SB494: SB494 Board of Commissioners of Irwin County; the compensation of the board of commissioners; revise provisions

26 LC 61 0391 Senate Bill 494 By: Senator Summers of the 13th AS PASSED A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend an Act creating the Board of Commissioners of Irwin Co unty, approved1 February 16, 1933 (Ga. L. 1933, p. 571), as amended, so as to revise provisions relating to2 the compensation of the board of commissioners; to revise provisions relating to appointment3 of the clerk of the board of commissioners; to provide for the duties of the chairperson of the4 board of commissioners; to provide for a vice chairperson of the board of commissioners; to5 provide for the appointment of a county administrator; to provide for the powers and duties6 of the county administrator; to provide for the filling of vaca ncies in the office of county7 administrator; to revise provisions relating to the superintend ent of roads and bridges; to8 repeal provisions relating to providing an automobile to the ch airperson when serving as9 superintendent of roads and bridges; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws;10 and for other purposes.11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:12 SECTION 1.13 An Act creating the Board of Commissioners of Irwin County, approved February 16, 193314 (Ga. L. 1933, p. 571), as amended, is amended by revising Section 6 as follows:15 S. B. 494 - 1 - 26 LC 61 0391 "SECTION 6.16 (a) Each commissioner shall receive a salary of not less than $100.00 per month and not17 more than $300.00 per month. Any action to fix the salary of said commissioners at more18 than $100.00 per month and not more than $300.00 per month shall be by ordinance of the19 board of commissioners.20 (b) In addition to the salaries provided in subsection (a) of this section, each member of21 the board shall receive a local travel expense allowance of $2, 400.00 per year. The22 chairperson of said board may be furnished with a vehicle purchased by the county with23 county funds and with the necessary expenses in the operation of same, including gasoline,24 oil, repairs, etc.; but the chairperson shall not operate said vehicle except when he or she25 is engaged solely upon business relating to county matters. Wh en the chairperson and26 other commissioners are away from the county but engaged in bus iness relating to this27 office and in the interest of the county, they shall be reimbursed for their actual, reasonable28 expenses while away provided the board first approves same.29 (c) All salaries and expense allowances provided for in this section shall be paid in equal30 monthly installments from county funds."31 SECTION 2.32 Said Act is further amended by revising paragraph (1) of subsec tion (a) of Section 6A as33 follows:34 "(1) The board of commissioners shall elect a clerk of the board of commissioners who35 shall serve as its clerk and shall have such duties as are specified by the board and shall36 hold office under the control and direction of the board and serve at its pleasure and may37 be dismissed by the board at any time and a successor employed. The clerk shall keep,38 or cause to be kept, proper and accurate books of minutes wherein shall appear all acts,39 orders, and proceedings of the board."40 S. B. 494 - 2 - 26 LC 61 0391 SECTION 3.41 Said Act is further amended by revising Section 8 as follows:42 "SECTION 8.43 (a) The chairperson of the board of commissioners shall be the executive officer and44 member of said board and shall be responsible for the conduct and administration of said45 office, subject only to the approval and direction of the board. The chairperson shall have46 the following powers and duties:47 (1) To preside at all meetings of the board and be recognized as the official head and48 spokesperson of the county for service of process and ceremonia l purposes, and chief49 advocate of policy;50 (2) To timely sign, for and on behalf of the county, all contracts, ordinances, instruments,51 and other documents required to be in writing, unless otherwise directed or authorized by52 this law or the board;53 (3) To administer oaths and take affidavits;54 (4) To vote on all matters before the board and be counted toward a quorum as any other55 member of the board; and56 (5) To fulfill such other duties as authorized by the board of commissioners.57 (b) At the first regular meeting of each calendar year, the members of the board shall elect58 a vice chairperson from their membership to serve for the calendar year in which he or she59 is elected. The vice chairperson shall continue to vote on all matters before the board and60 be counted toward a quorum as any other member of the board. In the event of the absence61 or disability of the chairperson for any reason, the vice chairperson shall perform the duties62 of the chairperson. Any absence or disability of the chairpers on shall be declared by a63 majority vote of the remaining members of the board."64 S. B. 494 - 3 - 26 LC 61 0391 SECTION 4.65 Said Act is further amended by adding a new section to read as follows:66 "SECTION 8A.67 (a) The board shall employ a county administrator. The county administrator shall be the68 chief administrative officer of the county and head of the administrative branch of county69 government. The county administrator shall be appointed for an indefinite term and serve70 at the pleasure of the board. The compensation of the county administrator shall be as set71 by the board. The county administrator shall be appointed solely on the basis of his or her72 administrative qualifications.73 (b) The county administrator shall:74 (1) Supervise the administration of the affairs of the county and see that all ordinances,75 resolutions, and regulations of the board are faithfully executed and enforced;76 (2) Attend all meetings of the board, except for closed meetings held for the purpose of77 deliberating on the appointment, discipline, or removal of the county administrator, but78 have no vote;79 (3) Prepare and submit the annual operating budget and capital budget to the board;80 (4) Submit to the board of commissioners and make available to the public a complete81 report on the finances and administrative activities of the cou nty as of the end of each82 fiscal year;83 (5) Keep the board of commissioners fully advised as to the fi nancial condition and84 needs of the county and make such recommendations to the board that the county85 administrator deems expedient or necessary;86 (6) Make such reports to the board as may be necessary or as t he board may require87 concerning the operations of county departments, offices, and agencies;88 (7) Be accountable for any and all funds, property, or effects which may come into his89 or her hands;90 S. B. 494 - 4 - 26 LC 61 0391 (8) Keep fully accurate and complete accounts in books or a bo ok for the purpose,91 wherein shall appear in detail all orders, warrants, and other proceedings drawn by the92 board on the county treasury or depository, for what purpose and on what fund, and all93 such orders, warrants, and other proceedings, shall be so drawn as to specify the purpose94 and on what fund drawn. Such records shall be so kept as to sh ow at all times the95 financial condition of the county and shall be open to inspecti on by any citizen or96 taxpayer of the county;97 (9) Keep a book of inventory of all county property, including road machinery, live98 stock, chain-gang outfits, road-working tools and equipment, and every other kind and99 class of property belonging to said county, together with a fai r valuation of the same,100 where located, in whose custody, and in what condition, which i nventory shall, during101 the month of January in each year, be carefully revised; and 102 (10) Keep all such other books and records as may be necessary , or as the board may103 order, and shall perform generally or singularly the acts and d uties necessary to be104 performed by him or her as county administrator, and all such other duties as said board105 may require, and all and any other things that he or she can an d should do to fully106 exercise the duties of the office, and as will be helpful to a clear understanding of the107 county's financial standing and condition, as well as for an economical administration of108 the county's affairs.109 (b) The board shall be authorized to designate a qualified county administrative officer to110 exercise the powers and duties of the county administrator in the event of the temporary111 absence, disability, or suspension of the county administrator. Vacancies in the office of112 county administrator shall be filled by the board of commissioners as early as practicable,113 and until such vacancy is permanently filled, the board of comm issioners shall have full114 power to appoint an interim county administrator."115 S. B. 494 - 5 - 26 LC 61 0391 SECTION 5.116 Said Act is further amended by revising Section 11 as follows:117 "SECTION 11.118 The board of commissioners may at their discretion, and when they deem necessary, elect119 a superintendent of roads and bridges, to be selected on the ac count of his or her ability,120 efficiency, and knowledge and skill in practical road building or bridge building,121 preference being given to a civil engineer when he or she measu res up fully to the other122 requirements. Said superintendent may be elected for an indefinite period, and his or her123 services may be discontinued by said board at any time they see fit so to do. The124 superintendent of roads and bridges shall have charge of laying out, building, locating,125 preparing, repairing, improving, and maintaining the public roads and bridges of the county126 under orders of the board. The salary of the superintendent of roads and bridges shall be127 determined by the board."128 SECTION 6.129 Said Act is further amended by repealing and reserving Section 20.130 SECTION 7.131 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.132 S. B. 494 - 6 -