PTC charter being reviewed for possible format changes

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Peachtree City's city charter is being reviewed so it may be updated in the near future.

Councilwoman Carol Fritz, who requested the charter update, said the charter was written in the 1950s when Peachtree City was much smaller than it is now. Also, the charter is "unclear" about the duties of council members.

"The city has grown so much that I don't think the charter is meeting our needs," Fritz said.

Although the charter doesn't come out and say it, Fritz reads the charter to call for a strong mayoral form of government. The charter states that the mayor "shall exercise general supervision and jurisdiction over the affairs of the said city...to bind said city by signing any contract, obligation or other matter entered into and authorized by ordinances or resolution of the council of said city... and to do acts and things as may be proper and necessary in the proper conduct of the affairs of said city..."

"I think it needs to be addressed to see exactly where we are," Fritz said. "There are lots of things in the charter that need to be clarified."

Although the public often thinks the council wields tremendous power, basically its main duty is to vote on policy issues, Fritz said.

"We're not really involved in a lot of issues that they think we are involved in," Fritz said.

The charter is being reviewed by City Attorney Rick Lindsey to work out the shortcomings and determine what the legal issues are, Fritz said.

Any substantial changes to the charter would have to be approved by the Georgia Legislature, Fritz added.

She anticipated that public hearings on the changes to the charter would be held before the legislature is actually approached to approve the changes.

"I hope it will be an educational process for the public as well. ... I don't think the public as a whole understands how city government functions."

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