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The town of Bethlehem’s New Charter — No. 598 was enacted by the General Assembly for the State of Georgia and approved by then-Governor Sonny Perdue in 2004.
It served as an amendment to an earlier charter dating back to 1967. The recent addition of this 31-page document to the town of Bethlehem website allows viewers a chance to learn more about the governance of the town, including:
- Definition of the territorial limits
- Mayor and council with definitions of their powers and duties
- Punishment for violators of the ordinances, rules and regulations of the municipality
- Definition of the special powers and duties of the mayor
- Provision for elections of mayor and council members and definition of their qualifications, terms of office, their meetings and methods of appointing and electing officers/employees
- Provision for eminent domain and definition of how and when exercised
- Provision for raising revenue by taxes, licenses and otherwise
- Provision for sewer and water connection, the installation of sanitary equipment and fixtures, to provide penalties for refusal or noncompliance
- Provision for extension of water and sewer mains and system
- Provision for general police protection and sanitary and health measures and requirements
- Provision for building permit
- Provision for traffic regulations as well as speed, parking and travel
- Provision for abatement of nuisances, the use of firearms and fireworks
- Provision for supervision of sale, storage and dispensing of malt or alcoholic drinks or beverages
- Provision for punishment for violation of any orders, ordinances, rules, regulations of Bethlehem
- And more
To see your local government at work live and in person, town council meetings are open to the public and are held at 7 p.m. the first Monday of every month at . If you wish to bring your concerns before the council and have an item added to the agenda, contact Town Clerk Kathy Bridges via e-mail at townofbeth01@windstream.net or by phone at 770-867-0702.
Check back every Tuesday for a new City Spotlight on one of two great towns in Barrow County — Bethlehem and Carl.
