Mayor seeks greater role at meetings

By F/Benjamin Sr. Special to UPW AUGUSTA

Five Augusta commissioners have recently endorsed Mayor Garnett Johnson’s request to be given the same voting power as sitting commissioners. Five other commmissioners are questioning whether or not the mayor has gone about his request in the best manner. The five commissioners who supported Johnson’s resolution which would allow local voters to determine whether or not he should have an equal vote included Alvin Mason, Brandon Garrett, Catherine Smith McKnight, Sean Frantom and Wayne Guilfoyle.,

Here is what some of the commissioners who were “outside of the loop” on this issue have had to say.

“I have not heard from the mayor nor anyone one in his office about this plan, haven’t heard from anyone about the intention,” said Comm. Jordan Johnson.

“If half this commission was not informed, not brought on board, is that right? Absolutely not, even if he got a no, I think he should have, and he could have forged ahead,” said Comm. Francine Scott.

Longtime city watchers are suggesting that although the mayor made his intentions known prior to being elect- ed, and that mayoral candidate Steven Kendricks had also expressed interest in such an arrangement, the way the mayor has gone about seeking support was tantamount to “drawing a political line in the sand.”

Presently, the city’s charter allows the mayor to preside over meetings of the Augusta Commission, but only votes in the event of a deadlock. Johnson insists that this is not a “power grab.”