Chapter 2 ADMINISTRATION
Plain English: what this part covers
Chapter 2 covers how city government runs: when the council meets and how residents can speak, the ethics code and how to file a complaint, rules for city employees (including drug testing and the city minimum wage), budgeting and purchasing limits, city credit cards, the Community Relations Commission, and how the city protects utility customers' personal information.
- Council meets the 1st Thursday of each month, 6:00 p.m., City Hall, 259 E. Washington Ave. (Sec. 2-31)
- Agenda items are due to the city clerk by close of business the Friday before the meeting (Sec. 2-32)
- Public comment: request 5 days ahead for up to 10 minutes; agenda-item speakers get up to 5 minutes; violators can be barred for 60 days (Sec. 2-36)
- Weapons screening runs from 30 minutes before to 15 minutes after council meetings (Sec. 2-35)
- Ethics complaints must be filed within 6 months of discovery; hearing within 60 days; decision within 5 days of the hearing; appeal within 30 days (Secs. 2-41, 2-48, 2-49, 2-51)
- 24-month cooling-off period before a former mayor or councilmember can be hired by the city (Sec. 2-46)
Cross reference— Any administrative or resolutions of the city not in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this Code saved from repeal, § 1-11(13); administration and enforcement of animal regulations, § 14-31 et seq.; administration of property numbering regulations, § 18-66; civil emergencies, ch. 30; courts, ch. 34; administration of flood damage prevention regulations, § 46-61 et seq.; administration of wellhead protection regulations, § 50-36; law enforcement, ch. 58; planning, ch. 66; Greater Turner planning advisory commission, § 66-31 et seq.; taxation, ch. 78; utilities, ch. 86; administration and enforcement of zoning regulations, app. A, § 11; zoning board of appeals, app. A, § 12.
State Law reference— Municipal corporations generally, § 36-3-1 et seq.; incorporation of municipal corporations, O.C.G.A. § 36-31-1 et seq.; powers of municipal corporations generally, O.C.G.A. § 36-34-1 et seq.; powers relating to administration of municipal government generally, O.C.G.A. § 36-34-2; The Municipal Home Rule Act of 1965, O.C.G.A. § 36-35-1 et seq.; home rule for municipalities, Ga. Const. art. IX, § II, ¶ II.
What's in here
Questions folks ask
When and where does the city council meet?
Regular meetings are the first Thursday night of each month at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 259 E. Washington Ave., Ashburn.
How do I get something put on the council agenda?
Submit agenda items to the city clerk by close of business on the Friday before the meeting.
How do I speak at a council meeting, and for how long?
Ask the city clerk in writing, with your topic, at least five days ahead to be listed under 'speaker appearances'; listed speakers get up to ten minutes. To speak on a specific agenda item, fill out a speaker appearance form before the meeting and you get up to five minutes. You must state your name and address. Willfully breaking the rules can get you barred from speaking for 60 days.
Can I carry a gun into a city council meeting?
The code says weapons are prohibited at council meetings, as allowed by O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127. Entry to the building is screened by security personnel, including at least one certified peace officer, from 30 minutes before the meeting until 15 minutes after. Ashburn police are exempt.
How do I file an ethics complaint against the mayor, a councilmember, or a board member?
File a written, sworn complaint with the city manager (or with the mayor if the complaint is about the city manager) within six months of discovering the problem. Three councilmembers and the city attorney review it. If it has merit, a five-member citizen Board of Ethics is drawn at random and holds a hearing within 60 days. The penalty is a public reprimand or censure.
Can a councilmember's business get a city contract?
Generally no, with some exceptions: bank depositories, lowest-rate loans, emergencies documented by the mayor, and contracts won by competitive bid after the member discloses the interest before bids are submitted and the city manager issues a waiver.
Can a former councilmember go to work for the city right after leaving office?
No. The city can't employ anyone who was mayor or a councilmember within the previous 24 months. Contracts with former officials in that window must go through competitive bid or a committee selection process.
When is the city budget adopted, and can I weigh in?
The fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30, and the budget must be adopted before it starts. The proposed budget goes on file at City Hall, a newspaper notice is published, and a public hearing is held at least one week before the adoption vote.
How much can the city manager spend without a council vote?
Up to $10,000 on a budgeted item. Anything over $10,000 needs council approval except in an emergency, and purchases over $25,000 require a formal bidding process.
If the police recover my stolen property, how long do they hold it?
The police hold it 30 days for the owner to claim it. You'll need to prove ownership and pay costs, including storage. After that, unclaimed property is advertised in the paper at least 30 days before it is sold.
What's the minimum wage for city employees?
$11.00 an hour for full-time city employees, set in 2016. The council can review and change it.
What is the Ashburn Community Relations Commission and who's on it?
It's a seven-member volunteer commission of city residents who are registered voters. Each of the five councilmembers appoints one member and the mayor appoints two, for two-year terms. It promotes fair and equal treatment, studies race relations in the city, and reports to the mayor and council.
What ID do I need to open a city utility account, and how is my information protected?
You'll need personal identifying information, including a valid government photo ID, and the city may check your credit report. Account access is password-protected, and receipts show only the last four digits of your card or bank account.
Can the mayor and council use city credit cards?
Yes, under a written policy. Single purchases must be under $2,000, the monthly limit is $10,000, meals on official travel are capped at $150 a day, and alcohol and personal purchases are banned. Card records for elected officials are open to public inspection.
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/PTIICOOR_CH2AD
Official version: https://library.municode.com/GA/Ashburn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH2AD
Paid for by James Burgess