Fort Oglethorpe: State charter review committee plans meeting for public input

The Fort Oglethorpe charter study committee created by the Georgia Senate and House is holding a public meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m.

The 14-member committee has been reviewing charters from throughout the state over the past six months. Specific changes have been made to the Fort Oglethorpe charter and will be submitted to the General Assembly by Dec. 31.

The public meeting will be held at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cafeteria. Citizens will have the opportunity to submit (in writing) suggestions and questions for consideration and possible discussion.

The state-formed committee is doing more than bringing the charter up to date. They were tasked with reviewing the charter in relation to the city council’s actions on March 22.

On that day, in a special called meeting, the city manager resigned. The council immediately filled the position with interim city manager Harold Silcox, who fired two long-time city employees.

Some citizens were outraged and asked state legislators for help. In the Senate resolution signed on March 26, Sen. Jeff Mullis of Chickamauga wrote, “Questions have arisen as to whether these actions are appropriate and whether the city charter should be revised if the actions are permissible.”

Mullis said at the time that hundreds of emails and letters were received regarding the city council’s actions. For this reason the state legislature formed a charter review committee and designated they should “undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues and problems mentioned… and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.”

Steve Cooper, chairman of the state-formed committee, said the group is paying close attention to Article II of the charter, which deals with elected officials, the duties and responsibilities of public office holders. Article II makes up roughly 70 percent of the charter, according to What: Open meeting with Fort Oglethorpe charter study committee Where: Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cafeteria When: Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. Cooper.

“We will talk about the reason we exist and the structure of the charter,” Cooper said about the upcoming open meeting. “The floor will open for (written) comments. These we will read openly or take under advisement. This is a forum for the people to talk to the committee, for us to hear concerns both for and against the city and charter. This is not exclusive of individual opinions.”

Changes to the charter could include modifying the city court system, allowing for vacancies on the council to be temporarily filled prior to an election, and adoption of a functioning ethics council. These changes have brought about deeper understanding of local government and the most basic understanding of the need for open government.

“This is an archaic and exclusive form of government,” Cooper said. “If you have to petition the city council to speak and tell them exactly what you are going to talk about, that is not an open forum, it is not open government.”

Cooper, along with the rest of the committee, envisions a local government that allows anyone to talk about anything without being stifled. This concept, in their opinion, would create pride for local citizens, increase voting numbers and volunteer participation, he said.