Commissioners voted 4-1 to remove the resolution that would have stripped Oliver of his right to make motions and vote on them. The resolution was proposed by Commissioner Craig Lutz at Monday's commission work session to reduce that authority was removed on a motion from Commissioner Ashley Bell.
Bell's motion drew three other yes votes, one of them Oliver's, the no vote
was from Lutz. Oliver said he was committed to protect the chairman's voting rights.
"I apologize to the citizens of Hall County that we had to go through this," Oliver said. "It's very sacred to this community that it's not the person in the chair, it's the position. Once you have an election and you vote, then that person should remain there unless there are other ways to reduce his power. I was committed to protect the vote of the Chairman."
Oliver's private attorney, William Droze from Atlanta, who Oliver retained at his own expense, argued Monday and returned to argue Thursday night that it is the law, not procedure, that gives the chairman the same right to make motions and vote as any other commissioner.
The resolution proposed by Commissioner Craig Lutz at Monday
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/1/235687