DCAC Letter to Senator Jones A letter to Senator Emanuel Jones questioning the timing and rationale for moving forward with legislation that would eliminate the county’s two super districts and create 7 smaller districts instead. DeKalb Citizens believes that the county should move forward with the citizen-engaged Charter Commission to examine all areas of governance for the county, including the approach to commission district representation, prior to putting a referendum on the ballot.
Tag Archive for: Dekalb County
L DeKalb Citizens issued an open letter to the county delegation calling for more citizen input and transparency in the process of redistricting in response to the results of the 2020 census.
After eight months and approximately 100 person-hours of internet research, virtual attendance at selected board meetings, and review of “best practices” elsewhere in the country, we have released this report on our observations and recommendations as they relate to improving the transparency of board information, policies and procedures and clarifying board types, functions, and appointing authorities.
This excerpt from DeKalb County’s Organizational Act addresses the county’s requirement to fill posts or vacancies in any public office or as a member of any public authority, board, commission, or other body or agency.
Our recent experience with the Board of Ethics appointment process and the interest DeKalb citizens showed in applying for that board led us to question how other County boards are being appointed and how citizens are being educated about and engaged with County government through these boards. What we have found so far indicates little public attention is being paid to these boards by either County officials or DeKalb citizens. Right now we have more questions than answers about how these boards are appointed and how they function. While we move forward with our research on this topic, we encourage you to review the overview of County boards that we have created.
Disclaimer: Information on vacancies and expired terms contained in the overview came from an official DeKalb County Government website. The County maintains this site and is responsible for any updates as membership and terms of service. DCAC makes no claims as to the accuracy of board/commission data for vacancies or expired terms.
If you are interested in serving on any of the boards, we encourage you to follow the instructions below to access the board’s information and to apply. We would also advise sending a copy of the application with a letter of interest to your commissioner.This overview of County boards outlines the boards that exist, who currently is assigned to serves on those boards, and the number of vacancies or expired terms. If you are interested in serving on any of the boards, we encourage you to follow the instructions below to access the board’s information and to apply. We would also advise sending a copy of the application with a letter of interest to your commissioner.
Click link below:
https://dekalbcountyga.granicus.com/boards/w/968f9572ef2211df
Step 1: Boards and Commissions names – Listed alphabetically Þ Select name of desired boards and commissions.
Step 2: Access specific information for selected board(s) –
Click: Board Tab for description/purpose of boards/commissions, current vacancies, expired terms
Click: Member Roster Tab – lists membership names, appointing authorities, terms of appointment
Click: APPLY in right top of screen to submit an electronic application to serve on a desired board or commission
After nearly three years of legal limbo and legislative wrangling, DeKalb County again has a functional ethics board.
And its plate is already plenty full.
When the new ethics board meets next week, the panel of seven tasked with considering complaints of wrongdoing against county officials and employees will begin sifting through a backlog of cases that started piling up even before a 2018 court ruling hamstrung its previous iteration.
There are 28 cases pending before the board, which has the power to issue censures, reprimands and fines.
And Jonathan Crane, a professor at Emory University’s Center for Ethics, said the renewed level of oversight will be vital to restoring and maintaining the public’s trust in their government.
Posted by Holly R. Price | Nov 24, 2020
A new DeKalb County Board of Ethics is being selected and applications for positions are open until Dec. 1.
The board is intended to independently review claims of improper conduct by public officials.
The current board has been inactive since the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled in 2018 that its current board member appointment method was unconstitutional. A proposal approved by voters Nov. 3 will dissolve the current board Dec. 31. New board members will take their positions Jan. 1, 2021.
DeKalb’s latest ethics referendum passed overwhelmingly, meaning the county’s long-dormant ethics board will soon be reconstituted.
But before that can happen, new members must be selected. And the application period is now open.
“The DeKalb Ethics Appointing Committee is in support of a transparent, uniform and coordinated process,” said state Rep. Karla Drenner, D-Avondale Estates, said in a press release. “This application process will allow us to identify DeKalb residents who represent and serve their community in a unique way.”
DeKalb County will have a new, functional ethics board by the end of the year.
There were still tens of thousands of absentee ballots to be counted in DeKalb on Wednesday. But voters had overwhelmingly supported the latest proposal to reshape ethics oversight in the county.
Among other things, the measure fixes the problematic appointment process that has hamstrung the local ethics board — which investigates complaints against county employees and elected officials — for more than two years.
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