City Council modifies city code to clarify criteria for domestic partnerships
If Athens residents want to obtain a domestic partnership, they'll have to prove "joint economic cooperation."
[dropcap txtcolor="#234a83" style="dropcap1"]C[/dropcap]ity Council passed legislation that amends Athens City Code to clarify the domestic partnership criteria and legislation to approve a salary for a courthouse clerk at its meeting Monday.City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that revises Athens City Code domestic registry to require proof that those seeking domestic partnership have “joint economic cooperation.” The revision was proposed by Councilmember Chris Fahl.“We’re updating it in order to reflect that in order to get certain benefits, in order to get a domestic partnership, you have to show you’re in some sort of economic arrangement,” Fahl said.[AdSense-A]Fahl claimed that examples of an economic arrangement could include a lease agreement or a utility bill.City Council also approved an appropriation of funds to pay for the salary of a new clerk of court position.The starting salary will be $26.95 per hour until the last pay period of 2017, then the salary will be raised to $27.49 from the first pay period of 2018 onwards. The vote was passed 4-2, with Councilmembers Michele Papai and Kent Butler voting nay, and Councilman Pat Mcgee abstaining from the vote due to conflicts of interest with the clerk of court.City Council also approved an $11,000 appropriation in order to pay ComPlus/DETER, a service responsible for parking enforcement in Athens.Other notable happenings
- City Council completed the first reading for the 2018 fiscal year budget.
- City Council unanimously approved the planned Stimson Street mural, which was proposed by the Athens Municipal Arts Commision.
- City Council entered an executive session in regards to the city’s litigation of the state government.
- City Council completed the first readings for a series of ordinances that modifies the amount of transient guest tax money that City Council receives.
