Charter review process about done

A citizens committee is only days away from deciding whether to recommend major changes to Barrow County’s governing structure.

In late May, public input sessions were held in both Braselton and Statham.

Few local residents attended the May 31 meeting in Braselton, but a dozen or more local citizens attended the May 26 meeting in Statham.

After four public meetings, the central issues have been boiled down to the role of the county commission chairman.

Barrow County has a “strong chairman” form of government in which the BOC chairman has unprecedented power compared to that in other Georgia counties. He not only has veto power that can be overturned only by a super majority of five out of six commission votes, but he also serves as the full-time chief executive officer responsible for the day-to-day operations of the government.

The review committee will not submit its written recommendation to the BOC until June 14. However, the committee’s recommendations will be known June 9, when the panel holds its final public hearing and then takes action. That meeting starts at 7 p.m. and will be held at the county administration building at 233 E. Broad St. in Winder. It is open to the public.