Part Three: Understanding Both Sides of the Discussion
Part Three of a six-part series
By Stanley P. Parel
A Citizen’s Guide to Local Government
Understanding Both Sides of the Discussion
Those who favor council-manager government often emphasize professional administration and separation between political policymaking and daily municipal operations.
A professionally selected city manager can bring experience in public finance, personnel administration, infrastructure management, and organizational leadership.
This arrangement can provide administrative continuity when elected leadership changes.
However, council-manager government also presents questions about democratic accountability. Because the city manager is appointed rather than elected, citizens generally cannot remove that administrator directly through an election. Instead, they must hold their elected council members accountable for the manager’s appointment, oversight, and performance.
Neither structure eliminates the need for transparency, ethical leadership, financial accountability, or effective communication.
Both depend upon the specific authority established by law and the individuals responsible for exercising it.
Can Cochran Simply Vote to Change Its Government?
This is perhaps the most important legal question raised by the poll.
Georgia municipalities possess certain home-rule powers under the Georgia Constitution and the Georgia Municipal Home Rule Act, codified in Title 36, Chapter 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
Home rule permits municipalities to manage many local affairs and, under specified circumstances, amend their governing charters.
However, municipal home-rule authority is not unlimited.
O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3 establishes procedures for certain charter amendments.
One procedure permits eligible amendments through ordinances adopted at two consecutive regular meetings of the governing authority, held at least seven but not more than 60 days apart, together with specified public notice requirements.
Another procedure permits citizens to initiate certain charter amendments through a petition and referendum.
Coming in Part Four: The series continues with an explanation of Georgia’s petition and referendum requirements, the limits of municipal home-rule authority, and whether Cochran could change its form of government through a local vote.
Leave a Reply