Sandy Springs’ Charter Review Commission has wrapped up its section-by-section review of the city charter and expects to finish its work in August.
The nine-member commission was appointed to review the five-year-old city charter and determine whether any changes should be made.
They are to report their findings to state lawmakers and city officials. The commission will meet Aug. 16 to review a draft of its report.
“I would say that no later than the end of Augsut, we ought to be able to get this wrapped up and done,” said Commission Chairman Rusty Paul.
After completing their discussions on July 26, members of the commission voted unanimously to ask that a new commission be established in eight years to give the charter another look.
“I think it’s healthy to review it on a consistent basis,” Paul said.
Other cities don’t necessarily review their charters regularly, commission members said.
Oliver Porter, a member of the group that drew up Sandy Springs’ charter, said the original charter commission came up with the idea for a review because they weren’t sure all the elements included in the original draft would work. “We thought we’d screw it up pretty badly,” Porter said.
The commission intially considered asking for a new review in another five years, then decided that was probably too soon. They settled on eight years because that would allow time for two more city election cycles before the next review.
After the vote to recommend that a new commission review the charter again, Paul said, “We replicate ourselves.”