East Point: A City in Crisis!

East Point City Council and Management are in crisis mode. Residents are unaware of what is really happening at City Hall between Mayor and Council and the City Manager. The Mayor and too many Council Members have crossed the line of role delineation as defined in the City Charter with the City Manager who has allowed it to happen to the detriment of the City. The City Charter: Sec. 2-401. – Role delineation (1), (2), (3), (4) is stated below in its entirety.

Sec. 2-401. – Role delineation.

Based upon the firm belief that the proper, efficient, and effective administration and operation of the city’s council-manager form of government will be fostered by a clear definition of the roles and responsibilities of the city council, mayor, and city manager, this charter provision states the following principles, which are intended to be fully consistent with this article:

(1)

The full and complete legislative and policy making authority of the city resides in the city council, and the city manager shall take no action which impinges upon or interferes with the city council’s policy making role. Other than providing information relevant and germane to the city council’s legislative deliberations, the city manager shall strive to remain a neutral party in such legislative deliberations. To ensure the actuality and appearance of neutrality, neither the city manager nor any department heads shall participate in any political activity on behalf of the mayor, any councilmember, or any candidate for such offices, nor shall the city manager or any department head make any political contribution to the mayor, any councilmember, or any candidate for such offices. The mayor and councilmembers shall not solicit or accept any campaign contributions from any city employee;

(2)

The city manager is the chief executive officer of the city, and, as such, all department heads, except the city attorney and city clerk who are appointed by and report to the city council, report to the city manager. The mayor and city council shall observe the management authority of the city manager.

(A)

The mayor and councilmembers shall not in any manner dictate the appointment or removal of any city administrative officers or employees whom the city manager or any of his or her subordinates are empowered to appoint;

(B)

Except for the purpose of conducting an investigation or inquiry authorized by the city council pursuant to Section 2-202 of this charter, the mayor and councilmembers shall deal with city officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the city manager solely through the city manager, and neither the mayor nor any councilmembers shall give orders to any such officers or employees either publicly or privately;

(C)

The mayor and city council shall not give directives to any city officers or employees, other than the city manager, city attorney, and city clerk, regarding any matters including, but not limited to, constituent complaints and complaints regarding the services, operation, or administration of any department or function of city government. Although the mayor and city council shall not be prohibited from communicating with city officers or employees with constituent complaints or concerns, the city manager shall be copied on all such communications;

(D)

The mayor and councilmembers, unless acting pursuant to a duly authorized investigation or inquiry, shall not discuss in open session the performance of or complaints against any city officer or employee during a city council meeting. This provision is not intended to prevent the mayor or city council from discussing, in general terms, the performance of or any issue relating to any department or function of city government; and

(E)

It shall be prohibited for the mayor or any councilmember to sit in on personnel and management meetings between the city manager and city employees unless such participation is consented to by the city manager and approved by the city council; and

(3)

The mayor shall have no management authority or responsibility with respect to the operations and administration of city government; and

(4)

The mayor and city council, as elected officials, shall possess fundamental oversight duties and responsibilities with respect to all operations and administration of city government, and the city manager shall be responsible and duty bound to facilitate the mayor and city council’s oversight function. Once the city council has passed the operating and capital budgets of the city, it shall be the responsibility of the city manager to administer such budgets and to keep the mayor and city council fully informed as to the city’s progress against such budgets. The city manager shall provide monthly financial updates on the budgets with year to date information, and such updates shall contain all material information necessary for the mayor and city council to evaluate the financial performance and condition of the city. However, once the city council has appropriated funds in the budget and encumbered such funds through subsequent legislative action, the city manager shall have the authority to administer such budget including contract administration and account payables as part of the management function.

East Point has a Council-Manager form of government. The following information clearly shows how the Role Delineation has been crossed and the Charter violated causing a CRISIS within the Management of the City under the lack of leadership from the City Manager causing several resignations and retirements of Department Heads. The following Departments do not have permanent Department Heads. I will provide specific information regarding how the Mayor and several Council Members violated the Charter along with the City Manager in the continuation of East Point Lies.

RESIGNATIONS AND RETIREMENTS