HB1005: HB1005 Austell, City of; provide for a city manager; revise powers and duties of city council committees, the mayor, and department directors

Austell currently operates under a charter (Ga. L. 1986, p. 4902, as amended) where city council committees supervise city departments directly and the mayor appoints committee chairs to oversee each department. This bill restructures that system by creating a city manager, appointed by the city council on the mayor's nomination, who becomes the city's chief executive and administrative officer. The city manager would hire and remove department directors (subject to council approval), prepare budgets, supervise employees, and report to the council, while council committees shift to a supervisory and advisory role over the manager rather than running departments themselves. The bill also sets out a formal removal process for the city manager, allows for an acting city manager during absences, and bars the mayor and individual council members from directing city employees except through the manager. It revises the mayor's powers, department director duties, and committee procedures to fit this new structure. The changes affecting the initial city manager's appointment take effect once the Governor signs the bill (or it becomes law without signature); all other provisions take effect July 1, 2026.

• Creates a city manager position in Austell, appointed by the city council on the mayor's nomination, serving as the city's chief executive and administrative officer.
• Gives the city manager authority to hire and remove department directors, subject to city council approval, and to supervise all city departments day to day.
• Sets a formal process for the council to remove the city manager, including a preliminary resolution, a possible public hearing, and a final removal vote.
• Prohibits the mayor and individual council members from giving orders to city employees except through the city manager.
• Revises the powers and duties of council committees, the mayor, and department directors to fit under the new city manager structure rather than direct council committee oversight.
• Provides for an acting city manager, designated by the sitting manager and approved by the council, during absence or disability.

City of Austell officials and employees are affected, including the mayor, city council members, council committee chairs, department directors, and rank-and-file city staff, as well as residents who interact with city departments and services governed by this new management structure.

Austell residents would see city departments run day to day by a professional city manager instead of directly by council committees, which changes who employees answer to and how hiring, firing, and budgeting decisions get made inside city government.

• Section 1 revises Section 2.17(b) so council committees supervise the city manager rather than department directors directly.
• Section 2 revises Section 2.20 to redefine council committees' role as reviewing items presented by the city manager or department directors rather than managing departments themselves.
• Section 3 adds Sections 2.27 through 2.31 creating the city manager position, its appointment and removal process, an acting city manager option, the manager's powers and duties, and a ban on council interference with city staff outside the manager.
• Section 4 revises Section 2.34 to update the mayor's powers and duties to reflect the new city manager structure.
• Section 5 revises Section 3.10(d) so department director vacancies are filled by the city manager, subject to council approval, and directors can only be removed by the manager with council approval.
• Section 6 revises Section 3.11 to make department directors responsible to the city manager rather than directly to council committees.
• Section 7 sets the effective date: immediately for selecting the initial city manager upon the Governor's approval, and July 1, 2026 for all other purposes.
• Section 8 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 532
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-02-24Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-02-24Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-02-17Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-12House Passed/Adopted (House)

• David Wilkerson (D, HD-038)Primary sponsor
• Kimberly Alexander (D, HD-066)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 12, 2026

   156 yea, 0 nay (11 not voting, 8 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #506

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 24, 2026

   53 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #571

• Austell city government
• city manager
• local government charter
• municipal administration