Decatur Commissioner Powers to hold ‘Open Office Hour’ Thursday

Decatur Commissioner Tony Powers is hosting an Open Office Hour Thursday. Courtesy of Facebook

Decatur Commissioner Tony Powers is hosting an Open Office Hour Thursday. Courtesy of Facebook

Decatur Commissioner Tony Powers is holding an “Open Office Hour,” 7-8 p.m. Sept. 28 at City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St. in Decatur. This is one in a series of similar events held periodically and hosted by a city official.

Powers will speak for about 20 minutes on the relationship between the city and its school system, including ongoing and potential initiatives and partnerships. After that he’ll field questions.

He will talk some about the history between these two bodies, including how for decades commissioners appointed school board members.

“People perceive there is friction [between the commission and board], and that just isn’t true,” Powers said. “Since I’ve been commissioner”—nearly two years—“we’ve had several joint sessions.”

Powers said there will be no discussion about Decatur’s Confederate monument. During the Sept. 18 commission meeting it was Powers who introduced a resolution calling for that landmark’s removal, contingent upon the actions of DeKalb County, which owns it.

Spectators can attend the event, but questions on topic have to be submitted in advance to the city’s Open City Hall at www.decaturga.com/whats-new/open-city-hall. Questions will close at 2 p.m. Thursday.