The Decatur City Commission’s first order of business in 2019 is electing a mayor and mayor pro tem.

The City Commission will meet Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, located at 509 North McDonough Street. All meetings are open to the public.

In Decatur, the mayor is not chosen by voters in a municipal election but is instead chosen by fellow commissioners at the first meeting of the year. Current Mayor Patti Garrett was first elected mayor in 2016. Last year commissioners selected Tony Powers to be the mayor pro tem.

The city’s charter defines the mayor’s duties as follows:

– Be recognized as the head of the city government for all ceremonial purposes, and by the governor for purposes of military law.

– Have no veto power, but shall have the same power to vote upon all questions passed upon as other city commissioners.

– Serve as the chair of the meetings of the city commission. He/she shall have the power to convene the city commission in extra session whenever, in his/her judgment, it becomes necessary, and shall do so whenever requested by three city commissioners in writing.

The charter says, “The mayor pro tempore shall serve as the chair of the meetings of the city commission in the event of the absence or disability of the mayor.”

The mayor makes $15,000 a year and commissioners make $12,000 a year. 

While the mayor and pro tem are up for a vote each year, city commissioners in recent years have re-elected the current mayor and mayor pro-tem. It is likely, though not certain, Garrett and Powers will be re-elected.

In other business, commissioners will consider a license for retail sale of alcoholic beverages. The applicant is Sean Crotty for Kelly’s Market on East Howard Avenue. That business will replace Decatur Market, which opened last February and abruptly closed a few months later.

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