Hinesville council appears set to limit mayor involvement in city manager issues

Coastal Courier

Updated: Nov 7, 2017, 10:00 AM

Published: Nov 8, 2017, 1:26 AM

The Hinesville City Council is moving forward with changes to city ordinances that appear to limit the mayor’s involvement in the hiring and firing of future city managers.
Both proposed changes could be voted on at the city’s Nov. 16 meeting.
Council members have pushed since July to change the ordinances, section 2-282 and 2-286, at the behest of Councilwoman Diana Reid, who moved to have new language drafted by the city attorney to clarify the appointment and hiring of the city manager position.
During the Aug. 3 meeting council members also requested language clarification for the section of the ordinance that deals with the removal of the city manager.
The ordinance, section 2-282, now reads that the city manager “shall be appointed by a majority vote of the mayor and city council for an indefinite term.
If approved, the ordinance will read, “The city manager shall be appointed by a majority vote of the city council for an indefinite term and shall fix the manager’s compensation.”
The proposed amendment to the ordinance on how to suspend or remove a city manager also removes the mayor from the process.
Interim City Manager Kenneth Howard said the amendments are clearer than the current ordinances.
“Essentially what it does is clarifies language that governs the appointment, term, qualifications and removal of city manager,” Howard said.
“Is that the GMA (Georgia Municipal Association) model?” Reid asked. “Is that the GMA model that the mayor requested that we use? I am in agreement with it.”
Hinesville Mayor Allen Brown responded, “By the way and for the record I didn’t request it. Somebody else asked him to and I agreed with it. I thought it was a good idea to look at their model. But I did not request it.”
“Well it’s a good idea to use the GMA model,” Reid replied.
The city has posted the job vacancy for City Manager. Applications will be accepted until Dec. 18. Minimum starting salary is listed at $109,789.
Reid and councilmembers Vicky Nelson and Keith Jenkins voted to suspend former city manager Billy Edwards in June due to Reid’s apparent belief that he was trying to have her removed from council.
Edwards, who served as the city’s manager for nearly four decades, has since resigned.

Interstate lane closures, detours set

Traffic shift in effect for 20 days near Savannah Airport

Coastal Courier

Updated: Apr 17, 2018, 9:30 AM

Published: Apr 17, 2018, 9:54 AM

The Georgia Department of Transportation continues to improve highway infrastructure throughout the area. As a result, work on construction and maintenance projects will continue through Saturday. Closure schedules may change due to weather or other factors.

Lane closures by county are scheduled as follows:

Bryan County

· From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday I-16 Westbound from US 80/Exit 143 to SR 119/Exit 137 will have single-lane closures for bridge rehabilitation work.

Chatham County I-95 Resurfacing

· There will be continuous double-lane closures and a shift in traffic patterns for 20 days near the Savannah Airport as approach slabs at Pipemakers Bridge are replaced. Lane closures will be in effect between mileposts 103 and 104 Monday, and ramp closures at Exit 102 will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Liberty County

· From 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through May 12, there will be nightly ramp closures with detours at I-95 exits 76 and 67 to replace existing concrete on ramps.

For more information about travel conditions on Georgia’s interstates and state routes, call 511. More information is also available at www.511ga.org.