Johns Creek officials are pursuing a plan that would strip Mayor Mike Bodker of sole discretion to hire and fire key city officials.
The City Council voted this week to begin a month-long process to change portions of the city charter so that the council would have equal say in appointing and dismissing the city manager and city attorney. The vote was 6-1, with Bodker dissenting.
The council had voted in February to pursue these and other charter changes through its legislative delegation at the state level. But in a letter dated March 14, six north Fulton legislators stated that council members could pursue the matter on their own under home-rule. They also said another requested charter change, relating to redrawing city boundaries, should wait until a citizens' committee could be empaneled to endorse the measure.
By law, the city is obligated to appoint that committee this year.
In his dissent, Bodker said he supports the spirit of the changes in the resolution, but he thinks any alterations to the city charter should wait for an endorsement from the citizens' charter committee.
The city will begin advertising its proposed charter changes this month. They must then be adopted by the city council in two separate meetings.
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