Last week, when an Augusta Commission committee voted to eliminate property taxes on Harrisburg businesses, Matt Aitken wasn't there.
When another committee debated changing the commission's meeting time to 5 p.m. -- a move originally seconded by Aitken and intended to help him -- Aitken wasn't there.
A member of both committees, the District 1 commissioner from Harrisburg had a simple explanation: He couldn't get off from his job at Olin Corp.
"A lot of people understand I'm a working man and I'm not privileged to set my own hours," he said.
Aitken works four 12-hour shifts at Olin, then takes eight days off. Today, however, when the commission resumes debate on changing meeting times from 2 to 5 p.m., Aitken will be there. He had originally planned to be on a vacation with his family.
Even though his shift typically ends at 7 p.m., Aitken said he supports the change because it will help "average citizens that work every day to become more involved" in government.
His bosses at Olin are working with him to schedule his shifts around meeting times, he said. It will be easier to end his shift a couple of hours early than to break off in the middle of the day for a meeting, Aitken said.
Commissioners have suggested that changing the meeting times will streamline business and encourage public participation.
Aitken, who was elected in a December runoff, said he's not really the reason for the meeting-change proposal.
"I'm just taking the heat for it," he said.
The proposal has met with stiff but limited opposition from two commissioners, Jimmy Smith and Don Grantham.
Smith called the move "immature" and said anyone who runs for office should be aware of the requirements.
Grantham said he didn't think changing meeting times would change anything.
"I find it difficult to believe that these people are going to come down here and listen to us talk," he said.
The proposed ordinance moves regular meetings and committee meetings from 2 to 5 p.m. on their regularly scheduled days. It also affects legal meetings, the kind the commission has with its attorney behind closed doors.
The commission could reject all or part of the ordinance today.
This guy should have never run if he could not make the commitment. He knew his work obligation prior to running. So what did you prove MA? What was this DA thinking! Lag
Should you not have arranged this with Olin prior to running for office so those of us who foolishly supported you would not feel so stupid? Give me another chance to support you Mr. Rocket Scientist knowing what we now know. I'm sorry but there is no excuse for this stupidity! Lag
Were you just running to beat a black canidate rather than to be able to serve your constituants? I'm sorry, but I am mad about you not thinking this thing through. Lag
Changing the meeting time is no big deal and as Mr. Grantham implied, it won't affect us little people at all. My problem is all the meetings Mr. Aitken has missed. Lag is right; it is embarrassing! He knew the meeting time.
Y'all need to think about this another way. Just like Aitken said, changing the time of the meetings to 5 o'clock might inspire more qualified people to run for office. If the meetings are in the middle of the day, who else but business owners and retired people could afford to be in office like that? Having the meetings later in the day would allow people with "regular" jobs to try their hand at participating in government and representing the rest of us. Initially I was also disappointed in Mr. Aitken, but not now. Now I hope this thing goes through and allows him to go to more meetings. I think the old-timers don't want the meeting times changed because they like things the way they are. Well, that type of thinking hasn't gotten Augusta too far, has it?
Dysfunction Junction. Alll Aboooard!!!! Next stop The Deke Coperhaver-Boardman Stadium and Multi Use Center Downtown. Is Aitken another Boardman mole???? Wonder how often Matt has taken a "concurrent job" while he had a job? Is this a pattern or is it just Augusta politics.
Matt works twelve hour shifts in a factory. Drives home to "Olde Towne". Stands guard over his home all night so that downtown criminals don't vandalize same. And then has to attend "Bozo's Circus" for hours on Tuesdays. And log 1500 miles a month visiting his "constituents". Give the man a break. LOL LOL
Just,
Who cares what time the meeting is….if someone wants to attend a meeting it is their responsibility to get there.
Why pay all those city employees overtime to attend after work hours meetings…it takes a lot of people/MONEY to put on one of those meetings.
The real problem is we have a man that ran for an office and he is not doing HIS JOB!
Columbia County meets at 6pm, what's the big deal? I guess the senior citizens on the Richmond County Commission are against moving the meeting times to 5pm because they're afraid of missing the early bird restaurant specials.
He will receive the same amount of compensation regardless of attendence. Those city employees do not have to get overtime. They can adjust their work schedule when commissioners meet so that no extra expenditure is required. With todays technology we could have commissioners meet via video conference where no commissioners have to actually be in the commission chamber. We the people can still attend the meetings and see the commissioners through the monitors that will be placed in their usual place to sit. I jest.
Matt Aitken aside, the meeting time still needs to be changed to later so more people can attend. I would like to attend, but cannot since I also work late. Its funny that the people that are fighting this will be term limited out soon anyway, so what does it matter? Seems elitist to me.
Commissioner Don Grantham said:
"I find it difficult to believe that these people are going to come down here and listen to us talk."
You see, Don Grantham doesn't want to be bothered by us “little” people. He does all his decision-making in smoke-filled rooms. The Commission meetings are mere formalities, mere annoyances for Grantham. They have set up the meeting format so that there is no place for actual input from the people. The Commission meeting might as well be a sit-com from the standpoint of us “little” folk.
BooHoo says : The real problem is we have a man that ran for an office and he is not doing HIS JOB!
I challenge you to show me one elected public servant who is......Local, State or National.
Let me start by saying that i work with Matt Aitken. He will tell you that i will be the first to hold his feet to the fire. I can understand what everyone is saying about him missing the meetings, but i can also understand the reasons behind him missing them. Life is about choices. He chose to run, but he has also made a decision to take care of and support his family. He has many obligations to his family, his job and to the citizens of Richmond County. In my talking to numerous working class people would and could do this county proud, many voice an interest in running for public office. But, they are in the same situation as Matt, and myself are in, they can not or will not run because the meetings are not set up to include the working class citizens of what could and should be a great county. There are so many great and upstanding people that could help promote change and help move this county to the next step of progress that we so despartely need here, but i, like them have a greater responsibilty to my family. I say move the meetings to a later time of 5pm maybe 6pm, so that ARC can move to the next level of progression. This could and should be a great place to be, so let's move on from the past way of doing business and head in a more inclusive and progressive direction. Let's change (ARC) the mentality here and show those that feel like this "I find it difficult to believe that these people are going to come down here and listen to us talk." that they are not only wrong but have a misguided way of thinking.
Spello, you are on target in so many ways. I retired from the Army in '98, and decided to make Augusta my home. From the offset I've often asked myself, why are the commision meetings scheduled at a time that's virtually difficult (if not impossible) for the working citizens of Augusta to attend!? I should be able to come and listen in person to my elected rep instead of reading what someone else decides what I should know. By all means change the meeting time. Mr Grantham needs to think alittle more before he speaks. His comment sounds elitist at best and self serving with a hint of "shady" at worst; either or displays little (if any) concern for the will and the rights of the people in RC to observe and have a voice in the decisions affecting our tax dollars. Anyone remember the wind fall ex-commis Williams got for his raggity 25 member church on Laney Walker to make way for the new stadium?? Wow, wish I was there to protest that DEAL!! Still waiting for you to build that church Mr Williams.......yeah right, in another life! CHANGE the meeting time.
Notice that the two examples of missed meetings the reporter cited above were committee meetings. Aitken likely knew the agenda and knew what was being voted on. He also knew that any recommendation coming from those committee votes would have to be voted on at a subsequent commission meeting, and he could attend the commission meeting and make his stand known.
I am in Matt's district and yes I want him at these meetings. But, the meetings can be changed. I am a working person and I would like to go to some of the meetings. The commissioners do not want to change the time, they like it this way so they can keep most of the public out. They have there own little game going and do not want any of the public watching and listening to what they are doing. You read in the paper the next day what the commissioners have decided on matters. Do not get me wrong, we have a few good commissioners and all of them should be for the new time change. Look at other counties - meetings where the public can attend. (the working public). Come on Matt, be there for your people. We need change in Augusta/Richmond County.
Its so sad that the first person posting, the first three, had to bring race into it. Its just your opinion but sad.
id rather see someone miss a meeting due to a work conflict than getting up and leaving the meeting so they dont have to vote.
Augusta is always about race. Blehck! I am tired of it. I am unhappy, however, that we have a commissioner who is being paid for a job he isn't doing....
If he got a job like this in the private sector and missed meetings in the first few months, he would have already been fired.
Come on, Matt, do your job!
While I agree that Mr Aitken should have considered his work schedule conflicting with commission meetings before running ( I supported Butch Palmer in the race) however, that does not negate the fact that commission meetings need to be held at a time when most CITIZENS... ie taxpayers who this hovt supposedly works for can attend. People should not have to take a day off work to attend a commission meeting, period.. and we should make the meeting times convenient so working people can attend.. other wise we end up with nothing but the old guard running things
Change the meeting times. Smith is too 'mature' in my opinion.
Most city/county council/commission meetings are held at 5pm or later. Time for Augusta government to actually think about the citizens a little bit.
Laguria,
If we limit the field of candidates to only those with the time to attend midday meetings, then our elected officials will come only from the wealthy class (minus those lucky enough to work it out with their employers). Cash flow is what it is...or we should start paying our commissioners enough so those who are not wealthy can participate without threatening their livelihood.
I agree the meeting times should be changed, but if I were Olin, I'd make sure Aitken made the meetings. Olin is such a touchy industry in Augusta they need all the help they can get.
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