Committee debates equal-opportunity wording, asks compliance director to draft language

Members of the Augusta charter committee read and discussed a rewritten Equal Opportunity section and asked the county’s interim compliance director to draft and return suggested language.

Unidentified Speaker (label 11) read the draft: "The commission shall forward equal opportunities for employment and promotion to all persons and businesses regardless of race, religion, and gender or ethnicity." Committee members asked legal counsel whether that language could create unnecessary liability or conflict with procurement law.

Unidentified Speaker (label 2) recommended bringing in Doctor Yolanda Jackson, the interim compliance director, to ensure contract and procurement language align with the charter text. Other members suggested the compliance director should produce suggested language and answer a compiled set of questions at the committee’s next meeting.

Discussion focused on two tensions: avoiding wording that unintentionally creates local legal obligations beyond state and federal EEO requirements, and ensuring language is clear and enforceable. Unidentified Speaker (label 6) proposed removing enumerated categories (race, religion, gender, national origin) on the basis that federal and state EEO guidelines already govern nondiscrimination; others cautioned procurement and federal rules can require explicit references and stressed legal review.

What’s next: the committee will invite Doctor Yolanda Jackson to the next meeting to present draft language and requested that members compile specific questions in advance so the compliance director can prepare a formal response.