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• sritutional amendment is the • th, final and safest alternative. Thi. od, although requiring voter ratifica- tion, avoids problems encountered un- der the other alternatives. It eliminates conflicts between general and local acts of the General Assembly, questions raised by general legislation; and issues concerning the extent of authority granted by home rule. This is because local constitutional amendments are on an equal standing with other pro-. visions of the Georgia Constitution and take precedence over statutes. A local amendment can create prob- lems if not properly drafted. If too detailed, it prohibits flexibility, and if it grants too much power to the county commissioners to create the office and define its powers, it is subject to the same criticism nnadc in the county home rule discussion. \Vayne County established the office of county ad- ministrator by local amendment. it provides that this office shall appoint and remove most county personnel previously hired and discharged by the county commissioners, fix such em- ployees' salaries, prepare and submit the annual budget, and be county pur- chasing agent. In 1966, Gwinnett County attempted a local amendment providing for the office of county manager, which failed for lack of ratification. The duties of this office would have been similar to those of the Wayne County administra- tor. Gwinnett Tater accomplished. vir- tually the same thing by local legisla- tion creating the post of administrative assistant. Each method of creation involves problems. The 1922 statute is a rigid prescription for county manager sov- crnmcnt. The 1974 statute ambigu- ously empowers the board or the legis- lature. to vest a manager with duties of an "administrative nature." The ef- fect of the 1974 act on the 1922 law is unclear. Moreover, the office of man:- ager an-ager established pursuant to home rule power is subject to the uncertainties always encountered when proceeding under this authority. Local constitu- tional amendment, while a safe ap- proach, requires ratification. A county desiring a manager/ad- ministrator should carefully evaluate the benefits and implications of each approach 'and choose the method it be- lieves would hest enable it to cope with its service demands. lei GCGM, April, 1978 •., Congratulations 'LEI OY 1-P. JOHNSON • for An Outstanding Year as President 1977-1973 Association County Commissioners of Georgia City of "The City With A Heart" Incorporated in 1868 • PAUL F. MUSICK, Mayor Council Members Jerry M. Plant H. E. Massengale Lonnie M c C a m b ry M. G. Watts C?. V'+Jeyen a n Jenkins, Csty Clerk Mrs. J. W. Robertson, Asst. Clerk Harry Smith, Chief of Police (404) 583-2239' P.O. Box 126 Grantvilk, fes. 30220 We Welcome Mew Industry o Industaicsl Sites Available with all Utilities (Natural Gas) City Owned ® Rail and Interstate Highway Transportation m Forty Five Minutes From Atlanta International Airport © -Recreation its all Sports ---Fishing iru Nationally known WEST ' PfINT LAKE . 23