LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Chatham County Attorneys Office

2015

PROPOSED AGENDA
Coastal Marshlands Protection Act Amendment

CAT
Where tax should be levied
Composition of the Board

Appointment of Magistrates

Pay for Elected Officials and Judges

Christmas Tre for Judges
Defined compensation structure for elected officials

THE COUNTY HAS PROBLEMS

CONCERNING BUILDING AND
MAINTAINING PUBLIC STRUCTURES
ADJACENT TO THE MARSH.
EXAMPLES:
* TURNERS CREEK
* MCQUEENS TRAIL.

PROTECTING THE MARSH

EXISTING LANGUAGE
O.C.G.A. 12-7-6 provides for 25 foot buffer except:
(15)(A) There is established a 25 foot buffer along
the banks of all state waters, as measured
horizontally from the point where vegetation has
been wrested by normal stream flow or wave
action, except:

PROPOSED NEW LANGUAGE

Two major changes:
1.

Definition of the buffer area: Instead of measuring from

wrested vegetation will be measured as done in Costal
Marshland Protection Act (i.e. the wetlands
jurisdictional line)

Proposed language as written may increase maintenance of roadway and

drainage structure

COUNTYS PROPOSED NEW

LANGUAGE
Second major change:
2. Allow larger exception for drainage including
maintained and construction of drainage structures
within the buffer.

This will keep the jurisdictional wetland protected

by except maintenance of ROW and necessary
drainage structures.

PROTECTION OF MARSH WHILE

ALLOWING PUBLIC USE FACILITIES

CAT

COUNTY-WIDE SPECIAL
TAX DISTRICT

Tax Imposed upon vote of the Board of

Commissioners after study of need for service and
recommendation by CAT Board

No opt out provisions for any municipality

NOT a county wide tax

Commis
sioner 1
Disabled
Citizen

Commis
sioner 2

Garden
City

Commis
sioner 3

9
Savann
ah
citizen

Alderma
n

SSD
citizen

At large
citizen

CURRENT BOARD MEMBERSHIP

Current Board

Expanded Board
Business
representative

11

2nd resident of
Savannah

Growth potential upon 2 conditions:

1. Receipt of service to a municipality
2. Vote of the Board of Commissioners

MAGISTRATE COURT APPOINTMENTS

POWER TO APPOINT IN CHIEF MAGISTRATE

AS OF 2013

Commission MAY appoint 3rd magistrate

Commission SHALL reconfirm, or not, all part

time magistrates

Commission shall approve of future

nominees for part time magistrates

3 important changes in new Act

CHRISTMAS TREE

Sheriff
Clerk of Superior Court*
Coroner
Clerk of State Court

Superior Court

Tax Commissioner

State 95%
Juvenile 90%
Recorders
Court 85%

Probate Court*
80%
Magistrate
Court 80%

CURRENT ACT, 2007

2 SEPARATE GROUPS
*litigation pending over pay

Elected Officials

Judges

SEPARATE ISSUES; NEED SEPARATE ACTS

Establish salaries and define supplements

Base salary + supplement
Supplement is:
remainder arrived at upon
subtraction from total
compensation of base salary,
COLAs irrespective of whether
granted by the State or local
governing authority, longevity and
other statutorily granted fees or
other compensation granted
pursuant to an Act of the General
Assembly. Supplemental salary as
used in this local Act is set by the
Board of Commissioners in its
discretion.

Base salary + county supplement + COLA (state) + longevity + oddities = total compensation

Establish salaries and handle longevity

Offset longevity above statutory base salary

Question: Do we remain in Recorders Court?

SUMMARY FOR COMPENSATION ISSUES

*NO REDUCTION IN PAY DURING THIS

TERM TO ANY OFFICIAL OR JUDGE
*GO FORWARD ONLY; DOES NOT
RESOLVE LITIGATION PENDING