Newspaper Page Text
September 25, 1991 FLAGPOLE MAGAZINE Page 13
Government 101
The constitution of our United States, I must admit, is a bit
more impressive and eloquently written, aesthetically
speaking, but the executive summary of the charter of the
unified government of Athens/Clarke County attempts to
get the same job done. It outlines how the legislative body
of the unified government will function as a legislative and
executive body, who qualifies to play political hardball, how
much the players will be paid to do it, the degree of ethical
practice expected within the government, and most impor
tantly and needing examination, the amount of power those
elected and appointed will have in their hands.
The legislative body of the unified government calls itself
simply a Commission which consist of 10 elected officials
who serve part-time for staggered four year terms, and
receive $10,000 annual compensation. Of the 10 elected,
eight Commissioners represent eight single-member dis
tricts, leaving two Commissioners to represent two multi-
area districts, both of which encompass four single mem
ber districts. Your Commissioners are: Charles Carter in
District One, Miriam Moor? in District Two, Linney Bailey in
District Three, John Barrow in District Four, Hugh Logan in
District Five, Marilyn Farmer in District Six, Cardee Kilpa
trick in District Seven and Ken Jordan in District Eight.
Representing the multi-area districts
are Tom Chasteen in District Nine
and Tal Duval in District Ten.
There was also voted in a Chief
Elected Official (CEO), Gwen
O’Looney, the official representative
of the unified government, who serves
part-time for a four year term, is paid
a $20,000 annual compensation, and
gets the big chair in the middle of the
table. Despite the "chief elected"
status of the CEO, the position does not afford the CEO with
the power to vote on any matter before the Commission, ex
cept in cases of ties. However, the CEO does have the
power and duties to:
— search and screen candidates for the A thens/Clarke
County Administrators, and recommend those candidates
to the Commission,
— set the agenda for and preside over meetings of the
Commission, as well as call special meetings of the Com
mission;
— make Committee appointments;
— present a proposed annual budget and a proposed
capital improvements budget to the Commission;
— approve or veto proposed ordinances or resolutions
as determined in the charter;
— execute all deeds, contracts and obligations of the
unified government;
— recommend to the Commission the adoption of such
measures as deemed necessary and expedient.
The charter gives the Commission four specific "shalls"
in the way of its political power. The commission shall: 1)
adopt, reject or amend the budget, 2) approve or reject
recommendations concerning the appointments of the
Manager, Attorney and Auditor of Athens/Clarke County; 3)
remove from the office the Manager, Attorney, and Auditor
by majority vote of the entire commission; and 4) override
the CEO’s veto with the affirmative vote of seven Commis
sioners. In addition, the Commission has the full power and
authority to levy & collect any taxes as provided by the law.
Traditionally (but not faithfully) in a Democratic govern
ment, there is a system of checks and balances in order to
keep the branches of that government in fair play. Athens/
Clarke County is not without too much exception, in that the
CEO had the power to veto any Commission-proposed
ordinances or resolutions to the charter. The Commission
can in turn override the veto and make the ordinance a law
with a 7 to 10 vote without the consent of the CEO
The catch, though, is that all this must be first certified by
the A/C County Manager, Russ Crider, before the pro
posed ordinance or resolution even hits the desk of the
CEO. The reason that this is a bit questionable is that the
Manager of A/C County, a politically appointed and full
time administrative officer of the unified government, is not
supposed to have any political involvement, as outlined in
the charter. "The Manager shall be prohibited from engag
ing any political activity." But political appointees tend to
be handed a lot of power that for various and obvious
reasons should be diluted.
Such is the case with the Manager, seeing as certifying
a proposed ordinance or resolution to the charter is politi
cal, not administrative. The administrative responsibilities
of the Manager give Crider a great deal of power of the
everyday activities of not only the government, but particu
larly, over the lifeblood of Athens/Clarke County. Crider is
responsible for managing the operations and activities of
all departments and agencies of the unified government,
as well as appointing and removing department heads.
Additionally, he is responsible for the preparation of the
proposed annual budget for the CEO, for keeping the Com
mission abreast of the financial status ana needs of the
government, and does all the purchasing for A/C County.
In brief, the Manager hires and fires,
asks for money and then spends it,
and can do so on an unlimited term
unless removed by a majority vote of
the entire Commission.
An interesting note is that the CEO
and the Commission must deal with
employees who are subject to ap
pointment or removal by the Manager
solely through the Manager. Neither
the CEO nor the Commission can give
orders or directions to those employees publically or be
hind closed doors. It's a nice check of power and provides
protection for such employees, but I wonder how that re
ally works over there.
There are two other appointed officials to the unified
government. The Attorney, the legal counsel to the unified
government, and the Auditor, both of which are appointed
from recommendations of the CEO and by a majority vote
of the entire Commission. Both the Attorney and the Auditor
are responsible for the duties prescribed in adopted ordi
nances, and receive monetary compensation as specified
in the ordinance.
All this talk about the players in the unified government,
and the powers that be with each elected or appointed
position is not meant so much to enlighten those who know
nothing and insult those who do, but more to provide a
casual but curious look at what Athens/Clarke County calls
its representative body, and pays them to do the job. I admit
to knowing very little about the workings of this new govern
ment, but from the scary statistics of those who voted for or
against the change in the last election, I am not alone. A
measly 13 percent of the total population of A/C County
even voted and only 8.4 percent of those wanted the unifi
cation of government anyway. What we are trying to do here
with this column is expose the basic mechanics of the local
government and become familiar with the players. It is only
to our benefit to do this. Regardless of whether we choose
as a community to become aware first and perhaps in
volved, the government has got the power to make deci
sions about the quality of our life here in Athens.
What I will attempt to do weekly is to dissect and examine
an aspect of the government, not just follow its activity every
Tuesday night Although the latter is important, it benefits
not the person who picks up the story and doesn't know
who is making the decisions, and how our local organ
works. Please feel free to send in any questions you have
about any aspect of the government and I will do my best
to find an answer to your question. j am| j ennin g S
What we are trying to
do is expose the basic
mechanics of the local
government and
become familiar with
the players.
Flowers Grow
And seme bloom only once. This might well be the case at
The 40 Watt Club on Friday, September 27. Dirt blossoms forth
onstage that night with the likes of Daisy. This should prove to be
a good growing combination for everyone, and it is my sugges
tion that heading down there should be high on your list of
priorities Plus, ya better catch Daisy now before they become
so famous that Dave can’t waddle in off the road to run Rocket
Head anymore, and that’s soon. (30 )
Now Two Locations
DOWNTOWN • m^s / n '9 P m
AN<J
FIVE POINTS
Su-Th / 1 1-lOpM •F&S/ll-llpiw
WOMEN OF THE
WORLD UNITE
Wednesday
GENE COOK rocks the house with King
Bud Spud a $ buck-25.
Thursday
intermission.. .network, see friends, review
weekend party-stratgies, practice (babe/
dude) partying maneuvers, You Rock the
House. Bud still a $ buck-25.
Friday
PRE-FOOTBALL-GAME NIGHT. COME
EARLY. YOU KNOW HOW IT GETS! NO
COVER. WHIP CAL STATES' ASS.
Saturday
Real talent in real time. GENE COOK,
Rock'n & RolVn with his Empty Bisket
Blues Band. Don't miss it.