The Nelson City Council delivered its first reading of a new city manager ordinance this week.According to the ordinance, current city clerk Brandy Edwards will move into a city manager position. The move, though, received significant back-lash last month during the council meeting, where citizens and council members alike voiced concerns about authority given to Edwards as city manager.

During the September meeting, resident and write-in candidate for mayor Thad Thacker said he didn’t think one person should have control of the money, noting that a previous city manager almost ran the city into financial ruin. The city manger position will have certain budgetary responsibilities, in addition to certain spending authorities. Budgets, however, still must be approved by council. Also, as city manager, Edwards has the authority to spend up to $300 without council approval, a rule which also applies to all officials and staff members. Any spending above this amount must be approved by council, according to a previous discussion about the ordinance.

Another concern was Edwards’ salary. In August, Council Member Jackie Jarrett pushed for deeper cuts to her annual salary, which had already been cut from $48,000 to $46,000. Last month, Council Member Jonathan Bishop confirmed that Edwards’ salary as city manager would not change from her prior salary as city clerk. During this week’s meeting, Edwards noted that she has in fact taken a pay cut.

Jarrett, though, continued to question the move in the October meeting. Council Member Duane Cronic, however, tried to offer solace by explaining the additional roles Edwards will have in the new position. He said as city manager Edwards will have five additional duties, while retaining the ones she already performs as city clerk. According to the ordinance, she will have the authority to 1) hire, discipline and suspend employees after notifying council in writing for approval 2) fire employees, with confirmation by the council 3) supervise maintenance and sanitation employees on a daily basis 4) Have the authority to deal with emergency situations 5) Report to the council why the emergency was called for.

Council approved the first reading of the ordinance in a 3-1 vote, Jarrett voting against the motion. Edwards will move to the position following the passage of the second reading of the ordinance, at which time she will take the oath of office.

Dovetailing the city manager ordinance, the council voted to keep the current structure of strong council/weak mayor/city manager. Commenting on the vote, Cronic said keeping this structure of government would get rid of what he called “this five-headed monster,” referring to the individual and isolated responsibilities given to each council member. He went on to say the partitioning of these responsibilities has caused many problems over the past year.

“We can’t get together and call each other and have a conference call and decide what we’re going to do”

he explained,

“because we’re violating Georgia Law (the opens records act); we can’t send emails to each other and ask ‘what can we do?’ because as soon as all of us respond to that we’re violating Georgia Law.”

Cronic lamented that each council member must go out and make his or her own decision regarding their areas of responsibility. And, often, a council member comes back and finds out he or she didn’t make the decision council wanted, he said. As such, Cronic noted the format created contention and problems for the council as an operative unit. “Sometimes there needs to be somebody here to deal with that particular area of responsibility,” Cronic said, referring to Edwards’ anticipated role as city manager.

Council approved to keep the strong council/weak mayor/city manager structure.

See video of full meeting below.

2012 Oct Pickens Gov Nelson City Council from Fetch on Vimeo.