AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – There is no real deadline for the Charter Review committee to finish its work, but the Chair would like to see it all done by the end of the year. “I believe a committee always has to have a goal, if it’s an open-ended process, it will drag out as long as you are allowed and so it’s a worthy goal,” said Chair Marcie Wilhelmi.
The Charter Review Committee recommendations will go to state lawmakers, and if the work is done by December, it would allow any approved changes to go before voters in May of next year, but some don’t want to rush. “I don’t think so. I think there are too many complex issues and we need to take our time to address them. It’s our duty to the citizens,” said member Angela Bakos. But some committee members say it’s too early to rule out December. “We need to be serious about what we are doing, stay focused. We can’t just dissect every frog that we put on the table,” said member Roderick Pearson. A motion was put on the table to change the meetings from the first and third Thursday’s to every other Thursday. This would add five more meetings this year. It passed by a slim seven to four margin. “I voted for the first and the third because that’s what we all agreed on. The every other Thursday came up when we were talking about a December deadline. I’m trying to make sure we’re not trying to slip that in anyways,” said Bakos. “I don’t think any of us can say with any clarity how high is high and how far can we push this and we won’t know until we try,” said Wilhelmi. But several members are concern haste could make waste when it comes to changes to the city charter…