HomeMy WebLinkAboutCalled Commission Meeting April 14, 2020
CALLED MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
April 14, 2020
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 14, 2020,
the Honorable Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. B. Williams, Garrett, Sias, Fennoy, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, D.
Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: We’ll call this meeting to order. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The invocation was presented by Commissioner Dennis Williams.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
A roll call is held to determine if all commissioners are present and all ten commissioners
were listed as present.
1. Hotels for the Homeless. (Requested by Mayor Hardie Davis)
Mr. Mayor: I wanted us to talk about this issue to get some clarification around proposed
implementation and what our next steps are. I believe we’ve got the public in the waiting room
particularly Hawthorne Welcher who we’re going to admit into the meeting so he can provide us
with an update on where we are. All right, Director Welcher, if you can today is an opportunity
to give us an update around implementation of Hotels for the Homeless and what needs to happen
in order to get that off the ground and how we can be helpful in light of what was communicated
last week.
Mr. Welcher: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, I’m glad that we’re having
this conversation so what we provided to you all on last week was an initiative from a
programmatic perspective as well as the process that spoke to hotel relief for the homeless. Of
course due to the mandate that has been put down of course locally as well as the mandate that has
been put down from a Governor perspective with a shelter in perspective knowing our mindsets
went to the homeless and what do we do about the homeless. So the first thing that we did was
we looked at the shelters and the rescue missions that we currently have here in Augusta, Georgia.
Of course you have four, the largest one being the Salvation Army which has about 110 beds on
any given night. I won’t go through the remainder but the bottom line of it is all of our shelters
are rescue missions today (inaudible). Typically HCD is not the agent or the agency that looks
and touches homeless personnel initially. What we’ve done through your vote in working with
some of our funding we’ve been able to partner with CSRA EOA to (inaudible) the Marion Barnes
Resource Center for the Homeless which is down in East Augusta. Ya’ll are familiar with that.
So based on that we’ve created what is called a central intake agency. In conversation with them
when we start talking about data, how do we know our shelters are full? That’s one way that we
know. Also direct correlation with our continuum of care, the Salvation Army, two rescue
missions and other shelters are part of it as well. So today all resources from a homeless
perspective when we talk about sheltering in have been tapped out. You all go to your apartments,
1
respective homes. I come to my home as well but at the end of the day we know right now today
from a data perspective there are approximately 35 to 40 persons which equates to about 17 to 18
families that have nowhere to go. So in knowing that and answering the call that was put out by
Mayor Davis, he asked a question, you know, what are we doing? So HCD working through the
Administrator’s Office came back with an initiative that we tap hotel relief for the homeless. Now
with that, the process, the way it would work we’re not just moving and going to take persons who
are considered homeless off the street. That’s not how we’re working. But what we are doing is
those persons who have made contact with or persons that we know about who make contact with
through the central intake agency known as Marion Barnes Resource Center. They are the intake,
they do the initial interview. After the interview was done, they do an application and if that person
is indeed deemed homeless then typically what would happen with this initiative our department
would be notified and then we would move to notify the respective hotel agency. One thing that I
think is important to notate, two things, one, is the fact that when the homeless person has been
deemed homeless, based on the relationships that we have from a hotel perspective, we cannot
steer in any way. So if we have one partner then we say this is what we have available from a
hotel partnership standpoint. If we have two or three then we make that list available to the
respective client at that time and then it’s up to them to actually, to pick as well. Also it’s very
important to notate that the hotel relationship that we have have to be sure that they are HUD
compliant. What does that mean? So we have to be sure that the respective hotels regardless of
who they are, that they meet ADA compliant. We have to be sure also that the hotels are able to
pass a housing quality standard inspection which is typically seen from Section 8 of public
housing. We also have to be sure that we were talking about being able to reimburse the hotel, we
have to be sure that the respective hotels are able to provide financial documentation such as W-9
forms as well as (inaudible) numbers. So to that date since last week what we’ve done is HCD has
moved forward with a partnership that was already in the works before COVID 19 and that was a
partnership with Doubletree Hotel wherein Doubletree Hotel for the most part has committed, is
willing even as recently as yesterday, Doubletree Hotel is still at the table. You know, they have
rooms and things and from their perspective they are lending their support. What does that mean?
They’ve providing, and I don’t want to put out the rate. I mean if you would like me to I can put
what that rate is but what I can also tell you is Doubletree is waiving all fees. They’re waiving all
incidental fees. They’re not asking the City to provide any type of credit card or any type of
holding and they’re also providing transportation as well. Since that time on last week we have
also reached out and we have made contact with two additional hotels as well so I won’t really go
into that. I think what we’re asking for today as far as Commission, is for the support of the Mayor
and the Commission to be able to move forward with the hotel relief initiative in partnership with
local hotels.
Mr. Mayor: Director Welcher, I know there’s going to be a series of questions related to
this. You talked just momentarily about the issue around the Doubletree and obviously we couldn’t
walk that back but that was of grave concern to many of us on the call because we heard one thing
and then when they publicly or presumably came back and said well, that’s not what they were
attempting to do. I think we need to have a sound plan in terms of what hoteliers are in fact going
to be a part of this process or program. This morning we got a series of calls in the office from a
list of one, two, three, about eight hotels who said they want to be a part of helping in this effort.
We’ll send that out to the Commission and to you but these are folks who saw the City of Augusta
and said they want to be a part of this process independent of the proposed Doubletree conversation
2
and so we’ll send this. We just got this this morning and our folks just put this together but I know
there are some questions about implementation and the ability to do that. My first question to you
is is this contingent upon any COVID 19 relief funds through HUD? Being able to do this?
Mr. Welcher: Yes and no. From the perspective initially once a person is housed from a
hotel perspective, let’s just use whatever hotel it would be, Augusta, Georgia wouldn’t be invoiced
by the respective hotel so Augusta, Georgia would have to front the funding. If there was no
COVID funding, that was in place to reimburse then Augusta would have to front the cost but
that’s not what is happening now. Of course we’ve already received notification from a COVID
19 perspective wherein Augusta, Georgia will receive approximately $1.6 million dollars. Of the
$1.6 million dollars half of that is a part of an emergency solution grant which allows us to be able
to reimburse for all homeless services and activities related so there is a mechanism to be able to
reimburse funding that is put forth by Augusta, Georgia.
th
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I told Mr. Welcher I was in support. I had a
conversation with him about it but I want to go back to the screening process. Will these people
be screened before they are placed in a hotel? If this virus is still as active as it is now, what
liability do we have going into a hotel with people who may have the virus? What screening
process would take place to prevent the people who are doing the screening from getting the virus
so how does that work? Those are some questions I have.
Mr. Welcher: Appreciate you, Commissioner Williams. So I think from a perspective we
keep talking about the central intake agency so every person is screened and when you talk about
homelessness, homelessness comes in several different ways. So I don’t want to get away from
the point. I’m answering your question. So I don’t want to get away from the point of being sure
that we start with the hierarchy of need and that’s to be sure that we provide safe habitation first
and then to fill the gap second. For every person who comes into the Marion Barnes Research
Intake Center, he is assessed so there is typically a process where everybody is asked the same
questions and based on the questions we are able to assess exactly on any given day, just say
COVID 19 wasn’t here, we’re able to assess on any given day what each particular client needs.
Some people need funding to be able to stay in an apartment, some people need to be referred to a
shelter, some people need a voucher to be able to go to a hotel. There is a file and there is a case
manager for every person who touches the Marion Barnes Homeless Resource Center.
Mr. M. Williams: Let me interrupt just a minute. I get what you’re saying. Your
responsibility is just what you described. Mine as an elected official may be a little bit different.
I’m concerned about those homeless as well. I’ve been in a lot of situations trying to help from
aging seniors to Meals on Wheels. I get what your priorities are. But as an elected official I’m
thinking that if we place somebody in a hotel they may come into contact with somebody else in
the hotel who may have the virus and this thing is off the chain so we’ve got to walk a thin line
here. I told you when we talked that I’m in support of the venture but at the same time I’ve got to
be careful of what we decide to do and say, oh, we didn’t think about that. So my question is not
to bamboozle you or stump you in any way. My question is to make sure that we talk about those
issues because you’re talking about the Marion Barnes Center and they’re going to do the
3
screening. I don’t know nothing about those so I want to know when you bring the homeless in,
you’ve got some people that are homeless because they want to be. They just decide they’re not
going to work, I’m not going to do anything. Then you’ve got some people that are just down on
their luck. You’ve got some people that have just been out there for a long time and they hadn’t
seen a physician. They’re homeless and they certainly haven’t got a family doctor. So the thing
that concerns me and I have to ask those questions and I hope it don’t seem like I’m trying to hold
the process up but I need to know before I can vote on something like that that I dotted the I’s and
crossed the t’s. Does that make sense?
Mr. Welcher: Yes, sir, it does. So typically what our screening includes is income, barriers
of employment, and benefit status. We look at what type of insurance they have and most don’t
and sometimes they lose a job one day and they meet the definition of being homeless so we start
talking about who has benefits and (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: Most are one paycheck away, Mr. Welcher. I’m talking about the
screening for the virus and sickness as well. If they went into a hotel on their own and nobody is
going to screen them because like anybody else they just go and check in. But when you bring
people in and you place them in a position that they could infect or could get infected, now if they
go there and get it or go there and carry it, I mean those are hard questions but they’ve got to be
answered for me.
Mr. Welcher: I think the best way I can answer that question, Commissioner, is you know
that’s the partnership that we haven’t yet set up. I can’t speak for who is negative or who is positive
at the time of inception and at the time of going, you know, making a recommendation to respect
the hotel entity. If that’s something you’re looking for us to do on the front end I’m not saying we
can’t do that. What I would say typically is also and it’s a legitimate question but I think also in
the purchase from a hotel perspective, that’s not something from an inception standpoint that’s
been set up to test a person on the front end before we house them. That’s not something that has
been set up.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, that’s my question.
Mr. Welcher: That’s something that could be through your Department of Health, I don’t
know how long that could take, and I’m not saying that’s something that couldn’t be, but from our
perspective we were looking at the hierarchy of need and that was to be safe with it. But at the
same time I can’t speak for any hotel that we talked to. That has not been a requirement for any
guest that’s looking to come into their establishment. I know that’s not your question but we have
not dealt that far into it but that is something that could happen. I don’t know if that would happen
or how early we could make that happen.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: One of the things that I think is going to be critical is we get to a point of
taking action on this, Director Welcher, is being clear about what the program is and how it’s to
be executed. I think there are probably still some questions with regards to that. You’ve got a
th
question coming from the commissioner from the 10, Mr. Clarke.
4
Mr. Clarke: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. A clarification is, you know, I’m not even going to
get into ramifications of the hotels going to have in the future with this project but if we’re going
to fund a program and put people in hotel/motels are we still going to be giving into the city coffers
out of that fund the standard hotel/motel tax that is charged on each room in Augusta?
And the last question that I will ask is when this funding runs out, what would be the next step?
Mr. Welcher: If I may, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. Welcher: I can only speak, we haven’t vetted the other hotels listed that you all have,
we would be happy to from our standpoint. From our standpoint the first thing I want to say is
going back Doubletree has waived all the liabilities from the City perspective so there is no liability
from Augusta. That is part of the agreement as well. Also speaking to your question, Mr. Clarke,
what was the first part of your question?
Mr. Clarke: The first part was how will Augusta be reimbursed the hotel/motel taxes that
are collected on each room?
Mr. Welcher: I think from a hotel/motel tax perspective that percentage breakdown is a
currency exchange. That is funding on the other side coffers of what Augusta would gain from a
hotel/motel perspective but I think for the purpose of this, what we’re talking about, just say for
instance, just say Doubletree charged $500 a week and just say you had ten families or individuals
which equates to $5,000.00 a week. Doubletree may send an invoice to Augusta, Georgia through
our department to Finance wherein we would ask for Augusta, Georgia with your approval today
to be able to fund, to carry that cost initially. In working with Finance they had set up a unique
folder as it relates to this particular initiative so that way once we have completed our plan, once
we have the forms in place that have been signed by the Mayor and the Commission has approved
a plan, the plan of what we’re talking about. The COVID standpoint has been approved by HUD
then we can see to properly submit documentation for reimbursement. So therefore what you have
is the initial costs are being beared by Augusta and you’re being reimbursed by the federal
government who has already committed in writing to you
in regards to how much will be coming to Augusta. Also typically you asked what happened to
the persons after. It is always our goal to progress first towards sustainable housing. So keep in
mind they’ve come through assistance so you know we didn’t just start this with COVID. But
everybody that comes into the office we don’t keep them in a hotel forever and you don’t have a
hundred percent case rate because believe it or not you have some who really don’t want to be on
assistance. They just want to go back to the street. But to move them from hotel to transitional
housing to potentially group housing and eventually to permanent housing through apartment
living.
Mr. Clarke: I appreciate that but let’s back up one moment. You gave a long explanation
of how it’s going to be billed, reimbursed and what have you and the question was never answered
would Augusta still be getting the hotel/motel tax for each room going back into the General Fund.
5
Mr. Mayor: Why don’t we yield to Director Donna Williams to speak to that issue around
hotel/motel tax? I think the question’s generally germane but Donna, if you could speak to that.
Ms. Williams: The only way that an entity is exempted from hotel/motel tax is by
presenting a certificate from the governmental organization that they are representing which would
prove to the hotel that they were on official government business and were exempt from that tax
so without researching it which I have not done, if that certificate was not presented that the use
of this room was an eligible use by the government then the hotel would automatically charge the
hotel/motel tax. Now that could be if that portion of the bill was able to be reimbursed as a part
of the charges of that hotel stay then we would indeed get the benefit of that hotel/motel tax coming
back to us by the federal government and it would go not to the General Fund where hotel/motel
tax does not go but that gets split between the CVB and the Coliseum Authority. So I know that
was a little longer but I believe that it would be an eligible reimbursement and by Augusta not
filing to be exempt from that we could indeed put that 6% towards its intended use.
Mr. Clarke: Okay, thank you. That was the answer I was looking for is to get that and put
it towards its intended use. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, any other questions that we have? I want to be clear about what we’re
th
voting on and I’m not sure we’re there yet. All right, commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: In looking at the information that you provided to us from the hotel, I didn’t
see one of the hotels. I just wanted to say for the record the hotel owner called me Sunday and
Mr. Welcher spoke with him on Sunday and met with him Monday so he didn’t mention that so
that name needs to be added to the list of potential hotels that would like to participate in this
process. The next thing is based on Commissioner Williams’ question. I think he has a very valid
question but however I don’t want Mr. Welcher to assume that he could potentially, that he would
be able to go out and to potentially start getting people tested and right now they’re not testing
everyday people unless there are some real serious symptoms going on. So just because that person
happens to be homeless and they’re not showing serious symptoms, I don’t think they’re going to
qualify to be tested and we’re not going to be able to test them just because of that. I think his
concerns are very valid but in terms of being arranged for testing just because they’re homeless I
don’t foresee that happening unless I’m missing something.
Mr. Mayor: No, Commissioner, you’re absolutely correct in that. They are very deliberate
about who gets tested and when. They’ve certainly expanded it to include generally all health care
workers and they’re including some of our first responders but I want to go back to the original
intent behind this conversation. It was to get our homeless individuals off the street. That was the
original intent of this conversation and that’s how we started this and I don’t want us to lose sight
of it with the conversations or insertions of testing and those things. This was, we have a
th
vulnerable population called homeless and this is as early as the 13 of March when we first started
having these early conversations. What are we going to do to address them and the continuum of
care making sure that we’ve got those individuals taken care of and subsequently after that we all
see the Governor’s issue of shelter in place which effectively was almost 30 days later. So let’s
not lose sight of we’re trying to provide stop gap housing to those individuals and I hope that that
is what, back to the original documentation that Mr. Welcher sent over to us, that that focuses on
6
providing an outlet for those individuals who otherwise couldn’t shelter in place and are effectively
on the streets or one day from being on the streets at this point.
Mr. Hasan: And let me say for the record based on what we have in hand from the
allocation letter and the reference to this I don’t why we wouldn’t support this. The only thing I
encourage just like you just did is that Mr. Welcher widen his use of hotels. I think that is critical
because I am concerned, I must say for the record, that that could be an inconvenience for certain
people in that area in trying to get out and get around without some mode or means of
transportation but it’s there, it’s 100%, it’s some of the things from the public perspective is you
don’t have to jump through a lot of those hoops. I think it’s something we ought to take advantage
of. I think if we don’t, we don’t necessarily lose anything but we won’t help some people who
need help and I’m hoping that we can expedite this process and I do think you need to expand the
use of hotels.
Mr. Mayor: I agree with you in terms of that so we’re getting to that point. I’ve got some
more hands that went up. So having a motion is going to be critical in just a second. I’m going to
th
the commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. This question is for Director Welcher. You mentioned
Doubletree quite a few times but we saw in the news where the manager for Doubletree said that
they did not want to be a part of this. Where’s the disconnect there?
Mr. Welcher: I think the disconnect came from frustration. There are some things I can
say on this and some things that I can’t say from a public perspective. I’ll phrase it this way. There
is a standing relationship with Doubletree to support the homeless in a certain way. And I think
that based on the sensitivity of their relationship to be able to support the homeless in a certain
way that once their name was dispelled what it does is it sort of takes away a safe haven for
(inaudible) if you will in some instances. And you’re probably not understanding what I’m saying
by that but I can’t really dispel exactly the audit that I’m talking about that they help. Basically
what you have is you have a chief of operations who basically got mad. He got mad to the fact
that this is a haven that is being used in certain situations, Doubletree is from a homeless
perspective, and with that being known what it does is sort of compromises the safety in some
aspects of certain clientele in certain situations. So therefore I think they had gotten mad a little bit
at that so to that point I’ve heard the rumors as well. I picked up the phone on yesterday and had
a conversation with the Director of Sales. They have assured that they are 100% on board, one,
two, we’ve also received a text message, my staff did, directly after that saying that the have
support. All along they have notated that their support for the issue and they assume any type of
risk whatsoever. They understand exactly the clientele they are working with and we didn’t just
start this partnership with them in talking about the homeless but once again, it’s not just about
Doubletree for me. I would ask ya’ll to move forward with the partnership for local hotels. That’s
really where we’re going with a mindset that whatever list you have, we can add that to the list as
long as we’re able to sort of quickly do a review vet to be sure they meet HUD compliance which
I’m pretty sure some or most of them I don’t really know who they are. That’s really all we’re
looking for today to be able to move forward with the initiative and partnership with all the local
hotels. That’s what we’re looking for regardless of who the hotel is.
7
Mr. Mayor: We’re agnostic in terms of who the hotel is. There is a reason why. We get
that. We tend to talk about things (inaudible) so the motion that we have about to be in front of us
is a motion to approve the hotels for homeless initiative with funding coming from ESG and HUD
sources. We’ll qualify that again. A motion to approve the hotels for the homeless with funding
through the Coronavirus Cares Act.
Mr. B. Williams: I so move.
th
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’ve got some more hands up. Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Maybe I need to apologize. This COVID 19
and this virus I think, I was thinking because of the federal dollars that was coming in that that was
a move to help prevent this virus from spreading as much as it was. We’ve had a homeless situation
in Augusta since there’s been an Augusta. This is the first time that I’ve heard of an initiative to
house the homeless somewhere else. The Salvation Army has been doing what they can. We’ve
got people, the bridge ministries under the bridge, we’ve got people from different churches that
have been going out feeding the homeless but now I’m hearing that there’s difference so I’m
thinking because of this virus that’s spreaded that this is why our initiative, the federal dollars were
coming in for that. But it sounds like we’re addressing a certain population that we’ve been had
in this city for a long time and we have not done anything. When I say anything, we’ve had some
discussion about homeless and how funds were being spent but I was thinking because of this
seriousness of this virus, how bad it’s been spreading, how people talk about social distancing, that
we was trying to get people from congregating in certain places like under the bridge where they
could spread it because if they travel and give it to somebody else, we’re not helping the situation.
So I apologize again because my thinking was that this (inaudible) was all about. Maybe it was
not but that’s my misinterpretation of what this virus was doing and what this federal money was
coming in for through this COVID 19. Does that make sense, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Well, it makes sense and I understand exactly where you’re coming from.
Maybe we could have done more to communicate, what the legislation from Washington did and
how it helps our communities but this has been an ongoing conversation in Augusta about how do
we address the issues of our homeless population with this pandemic that’s out there and more
importantly, trying to get people into a safe place as opposed to just generally operating on the
streets and that’s where many of these dollars and resources have come to bear unlike what you’ve
seen in the past and what historically gets done in our City so I think that’s what’s different here
th
this time, commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: That’s why I was concerned about the testing because I’m thinking
you’re trying to avoid people from catching this thing. We don’t want to send people into any
situation that hadn’t been tested, don’t know whether or not they are carriers or not so we’re talking
about this social distancing. This thing is really –
Mr. Mayor: Yeah. It’s a serious matter and I think that there are some opportunities for
us to help Director Welcher and the population in terms of the secondary issue around testing.
Right now it’s about housing the homeless and so we’ve got a motion and I want to go to the
rd
commissioner from the 3.
8
Ms. Davis: This is maybe a question for Hawthorne. How do we then if we approve this
and we have the homeless in the hotels and then the shelter in place starts relaxing and we start
trying to get back to normal, then what happens with those people who are being housed?
How do you have that ending and that transition?
Mr. Welcher: We’re already working on an ending in mind now. Keep in mind we have
a file and an assessment in regard to exactly where each person is so knowing that particularly
what we would do is after the sheltering in mandate has been lifted, we would probably look to
sort of keep personnel and transition them out of the hotel. Whenever the sheltering in component
is lifted, they may still be there for another two to four weeks while we transition them to what I
consider permanent housing. That’s where this funding goes for to provide short-term rental from
an apartment standpoint. Some persons will go to apartments, some will go to group homes but
this funding is available to be able to pay rent up to about six months. So this will be to house
them, to feed them, to make them whole and then provide a potential home in a permanent location.
Ms. Davis: For six months and then they make some arrangements after that.
Mr. Welcher: It’s all about making them whole. That’s the whole point of the intake
agency. It’s to sort of make them whole. That’s what we’re trying to do so those things are already
taking place in regards to the end uses. We’re already looking at who would be those end uses,
which apartment complexes can we partner with and those type things.
Mr. Frantom: My question is for Hawthorne. Hawthorne, is there any liability to the City
if we approve this?
Mr. Welcher: From a Doubletree perspective no.
Mr. Frantom: Like if they go in and something happens to the rooms, I’m talking about all
the other hotels. Something happens in the rooms of these individuals, are we liabile as a city?
Mr. Welcher: For the two hotels that we have spoken, they’re waiving all incidentals and
there is no liability. We have a third one on tap that came on late last night and I have not verified
that one but to your question, there is no liability. They are waiving all incidentals as well as they
are not asking Augusta, Georgia to front of any type of funding whatsoever as a holding deposit.
Mr. Frantom: So if we approve this today you are not coming back to us and saying or
having to pay out of your coffers things that happen with these individuals.
Mr. Welcher: That’s what I’m saying based on the word (inaudible).
Mr. Frantom: Okay, I’ll second the motion and I’m ready to vote.
th
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, we have a motion from the commissioner from the 5
and a second from the Mayor Pro Tem. Roll call.
9
The Clerk: Let me be sure I have what is actually being approved. Motion to approve
Housing and Community Development Hotel Relief Program for the Homeless initiative
funding through HUD ESG Cares Act COVID 19. Is that correct?
Mr. Mayor: That is correct.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Bonner will send that information out with those names that we heard
from this morning.
2. Hazard Pay. (Requested by Mayor Hardie Davis)
5. Hazard/Essential Pay: Move that hazard pay effective 18 April 2020 at $5.00 per
hour during the COVID-19 crisis be paid only to city employees that interact directly
with the public or is out among the public working. (Requested by Commissioner
Sammie Sias)
Mr. Mayor: There has been a lot of conversation about this. I think we want to just try to
clarify this today. I’m going to go to the commissioner from the 5th who has item #5 so we’re
th
taking items 2 and 5 together. All right, commissioner from the 5. I’m sorry, commissioner from
th
the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. We started off our hazardous pay as a pay policy, and then we
initiated a pay policy, then for the COVID 19 hazardous pay we came out with a definite
(inaudible) with what employees should be receiving that hazardous pay or also essential employee
pay that had to leave their homes to come to work and also the ones working out in the street in
the public. Well, one of the situations that came up out of that was we were paying, basically we
end up paying everybody that and the item that I put on the agenda can either define it or we can
leave it the way it is. We can define it by streamlining saying that the certain employees such as
public safety, fire, those folks working out in the ditches and streets and inspecting and interacting
with the public. And streamline it to just that. I asked about the financial implications of doing it
that way versus the way we already have it and it’s my understanding that the financial implications
are a little bit different than what was initially believed in the very beginning. In other words the
financial implications are essentially leaving home may not be as much as it was initially thought
to be. I think we just need a little clarification on two things from my perspective. Number one,
what can Finance tell us or can project what this first pay period will cost us additionally. Second,
if we keep it over the way we change it, what can we expect to save. Is there a real difference
between the two? And the last piece is Ms. Bonner had forwarded us an email from GMA stating
about the reimbursable part that maybe the reimbursed piece for the folks in the street versus
responders are very likely or can be very likely done. Administrative folks that we have that are
coming to work and we are paying them the hazardous pay then we won’t get that back. So by the
email, it indicates that will be difficult to get. So here is my last statement on this. We can
streamline it or we can leave it as is but I would like to hear what some of the financial implications
from our Finance Director. Thank you.
10
Mr. Mayor: All right, Director Williams, I’m going to come to you just I think in short if
you could express to us what the payroll implications are for the next two weeks or two pay periods
which would take us I guess through the end of the month.
Ms. Williams: Okay, I sent out two documents yesterday which I hope most of you were
able to receive. The one that is labeled Version 6 all employees was the best estimate that we have
at the current time for the folks that are physically reporting to work each day. As we’ve continued
to refine our estimate, we had information coming in most particularly from the court system. I
think everybody was under the general assumption that courts were not going on and there are
approximately two hundred or so employees that are involved through the various parts of the
judicial system. What we are finding out is that some of those departments, Ms. Sullivan’s office
for example, she worked half her staff one day and the other half of her staff the next day so on
any given day there are 50% of her employees that are reporting to work to keep up with necessary
court functions. Most of the others are all a little bit closer in line with my original estimates that
because the entire government is still up and running there are a lot of administrative departments
that are staffing at approximately 25%. So those are some of the projections that I had originally
included on back when we first start talking about hazard pay. So all that being said, we have still
continued to estimate our public safety folks, our Sheriff’s folks, RCCI, Fire, those folks at 100%
of their staffing levels for the $5.00, for the number of hours that each one of them works through
each pay period. We got some more feedback yesterday from Utilities that their staffing level
because of having to be out in the field, it’s a little closer to 40% than 25%. Their airport replied
that their staffing level is 80% so like I said, we have continued to try to hit a moving target with
the best information that was available. All that is to say that across all the funds on this Version
6, this $5.00 per hour per pay period would be approximately $728,000. Now 436 of that comes
out of the General Fund. That covers General Fund and law enforcement. The other funds would
bear the cost of the increment just the same as they bear the cost of paying their employees’
salaries. So that’s a two-week pay period. It will be a little bit less than that because it was not
effective the first two days of the pay period so those folks that were 24-hour shifts or with a 24/7
thth
operation, the folks that worked on the 4 and the 5 do not get the $5.00 but the ones that worked
thth
from the 6 until the pay period closes right now on the 17 would get the benefit of that pay. So
that’s $436,000 approximately to the General Fund. The additional approximate $300,000 will be
spread amongst the heaviest portion is in Fire, $180,000, and then the remainder is spread between
Utilities, Sales Tax, Stormwater and the other funds that have employees.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor.
th
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: Yeah, to Ms. Donna Williams, I think you said we have a check from
FEMA, $1.5 million dollars.
Ms. Williams: Yes, sir. In October when I gave the financial report I made notation that
our next to last payment from FEMA on the 2014 ice storm had come in and it was $1.5 million
11
dollars. That was of course put in the bank and will show up as revenue for 2019 and as such it
will roll forward into our available fund balance for 2020.
Mr. B. Williams: So the funds are in the general account and this payment when you said
it comes out of the General Fund that $1.5 million dollars is in our general account so that’s
basically paying for it if we use it that way, correct?
Ms. Williams: It could, yes, sir.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, thank you.
th
Mr. Mayor: Okay, commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, Mr. Mayor and my colleagues, I make a motion to pay everybody for
the next two pay periods meaning the one we are in and the one that we are currently in and the
st
next pay period and if we need to make any adjustments to this we can make them at the 21
meeting because right now, that’s the gist of my motion because I really thing we’re at a point now
if we tried to make a change based on information we got today if think we’d find ourselves back
in the very same place that we were in previously so I’ll make a motion that we pay everybody for
the next two pay periods and if we need to make any changes beyond that that we do it at the
appropriate time.
nd
Mr. Mayor: All right, commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: I’d like my colleague to tell me who is everybody.
Mr. Hasan: Everybody who is coming to work, coming to work.
Mr. D. Williams: Coming to work.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir, because that’s what, based on the policy that we adopted, it covered
all of those. It covered everybody that is coming to work.
Mr. B. Williams: I’ll second it, Mr. Mayor, so it will stay alive.
Mr. Mayor: All right, very well. All right, I see all the hands. I’m making notes. I’m
st
going to commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: You know I think that we need to, one of the recommendations from GMA
is that whatever policy we adopt we need to have our attorney to vet that policy for us. I also think
that we need to define essential employees, non-essential employees and employees that are
hazardous. What’s hazardous duty, especially during this time because I could see this coming up
again. I don’t think that because a person is coming to work that that person is at risk. I know that
our firemen, our marshals, our deputies, even the people that work in the ditches in Utilities and
Engineering are at risk so I will support what Commissioner, the motion that Commissioner Hasan
12
has made but in the meantime I think that we need to really look at that policy and make sure that
we are rewarding the people that actually deserve it and are putting themselves at risk.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you for that, Commissioner. I want to go in this order. I believe
rd
the commissioner from the 3 is bouncing around on the stream, all right, she’s gone. I’ve got the
th
commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: Mr. Mayor, I’m still not satisfied with any way that we’ve picked to go on
this. But I would like to say this. Whatever we do we’ve got to remember that there’s nearly 17
million people out of work because of this and those people were wishing that they still had a job
to go to at regular pay and they would be thankful for it. And we’re looking at these 17 million
people who are out of work to still pay and support people that are coming to work. And so
whatever we do I want everybody to be mindful of those people as well and this is not to say that
our people are not essential. They are. And we try to do everything in the world that we can for
them. But we also have to look at things realistically. And we’re still putting a burden on people
that are going to be out of work to help pay paychecks for the people that are still working and so
that’s all I’ve got to say on the subject and I’ll hold all further comments and thank you for allowing
me to say that.
th
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 9.
th
Mr. M. Williams: I kind of agree with my colleague from the 10 but let me say this. We
need to identify those people like GMA talked about in the email we got from them as essential
people who are just being in contact, alive and still moving so if we just have a blanket to just
throw out there it’s one thing. But we have not identified those people who are coming in to work
and coming in contact. I’m not just talking about law enforcement. We’re talking about people
who are coming in contact with the general public with this advisory, it’s moving. So I think
before we agree to pay them for two weeks or whatever it is, we need to know who we are going
to pay for two weeks. I think we need to understand that everybody that’s coming, and I mentioned
this when the attorney mentioned about the legal department getting paid and I said they can do
that from a computer or they can do that from a phone or they can do that from home. They don’t
have to be in contact. There is no contract they’ve got to walk in somebody’s office and sign and
walk back in a meeting with ten other people. But then there are other people who have to come
in contact with Jim Plunkett like every day. So when are we going to define those people I guess,
these essential people that may come in contact with. And my last part, Mr. Mayor, we’ve got to
remember too there is no guarantee that we’re going to be reimbursed. There is no guarantee that
we’re going to be reimbursed back for this federal dollars that we say we’ll be spending and won’t
be given that. You know someone wants to give $11.00 an hour and we didn’t approve that but
we’ve got to be mindful of what we’re dealing with. So I just need an answer to those questions
so we understand.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, so I’m going to bring everybody’s attention back to the guides that was
provided to us by the Department of Homeland Security and the South Security and Infrastructure
Agency. They provided a document that ACCG, GMA, private sector businesses, public sector
local governments, state and federal are all using that guidance that says here is who is listed as
essential critical infrastructure workforce. That’s the term. Essential critical infrastructure
13
workforce. That document has been distributed. In light of where we are right now and again this
is worthy debate that we need to have and will continue to have it but I think the challenge is
providing guidance to say here’s what needs to be done in order to clean this process up and you’ve
got, we’ve got something that’s under consideration right now, just a stopgap measure while
everyone goes back to the original document that says who this population of people are. When
you look at again other local governments that are doing this they took that guidance and said here
are the categories of employees who fit this guideline and that’s who we’re seeing what is referred
to as hazard pay and so that document is very clear. What we’ve done locally is we’ve expanded
that and effectively captured our entire workforce and we’ve done that on the basis of the policy
that was adopted that said if you show up to work, man, you’re okay. You get it and that’s not
th
what the intent of the guidelines were so to your question, commissioner from the 9, we need to
go back to that document and let that be the guiding principle for what we need to do on the other
side of cleaning this up. Now I understand we’ve got a motion and a second but I’ve got more
hands that have gone up. I’ve got the Mayor Pro Tem and I’ll recognize the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So obviously we’ve had a lot of dialogue. We
talked about how what we approved last week, Attorney Brown stated that it was basically
everybody’s going to get that pay not just within the departments. Obviously I’m still concerned
that we haven’t gotten exact figures from the department heads on how many, you know we hear
25 now we hear 40 on this and just very concerned about the fact that the GMA email that we got
that basically stated that you know it’s going to be a crapshoot whether we get paid a
reimbursement back for that. So with all the talk and everything I’m going to make a substitute
motion and it’s going to be a little bit long but I feel like this substitute motion encompasses a lot
of things that maybe that we need to look at too. So my substitute motion is to pay all the
thth
employees stated in the previous policy for the two weeks ending April 19 and on April 20 only
first responders will receive the $3.33 an hour rate for the duration of the emergency declaration
by Governor Kemp and again that was the recommendation of the Administrator and also those
departments that fill necessary based on those employees that are out in the conditions that they
provide comp days for those individuals. We haven’t discussed that but I think that’s an important
element here to take care of those individuals that they could do within their budget. So that’s my
motion, Mr. Mayor.
Ms. Davis: And I’ll second it, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, very well. I’ve got a motion and a second. I’ve got lots of hands.
We’re going to have the debate and I’m going to come back to you. I’m going to pause here and
go to Director Williams. Donna.
Ms. Williams: Okay. I just need to let ya’ll know that there seems to be some confusion
about when the pay period starts and ends. So the current pay period ends on April 17 and then
like you said, you know, because we’ve got conflicting motions here. And then the next pay period
th
begins on April the 18 and ends on May 1 so when ya’ll start and stop your effective dates, it is
much cleaner for everyone. I know we kind of got stuck with the one that we’re in now that the
thth
pay period started on the 4 and the policy started on the 6 but as we forward it would be very
helpful and to everyone to start and end on the beginning and ending pay period dates so –
14
Mr. Mayor: So, Donna, I’ve got a question with regards to that. If we take the ending pay
th
period on the 17 and the next pay period ends 1 May, what is that expense given the current target
(inaudible) that you have?
Ms. Williams: Given the current target, the estimate for the first two weeks is the total of
the 728 and then double that would be a million four.
Mr. Mayor: So effectively what we’re saying is for one month you’re looking at 738 or
1.4?
Ms. Williams: 1.4 is for a four-week time frame, two pay periods.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so that’s the proposition that’s in front of us at this point, okay?
That’s what on the table effectively because again you’re looking for a clean break with regards
to the pay period, is that not true?
Ms. Williams: That would be very helpful.
Mr. Mayor: That’s right and so that’s the proposition that’s before us under the current
adopted approach at $5.00 an hour you’re looking at an expenditure of $1.4 million dollars from
now until 1 May. All right, to that end you’ve got a substitute motion that is on the table that is
being proposed that’s starting 18 April through 1 May would be a reduction, okay, and you’re
saying just go straight through. All right, commissioner.
Mr. Frantom: I’m saying that we pay everybody the $5.00 because we’ve already approved
th
it through this pay period and then effective the next pay period which is I guess the 18 then we
would move forward with first responders only at $3.33 with the ability for other department heads
to give comp days as they deem necessary.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. So that’s what’s been, a substitute motion. I see the hands, I’m coming
rd
to you and I’ve got a second from the commissioner from the 3. I’m going in this order. I’m
th
going back to the commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: The first time when we got these numbers, was the judicial numbers tied to
this?
Ms. Williams: No, sir, they were not.
Mr. Hasan: And we’re realizing judicial people are coming every day so those numbers
are not accurate and that’s the problem that you’ve got.
Ms. Williams: Correct. The first estimate that I gave you, it was like Version 4 with
specific departments listed on there and I had not included specifically the court system because I
was being asked for estimates based on specific departments.
15
Mr. Hasan: Okay, thank you, ma’am. That’s my concern, Commissioner Frantom, that
those numbers, those judicial numbers was never associated with that and just let me be clear why
I’m recommending what I’m recommending. That is because for the most part I think we’ve lost
this battle here at this particular time with employees in terms of where we are and who is going
to get paid based on the policy and there is a lot of persons right now I honestly believe if you strip
it down even based on what GMA sent out this morning we probably would only move about 10%
off of these numbers at best because most of these people are not administrators but they’re back
room people but they come to work and it’s given them credence. The only one that it is really
removing here is administrative persons and a lot of people are not administrative persons so I
think it is to our advantage for where we are now I believe to pay them and in the meantime we
could streamline it and come back in compliance with what GMA is recommending and Ms.
Donna, the Administrator and everybody else won’t be rushed to try to come and see what that
looks like. It will give them adequate time before we have to move forward and they can come
back in compliance. Right now the numbers that you’re suggesting, Commissioner Frantom, all
the numbers are not there from the judicial side. They’re not even (inaudible). We didn’t have
that the first time. Thank you very much.
Mr. Frantom: That’s why it’s so critical that it’s only two weeks frankly. I mean we don’t
even know what the ending number is and why are we even agreeing to another two weeks when
we’re probably not going to get reimbursed for any of this. We know we have $1.5 million from
a FEMA check and that’s kind of my thoughts on why we’re doing what we’re doing now. I mean
we’ve got to take a step back because we don’t know that we’re going to have the funding to afford
all this.
Mr. Hasan: That’s not really what it’s saying. It’s saying it’s a possibility you won’t get
it back. I agree with that. But it is saying for that extra administrative functions we may very well
(inaudible) be but (inaudible) general principle I think as a rule we are. But I do think they have
the numbers in there now with what Ms. Donna has given us. I believe those numbers are in there.
I’ll be disappointed if they’re not in there. Are they in there now, Ms. Donna?
Ms. Williams: Yes, sir. One way or the other at some percentage I have accounted for
every person in the workforce.
Mr. Hasan: All right.
Ms. Williams: Most of them are at the lower level, 25%.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor.
th
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got the commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, my question is we’re talking about comp time for people
who are exposing themselves versus people who are getting paid overtime for exposing
themselves. If you’re exposed and you’re giving them comp time, I think there are some problems
I’ve got with that because their livelihood is put on the line but we’re going to give comp time to
that person but the other person, and I’m supporting the Fire Department and the Sheriff’s
16
Department. They sign up for a hazardous job when they sign up. I get that but we’re going to
take and give somebody who’s going to put themselves out there, where they work and live, and
somebody else is going to get paid where they work and live. I’ve got some issues with that.
th
Mr. Mayor: I understand. Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, sir. Kind of a point of order. We’ve already voted on the $5.00
paying them for two pay periods. We don’t need to vote on that. Basically we just need, if we
don’t do anything else, we just stand on this last vote and that’s for the $5.00, correct?
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
Mr. B. Williams: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Again unless you have a motion that is successful and passes right now, we
will be remanded to where we are currently.
Mr. B. Williams: Right, right. What I’m saying is that the motion that Mr. Hasan made,
we already have it so basically he doesn’t need a motion if we are just going to stay the same so if
this, Commissioner Frantom’s motion is basically the motion so if that one fails, we just stay where
we are, correct?
Mr. Mayor: That’s effectively what would happen. That’s correct.
Mr. B. Williams: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a substitute motion and that is to continue the $5.00 per
hour for those employees that were included in the adopted policy of last week through 17 April
and then on 18 April through the next pay period only those essential critical infrastructure
workforce employees, Fire, EMA and law enforcement, would be included at a rate of $3.33 per
hour additional. That’s the substitute motion. Madam Clerk.
(Vote on the substitute motion)
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Sias, Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Mr. B. Williams abstains.
Motion fails 5-4-1.
th
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: So we don’t need to vote on the last one because it’s the same motion
that we approved last week, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can you get an opinion from the attorney?
Mr. Mayor: Well, I think it’s clear that when we had the conversation last week we did
not talk about the judiciary at all. We didn’t talk about the courts. So again it is only in this
17
iteration number 6 that I think the courts based on what I heard Mr. Williams saying has been
included. I’m not sure who’s building but if you could mute your phone, the building is take place.
Director Williams.
Ms. Williams: I think the attorney can clear this up. I was given the interpretation that the
policy applied to all employees of the government that physically showed up for work so for while
I did not account for them in my cost estimate that I did previously, I have been told that those
employees are included in the policy.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’m going to raise this issue and much to the chagrin of some of you on
the call, the Mayor’s Office staff shows up to work and they have been showing up to work and
so my question is again based on your policy, they are included in that.
Mr. Hasan: All employees, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Say that again.
Mr. Hasan: All employees, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I mean we weren’t looking to be included in that but I just want to be
th
clear about that. Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Basically Ms. Donna Williams said what I was going to say. The declaration
that we approved was for all city employees irregardless of who we thought they were so that was
basically what I was going to say.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you. All right, Madam Clerk, item number three.
3. Augusta COVID 19 Relief Fund. (Requested by Mayor Hardie Davis)
Mr. Mayor: I wanted to take a moment and share with everybody we’ve been talking
about doing something to support small businesses and our non-profits in the community. I had a
very good conversation this morning with community foundation folks as well who are partners
of ours in the City and they look forward to again the work that we’re doing with regards to COVID
19 Relief Fund from Augusta proper. I want to start by sharing just a brief slide presentation with
everybody and that slide presentation will be an update of the work that’s been done thus far and
I’m going to share my screen with everyone and walk through the slides to talk about what work
has been done at this point. So everyone should see the screen at this point and again over the last
several weeks from the time that the Governor issued his first emergency declaration to the one
that we issued here in Augusta we’ve been tracking the meeting with our businesses, small
businesses and non-profits. The purpose of this relief fund program will be to provide short-term
relief for small businesses and non-profits that are Augusta proper, those that are domiciled, are
specifically resident in Augusta Richmond County that may be experiencing again as you see a
reduction of revenue due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Several of the things that we looked at as
we engaged our business community and non-profits concerns were around the gap assistance for
small businesses and non-profit agencies. There is also gap assistance to support efforts around
18
children and youth, our homeless community which we just had a conversation about and of course
our senior citizens. One of the things that is of great concern is the decline in business license
revenue due to the loss of income as we see many of our businesses are finding themselves at the
place of either furloughing and/or laying folks off and some who are very concerned about closing
their doors and never opening again. At the point in time that the emergency orders were put in
place it put an increased burden on our public safety resources. As you all are aware with one of
the Governor’s most recent executive orders he deputized law enforcement across the state of
Georgia, i.e. our Sheriff’s agencies and they are the enforcement arm now of the Governor’s
executive orders and so it is putting a significant burden on our efforts in the community. I think
one of the things that we have an opportunity to do something pretty substantial here as the Augusta
Commission is how do we stand up and stabilize our businesses during this time with the intent
behind again the emergency relief fund. In our next slide it’s recommended that we fund this with
the transfer of $3 million from the link deposit program. Director Williams shared with us several
months ago in her communication to us about those resources. We effectively have about $5.2
million dollars in certificates of deposit at two banks, State Bank formerly First Bank in the amount
of $3.6 almost $3.7 million dollars and at Georgia Bank & Trust now South State Bank of
effectively $1.9 million dollars and those dollars, those resources historically were to be used in
support of businesses and start of businesses in the community. The recommendation for the fund
will be that we allocate $250,000 for emergency child nutrition programs, $250,000 for emergency
senior nutrition and allocate $500,000 homeless (inaudible) and allocating up to $2 million to
establish a small business and non-profit loan relief grant program. The small business will be a
loan program at zero percent interest and then of course the non-profits would see a relief grant
program. What’s been done today? There have been a series of meetings, small group meetings
held in downtown with all of our restaurant owners and operators. There’s also been a town hall
meeting in partnership with the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce for over a hundred business
participants from the community were on the call as we provided an update of what’s happening
both from a federal, state and local perspective around COVID 19 and then we developed a survey
to assist with identifying the specific needs of small businesses and non-profits. That survey and
the results that came out of that I now want to take an opportunity and share and then we’ll come
back to this live presentation to finish up just so that you all can get a picture of what’s going on
in the community. I’m going to go to the next slide presentation and that’s again the small business
survey. All of this you will get a copy of this sent over as well. We just were able to finish this
late last night so this is small business survey that was conducted of our businesses in the
community. Now there were over 457 respondents to the survey. It was a 13 question survey and
as you can see, the questions that were before us how long has your business been in operation?
The majority of the businesses that were surveyed have been in business ten or more years in
Augusta. We only have a few businesses that have been in operation less than a year but the
majority of our respondents have been in business for a fairly long time.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, question.
th
Mr. Mayor: Yes, commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir. I agree, I don’t know where my, I guess I’m still being
heard if I’m not seen but I agree with this concept but this is a lot to bring to the table today and
just discuss. I think this is going to need some more discussion. I’m for the small business. That
19
money has been sitting there for years, over 16, 18, or whatever the time it’s been there. I’m for
using that money to help small businesses and I just think that’s quite a lot to do on a teleconference
like we’re doing now and try to understand it. This is going to need some massaging. I didn’t
know anything about the small business meeting. I didn’t know anything what businesses came.
I mean downtown businesses are very important but they’re not the only businesses. So I’m a little
bit leery of going any further until we can discuss this further as –
Mr. Mayor: So I’m not asking you to take any action on it but we do want to do the
st
presentation and we can have more discussion at our meeting on the 21 but this is in a position
now where we need to talk about it and talk about what actions we can potentially take. You will
get a copy of the slide deck at the end of our meeting today but it is prudent for us at least to step
forward and talk about it so we can be prepared to do, have broader discussion on next week and
over the next several days which is the intent today.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, well, like I said I’ve got no problem. I don’t know what the end
result will be as far as trying to make the move forward with something. There is some discussion
we need to have as a body. Like I said I didn’t know anything about any of the meetings whether
it be downtown or wherever. The money has been allocated for small businesses for a long time
and we didn’t use it. We made two loans out of it. Two loans.
th
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, commissioner from the 9, I understand all of that and you’re absolutely
correct. In previous Commissions nothing effectively was done. We don’t want that to be our
story at one of the most significant times in our nation’s history and without question in our city’s
history which is why we’re bringing this information to you. And to your point you weren’t aware
of a series of things that happened in the community so I’m going to step through this and then we
could take some questions and then we can have some additional conversation and dialogue about
it as well. Again, we just want to move fairly quickly through this. Again, you’ve got businesses
that have been in operation as we said some as late as ten years. The question of what type of
business as you can see you’ve got restaurants, construction, entertainment, professional services,
businesses as our barber shops and our hair salons that many of you are aware of that have been
impacted during this time. Again you see the responses here in terms of the businesses whether
it’s the barber shops and nail salons at 18% of the respondents were from that category.
Professional services, legal, accounting, engineering who were significantly impacted and are as a
result of this and then of course those other businesses that are included in this. You asked the
th
question, commissioner from the 9, about businesses downtown. All the businesses are not
downtown. We asked the question specifically about where is your business located, whether it is
downtown, on the south side, east Augusta or in west Augusta and you can see here about 29% of
the business responses came from downtown, 24% from the south side of town, 37% from west
Augusta. When you’ve got this situation of where in Richmond County obviously the majority of
our businesses are located there. A few businesses have locations both in Columbia and in
Richmond County. As you see here 81% obviously in Richmond County and then of course these
are all critical questions. One of the things in working on the survey is that this was a model from
the cities of Louisville, Kentucky, Columbia, South Carolina and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma who
have implemented similar programs and they provided wonderful templates to be able to look at
from the (inaudible) of communities who came together and local governments in terms of
supporting our small businesses and non-profits in the community. Question number eight, what
20
are your average monthly business expenses? The majority of our businesses that responded, their
business expenses were typically $5,000 or less per month. Some of those larger businesses as we
see here from the bar chart standpoint, here the numbers break down 44% of our businesses their
monthly expenses are $5,000 or less. We’ve only got seven or eight of our businesses that
responded that have budgets and expenditures over $50,000 per month.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, question. How do we notify these businesses? How do we
relate to them to know that they, I mean this is the first I’ve heard of this myself but I’m trying to
figure out how do we contact the businesses that participated or the ones that would have
participated. How did we do that?
Mr. Mayor: That was a communication that was sent out to the media. There was a
communication that was sent out to the Chambers and our own City website was a portal for that
information as well. When we went out with the COVID 19 webpage, that information was posted
there as well so we used multiple outlets to communicate that and thus the substantial number of
respondents that you got. These are the key concerns that businesses are operating with during the
COVID 19 pandemic. Many of them are concerned obviously about the lack of resources, the
availability of cash flow and the decrease in customers. There is a direct correlation between
questions nine and ten especially with regards to the depletion of cash reserves here (inaudible)
and event cancellation. Those are directly correlated especially when you look at our hospitality
and our tourism industry and as you see here hours of operation changed. When you look at our
restaurant industry where it’s takeout or delivery only, the number of events that have been
cancelled here in the community. Just the Augusta Recreation and Parks events that have been
cancelled through the end of the year has effectively been calculated about $2.3 million dollars in
terms of revenue. Those numbers were provided to us by Recreation and Parks. That’s a fairly
substantial hit because that affects the bottom lines of our hospitality and our tourism industry as
well and then as you see here the depletion of cash reserves, a very significant issue in terms of
our businesses. What’s really telling is the number, the question here in number 11 have you
reduced the number of employees working for your business? Some have reduced their employee
workforce temporarily. Some have not. As you see here there are some that have temporarily laid
staff off. You’ve also got some who are trying to maintain their employees so that they don’t have
to go back through a complete startup and then you’ve got some who are anticipating not laying
people off at all, at least for the next 30 to 60 days. And if there is an anticipation of layoffs, how
many staff members? Again, the underlying data supporting this bar chart right here in some cases
you’ve got 35% of our businesses saying they’re not laying anybody off. And then what’s most
telling is you’ve got 83 other respondents who say that they’re planning to close their entire
operations. I think when we hear what’s going on from the federal government standpoint that
relief from a small business loan perspective and the Cares Act funding, it’s very slow in getting
to our small businesses which is why I think it’s so opportune for the City of Augusta to give
consideration to doing something like this and looking for a way for us to help and support local
businesses in the community. And so that’s the last slide as it relates to that. I do share again your
th
concern, commissioner from the 9, and believe that this is a conversation that requires us to spend
a lot of time in a very short period of time helping to navigate how we help businesses in the
community and this is just our first step in terms of trying to be able to do that. All right,
th
commissioner from the 6.
21
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m going to use your word if you don’t mind. I have
a series of questions. First, as you started in this conversation, you mentioned a community
foundation. So talk to me about the connection between the community foundation and where we
end up at.
Mr. Mayor: On the community foundation, I shared a couple of weeks ago and all of
you heard it from the public perspective as well the Augusta National made a commitment to the
community in the amount of $2 million dollars. One million of that is for Augusta University
Health for testing for health care workers and/or equipment. One million was specifically in
partnership with United Way and the community foundation to help our most vulnerable
population. When you think about those resources, particularly as it relates to United Way, that
cash (inaudible) is the entire 13 counties. And so those dollars, the $1 million for that, are not
isolated or predicated just to Augusta Richmond County. With regards to the community
foundation, they are the best at helping non-profits in the community. They’ve done that work
before and I think that they can certainly add value in terms of helping us to navigate through how
we deliver these resources to help non-profits in the community and those groups that may not
historically have gotten any help from us in the City of Augusta. That’s the role again that they
could play but these are Augusta-specific resources, commissioner.
Mr. Hasan: Okay. Another thing. The link deposit. Last I remember in reference to that,
a couple of things. Number one, even though the money was to those banks that you identified,
first I think, I believe that those monies are not there anymore and I’ll get back to that part but the
money was never intended to be loaned to anyone. The money was just there as shoring up those
banks from an FDIC perspective and it was never even leveraged as collateral. It was trying to
encourage the banks to make a good faith effort to loan money but it was actually money out of
the City’s budget that was never intended for lending purposes. Several years ago, even about a
year ago, when this issue came up by my colleague Commissioner Marion Williams I think the
Commission took a vote to take that money and that money has been moved. Once again it was
not for lending purposes, it never was, but is to put that money back into, Ms. Donna can tell you
if I’m correct, where we voted to place that money at. It’s not in an institution to my knowledge.
If I’m wrong, I’ll apologize in advance. And the third thing in the Cares Act right now the one
that we’re looking at right now and you did kind of address this but I did want to make a full
throated statement in reference to it. As we looked at moving forward today on the homelessness
to the tune of over a half million dollars that has been allocated or going to be allocated or been
allocated, also we’ve got two others. One is over a million dollars and I think it serve some of the
purposes which you are mentioning right now and then you’ve got another a little over $150,000
that could go with housing people with AIDS. So you’ve got a million dollars there that could be
used for those purposes coming from the federal government under the Cares Act. But once again
the link deposit money was never intended to be used as a loan and number two, it is no longer in
those institutions as I understand it. And so if I’m wrong about that, I will apologize. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so I appreciate that, Commissioner Hasan. And to your point what
th
was the program as the commissioner from the 9 has referenced 16 plus years ago nothing
happened. And that certainly doesn’t need to be our posture. There is an immediate need in our
community in terms of being able to help folks and in particular with the small businesses many
of which you know, I know, all of us on this virtual meeting understand and know who need help
22
right now. They’re one foot away from closing their doors and shuttering and many of them
represent the 16 million people in this community who are filing for unemployment and in some
instances are one paycheck away from being in the outhouse. And so again these dollars, while
they were “never intended to be loaned” the approach around the small business, the One Augusta
Relief Fund, would be these are forgivable loans. There are guidelines that support that and will
go along with that with zero percent interest in that and all of that is included in the documentation
that we will send and so I’m going to recognize the Mayor Pro Tem and then I’m going to get
another series of hands. Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So I think we’ve got a chance to do some amazing
things here and I appreciate you bringing this forward. I think some other commissioners,
Commissioner Sias, have brought this to the table. John Clarke brought this to the table too. Just
to let everybody know, those CDs matured in 2016 and this isn’t new revenue. It’s cash. With
that being said, I don’t think we should wait to approve this because of as you said undertaking a
while to move these businesses that are hurting and we actually have a chance here to make a
significant impact. My concern is that we approve the $3 million and then maybe next week you
bring back the nuts and bolts of exactly how that’s going to be rolled out to the community so that
you kind of get the blessing of the Commission today to move forward with that $3 million because
we don’t need to wait a week. People are hurting and this is our chance to make a significant
impact on money that we know this is what it should be used for so I make a motion to approve
the $3 million dollars out of the account as stated in the presentation with the caveat that next week
you’ll bring back full details on how it will all be rolled out.
th
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: I’ll second that. You know I think this would make a far greater economic
impact locally than we’ll ever know. We have businesses out here, I talk to businesses every day
that are hurting so I think this would be a great way to give them a short-term lifeline.
st
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I have a series of questions. The first being is if we approve that,
who is going to administer this program?
Mr. Mayor: The small business loan program will be administered through Housing &
Community Development. They currently are the agency of record who facilitates these efforts
right now. Whether that’s again the home loan program they do that now and they have the
mechanism to be able to support these types of efforts. They are working already with some small
businesses in the community so they would be the nexus for that.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and who is going to develop the guidelines of the program?
Mr. Mayor: That template I believe already exists. We’ve had some folks working with
us here in the office. Again remember I shared that the city of Louisville, Columbia, South
Carolina, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma all have put together a series of best practices as they
implement similar programs. We’ve taken that information and we’ve taken it and put it in the
23
context of Augusta. What’s different between Augusta and those cities is that they have economic
sustainability programs for their entire city. We have never taken time to put together an economic
sustainability in the event that a pandemic would hit our city or unfortunate disasters would
happen. We’ve never done that. But they’ve done that which allowed them to mobilize and move
very quickly in putting together something like this in an effort to try to help their businesses and
their non-profits in their community.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and just as information, I think Aiken, South Carolina has a similar
program they just implemented a couple of weeks ago and I would find out how their program is
working and maybe that’s something that we can incorporate in our program. My last comment
is the one of the biggest hurdles that our residents are running across today is the application for
unemployment. Now I know that’s a state function but I have had numerous complaints looking
at what’s going on in other areas. That process people stay on the line for three or four days and
then go on a computer and get knocked out of the computer. I don’t know if there’s anything that
we could do locally to help our laid-off employees access that process but I think it’s worth looking
into.
st
Mr. Mayor: So, commissioner from the 1, on March 23 when we met with the small
business owners who are restaurants who are in downtown they all talked about the same issue.
They are all expeditiously in the process for notifying the Department of Labor and uploading your
employee information was attempted to be streamlined and the system didn’t work as robustly as
it should have. We immediately got on the phone and called the Department of Labor’s
Commissioner and they had someone work hand in hand with our local restaurateurs and folks like
that. The challenge to your concern is that they are understaffed and the system is not as fluid as
it should be and they are still working through that. That is a state function and right across the
street from the Municipal Building as you are well aware DOL sits, they’re understaffed and they
are working as hard as they can to try to get as many of these processes as possible but they were
overwhelmed in the system again. I think you heard the number. 17 million people in America
who have filed for unemployment or are attempting to file for unemployment and many of those
are folks who you and I see every day that we all see right here in our community and we’ve got
an opportunity to help them.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay. And my last comment, Mr. Mayor, and I think I mentioned it at our
last meeting is that the billions of dollars that has been allocated for (inaudible) are going through
the large banks –
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
Mr. Fennoy: -- and the large banks are serving their existing clientele which means that
idea with the small banks and I go to apply for a loan and I’m going to be dropped all the way to
the bottom of the totem pole. Again I hope that if this is approved that we would, the small
businesses will have easy access to the funds that we make available.
th
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely. I’m going to the commissioner from the 4 and then
th
commissioner from the 5.
24
Mr. Sias: Just need a little clarity on a couple of things. The first one and if you don’t
mind, I’d like to get this answer from the Finance Director. To finance this One Augusta Small
Business COVID Emergency Fund would that simply be coming out of the General Fund?
Ms. Williams: Okay, I’m not 100% sure how this will be structured. It very well could
be, cash would come from the General Fund. That’s the first step. Now how it shows on your
balance sheet is another matter entirely, whether it shows as loans that are receivable to you or
with a possibility of some portion of it being uncollectible due to default or whether or not it shows
as an expenditure. I’m a little unfamiliar with the code structure.
Mr. Sias: Pardon my interruption. This would be coming straight out of the, I mean
skipping the accounting language, this money is coming out of the General Fund. Is that correct?
Ms. Williams: I think I heard the question that the cash would be coming from the General
Fund.
Mr. Sias: Is that correct?
Ms. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Sias: Okay. Thank you for that, Ms. Williams. My next question is for you, Mayor.
When we’re talking about these small businesses, for the number of small businesses that we have
here, $3 million dollars, that’s not going to go very far. So is there going to be a criteria on say,
for example, of how much money you’re going to put out there? Is it going to be a certain amount
for each business or will businesses be able to get a different amount of money based on what they
are or who they are or what? You say ya’ll have criteria already but we don’t know what that is
and if I can get that particular question answered before I go any further.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and the answer is yes, Commissioner Sias. And let me do this. I said I
was going to go to the survey results which I did and I was going to come back to the previous
slide presentation that would walk him through where we were. Let me go back to that and I want
to share that with everybody. I want to share that with everybody. I want to go back to that and
share that if we can, okay?
Mr. Sias: But yes wouldn’t be the answer to my question but I’ll wait until we get there.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, we’ll get there. So again going back to the recommendation this is the
proposed recommendation. Establish small business loan forgivable program in the amount of $1
million dollars. And this again would address the impact to our small businesses across Augusta.
Zero interest forgivable loan, small local businesses, under 50 employees, no franchisees or chains.
There is an online application process. The target businesses would be this list that you see right
here. You saw that and the survey process as well. Again this is not an all-inclusive listing but
it’s illustrative of those industries that have been severely impacted as a result of COVID 19. The
same effect holds true for the non-profit grant relief program. Again these proposed amounts are
th
up to amounts. You’ve heard the commissioner from the 6 talk about what we’re doing from a
homeless standpoint so we could augment what’s being proposed and put more of those dollars
25
towards how we help and support our small businesses. Again this is establishing a grant program
for non-profit service providers. Those targeted who are affecting our most vulnerable population.
I mentioned earlier the community foundation and the dollars from Augusta National that they
proceed that are already working diligently in this area to try to help and support. Now I’m going
to stop there and I’m going to share this next slide with you and this gets to the heart of what you
asked, Commissioner Sias. It gets to the heart of what you’ve asked in terms of guidelines and
that’s the question that you’ve proposed right here.
Mr. Sias: Are you going to another slide?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah. I’m going to it right now. Give me just one second. Okay, do you see
this? Small business forgivable loan guidelines. This is your guideline document. The terms of
the loan will be for a two-year period with 50% of the original loan forgiven annually at the
anniversary of the origination of the loan. The business would have to remain in good standing
and (inaudible) the term of the loan in order to receive forgiveness. Small business loans up to
$25,000 would be made at zero interest in an effort to mitigate the loss as experienced by a small
business community. If you go back to the slide that we put up about what the monthly operating
expenses are for our small businesses, the majority of them indicated that they were $5,000 or less
and that’s across the board of some 457 businesses and so that $25,000 again would be fairly
substantial across the board and meeting the needs of businesses who are simply trying to keep
their doors open for this period of time because we don’t know when or how long but what we do
know is that in the short-term these resources could help augment and/or stabilize a business to
keep it from closing its doors. So these are the proposed guidelines that you have. This has been
modeled after the three cities that I mentioned just a moment ago. Eligible applicants would be
businesses with 50 or less employees at the time of the loan’s commission with priority given to
our most vulnerable businesses with five or less employees and businesses with up to 20
employees. And those are the requirements that they have. Ineligible business applicants would
be these: businesses that are exclusively residential in nature, our franchises, hotel/motel, the
liquor stores. So that’s the short list again of a best practice applied to Augusta with the exclusion
that we did not and do not have an economic sustainability program that would have put all of
these things in place early on anyway. So I’ll pause there and I’ll give the floor back to you, sir.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. The next question is in doing this loan program how would that
affect these businesses that are also going to be applying for the federal or state small business
loan and all this that is coming out of the COVID 19 as well?
Mr. Mayor: It wouldn’t affect them at all. In fact these dollars would get to them before
any of that would.
Mr. Sias: I get that but would that make them ineligible for any those dollars?
Mr. Mayor: No, it would not. It would not. Whether that’s the paycheck protection
st
program or the small business lending program that as the commissioner from the 1 said it best,
those dollars, I don’t know when they’re going to see them.
26
Mr. Sias: I’m leaning towards supporting. I still feel a little skeptical but I’ll see if I can
get there by the time that we vote. Thank you.
th
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, sir, I’m with you. But, and I think some of the other commissioners
are feeling the same way, I’m trying to figure out where the $3 million dollars comes from and
then programs that you have. What you have, all of this is starting to run together. I would like
to ask Donna a question if I could.
Ms. Williams: I’m here.
Mr. B. Williams: Going back to what Mr. Sias said, do we have $3 million dollars for this
program?
Ms. Williams: You’ve got $3 million dollars cash but the accounting portion of it is very
important. You could conceivably, being that these are forgivable loans, this could be construed
to be an appropriation from your fund balance.
Mr. B. Williams: And this would come from our General Fund.
Ms. Williams: Yes, sir. So you could be logging this as an expenditure on your books.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay. Is there something called link deposit that we have?
Ms. Williams: Used to. It went away in 2016 but those loans, the money that Augusta had
was never loaned out. None of those funds were ever at risk in that program.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, so where is that money now?
Ms. Williams: In the bank account.
Mr. Mayor: It’s in the General Fund.
Ms. Williams: It’s in the General Fund. It’s part of cash. It was always part of cash.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, so how much money is that?
Ms. Williams: The two amounts that were cash that was associated with the link deposit
program was a little over $5 million dollars. It’s part of cash.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, so are those the funds we’re talking about using, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Those absolutely are the funds that we’re talking about using, commissioner
th
from the 5. Again, there are others who have much more history as it relates to the link deposit
th
program that I’m just going to be very blunt, as the commissioner from the 6 said, there were two
27
attempts at trying to do something with that and nothing happened. We’ve got effectively $5.3,
$5.4 million dollars that are there in our General Fund in the bank that if there’s ever been a time
for us to use it’s now for the express purpose of helping stand up businesses and make sure that
they continue in existence. When you think about 83 businesses in our community that are on the
verge of shutting their doors, this is a reasonable use of those resources.
Mr. B. Williams: So those monies were pretty much meant for this, just never used.
Mr. Mayor: They were meant to stand up businesses and support business creation in the
City of Augusta.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, thank you.
th
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: I have a couple of questions. I told you earlier I’m in support of this program
but you know the forgivable aspect of this in the document it says (inaudible) what does good
standing for two years (inaudible) and is the loan totally forgivable or will it be paid back at zero
percent?
Mr. Mayor: So I didn’t hear the first part of what you said because there is a lot of
background noise going on. But I heard your second question and that is –
Mr. Garrett: Wait, the second needs to go after the first one. The first one was the $25,000
is forgivable after two years and the account is in good standing. What does this good standing
look like and is it a forgivable loan or is it a loan paid back at zero percent?
Mr. Mayor: It is a forgivable loan pursuant to the guidelines. Again all of that is included
th
in the broader document, commissioner from the 8, as again I think the Mayor Pro Tem said it
best. If there are things that may have been left out we can include that and make that available
st
on Tuesday for the 21 meeting to make sure that that’s included in that but as it stands right now,
the basic guidelines will be these are forgivable loans. Again, zero percent interest as opposed to
being paid back.
Mr. Garrett: What does the part about being in good standing for two years mean?
Mr. Mayor: Again, that the business is still operational during that period of time over the
two-year period of time. They have not closed their doors or shut their doors.
Mr. Garrett: So it has nothing to do with paying the loan back.
th
Mr. Mayor: Right. Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. B. Williams: Did you get a motion on there?
Mr. Mayor: A motion and a second, yes, sir.
28
Mr. B. Williams: All right.
th
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: My colleague asked a question and the answer that was given him is not true.
This money was never intended to be loaned. Am I right, Ms. Donna? It was never money to be
loaned. I don’t have a problem helping small businesses, Mr. Mayor. I’ve been in small business
all my life. But I can, I think we ought to go back and do what Commissioner Marion Williams
suggested early in this conversation because even by your own account and that doesn’t mean if
my colleague keep them from making a motion but you said you didn’t want to do anything today,
st
we’ll do this on the 21 and obviously that’s not the case but I think (inaudible), Mr. Mayor,
because one thing that Ms. Donna keeps mentioning as well and I don’t know the impact of it but
I know that she keeps mentioning it, the impact that this could possibly be on our bottom line, how
we are perceived which could impact our credit rating. So at least we ought to get those type of
details before we make a decision around it today because you and I both know, Mr. Mayor, that
this money, that don’t mean that we can’t loan the money, but the money was never intended to
be loaned. It was money in the sense that it would help the banks be stood up in the course of an
FDIC. I have no problem helping small businesses. Obviously I’m even wondering when you’re
saying that it’s going to be managed by Mr. Welcher’s department. Well, I personally can’t speak
to whether he’s even aware of it or not. I don’t know. So you might have caught all of us off
guard and I think if you’re going into the City coffer and potentially, Mr. Mayor, taking $3 to $5
million dollars that ought to be a full-throated conversation that we sit down and get more
information as opposed to making a knee-jerk reaction. That’s what it seems like to me.
Mr. Mayor: I appreciate that. I don’t think it’s a knee-jerk reaction at all. Again we tend
to –
Mr. Hasan: I mean, Mr. Mayor, let me be clear what I said on that. Excuse me. What I
mean by that is we don’t have that information. We’re talking about it now and you’re talking
about making a decision when obviously there’s been conversation around $3 to $5 million dollars
of the taxpayers’ money and then you’ve got an opportunity, you’ve got a program here that you
can leverage. You have the same opportunity with this million dollars here. (inaudible) the
$500,000. There is no difference. You can take it and begin to do that with that million dollars
from that allocation letter that you have and not have to do that. You can take that million right
here and do the very same thing.
Mr. Mayor: So again the recommended funding source is the link deposit dollars that have
been there for almost 16 years that we’ve done nothing with. I’ve got the commissioner from the
th
10.
Mr. Clarke: Yes, sir, thank you. I’m not opposed to loaning this money. I think it’s a
good thing and I think that we really need to help our small businesses and established businesses
under these guidelines. The thing that I have a little bit of a problem with is the fact that it’s a
100% forgivable loan and that they will also be able to double dip from the federal side of
(inaudible) so I think that it’s a good idea and a good plan but and zero percent. You can’t get a
29
better rate anywhere in the world but I do think that there should be an effort of (inaudible) from
our businesses to want to pay at least 50% of this loan back or some part of this loan because here
again, and I hate to harp on this but you’ve got people that are out of work still dependent upon
paying these taxes and pay the bills. And of course these businesses will be benefiting (inaudible)
and here again I’m 100% in favor of loaning this money out (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: I don’t know what’s going on. You’re breaking up.
Mr. Clarke: We still have to have an obligation to all of our citizens to (inaudible) the best
use of their money and I just think we need to revisit and maybe there could be a repayment of
some sort or some amount at zero percent. And that’s all I’ve got to say.
Mr. Hasan: I’d like to make a substitute motion.
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, hold on. Commissioner, can you hold on please.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. I want to reiterate around the federal process. The federal dollars are
st
at 3.75% and 2.75% loans. Again, I think the commissioner from the 1 articulated it best in terms
of how that’s happening or not happening. From the local standpoint we’re going up one bank that
was included on that list of banks that were attempting to provide those loans and I believe that
was Security Federal. Otherwise it’s the large boxes and the big banks that are providing that at
this point so at that point this is the key opportunity for us to provide support for our businesses in
the community called Augusta. The conversations around the fact that the General Fund and
COVID shows up as an expenditure, that’s no different than if we appropriated money as we
annually do for non-profits. There is a list of non-profits and other entities that we appropriate
money during the annual budget process and that shows up as an expenditure so again, no different
than we do that so it’s not a (inaudible) thing that we’re talking about right here. I’m going to
th
recognize the commissioner from the 6. All right.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to make a substitute motion that we receive
this as information and continue the discussion.
Mr. Clarke: Second that motion.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a substitute to receive as information and a second. Madam
Clerk.
Mr. D. Williams: Mr. Mayor.
nd
Mr. Mayor: I’m sorry. Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: I had to step out for a quick moment. Could you repeat the original
motion? I got the substitute but I didn’t get the original.
30
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to recognize Mayor Pro Tem for the original motion.
Mr. Frantom: The original motion was to approve the $3 million dollars that was discussed
in the presentation with the caveat you would bring back the details next week of how that would
be processed, how they apply to distribute, who would be the people involved in the process.
Mr. D. Williams: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you.
Mr. Sias: Before you start, I’ve got one quick question.
th
Mr. Mayor: All right, commissioner from the 4.
th
Mr. Sias: My colleague from the 6, were you saying you want to bring this back on the
st
21 or just take it as information?
st
Mr. Hasan: Just take it as information but we can put it back on the 21 agenda but let’s
get the pertinent information and make an informed decision. I can say my motion again, Mr.
Mayor, restate it.
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. Hasan: That we receive it today as information and put it back on the agenda
st
for the 21. Mr. Clarke, you stick with your second?
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right. Madam Clerk, I’ve got a substitute motion and a second to
st
receive as information and bring back on the 21. Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: Ready?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
(Vote on the substitute motion)
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Frantom and Mr. D. Williams vote No.
Mr. M. Williams out.
Motion carries 6-3.
4. Process of Augusta Commission waiving penalties on water, fees, evictions, excise tax,
and other items decided by the governing body. (Mayor Pro Tem Sean Frantom)
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I believe that it is important that we help the
people and this is going to be the most trying times we’re ever going to be a part of and I listed a
few items that I believe that hopefully by the end of this conversation we could task the
31
Administrator to bring us back on and vote on April 21 and the excise tax. You know obviously
we have the ability to waive penalties and I think that’s something we should consider as a
governing body. Obviously no evictions, penalties, things of that nature and one that I think we
need to consider at least for the month of May is that waiving the storm water fee for one month
in May to help the people and the businesses out in this community. We can’t do it just for
companies even though they’re the highest payer. We either have to do it all or none and I think
right now we’re under the toughest times and we need to look at making some tough decisions so
my hope is through this conversation we can come up with a list of things we’d like the
Administrator to come back with next week and we vote on that to where they go into effect May
1.
Mr. Mayor: Is that a motion, Mayor Pro Tem?
Mr. Frantom: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. B. Williams: I’ll second it.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second. And again to bring back a list of tthose things
that can be considered. Let me mention a few things as we’re having this conversation and this is
particularly around our restaurants especially as we go into the month of March. 78% of our
restaurant operators have laid off employees. 57% anticipate more layoffs during the next 30 days
and 65% of our operators have reduced their hours of operation. 41% of our operators have
temporarily closed their restaurants and 2% of our operators have permanently closed their
restaurants with 12% anticipating closure, permanent closure, within the next 30 days. That’s as
of April 12. I think the Mayor Pro Tem has raised a very valid concern around things that give us
opportunity again whether it’s deferring excise taxes or waiving penalties for three months or with
the payment plan option, elimination of personal property taxes. These are all things that as we’re
having a conversation need to be at least considered for full conversation and discussion when we
st
come back on the 21. Again these are just conversations and we’ll have a more detailed
discussion when we get a list for discussion on next week. All right, I’m going in this order. I’ve
th
got a motion and a second. Going to the commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: You mentioned waiver for three months. I don’t think the Mayor Pro Tem in
that discussion said that. Now I’m just as we have this discussion and prepare for it, just a little
clarity on that. I thought I could have sworn (inaudible) for the month of May and you mentioned
three months. That’s a huge difference. So are we going to be talking about the month of May or
three months? I want the Administrator to bring up back what we are asking for now. I’m a little
concerned about that discrepancy.
th
Mr. Mayor: Let me clearly state, commissioner from the 4, what I’m saying. I’m reading
some notes from some folks in the industry. These are things that they have asked about. I’m not
saying that this is what we’re going to do. Let me be abundantly clear. These are things that they
have proposed and said will the City consider these things and I only read a series of those which
32
is what I was doing. I’m not making a motion or saying it is included or it supersedes what the
Mayor Pro Tem indicated. I’m just reading from a list of notes that they provided. Okay?
Mr. Sias: Well, in all incidents I would like to ask that we have the Administrator focus
on the 30-day period.
th
Mr. Mayor: All right, commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First I want to ask you in terms of the that applications
that you have (inaudible), 427 or somewhere along in that neighborhood –
Mr. Mayor: 437 survey respondents.
Mr. Hasan: So are those the only businesses that you would be considering, the ones that
you’ve got, survey in hand, or will you be able to expand that?
Mr. Mayor: No. Any and all applicants who apply would be eligible based on those
guidelines. Those are respondents. The respondents, Commissioner Hasan, and we’re not talking
about that now, but those respondents simply give us a baseline or a framework for what’s going
on in the business community. That’s how people are feeling the pain right now.
Mr. Hasan: Okay. Another thing, Mr. Mayor, any information right down to what
Commissioner Frantom just asked the Administrator to bring back to us, as well as the information
you just read about the closing of businesses, will ya’ll please make that a part of our agenda book
so we can have all of this pertinent information so we can have a full-throated understanding of
what’s being asked of us, make sure that Mr. Welcher is going to be able to share what are his
plans and how he proceeds and how fast he can get started on these things in terms of, if it goes in
that direction. So any information that we need to make (inaudible) please put it in the agenda
book and if it happens to miss it, get it to us some kind of way by courier. That’s all I’m asking.
Mr. B. Williams: Can we vote?
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second. Madam Clerk.
Mr. Sias: What is the motion?
The Clerk: Task the Administrator to come back with recommendation, a list to be
presented at the April 21 meeting and that it focus on a 30-day period, to waive penalties on
water fees, evictions, excise taxes and other items decided by the governing body to include
the Stormwater fee. Is that it? We’re good?
Mr. M. Williams out.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I think that’s all the business that’s before us. All right, this
meeting is adjourned. Thank you, everybody.
33
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena J. Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Called Meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission held on April
14, 2020.
________________________
Clerk of Commission
34