Decatur commission adopts home-rule charter amendments and asks state to change mayoral selection

The Decatur City Commission adopted ordinance O-25-11 on Dec. 15, 2025, approving home-rule changes to multiple charter articles that modernize language, add a public-engagement article, and reorganize provisions in line with model charter guidance.

City staff explained that many of the proposed updates (Articles 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 9 and new Article 8) could be adopted by home-rule and were therefore presented for the required second reading and adoption. "The charter is a legal document that outlines the structure of our government," staff said in presenting the home-rule ordinance. The commission conducted a roll-call vote and recorded aye votes; the ordinance was adopted.

Because certain proposed changes (Article 3 and Article 7) would alter the structure and selection method of the governing authority and affect the independent school system, those items cannot be changed by local action alone. The commission voted to adopt resolution R-25-XX asking the Georgia General Assembly to consider local legislation to amend the charter to (a) revise the method of electing the governing authority (the commission directed staff to proceed with the option of a directly elected mayor), (b) set mayoral qualifications and duties, and (c) align school board member qualifications with those for city commission members.

The public comment period produced a vigorous debate. John Ridley, a longtime resident and former commissioner, urged a different approach and criticized the current charter form as insufficiently accountable; he said the public should have clear executive accountability and expressed concerns about proposals to grant any bonding authority to the school board. Other residents, including Anne Branscomb, urged caution and defended the council-manager model as the best fit for a city Decatur's size, warning that politicizing the mayoral office could produce unintended consequences.

Mayor Patty Garrett and other commissioners stressed that the city would remain a council-manager government with a professional city manager and that an elected mayor would retain one vote on the commission and not have veto power. Commissioner comments and conversations with former local officials were offered to reassure residents that day-to-day operations and the city manager's role would not change.

The commission's resolution to seek state action will be transmitted to the DeKalb County legislative delegation in January 2026 to begin the local-legislation process.

Ending: The commission adopted O-25-11 (home-rule charter changes) and R-25-XX (requesting state legislation for selection-method and school-district changes). Those state-bound elements will proceed to the Georgia General Assembly in January 2026.