Council can sanction, not remove, members

Powder Springs City Council members will face sanctions if they misbehave toward other Council members though they cannot be removed from office.

Approved 3-2 Monday during a special called meeting by the City Council, the new Code of Conduct affects the city’s elected officials and members of boards, commissions and committees.

Opposed were Nancy Farmer and Patricia Wisdom who frequently vote in opposition — most recently in July to the millage rate increase from 8.5 to 9.5. In support were Doris Dawkins and Patrick Bordelon and Henry Lust.

The chairs of boards, commissions and committees and Mayor Al Thurman may intervene when members’ actions “appearing” to be in violation of the Code of Conduct are brought to their attention.

By a vote of a majority of its members, the City Council may impose sanctions on City Council members “such as reprimand, formal censure, removal from meeting (if the member’s conduct is disruptive or impedes the orderly conduct of business at the meeting) or removal from any position or assignment to which the member has been appointed by City Council.”

The City Council also may remove members of boards, commissions and committees from office.

Further, “Except as provided by the City ordinance, members therefore shall not interfere with the administrative functions of the City or the professional duties of City staff; nor shall they impair the ability of staff to implement Council policy decisions.”

Information: ORD 18-017, page 3, CityOfPowderSprings.org/DocumentCenter/View/4882/SpecialCalled-City-Council-080618-withattachments