Outdated? Garden City fills council vacancy by appointment; residents want special election
A group of Garden City residents clashed with city council members Monday night when the council appointed Gwyn Hall to fill the vacant at-large council seat.
The post has three remaining term years, and was left empty when Mayor Pro-Tem, Bruce Campbell took over the mayoral position as Don Bethune announced an early retirement.
Following the city charter, each of the council members is permitted to nominate a community member to fill the vacancy. The appointment is made by majority vote.
Residents, who were part of the Garden City Community Group, called the method of appointment “outdated” and demanded the city revise their charter so that future vacancies can be decided by a special election vote by the people. The issue brought forward past complaints as well about the charter, which had not been revamped in decades.
“The charter is law, but it needs to be looked at and revisited,” said Corey Foreman, a resident who formerly ran unsuccessfully for both city council and Chatham County Board of Elections.
Bethune's retirement: Garden City mayor resigning but 'won't be going away.' Here's what you need to know
Appointee served on ethics committee
During Monday night’s meeting, District 3 council member Natalyn Bates Morris nominated resident Donna Williams, who leads the Garden City Community Group. District 4 representative Richard Lassiter nominated Gary Monroe, who sits on the planning commission.
Majority ruled when the remaining three council members Marcia Daniel, Debbie Ruiz and Kim Tice voted to appoint Hall, who will have to relinquish his current ethics committee role.
Port Wentworth proposed to dissolve its charter: In first meeting together in months, Port Wentworth council agrees on study to explore city split
Hall will be sworn in during the Oct. 3 meeting. Council will vote for a mayor pro-tem on that date as well, a position usually filled by the at-large council member during a normal election.
“It feels as if a few of you have … taken it out of the residents’ hands to have a say on who they want to represent them,” Donna Williams said in addressing the council.
Resident Kelly Holt also voiced concerns, pointing out that the appointee would fill three years of a four-year term.
"We're paying the taxes, you're the one making the choice," said Holt.
Garden City’s city attorney, James Gerard, clarified that the government body was simply following the rules set in place by the city charter. Time constraints and Georgia law would have prevented any charter changes for this particular council vacancy, according to Gerard.
Garden City deals with industrial growth: In neighboring towns, Georgia Ports Authority brings growth and jobs, but what is the cost?
Any charter amendments would need to first gain majority council approval. Then the amendment, in the form of a bill, would be sent to the Georgia General Assembly for passage. The next Georgia legislative session begins in January.
Gerard also pointed out that the city would have had to follow the laws in place when former mayor Bethune resigned and Campbell assumed the mayoral position.
Residents say process lacked transparency
Residents' discontent stems from what they consider a lack of transparency they say is characteristic of Garden City administrations. Those who attended the meeting accused the city of "stacking the council" by filling council seats with like-minded individuals who will vote similarly on city issues.
The city manager denied that there was any conspiracy.
Council member Lassiter said he shares the citizens’ sentiments about the charter, but “we govern by the charter.” Lassiter said the city is planning to set up a workshop to discuss revamping the entire city document, which has not been wholly revisited for decades.
“This is not the first time we’ve (Lassiter and Morris) mentioned a charter change,” said Lassiter. “Due to the fact that we’ve taken GMA classes, we know that it is outdated.”
Since the population in Garden City has grown, a special election would be a more fitting process, said Lassiter.
Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Garden City residents raise complaints about outdated city charter
