AUGUSTA, Ga. () – The Augusta consolidated government has been in place nearly 30 years, now the newly appointed Charter Review Commission preparing to take a deep dive into how it operates.
“This is an opportunity for a community to take not only the ten or 11 people who are on this committee, but also tap into the minds of those who are looking at their specific issues,” said Marcie Wilhelmi, a Charter Commission member.
The 11-member commission was appointed by the mayor and commissioners. Former elected officials are not allowed to serve.
The UGA Institute of Government has been hired to offer expertise and recommending changes.
The current charter provides for a strong commission and weak mayor government.
Former Mayor Hardie Davis says that’s one area that needs to be look at.
“There is only one individual who is elected across the entire county and it’s the mayor the mayor is going to get the call from the White House, not ten commissioners. The mayor is going to get the call from the vice president, not ten commissioners,” said Davis.  
The Charter Commission was advised that just because the group was formed, doesn’t mean they must recommend changes.
Former Commissioner Ben Hasan supports that.
“I don’t see anything that really needs to be done with it. A lot of times it’s just the players, meaning either commissioners or the mayor are the main culprits I don’t see anything wrong with the charter itself,” said Hasan.
But some committee members have been studying and are ready to hit the ground running.
“I have a list of 22 things,” said Wilhelmi.
And the Charter Commission will be getting to all those items over what has been scheduled to take the next year.