The duties assigned to Administrator Fred Russell in Augusta's new personnel manual have been codified in an ordinance going before the commission's administrative services committee.

The manual was approved 6-4 last week despite protests from some that the city was giving its administrator too much authority over personnel.

"I think we gave centralized authority to the administrator, just like it's always been since consolidation. I think we just reconfirmed it," Commissioner Jerry Brigham said.

Chief among the changes in a revised Sec. 1-2-36 of the Augusta Code is the administrator's new "exclusive right to recommend for appointment or removal all Augusta, Ga., department heads, subject to the approval of the commission." Department heads reporting directly to the mayor and commission are general counsel, city clerk, equal employment director and disadvantaged business liaison.

A draft ordinance included in commissioners' committee packet shows few additions to the code section besides the addition of Russell's authority to approve "all position classifications, reclassifications, reorganizations and pay adjustments up to 15 percent of base pay," a component of the personnel manual.

Russell has said the handbook will give him the tools to accomplish a planned reorganization of city government that includes the elimination of 60 positions, 29 now occupied, and the city's public services and licensing and inspections departments.

The committee meets at 1 p.m. today. Also on the agendas are a set of sample projects proposed if regional voters approve a one-cent sales tax for transportation, a request from Swainsboro Police Chief Randy Ellison for a donated 2000 Crown Victoria and an agreement with Southeast Utilities to extend fiber optic cabling to the new marshal's substation at 3050 Deans Bridge Road.