Section 3.11Boards, commissions, and authorities
Plain English: what this chapter covers
The Charter is Ashburn's founding document, kind of like the city's constitution. It was passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2001. It sets up a council of a mayor and five councilmembers, a hired city manager who runs day-to-day operations, the municipal court, how elections and vacancies work, and the city's taxing, budgeting and borrowing powers. Anything the Charter doesn't cover is handled by city ordinance or state law.
(a) The city council shall create by such boards, commissions, and authorities to fulfill any investigative, quasi-judicial, or quasi-legislative function the city council deems necessary and shall by ordinance establish the composition, period of existence, duties, and powers thereof.
(b) All members of boards, commissions, and authorities of the city shall be appointed by the city council for such terms of office and in such manner as shall be provided by , except where other appointing authority, terms of office, or manner of appointment is prescribed by this Charter or by law.
(c) The city council, by , may provide for the compensation and reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses of the members of any board, commission, or authority.
(d) Any vacancy on a board, commission, or authority of the city shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner prescribed herein for original appointment, except as otherwise provided by this Charter or by law.
(e) No member of a board, commission, or authority shall assume office until that person has executed and filed with the clerk of the city an oath obligating himself or herself to faithfully and impartially perform the duties of that member's office, such oath to be prescribed by and administered by the mayor.
(f) All board members serve at will and may be removed at any time by a vote of four members of the city council unless otherwise provided by law.
(g) Except as otherwise provided by this Charter or by law, each board, commission, or authority of the city shall elect one of its members as chairperson and one member as vice chairperson and may elect as its secretary one of its own members or may appoint as secretary an employee of the city. Each board, commission, or authority of the city government may establish such bylaws, rules, and regulations, not inconsistent with this Charter, of the city, or law, as it deems appropriate and necessary for the fulfillment of its duties or the conduct of its affairs. Copies of such bylaws, rules, and regulations shall be filed with the city clerk.
This is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. The official code is on Municode and at City Hall. Our copy is from April 30, 2026.
Online: https://jamesburgessleads.com/city-code/PTICH_ARTIIIADAF_S3.11BOCOAU
Official version: https://library.municode.com/GA/Ashburn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTICH_ARTIIIADAF_S3.11BOCOAU
Paid for by James Burgess