Three Athens residents helped patch together a disagreement between Mayor Paul Wiehl and a member of Athens City Council at the body’s meeting Monday night.
The discord centered on an ordinance at-large Democrat Steve Patterson suggested two weeks ago at committee meetings. The ordinance would’ve opened the door for unlimited membership totals on the Athens Commission on Disabilities, among making other minor
tweaks
.
Scott Dennis, Wayne Savage and Darrel Purdy appeared before council members Monday touting support for one of those changes: A city law would be passed every time the commission awards its Athena Award, recognizing individuals making significant contributions to the disabled populace in Athens.
That action would “maintain a historical memory” of the recipient of the award, Patterson said. Patterson chairs the commission.
“The folks that we serve are everything for those of us (who work with members of the disabled population),” said Savage, studio coordinator for Passion Works. “There are so many in this community who deserve recognition.”
Wiehl has said that provision was unnecessary, and also disagreed with the ordinance's membership clause as it was originally written.
When Patterson introduced the ordinance, he suggested that the commission be expanded from nine voting members to a “minimum of nine members.” Since the creation of the commission 10 years ago, he said, there has been an influx in the number of people who want to be involved in decisions affecting disabled folks in Athens.
He said that having an unlimited number of members on the commission would give these people a voice and give the commission more power in changing policy.
Wiehl countered Patterson two weeks ago by saying unlimited membership would disorganize the commission.
At Monday’s meeting, Patterson returned with a revised ordinance, capping the number of voting members at 11, but keeping the clause regarding the Athena Award.
Wiehl said that he was happy with the changes made to the ordinance and 3rd Ward Democrat Michele Papai thanked Dennis, Savage and Purdy for taking the time to speak to council.
“I think it’s important when we have issues like this to have people who will come out (to share their views),” Papai said. Papai's son, Will Drabold, is campus staff editor at The Post.
The ordinance will have to be read at two more council meetings before it can come to a vote.
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