Century Charter Committee Tackles City Manager, Spending Issues

October 29, 2019

The Century Charter Review Committee (CRC) held their first discussion meeting Monday evening.

Much of the discussion, led by Interim City Manager Buz Eddy, centered around what, if any, duties a city manager should have in the scope of Century government. Eddy suggested the city manager position should be made more permanent. Under the current charter, all of the affairs of the town are to be managed by the elected part time mayor, but he said that’s just not practical.

For regular office hours, “you need to have a city manager,” he said, adding the mayor and council would then have someone to work for them full time.

CRC member Evelyn Hammond, a former town mayor, said a city manager would bring a level of experience to town government.

“Sometimes I think the city council has too much power,” Hammond said. “This is a small town. Sometimes we get qualified people to fill these positions, sometimes we don’t.”

“This mayor’s position is not a part-time job,” Mayor Henry Hawkins said. “That’s why we want a city manager, because they can handle more.”

Eddy and Hawkins, who do not serve on the committee, also took aim at a $500 spending limit set for the mayor by the charter.

“That really just hamstrings the needs of the city,” Eddy said, adding that the exact dollar amount could be set by the council with the right charter wording.

“Our attorney has said down over the years that needs to be change,” Hawkins said. “That’s really handcuffing the town.”

The most important thing of all is when we have made the changes you follow them,” CRC member Mary Bourgeois said ” It’s following the charter, not doing things you own way.”

Any recommendations approved by the CRC would first go to the town council to approve placing on an upcoming ballot for voter approval. The charter is the master document that establishes the town and how it operates.

Pictured top: Century Charter Review Committee member Evelyn Hammond, a former mayor, addresses the group Monday evening. Pictured inset above: Mary Bourgeois. Pictured below: Most of the meeting was conducted by Interim City Manager Buz Eddy. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

15 Responses to “Century Charter Committee Tackles City Manager, Spending Issues”

  1. charlie Mike on October 30th, 2019 11:16 pm

    The interim town manager arguing for a permanent full-time town manager position. LOL. I’d vote for dissolution, take my chances with the county, and throw these bums into the street.

  2. Just a Nobody on October 30th, 2019 9:36 am

    Why bother to appoint a committee when Henry and Buz are running the show? With Buz acting as interim town manager, and, as the facilitator of this committee, could his involvement be construed as a “conflict of interest?”

  3. James on October 30th, 2019 7:51 am

    Eddy is just what Hawkins has been looking for – a supporting voice to speak for his corruption.

  4. chris on October 29th, 2019 7:47 pm

    @ Willis: Very very good point!

  5. new to century on October 29th, 2019 6:56 pm

    Well if the few can learn and keep it going a while longer with a hired public experienced manager then great. Hopefully the electorate learned it’s lesson to vote for a qualified person, if they could find one. Hudson should have won the latest seat not the other guy that isn’t even showing up.

    Don’t give Hawkins and increased spending limit.

    People please stop playing identity politics..

  6. Willis on October 29th, 2019 6:43 pm

    How do you have an impartial committee looking at the charter ,when you have the mayor and his town manager overseeing and directing them ??

  7. Dave on October 29th, 2019 5:41 pm

    I’m glad I don’t live in that crappy town.

  8. Tom on October 29th, 2019 5:30 pm

    His someone else to do his job for him? Pitiful!

  9. watching the sideshow on October 29th, 2019 4:02 pm

    Hammond said. “This is a small town. Sometimes we get qualified people to fill these positions, sometimes we don’t.” Qualified??? Hammonds and Hawkins are two of the most unqualified people to ever have held the office of mayor. So yes, I will say on that point Hammond knows what she is talking about!

  10. Concerned citizen on October 29th, 2019 11:53 am

    Just go ahead and save the citizens the headache and shame of how our town is run by a bunch of clowns . How long does it take to figure out what is going on with this picture here .

  11. Chris on October 29th, 2019 10:50 am

    Of course his majesty King Hawkins would complain about a spending limit.

  12. Alan on October 29th, 2019 8:37 am

    Is the Charter Review Committee being led down a predetermined path just to give the process validity? There should be three choices on the citizens ballots.

    1. Keep the existing charter
    2. Adopt the new charter
    3. Dissolution of the City charter

    Why keep paying for a government bureaucracy that does not and has not worked for its citizens in decades. Why believe these same people are going to change with a new charter.

  13. just sayin on October 29th, 2019 8:30 am

    The mayor has this same lost looking pose in darn near every picture you see of him.

  14. Bob on October 29th, 2019 8:06 am

    Everytime I see a picture of Mayor Hawkins he seems to be deep in thought. Wonder what he is thinking about? Insert cricket noises here!!!

  15. tg on October 29th, 2019 7:42 am

    Mayor looking on thinking ” I hope i can remain King”.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News