Tuesday, December 8, 2009
© Copyright 2013
Albany Herald
At its work session minutes ago, the Albany City Commission voted unanimously to send a charter proposing consolidation of the Albany and Dougherty County governments to the Legislature.
All votes at work sessions are provisional and must be ratified by votes at business meetings. The next commission business meeting is Dec. 15.
The vote contained to items on which the city and County Commission could not come to terms -- pay rate for the commissioners of the merged board and whether the mayor/chairman of the merged board should be a full-time or part-time position.
City commissioners said they wanted both boards to send a single charter to Atlanta and note that those two areas could not be resolved locally.
If the County Commission follows suit and the city panel gives approval next week, the proposed charter could be taken up by the 2010 Legislature as a substitute for a charter that has already passed the House. If approved by the Legislature, Albany and Dougherty County voters would have to approve the measure in a referendum before it could take effect.
After discussion, City Commissioners gridlocked with the county about the position of the new mayor, arguing that if both governments combine, their would be no realistic way to expect a CEO to fulfill the duties of both the city and county as figurhead on a part-time schedule.
More like this story
- Consolidation charter sent for approval ( December 8, 2009 )
- Dougherty Commission kills consolidation charter ( December 16, 2009 )
- Citizens revive discussion on consolidation ( March 5, 2012 )
- Commissioners respond to consolidation questions ( March 16, 2010 )
- Commission votes to delay consolidation vote until 2012 (updated with video) ( February 28, 2011 )
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