The Mayor and Council Members have been using the City’s credit card as their own personal credit card. They travel to out-of-state conferences to so called educational training that enable them to be more proficient and accountable in doing their Legislative jobs. However, the only requirements for their jobs as stated in the Charter deals with age and residency. The State of Georgia and the City Charter require all first time elected public officials to attend a one time seminar at the University of Georgia in order to retain their offices in February after their elections. No other requirements exist.
However, this Mayor and Council as well as the previous Mayor and Council did not take the time to read the Ordinance below. They were to busy travelling to conferences that did not tell them to learn the Ordinances and polices that existed in their own City. Instead of following their laws, they became lawbreakers. Their is scant evidence that the Ordinance was ever followed by Mayor or Council Members. They need to be held accountable.
Salary and Budget expenditures for the Mayor and Council are spelled out in the Ordinance passed in 2013 that became effective in 2014.
CLICK HERE: 020-13 An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 2 Mayor and Council Sec.2-2010 Salary and Expenses (3)
Mayor and Council Members’ salaries were increased by $5000 beginning January 1, 2020.
