Extracted from "Valdsota City Council Letter" Dated May 4, 2010, Page 3, question Number #5b.
Mayor John Fretti and Council Response: "When a new charter is adopted by the General Assembly, the previous charter is replaced and repealed in its entirety. You would have to define MENTALITY. The old charter is the historical first that created the city of Valdosta and WILL BE DISPLAYED AS SUCH."
The Old Valdosta City Charter of 1860 was DISPLAYED on the wall in Valdosta City Hall leading into the Municipal Court Room of Judge Edwards. That is until it was relunctantly removed in MARCH 2004. Morover several (WHITE) council members voted against its removal. We can only ask Why?
It read as follows: In Article 100, Section XI, it read: THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SHALL PASS ALL PROPER AND NECESSARY LAWS AND ORDINANCES FOR THE CONTROL OF SLAVES AND FREE PERSONS OF COLOR IN SAID TOWN AND SUPPRESS AND ABATE ALL NUISANCES ARRIVING FROM HOGS, DOGS, HORSES, OR OTHER STOCK STRAYING AT LARGE IN SAID TOWN, OR FROM OTHER CAUSES.”
Yet our Mayor stated in his letter on May 4, 2010. "The old charter is the historic first that created the city of VALDOSTA and will be DISPLAYED as SUCH. END! Just though local citizens might want to know! G.B.R.
