Preview: April 5 Work Session

The is meeting at 6 tonight at .

Unfinished business

• Expanding Mayoral Powers. The council will revisit proposed amendments to the city's charter that would expand the mayor's power. At the March 15 meeting, the council agreed to strike this from the list of amendments: "Have the power to suspend the City Manager for up to seven (7) days with pay. In the event of such suspension, the Mayor shall notify the members of the City Council of the reasons for such suspension and shall call a meeting of the City Council within seven (7) days to determine the appropriate discipline of the City Manager. Such discipline shall be as determined by the City Council, and may include termination." But Mayor Gene Hobgood would have the right to:
  • Veto any ordinance adopted by the council.
  • Nominate candidates for mayor pro tem, city attorney, city clerk, and city boards, commissions and authorities.
  • Select and supervise appointed or employed staff. Employed staff will be .
• Rental Car Excise Tax, Rental Assistance Program. At the March 15 meeting, the council was expected to approve an ordinance that authorizes the collection of an excise tax upon rental of a motor vehicle. Proceeds from the tax will be used to fund a rental assistance program that Main Street Program Director Ginger Garrard proposed in February to revive the city's struggling downtown. A number of speakers, many of them on the Main Street board, spoke in favor of the tax. But Coe Bockmier, a regional vice president with , threatened to pull out of Canton if the council approved the tax. The council ultimately . They want to be clear on how the Main Street Program will "handle the money."
• Leak Adjustment Policy. After last year's , the city has developed a policy for customers who request a leak adjustment. Customers will be eligible for one leak adjustment a year. However, City Manager Scott Wood or his designee may authorize additional adjustments if warranted. 

New Business

• Canton Wins Award. The city's website recently won a "Sunny Award" from the Sunshine Review. Out of 6,000 government websites, Canton was one of only 214 websites to receive the designation. The Sunny Awards recognizes the most transparent government websites in the country. 
• Business Travel, Cell Phone Policy. Council member Glen Cummins will discuss policies that outline everything from daily meal expenditures while conducting out-of-town city business to city-issued cell phone limits.
• Cherokee County School District Requests Waiver. Three meters must be installed at Reservoir Drive, the site of Middle School "E." With fees topping $328,000, the district would like the city to waive costs.

Open the PDF on this page for the full agenda. If you can't attend tonight's meeting, return to Canton-Sixes Patch at 6 p.m. for a live video feed of the meeting.

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