Tuesday, June 26, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Rockdale Citizen
CONYERS -- Rockdale County's chief of staff may soon report to the entire Board of Commissioners rather than just the chairman.
Commissioner JaNice Van Ness introduced on Tuesday an amendment to the county's ordinance that establishes the chief of staff position to change the reporting structure.
The duties and responsibilities of the chief of staff largely remain intact, but how that person is selected and to whom that person reports would be changed.
Currently, the county ordinance, which is Section 61 of Chapter 2, states that the chief of staff is "subject to the direction of the chairperson." The proposed ordinance states instead that the chief of staff would be "subject to the direction of the board of commissioners."
Likewise, the BOC chairman currently appoints the chief of staff and the board confirms that appointment. Under the proposed ordinance, the chief of staff is to "be appointed by the Board of Commissioners and shall be directly responsible to them."
Van Ness originally made a motion to hold the first reading of the ordinance during Tuesday's public meeting and waive the second reading, which would result in immediate adoption of the amendment.
Before seconding the motion, Commissioner Oz Nesbitt asked commissioners to enter into executive session to discuss personnel matters related to the ordinance.
When commissioners returned from closed session about 30 minutes later, Van Ness restated her motion to hold the first reading and not waive the second reading.
Van Ness and Nesbitt voted in favor of the proposed ordinance and Chairman Richard Oden cast the dissenting vote.
Van Ness later said that she thinks the change in the ordinance will go a long way toward encouraging unification and cooperation among the BOC because one of the goals and objectives of the chief of staff will be to assist with outlining and communicating the board's priorities.
Oden, however, said he didn't think the amendment to the ordinance was all that significant.
"It doesn't change the day-to-day authority of the chairman," Oden stated in a written response to the Citizen Tuesday afternoon. "All of the day-to-day decisions are made through the chairman as the CEO. So this doesn't change a thing."
More like this story
- Rockdale chief of staff reporting change receives final OK ( July 11, 2012 )
- BOC votes against change to chief of staff position ( October 26, 2010 )
- Commissioners approve reduced cost overrun ( January 22, 2013 )
- County says grant talk within law ( May 31, 2011 )
- LETTERS: Oden, Nesbitt have twice put shame on BOC ( July 29, 2010 )
Comments
Rob 11 months ago
Miss Van Ness, we love you! Thanks for bringing sanity to Rockdale County time and time again! It has to be hard to be in your position, but please know that the citizens of Rockdale greatly appreciate your ability to show leadership on matters such as this. Keep up the good work!
Frustrated 11 months ago
Congrautlations Mrs Van Ness!! It should have never gone this long. Oden only wanted the Chief of Staff to report directly to ONLY him for a reason, to keep the others, especially Commissioner Van Ness, in the dark about what is going on. Oden needs to go in November. Its time to make Rockdale government responsible to the people of Rockdale not for the Chairman and his wishes .
involvedtaxpayer 11 months ago
Chairman Oden's statement says it all. He is only concerned about his "authority" and control.
EarlyBird 11 months ago
The truth is that Greg Pridgeon is a part of the bloated system of the county and should be fired. Cheers to everyone voting in November hoping to see Oden and Oz unemployed in January.
heresyafacts 11 months ago
Pridgeon needs to go, absolutely. His position is superfluous and is comprised of duties that SHOULD be done by the Chairman. I recall that he demanded $10,000 additional salary the last time he was asked to copy to the other two commissioners. I hope that this ordinance is not going to be followed by a significant pay increase; he is already receiving over $90,000.
Frustrated 11 months ago
Has anyone else noticed how Oz has changed his voting habits? Now he is aligning with Van Ness instead of Oden. I guess he might see the writing on the wall. Oden is probably out in November and he is trying to save himself by voting with Van Ness hoping the voters will see this as hm supporting the county. NOT!!
AJK 11 months ago
This isn't the first time Commissioner Van Ness has introduced a change in the Chief of Staff's reporting requirements.
The first time, Commissioner Nesbitt voted for it on the first reading, and voted against it on the second reading. The second time it came up, Commissioner Van Ness failed to get a second on the motion and the motion died.
If you think the Chief of Staff reporting to all three commissioners is a good thing, you must let the commissioners know. You can find their e-mail addresses by clicking here.
There is still time for this change to be voted down, but there is still time for you to voice your concern and get this change made.
And for those that don't think this is a good idea, consider what it's going to be like if the Chairman is a Republican and there is only one Democrat on the Board. Who do you think will be seeking the change then?
wayne 11 months ago
I hope that the Chief of Staff and the Commission Chairman will be reporting to someone else in January. Then maybe we'll have somebody that cares about and represents 100% of the county he serves.
Frustrated 11 months ago
Hopefully the two mouseketeers will be gone in January and take their Chief of Staff with them.
wayne 11 months ago
Why would you insult a mouseketeer like that? Annette is somewhere crying.
Frustrated 11 months ago
my apologies to Annette I meant no harm
wayne 10 months, 4 weeks ago
And now Don Grady has died! The good times are leaving us.
ctownslimm 10 months, 4 weeks ago
Mr Chairman, you voted against the measure saying, “this doesn't change a thing.” If it doesn't change a thing, then why did you vote against it?
wayne 10 months, 4 weeks ago
Bcause nobody had written anything else for him to say?
VPublicola 10 months, 4 weeks ago
Because to have voted 'for' it could be construed as him registering a vote of 'no confidence' in his leadership style!
Frustrated 10 months, 4 weeks ago
because he stand to admit Van Ness was right?
BOCWatch 10 months, 4 weeks ago
I do have the video up for this segment of Tuesday's meeting:
http://bocwatch.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=846
I'm with AJK, Nesbitt will fold on this vote on the second reading. He has on this issue at least once before,
johndoemo_ 10 months, 4 weeks ago
I am not familiar with the ramifications of this. Is it better to have the Chief of staff reporting to all three under normal circumstances or is Oden utilizing him in a way that makes this rule necessary? I really wish the reporters of this paper would spell things out. I am not all that great at reading between the lines. Ask Mrs Van Ness why she initiated this. What are the dangers of having the Cheif of staff report only to Oden? Have there been any circumstances where the cheif of staff's existing reporting chain hurt the board's ability to make decisions? Get us something better than the tip of the iceberg on these stories. Please shed more light on issues like this so we dont have to jump to so many conclusions.
BOCWatch 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Here is your history of this issue Johndemo
http://bocwatch.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=176
MsKito 10 months, 3 weeks ago
I think Pridgeon needs to report back to his home in Grant Park and stay there.
Frustrated 10 months, 3 weeks ago
The simple question is why WOULDNT the Chief of Staff keep ALL the Commissioners updated on things and keep them in the loop? Only because Oden wants it that way. He wants to be king of the hill.
VPublicola 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Hell already has a King. Oh, you wrote, 'hill'! :o)
MsKito 10 months, 3 weeks ago
And anyways, Hell implemented weight restrictions after Jong-Il last year. Too many fat dictators already.
Madasheck 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Whats most disheartening is that the good people of Rockdale have actually allowed this idiot in the office.
AJK 10 months, 3 weeks ago
In a round-a-bout way, you just called the voters of Rockdale County (your neighbors) idiots. I'm not an Oden fan, but comments like yours really are a turn off to me....imagine how many undecided voters you just drove over to the Oden camp. Thanks for supporting his re-election.
heresyafacts 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Voters will vote for Oden simply b/c someone else refers to him as an idiot? That's like saying people will go to a doctor who's been accused of malpractice -- simply because they will feel that someone is calling them irresponsible for choosing that doctor. I have to believe that most people are smarter than that. Where there's smoke there's fire -- there has been too much wrong during Oden's tenure, and a lot of people, including those who voted for Oden last time around, are taking note. And I just don't believe there are a lot of 'undecideds' in this race now; most voters in this county are either for wasted tax dollars, ineffective leadership and divisiveness -- or they are against Oden.
Elmo 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Actually, you need to read that post again...it does not call the people of Rockdale "idiots", it called the office holder an "idiot". If calling him an "idiot" causes people to vote for him, they weren't too committed in the first place. Your fear-mongering ploy is way overused by the left, and has no merit. If name-calling in politics dictates the only reason you pick a candidate, it reeks of immaturity and a galactic gap in your knowledge of the issues. Politics is not "America Idol"...showboating is not a valid attribute for choosing leadership.
AJK 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Obviously I didn't articulate my thoughts very well.
None the less, calling someone, especially an elected official, names in a public forum does not win you any friends or creditability. No matter how much you may dislike someone’s politics, you should always be respectful.
heresyafacts – “a lot of people, including those who voted for Oden last time around, are taking note.” I think and I hope you’re right. I’m seeing campaign signs in the yards of people who have never paid much attention to politics…regardless of whether I agree with their choice or not, I’m glad to see so many getting involved enough to support their candidate of choice.
Elmo – I will respectfully decline to address any of your comments except to agree with you that “Politics is not "America Idol"”, and it never should be.
livingart 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Is this not his second Chief of Staff - and I will add - at the cost of several great employees, with many years of experience and admirable work ethics - that are no longer working for the CEO and his STAFF or Rockdale County government. ????
AJK 10 months, 2 weeks ago
The Board of Commissioners are scheduled to take a second vote this evening, July 10, 2012 in the JP Carr Community Room at 6pm. It's item 6 on the agenda.
Don't forget to e-mail them and let them know how you fell about this proposed change.
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