Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson promised it was the beginning, not the end, in the struggle to end discrimination in Athens as a commission-defined option passed at Tuesday’s commission meeting, which approved the alcohol license ordinance, previously known as an anti-discrimination ordinance.

The commission also decided to direct the Athens-Clarke County Manager and Attorney to explore ways to create a Human Relations Committee by partnering with already-existing local groups, with the manager and attorney reporting their findings no later than next June. The Human Relations Committee would serve as a liaison between the people and the government in matters of discrimination.

The ordinance commission-defined option passed with a vote of 6 “yes”, 2 “no” and 2 abstaining. The reason for the dissenting votes was due to the fact that an amendment proposed by District 3 Commissioner Melissa Link was rejected. The amendment proposed allowing public input to the Athens-Clarke County Manager and Attorney in their process of creating a plan for the committee. Click here to read full story by (John Hammel) Red and Black News.