Whether former Augusta Commissioner Marion Williams built more bridges than he burned with his colleagues while serving on the board should be determined today.

District 2 Commissioner Corey Johnson has recommended the appointment of Mr. Williams to the Richmond County Planning Commission. Six of the 10 commissioners must approve the recommendation for it to become effective.

Mr. Johnson said he appointed Mr. Williams because he knows a lot about planning and he lives in District 2.

"Now we have people on the board that don't know anything about the agency they're overseeing, and they don't take the time to learn," he said.

Mr. Williams, who represented District 2 and endorsed Mr. Johnson in November's election, was the commission's liaison to the planning commission from 2004 through 2008. He was on the Augusta Commission for eight years and served as mayor pro tem two years.

When his term as mayor pro tem ended, he abstained on the commission vote to choose a successor, thus preventing any candidate from getting the required six votes, and refused to give up the seat.

Mr. Williams is never at a loss for words and does not hesitate to speak his mind. As a commissioner, he challenged the status quo and criticized his colleagues and the administration from top to bottom. He also championed building a drag strip in south Augusta, a project so unpopular with many residents that it has remained in limbo.

Commissioners Jerry Brigham and Joe Bowles both indicated they would not vote for the appointment, but Commissioner Calvin Holland said Mr. Williams' eight years on the city commission have given him the knowledge and experience to be a great planning commission member.

"He will be a tremendous asset to the planning commission," he said.

Mr. Johnson has also recommended the appointment of James Germany to the Human Relations Commission; Frank Bowman to the Augusta Aviation Commission; and Charles W. Paschal to the Augusta-Richmond County Board of Zoning Appeals.

Other items on today's meeting agenda include:

- A resolution by Mr. Brigham requesting the Richmond County legislative delegation to restructure the Coliseum Authority.

- A resolution from Commissioner Don Grantham asking the legislative delegation to call for a referendum on increasing the local option sales tax by a penny to pay for enhanced public safety, transit and property-tax relief. The proposal, which would raise the total sales tax in Richmond County to 8 cents, did not receive a recommendation from the commission's Administrative Services Committee last week.

- Amending the city's leash law ordinance to provide for a dog park and rules with a decision to be made regarding the admission of children under age 4 when dogs are present.