward review by the full commission.
The Augusta City Charter Review Committee on Nov. 13 moved key provisions about the city manager into draft charter language after a Carl Vinson Institute presentation and an extended committee debate.
The committee accepted edited language on the manager's powers and duties and clarified appointment and removal procedures. By vote, the committee kept language that the mayor shall present up to three candidates for city manager and that the appointment requires six or more commission votes. A substitute motion to have an outside "talent bank" present the top three candidates — intended by supporters to reduce political influence — failed in committee.
Members also debated the manager's minimum qualifications. Doctor Facer had read proposed minimums ("a master's degree in public administration, public affairs, or business; four years of experience in an appointed managerial or administrative position in local government; and the ICMA credential in progress and completed within six months"). Committee members argued that naming a specific credential body (ICMA) in the charter could create rigidity. Miss Robinson moved and the committee adopted substitute language requiring the manager to be "credentialed by a nationally recognized credentialing body," leaving a specific accrediting body to be identified in ordinance.
On removal, the committee amended proposed language so that removing a city manager requires six votes of the commission rather than a simple majority of those present. "If you leave it majority here, it's the majority of who's present," Miss Robinson said, explaining that a fixed threshold prevents a smaller quorum from effecting removal. The motion to require six votes carried 9–2.
The committee also accepted language for designating an acting city manager by letter filed with the city clerk (unanimous) and approved the general "powers and duties" language with minor edits. Doctor Facer and legal staff noted some wording and terminology will be harmonized as the package is finalized.
What happens next: the drafted charter language will be refined and the committee intends to present recommendations to the commission for review; ethics-related charter language was introduced and is scheduled for fuller discussion at the next work session.
Quotes from the meeting: "The city manager is employed at will and may be summarily removed from office at any time by a majority vote of the commission," Doctor Facer read from the draft, and Miss Robinson argued for a fixed threshold: "...it needs to be 6."
