BALDWIN, Ga. — The Baldwin City Council rejected a proposed ethics ordinance and again tabled a fire staffing plan Tuesday night, while also wading into a broader discussion over prayer and public input at meetings.
The ethics ordinance failed on first reading in a 3-2 vote, exposing a clear divide among council members and drawing pointed public comment.
Councilwoman Nancy Lehman and Councilman Erik Keith voted in favor, while Council members Joe Elam, Mike Tope and Jeff Davis voted against.
Lehman said the ordinance would help rebuild trust and reflect the city’s core values.
“I think that an ethics ordinance is very important because not only will it instill more trust, it also … creates an environment of honesty, openness and integrity,” Lehman said. “Those core principles were all captured … and entered into this document as it stands now.”
Councilman Joe Elam disagreed, arguing the policy was unnecessary and could hinder elected officials.
“I just don’t understand why it’s necessary,” Elam said. “There’s just no way that a city of Baldwin’s size … is going to allow our citizens to have representatives up here be able to truly speak their mind and fight hard for their position.”
Elam said state law already requires ethical conduct and warned the ordinance could be used to limit council members.
Speaking to Now Georgia after the meeting, Elam expanded on those concerns.
“Our citizens … need their representative to have ultimate freedom to behave in a manner that allows them to fight … as best [they can],” he said. “I don’t want my mayor nor any of my council members’ hands tied.”
Public weighs in on ethics debate
The discussion drew strong reactions during public comment.
Former Baldwin councilwoman Alice Venter said she supports ethics in principle but opposes what she described as efforts to restrict elected officials.
“In the state of Georgia, the first boss is not the mayor — it is the voters,” Venter said. “When you have an ethics ordinance that censors elected officials in what they can say and where, I don’t think that that is transparent.”
Former councilwoman Beverly Holcomb echoed broader concerns about council decisions and community values, urging leaders to remain accountable to residents.
Fire staffing proposal tabled again
Council members also delayed action on a revised fire department staffing proposal presented by Fire Chief Ross Jackson.
Jackson said his goal is to ensure three firefighters are on shift at all times to improve emergency response.
“My purpose for this is three people on shift every single day, so that if a house fire goes out at one o’clock in the morning, we have three people responding versus just two people responding,” Jackson said.
To make that happen within the current budget, Jackson proposed freezing a vacant training captain position and reallocating those funds to support a full-time firefighter, while promoting a lieutenant into a leadership role.
The plan would also reduce reliance on part-time firefighters, who are currently used to help fill gaps in coverage.
Councilman Tope asked how the change would impact part-time staffing.
“It would become an as-needed role instead of, right now, we’re using it to subsidize a full-time,” Jackson said.
Elam said he needed more time to review the revised proposal, noting it differed from what council had previously considered.
“Since the chief has proposed something that’s modified from what we were presented, I’m going to need one more time,” Elam said. “I’m going to ask the chief to actually give us his proposal in a written document so that we can actually digest and really consider what he’s talking about.”
The council agreed to table the item.
Invocation discussion draws response
Councilman Tope also raised concerns about the council’s recent shift from a traditional prayer to a moment of silence at the start of meetings, a change that has prompted community reaction.
“To keep it, either we need to follow some of the comp plan and invite that out, or we need to change the take on doing those invitations,” Tope said, referencing language encouraging outreach to local clergy.
Tope said he would take the lead on inviting pastors to deliver invocations moving forward.
Lehman said the approach should reflect the community’s diversity.
“Can we make sure that we get a variety of pastors from different places?” she said. “We want to embrace all families.”
During public comment, Holcomb urged the council to restore prayer as part of its meetings.
“Prayer has been an important part of our town meetings for generations,” Holcomb said. “It is a way of asking for wisdom, guidance and doing what is right for the people that we serve.”
She added that allowing prayer does not require participation but preserves a meaningful tradition for many residents.
Other business
In other action Tuesday:
A proposed aid agreement between Baldwin and Lee Arrendale Correctional Institution was held for further review after Elam requested additional time.
A proposal to add an administrative assistant for police, courts and GCIC operations was deferred to the council’s upcoming retreat for further discussion.
The council approved emergency spending tied to a recent water leak repair on Old U.S. Highway 441, a formality required for purchases exceeding $5,000.
