Taking a page from our friends at The Current in Savannah, we present a compilation of all the published agendas for various government bodies and boards meeting this week. This frees us to tackle a few of these items in depth, rather than essentially rewrite each agenda.
The point of this is to make it easier for you to take part in your own government. If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. It doesn’t do you much good to complain on social media about what’s already happened or about what you wish would happen. We’re pointing you in the direction of where you can go to seek satisfaction. We are not telling you what to ask for or who to vote for. That’s not our job. That’s on you and your community. Our job is to let you know what’s going on so that you can respond to it and hold your government and your elected officials accountable.
Check these agenda links for items that affect you, your property, your neighborhood, your business, and your community. And be sure to check back 24 hours before each meeting because sone government bodies wait as long as possible—sometimes on purpose—before making the public aware of what they plan to discuss or vote on.
Be sure to recheck these links in case of any changes to the published agenda, which does happen occasionally.
We may add other select government events to this list.
How to know what’s happening
Some jurisdictions do all their talking about substantive matters during the work session, then cast votes quickly on those items or lump many items together on a consent agenda (one vote to pass a group of items) during the regular meeting. If your elected officials talk more about things that are not on the meeting agenda (festivals, football, etc.) , that agenda merits extra scrutiny.
Just because the chair says “goodnight” does NOT mean a meeting is over. If a body goes into executive session to discuss real estate, litigation, or personnel matters, a judge can look at the minutes or listen to any recordings if the matter in question goes to court. It is illegal to close a meeting to talk about matters that do not fall under those limited categories. If a governing body decides to take action based on an executive session discussion, they must come out, reconvene the meeting, state what the matter is, and vote on it in public. See the Georgia First Amendment Foundation’s explanation of Georgia’s Open Meetings Act.
The Georgia Municipal Association explains the standards to which local elected officials are held legally. See “Ethics, Conflicts of Interest, and Abuse of Office.”
MONDAY, OCT. 3
Quick Takes
Forest Park’s mayor and council will vote on whether to give themselves pay raises, as well as on how to spend federal COVID-19 relief money and clarifications on how the URA and DDA handle their business. The Board of Education will vote on Policy Series G. Jonesboro will consider a vote to set aside commuter rail and endorse bus rapid transit on Georgia Hwy. 54.
6 p.m.: Clayton County Board of Education: https://cdn5-ss10.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_54431/File/Administration/Board%20of%20Education/Board%20Meetings/Agenda%20October%203,%202022%20Board%20Meeting.pdf
6 p.m.: Jonesboro City Council work session: http://jonesboroga.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1415&Inline=True
6 p.m.: Forest Park City Council work session: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/forestpark-pubu/MEET-Packet-abc43a6973e84309890f1fecfb547f49.pdf
7 p.m.: Forest Park City Council meeting: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/forestpark-pubu/MEET-Packet-e5357892f6bd453bafe258d145304744.pdf
TUESDAY, OCT. 4
Quick Takes
The Clayton County Board of Commissioners will discuss policy on gift card use and credit card points.
5:30 p.m.: Clayton County Board of Commissioners Pre-Agenda Meeting: http://claytoncountyga.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1350&Inline=True
6:30 p.m.: Clayton County Board of Commissioners Meeting: http://claytoncountyga.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1349&Inline=True
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5
4:30 p.m.: Jonesboro Design Review Commission (check here)
THURSDAY, OCT. 6
FRIDAY, OCT. 7
SATURDAY, OCT. 8
more to come!!!
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