Milledgeville City Council met Aug. 12 to discuss an ordinance request by District 4 Council Member Walter Reynolds and approve two agenda items.
Reynolds discussed an email he sent to council a week ago proposing an additional ethics ordinance for discussion titled “The Milledgeville Transparency and Accountability Act.” According to Reynolds, the purpose of this ordinance would be to give citizens “clear, consistent access to data on how elected and appointed officials are serving their community.”
“This proposal comes from the fundamental belief that anything measured can be improved, to promote open government, build public trust, and increase accountability through annual reporting of certain public service metrics,” said Reynolds.
The act would track meeting attendance, travel and training budgets, training compliance, and campaign finance compliance. It would begin tracking during the next city council term, according to Reynolds. The reports would be completed to cover the previous year, no later than March 1, 2027, and cover activities for the next calendar year. These would be available printed at city hall, online on the city hall website, or by request at the city clerk’s office.
District 1 Council Member Dr. Collinda Lee responded to Reynolds, noting that she found the ordinance “redundant” and read to the audience what the city already has in place in its City of Ethics pledge.
District 3 council member Denese Shinholster questioned whether Reynolds wanted to measure board performance or council performance and echoed Lee’s statement that the council is already open to public view and record. Reynolds responded that it would measure both bodies and that the individual can make notes in their reports to ensure any descriptions and vital information is noted in the data before it is made public for viewing.
District 2 council member Jeanette Walden agreed with Shinholster’s response.
District 1 council member Shonya Mapp stated she took time to reach out to several counties and research to determine if any other political bodies had a similar ordinance and could not find any. She affirmed she agreed with Shinholster and that everything was public record already.
Reynolds also reported during the meeting that he did not know of a political body with an ordinance that in-depth but stated it would give Milledgeville the opportunity to be a “trail blazer.”
District 6 council member Steve Chambers did not respond during the meeting. No action was taken on the request.
The Harold of Hopes Municipal Training Institute approached the council to honor Lee. The institute offers a training program in partnership with the Georgia Municipal Association and the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government. It offers five certificate levels. Lee was honored for receiving all five certificates and because she was one of nine individuals to earn 400 or more hours.
“We think that is a testament to her municipal excellence and commitment to public service and professional development,” said the representative.
In other news, the council unanimously approved a resolution pledging to practice and promote civility in the City of Milledgeville. This must be reapproved every two years.
Concluding the meeting, a resolution was presented to council regarding Georgia College’s request to purchase the block of north Liberty Street between Montgomery and Thomas Street.
Discussion and previous resolutions have been ongoing related to the matter and this is the final resolution regarding the sale. Council unanimously approved the resolution.