Questions about whether Fayette County voters should choose a chairman for the County Commission will wait until next year.

Current chairman Robert Sprayberry said he would rather leave that question for the 1999 commission, which will have two new members.

"In a few days I won't have a dog in this fight," said Sprayberry, who retires from the commission at the end of this year. Unless there is a special called meeting, Sprayberry's term, and that of Commissioners Scott Burrell, will end with tomorrow night's commission meeting.

"The new board needs to address this issue as it moves forward," Sprayberry added.

Commissioner Herb Frady asked commissioners to consider the matter, saying the current method, in which commissioners choose a chairman from among themselves each January, must change.

"The system we have today is the worst possible method," said Frady. He said either of two alternatives would be better:

"Let the general public elect a chairman, or rotate the seat among all the members," he said.

The current method encourages formation of coalitions and foments discord, Frady said, referring to numerous conflicts and personality clashes on the board that have occurred during the last two years.

"I strongly encourage the next board to put it on an election ballot," said Sprayberry, but added he is concerned that continuity could be lost if the chairmanship is passed to a new person each year. "The continuity of leadership is crucial," he said.

One of the duties of the chairman is to serve on the Atlanta Regional Commission, and chairmen also are in the forefront of cooperative efforts between local governments. Commissioner Glen Gosa commended Sprayberry for his work in that arena.

"You have kept peace in the family," said Gosa.