Excellent work, commission! Ms. Johnson's requests were clearly illegal and it's good that the Commission nearly unanimously agreed.
The Augusta Commission rejected two requests today by General Counsel Chiquita Johnson - one involving restrictions on the news media at public meetings, another involving a charter change, which some feared would give too much power to the Law Department.
The commission voted 9-0-1, Calvin Holland abstaining, to reject Ms. Johnson's request to change ordinances and the consolidation charter so that the city attorney would have "peace officer" authority, power to investigate city departments, power to investigate city contractors and leeway to hire outside counsel without commission approval so long as the price doesn't exceed $50,000 of previously budgeted funds.
Mayor Pro Tem Alvin Mason called the proposal ridiculous.
"This is absolutely too much power for any individual to have within this government," he said. "That is what's ridiculous."
The commission also rejected her proposal on limiting the number of news cameras in commission chambers and to limit interviews with elected officials to a "media room." Instead, they voted 10-0 to move all future meetings - full commission meetings and committee meetings - into the larger commission chambers.
Mr. Mason said he stated in the past that the commitee room was too small, but questioned how Ms. Johnson parlayed that into placing restrictions on reporters. Last week, Georgia Press Association attorney David Hudson said several stipulations in her proposed resolution would be violations of the state's Open Meetings Act.
In another blow to Ms. Johnson, at meeting's end she asked for a closed legal session to talk about "administrative proceedings" and "pending and potential litigation."
The commission voted 4-5-1 against that, with Mr. Mason, Corey Johnson, Joe Jackson, Jimmy Smith and Don Grantham opposed and J.R. Hatney abstaining.
Comments
Excellent work, commission! Ms. Johnson's requests were clearly illegal and it's good that the Commission nearly unanimously agreed.
Now onto personnel actions in private to fire her.
The caucus that kept this affirmative action "lawyer" employed will probably want to take another look at her qualifications, or lack there of.
The girlieq needs to be fired, not given more powers--FIRE HER NOW! And, recall mason--it is time we get rid of thes aholes who abstain or walk out of meetings. A vote is yes or no---PERIOD!
nelson-did we read the same story? When did Mason abstain?
Nelsonhargrove: It was Holland who abstained in the first vote, Hatney in the second - NOT Mason, who clearly is one of the good guys in all this.
The banana needs to split. She's lost her ap"peel" around here.
And now the question is how much did she dig into our pockets to pay an Atlanta attorney to draft these proposals? How much are we, the taxpayer, out for these absolute absurdities? The mayor can't even cast a vote because of abstentions, but one person can spend tens of thousands and try for a power grab without any approval. In most places, that would be called insubordination, but especially in a right to work state.
aaaand boom goes the dynamite. glad this silly proposal blew up in Chiquita's face.
This woman is a nut as well as a fruit. She needs to go.
Who is allowing her to stay anyway?
She's a black female, a two-fer, and an attorney. The first two are why she was hired, and why her light fingered habits with taxpayer funds were overlooked. Can't lose bet: If she ever leaves, the third will assure it will be with a never-need-to-work-again retirement fund by way of a settlement.
Sickening the way this Govt operates.....
Sorry, missread!!!! Geez, what difference does it make? An abstenation is BS--don't yu get it, boys?
Cheequita needs to go---she does not have the confidence of the voters of Richmond Cnty! Oh, I forgot, most think OLD AUGUSTA rules____DUMP HER [filtered word] and, by the way, take Jerri Sims with her!
Let her dumb butt sue. Any judge or jury would be able to see that she's a fool. Just get rid of her, now.
Hey, webboy, why are my comments getting removed--check your policy, havent' violated it!
Interesting how she is trying to defend herself on 12.
Webboy? Hey, Nelson, how about checking your manners? Another person who feels entitled - getting something for free and still complaining about it.
Bottom line. Scary that an attorney (let alone the city's attorney) has no concept of the first amendment. Incompetence or arrogance? A bit of both probably.
One more question. Does she serve at the pleasure of the Commission or was she hired by personnel? This factors into either firing her or relieving her of her duties.
One thing is certain, her support seems to have evaporated within the media as well as the Commission as a whole.
Huh?Sorry Justus, but most people I know aren't mind readers so say it out right or don't waste time with 'U-knows"
Does Chiquita look a "little" {pealed) now?
Appears, she thinks she still has a "hammer" over someone. since Marion is gone--who else on the commission?,hnmmmm! Somebody that "ABSTAINS"?????????????????????????????
Apparently Ms. Johnson was fired from the Department of Public Safety for theft. She used a corporate credit card for unauthorized purchases. This should be very interesting.
Her recent requests make her look like an idiot. Not much sense in that skull of hers.
was justus referring to the Betty Beard conversion of funds?
I have finally figured Justus4 out. He is actually a very intelligent individual who makes dumb comments just trying to agitate everyone. I sure hope so, because if not he is about the dumbest human being I have ever seen post a comment.
Personally, I thought he thinks he is someone wrongly serving time which wanted justus 4 himself
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