Senate Bill 52
I was a co-author of Senate Bill 52 which proposes to the voters of DeKalb County changes in our County's form of government. The proposal will be on the 2008 General Election ballot.
Below are responses to some frequently asked questions. I did not prepare these responses personally. I think they are accurate and well written.
1. What did Senate Bill 52 really do? Senate Bill 52 (SB52) puts before the voters a ballot issue which will change three primary things about the way government works in DeKalb County.
First, it changes the person who is running the Board of Commissioners' meetings from the County's CEO to the Presiding Officer who is chosen by the Board. Second, it moves the power to prepare the agenda from the CEO to the Board. Third, it makes the position of Clerk to the Commission an appointment of the Commission.
2. Why do we have to vote on this? The Organizational Act that creates the County's government can be changed in multiple ways depending on what is being changed. Some things require the Board's approval, some the General Assembly, and other parts the voters of the County. To change who runs the meetings and prepares the agenda, requires voter approval.
3. When will this go into effect, if approved? January 1, 2009.
4. What are the issues with having the CEO running the Commission meetings now? The person running the meeting determines who gets to speak, what topics are covered, and other parliamentary matters. In most all other legislative bodies, the person that gets to do that is elected from the body itself. For example, in Congress and the Georgia General Assembly, both the Senate and the House elect who runs the body. DeKalb's current set up is as if the President or Governor was running the meeting.
By making it the Presiding Officer, it ensures that the person running the meeting has the support of a majority of the Board, since they are elected from the members of the Board.
5. What are the issues with having the agenda prepared by the CEO? Currently, members of the Board have to ask the CEO to have something added to the agenda for discussion. If they have a proposal and the CEO is opposed to it, he could deny putting it on the agenda. The next course of action would be for the Board to override the agenda of the CEO, through a majority vote of its members.
While the issue of denying adding an item on an agenda seldom comes up, what has happened in recent years is that "addendums" (or last minute items) keep occurring on the day of the meeting. These items are added without notice, not only to the Board, but more importantly the public. SB 52 will give the Commission the ability to write rules requiring all items be submitted in advance, with exceptions for emergency situations.
6. Doesn’t the Commission already have a Clerk? A unique feature of the current set up is that the Finance Director of DeKalb County also serves as the Ex-officio Clerk to the Board. SB 52 will separate these two responsibilities.