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Newborn to change charter
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After no one ran for Newborn's Post 2 council seat in the November election, the Town Council is working to change the charter so they can appoint someone to the seat.

Newborn has an ordinance that allows a vacant seat to be filled by a vote of the council in the case of no one running or being elected, but the charter does not give the council such authority.

Because the charter is the supreme authority for any city, Newborn Attorney Joe Reitman said the charter should be changed before an appointment to Post 2 is made.

In order to change the charter, the town council must hold two public hearing, Jan. 23 and Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. at town hall, and the Georgia General Assembly must then pass a bill officially changing the charter.

Reitman said Tuesday that state Rep. Doug Holt (R-Social Circle) has asked for minutes of the public hearings to be sent to him, and, if there are no issues, he will work to introduce the bill to the legislature.

In the meantime, current Post 2 Councilman Dennis Fincher will remain in office. He was appointed last July to fill the vacant seat, and Reitman said that someone appointed to office remains in office until a successor is appointed or sworn in, according to state law. Having Fincher on the council ensures the council has full representation.

Reitman said he hoped the charter would be changed by late February.