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HB 929 - Covington, City of; posts; vacancies

Stokes, James S. (Jim) (92nd)

Status Summary	HC:	LLeg	SC:	SLGO	FR:	03/09/99	LA:	04/16/99	Signed by Governor

First Reader Summary

A BILL to amend an Act granting a new charter to the City of Covington, so as to eliminate two at-large posts on the city council; to change the method of filling any vacancy in the office of mayor or council member; and for other purposes.

HB 929                                             LC 19 4236 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                        A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 
                               AN ACT 
 
 
  1- 1  To amend an Act granting a new charter to the City of 
  1- 2  Covington, approved January 30, 1962 (Ga. L. 1962, p. 2003), 
  1- 3  as amended, particularly by an Act approved March 13, 1978 
  1- 4  (Ga. L. 1978, p. 3519), so as to eliminate two at-large 
  1- 5  posts on the city council; to change the method of filling 
  1- 6  any vacancy in the office of mayor or council member; to 
  1- 7  provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; 
  1- 8  to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. 
 
  1- 9       BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: 
 
  1-10                           SECTION 1. 
 
  1-11  An Act granting a new charter to the City of Covington, 
  1-12  approved January 30, 1962 (Ga. L. 1962, p. 2003), as 
  1-13  amended, particularly by an Act approved March 13, 1978 (Ga. 
  1-14  L. 1978, p. 3519), is amended by striking in its entirety 
  1-15  Section 22 and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
 
 
  1-16                      Form of Government. 
 
  1-17    The government of said city shall be vested in a mayor and 
  1-18    six council members who shall hold their respective 
  1-19    offices for two-year terms and until their successors are 
  1-20    elected and qualified; provided, however, that the mayor 
  1-21    and members of the council now holding office in the city 
  1-22    shall continue to hold office and to exercise the duties 
  1-23    and powers of mayor and council members for and during the 
  1-24    terms for which they have respectively been elected 
  1-25    heretofore.  For the purpose of electing council members, 
  1-26    the City of Covington is hereby divided into two wards, 
  1-27    the West Ward and the East Ward.  The division line 
  1-28    between the two wards shall be as follows:  Commence at 
  1-29    the point of intersection of the northwestern boundary of 
  1-30    the corporate limits of the City of Covington and the 
  1-31    center line of the Georgia Railroad right-of-way and run 
  1-32    thence in a southeasterly direction along the center line 
  1-33    of the said Georgia Railroad right-of-way to the point of 
 
 
 
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  2- 1    intersection thereof with the center line of Emory Street; 
  2- 2    running thence in a southerly direction along the center 
  2- 3    line of Emory Street to the point of intersection thereof 
  2- 4    with the center line of Clark Street; running thence in an 
  2- 5    easterly direction along the center line of Clark Street 
  2- 6    to the intersection thereof with the center line of 
  2- 7    Monticello Street; thence in a southerly and southeasterly 
  2- 8    direction along the center line of Monticello Street which 
  2- 9    is also known as Georgia Highway #36 and/or the Jackson 
  2-10    Highway, to the point of intersection thereof with the 
  2-11    southern boundary of the corporate limits of the City of 
  2-12    Covington.  The West Ward shall be those portions of the 
  2-13    City of Covington lying southerly and westerly of the 
  2-14    aforedescribed division line.  The six council seats shall 
  2-15    be designated by six numbered council posts as follows: 
  2-16    Post 1 West, Post 2 West, Post 3 West, Post 1 East, Post 2 
  2-17    East, Post 3 East.  The council members for Council Post 1 
  2-18    West, Post 2 West, and Post 3 West shall be elected by the 
  2-19    qualified electors of the West Ward only; the council 
  2-20    members for Council Post 1 East, Post 2 East, and Post 3 
  2-21    East shall be elected by the qualified electors of the 
  2-22    East Ward only; and the mayor shall be elected at large by 
  2-23    all the qualified electors of the City of Covington." 
 
  2-24                           SECTION 2. 
 
  2-25  Said Act is further amended by striking in its entirety 
  2-26  Section 23 and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
 
 
  2-27             Vacancy in Office of Mayor or Council. 
 
  2-28    In the event there shall occur a vacancy in the office of 
  2-29    mayor or any council post caused by death, resignation, or 
  2-30    removal of the incumbent, the city council shall 
  2-31    immediately call a special election to fill such vacancy, 
  2-32    such election to be held and conducted in all respects in 
  2-33    accordance with Article 14 of Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the 
  2-34    O.C.G.A." 
 
  2-35                           SECTION 3. 
 
  2-36  This Act shall become effective on July 1, 1999. 
 
  2-37                           SECTION 4. 
 
  2-38  All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are 
  2-39  repealed. 
 
 
 
 
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