Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kennesaw council discusses clarifying veto process; members favor updating meeting procedures rather than charter
Summary
After a recent mayoral veto, a council member asked staff to draft meeting-procedure language requiring a vetoed item be placed on the next regular council meeting agenda; the council discussed charter language and tentatively agreed to draft text for the next work session.
Kennesaw — Council members debated whether to amend the city charter or the council's meeting procedures to make consideration of mayoral vetoes more transparent.
A council member proposed requiring that a vetoed ordinance, order or resolution be "considered by council" at the next scheduled meeting, arguing it would reduce post-veto confusion. Council discussion focused on existing charter language, which the presiding official read aloud; the charter provides an opportunity to file dissent within five business days and allows the council to pass vetoed items at a subsequent meeting by a specified supermajority vote. The transcript records debate over whether the charter's word "may" should be made mandatory but several members said changing the charter would require state approval and a longer timeline. Instead, members favored revising the council's meeting procedures to say a vetoed item "shall be added to the agenda" of the next regular council meeting.
Council agreed that staff will draft proposed meeting-procedure language and bring it back at the next work session for review. No charter amendment was initiated during this meeting.
