Dougherty County commissioners are courteously on record; their counterparts aren’t
So, the Dougherty County Commission has temporarily suspended our opportunity to decide on a local government merger at the polls.
Hey, at least we know where county commissioners stand.
I respect that – to a certain extent, at least.
But inquiring minds – some at least — want to know: What’s the Albany City Commission’s position on whether a unification referendum should be held?
Certainly to the delight of some Albany elected officials, news coverage of the county’s 3-3 stalemate on passing the charter to the General Assembly implies that a City Commission vote on the matter would only come after the County Commission took a stance.
That’s just not so
The City Commission met Nov. 28 and no one had the gumption (another word for courtesy, I suppose) to follow up on the Albany-Dougherty Charter Commission’s request for action by both the city and county commissions.
The County Commission met on Nov. 27 and decided to take a vote this week. In other words, all six commissioners – the District 2 seat has been vacated by Brenda Robinson-Cutler, who is ill – agreed that the courteous thing to do was to quickly honor the Charter Commission’s request.
The City Commission, thus far, has deliberately decided otherwise.
Those who think that county commissioners Jack Stone, Art Searles and John Hayes stopped consolidation in its tracks are wrong – thus far, at least. The three dissenters are no more guilty of killing consolidation – albeit temporarily — than the seven elected city officials who haven’t voted yeah or nay.
Indeed, the record shows that only county commissioners Jeff “Bodine” Sinyard, Dr. Charles Lingle and Lamar Hudgins have voted present the unification charter to state legislators and ultimately to Albany and Dougherty County voters.
While Mr. Hayes hasn’t offered a reason for opposing consolidation except that his constituents don’t understand the reasons to combine local governments, Mr. Searles and Mr. Stone are on record with their votes – and the reasons for them.
Mr. Searles says, “I entered this process to help write a charter with an open mind,” but said that there are certain charter provisions that he could not justly present to voters; instead, he feels that local government structures as they separately exist would be more efficient – and fair – than the proposed unified government.
“For instance, I suggested we set up a system whereby we have a full-time mayor with pay according …” he said. “The mayor would have veto power over the commission and the commission would have override power over the mayor’s veto.”
By virtue of serving on the Charter Study Commission, Mr. Searles’ vote in opposition to moving the forward was legitimate. And Commissioner John Hayes wasn’t around when the Charter Commission was established; thus, his claim of ignorance on the issue could perhaps be excused.
Mr. Stone, though, voted for the Charter Study Commission’s creation and should have respected its request to put the matter in the hands – and hearts – of voters.
Meanwhile, Albany commissioners Jon Howard, Morris Gurr, Bo Dorough and Bob Langstaff say that Mr. Searles, Mr. Hayes and Mr. Stone should reconsider their stance opposing a unification referendum.
But without taking an official stance themselves – by voting – the Albany City Commission has no business criticizing their county counterparts.
