HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting May 5, 2020
REGULAR MEETING VIRTUAL/TELECONFERENCE
MAY 5, 2020
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., May 5, 2020, the Hon.
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.
The Clerk: Here, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic.
Mr. Brown: I’m here.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’re ready rock and roll. I see I’ve got my seat mate with me now
Commissioner Marion Williams he’s in the house, all right we’re good to go.
The Clerk: He’s your copilot?
Mr. Mayor: My copilot, that’s right.
Mr. M. Williams: I can hear you, Mr. Mayor, but I can’t see a thing.
Mr. Mayor: Oh my goodness, okay, I don’t like what’s going on.
Mr. M. Williams: All right, I see you now.
Mr. Mayor: We can see you too, we see you. All right, we’re ready to go. We’ll call this
meeting to order. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. At this time we’ll have our invocation after which our Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag. Please stand.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a flag over in the corner here.
The Clerk: Who’s going to do the invocation? I’ll do it.
Mr. Mayor: Wonderful.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
Mr. Sias: I need to make a quick request.
The Clerk: To me or the Mayor?
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Mr. Sias: To the Mayor and host it says the host has disabled my video.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I wasn’t aware of that. I thought everybody was on.
Mr. Brown: I’m also having the same problem.
Mr. Sias: Well, it just takes one person to speak up, huh? I’ve got audio but they disabled
my video. Now I’m good, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
Mr. Sias: So that means I’m always speaking in the right context.
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Brown: I’m still having the same problem.
Mr. Mayor: --- oh my, okay.
Mr. Brown: I’ve got it on fix now.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got Commissioner Garrett. Let’s get video on him, let’s get
video on Attorney Brown, okay. I think you all do realize you can start and stop your own video.
All right.
Mr. Sias: Let’s not be insulting now.
The Clerk: Touché.
Mr. Mayor: See now Madam Clerk just praised, she just praised (unintelligible) not remind
us (unintelligible) whatsoever. All right, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, before ---
Mr. Mayor: Let’s do this. This would’ve been a good time for us to have been in our
waiting room for a few minutes. Let me take everybody to the Addendum agenda first and then
I’ll turn it back over to you, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: --- yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Bringing everyone’s attention the additions to the agenda we have the Cares
Act Resolution from the Daniel Field Airport. We’ve also got an Emergency COVID-19 grant
from the courts and then there’s a Change Order for the New Fire Station along with the deletion.
And then a revised version of the Item #28 the Return to Work/Reopening Plan. All right, can we,
we’ll move these to the agenda without objection.
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DELEGATIONS
A. Discuss a business license renewal for business located at 1144 Druid Park.
The Clerk: Yes, sir and we can add the deletion of Item A under the Delegations. Mr.
Brown has requested that that be rescheduled at a later date.
Mr. Mayor: Okay that sounds, all right.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. M. Williams: Question.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 9, yes sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Brown, this has been the third time we done did this?
The Clerk: Yes, sir. He’s requesting now that it be deferred because this business is
actually closed due to the COVID-19 issues so he would like to schedule it later in consideration
of that.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, being the third time I’ve got no problem doing that but the first
time we delayed it I’m just trying to figure out, I mean because he called me about it and told him
to put it on the agenda and find out what’s really going on. If there’s an issue I need to, I mean we
need to address it but if there’s not an issue I need to know that too.
The Clerk: Well, the second time he misunderstood the instructions given him to come to
the Municipal Building in the Beasley Room to communicate with you all his concerns. So when
that didn’t materialize he called to ask if it could be rescheduled to this meeting. He notified us
on Monday that he would like further, a further continuance due to the COVID-19 situation and
his business being closed. That’s the history I have on that.
Mr. M. Williams: All right.
Mr. Mayor: All right, if we could, everybody to unmute their devices, get everybody to
unmute their devices. Okay all right, fantastic. Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir ---
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, so those things without objection.
The Clerk: --- okay.
Mr. Mayor: Item B on Delegations, is that individual here?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, she’s waiting.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic, in the Beasley Room?
The Clerk: In the Beasley Room yes, sir.
The Mayor: All right, fantastic. All right, very well, okay, I think we’re ready to rock and
roll.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
B. Ms. Linda McBurney regarding Storm Drain emptying on her property.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I believe we’ve got Ms. Walton with her?
The Clerk: No, Ms. McFarley’s with her.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, Ms. McFarley. All right, Ms. McFarley, again if you’ll have
Ms. McBurney state for the record her address.
Ms. McBurney: Linda McBurney, 3010 Meadowbrook Drive, Augusta, Georgia 30906.
Good afternoon. I just learned a few minutes ago that I only have five minutes so, I had a 20-
minute speech that I’m going to do my best to reduce it. I’m here to address an issue of a 36-inch
open storm drain that empties directly on to my property. As a result of the stormwater draining
onto my property the land is being silted and saturated with trash and a host of pollutants such as
pesticides, fertilizer and vehicle fluids due to runoff on the streets. The runoff has eroded the soil
and exposed roots supporting some hardwoods thus affecting their lifespan and it’s created a
potential health issue because standing water is a habitat for mosquitos. The runoff has also
crossed over the driveway of the neighbor behind me and onto the other neighbor’s property. One
has been filling his driveway with rock in an effort to reduce the erosion and the other dug a trench
in hopes of directing the water flow so it doesn’t spread across his property. Beginning in October
of 2015 I initiated contacts with the Augusta Engineering Department and those contacts included
David Smith, Walt Corbin and Charlie Gay. In April of 2017 the county finally came out, surveyed
the property that was impacted by the storm drain runoff and in May Mr. Corbin received a drawing
of the survey and after he spoke with the assistant director of the Augusta Engineering Department
stated that the city does not have the funds in the budget to do anything about it this year or that
year so it would have to be put on the list for future discussion. Mr. Corbin also said that it would
depend on whether or not SPLOST passed. Well, the SPLOST did pass that year and still nothing
was done. In May of 2017 I wrote a letter to David Smith with a list of the chain of events up to
that point in time. After three months had passed and I had not heard anything from him or anyone
else in the Engineering Department, I wrote a letter to the State of Georgia Environmental
Protection Division. In September 15, 2017 EPD responded that this was a local issue and that it
may be resolved with the assistance of the local Augusta Government and through a legal/civil
action. They also informed me that David Smith had retired and told me to contact the Assistant
Director of the Engineering Department Dr. Hameed Malik. I called the phone number that they
had given me and left a message. Well, fast forward I have not received any call back until
yesterday, almost three years later, and what happened was that Charlie Gay saw that today’s
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meeting had Storm Drain on the agenda and so he called and asked me about it and we set up a
time for both him and Dr. Malik to come out to the property this morning in fact to see the storm
drain and the effects of the runoff on the property. Of course they did not make any commitments
except to say that as soon as this stay in place edict was lifted that they would have an inmate crew
come out to do a cleanup when things opened up. The open stormwater pipe is an uncontrolled
drainage problem created by the development of the land from both sides of Meadowbrook which
the Augusta Government had approved at that time. The problem was allowed to continue when
the city took some of our property to widen Meadowbrook Drive and to also put in a sidewalk.
But they did not follow up on the open storm drain issue thereby continuing to ignore the fact that
it was and is a point source pollution problem which empties directly onto the property. For those
of you who may not be familiar with the term point source pollution the Environmental Protection
Agency defines it as any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are
discharged such as a pipe. Considering the extent of the government’s liability to eliminate a point
source pollution problem for its citizens’ health and safety, the Augusta Government needs to see
that underground pipes are installed from the open storm drains to carry the runoff from my and
my neighbors affected property. Commissioners, let’s work together and get this open storm drain
issue resolved so that I can use the property as we had planned and also to make improvements.
Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Ms. McBurney. All right, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I have a question for Ms. McBurney.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. McBurney?
Ms. McBurney: Yes.
Mr. Sias: Ma’am, are you and your family the owners of the, I’m just going to say it the
way I see it the horse farm on Meadowbrook Drive?
Ms. McBurney: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: Okay, ma’am, what I’d like to do is get with Commissioner Bobby Williams and
we go out and take a look at that because the situation she describes, she’s describing, is a situation
that’s been very prevalent throughout South Augusta. So I haven’t had an opportunity yet to look
at an issue on that particular property except to see the horses so I just want to ask Commissioner
Bobby Williams if we can go out there together with Dr. Malik and we all take a look at that. I
think there can be an answer found to that. We just need to look at it because that problem is not
unique. It’s a problem that happened when the development was going on and things were done
that way and they don’t work out after a number of years. So I would just request that
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Commissioner Bobby Williams, it’s in the 5 District, and myself, I’ve done a lot of work over in
that area that we could go out there with the Dr. Malik, Charlie Gay and all them and we take a
look at that and we’ll come up with a solution. That would be my request.
Mr. B. Williams: And that’s fine.
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Mr. Mayor: I don’t have a problem with that as long as you don’t try to get on a horse.
Mr. McBurney: No, we won’t let them, they’re too old.
Mr. Sias: Wow ---
Ms. McBurney: Not you, not you. The horses are too old.
Mr. Sias: --- oh, the horses are too old.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 9, okay, the Commissioner from the
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9.
Mr. Sias: Well, while we’re waiting on him I just need to make sure we’re able, I get it
from the Clerk that we can get Ms. McBurney’s phone number and we’ll contact her. We’ll get
that from the Clerk while we’re waiting on number nine.
The Clerk: It’s in your agenda book, sir, behind the Delegation #B.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, ma’am. I should’ve known better.
The Clerk: You’re forgiven.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. I’ll take a swig of my Pepsi.
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Lewis: Mr. Williams, if you could just push the mute button one time.
Mr. Mayor: --- Commissioner, we see you, Commissioner Williams. We see you if you
can just click the microphone, click on the microphone.
Ms. McBurney: Down in the far-left corner or you can hit the ALT key and A key at the
same time and hold it down while you talk, it’ll work, is he coming down here?
Mr. Mayor: No, he’s not.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re going to come back to him, we’re going to come back to him.
Mr. Sias: I was about to say can we move on?
Mr. Lewis: He’s unmuted now. Commissioner Williams, can you hear us?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Marion Williams.
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Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, thank you. I’ve been out to Ms. McBurney’s place, that is a part
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of District 9 as well. But I toured her place. Commissioner from the 4 is right. There’s a lot of
areas that need similar attention but I don’t want to get hers confused with all of the rest since this
is on the table, this is here, we need to address this one. Now we can look at all of them, we won’t
get nothing done (unintelligible). Now she’s been very patient, I spoke to her on the phone in fact
I told her to put it on the agenda today to make sure that we do look at it. I talked to Dr. Malik.
He knows about the situation as well so I don’t want to confuse all of the other issues in that side
of town with her issue. Her issue is on the table now. I think she’s been very patient. I think we
need to address that before we get confused with all of the other, Mr. Mayor, is that making sense?
Mr. Sias: No.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, it makes perfect sense. I think we’re all ---
Mr. M. Williams: It may not make sense to you, Commissioner Sias, but to me it makes
plenty of sense.
Mr. Sias: Well, you know I’ve been addressing these issues for the longest, Commissioner.
Mr. M. Williams: I don’t know what you’ve been addressing. I’m just, that’s the problem
too many people have been addressing and now Engineering is addressing. This is a constituent
who had a problem and came to me and I told her to put it on the agenda and we need to go there
and look at that for sure. I’ve been out there, I’ve done toured the place. I understand what they’re
dealing with but ---
Mr. Mayor: --- all right ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- I don’t want to confuse it and get everybody else involved ---
Mr. Sias: Nobody’s confused.
Mr. M. Williams: --- and then not getting nothing done with the lady’s problem, Mr.
Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- yes, sir. All right, well I think we’re all on the same page on this one and
we’re going do we’re going, Ms. Burney, you’re going to get a call from the City of Augusta. We
will be out there on short order to work with you, okay?
Ms. Burney: All right, thank you very much.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you for your time. Okay, thank you. All right, all right, that
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sounds like a joint effort we’ve got. Again the Commissioner from the 9 and 5 and the 4
working on that issue so all right, thank you all for that. Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, our consent agenda consists of Items 1 through 4, Items 1 through 4.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay at this point I’ll take a moment to entertain a request to add, all right,
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I’m going to the Commissioner from the 3, Commissioner from the 3 , Commissioner Davis.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to see if the Commission and the Mayor would
be okay to on the Addendum Agenda to consent 1, 2, 3 and 4 ---
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely.
Ms. Davis: --- and then I was going to see a couple more Item 11 ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Ms. Davis: --- 14, and 22 please.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got a couple of issues with 14. I’d like to get some explanation on
14. I’ve got no problem with that. I just want to ask a couple of questions.
Ms. Davis: Okay.
The Clerk: And number ---
Mr. Mayor: Twenty-two.
Ms. Davis: Twenty-two.
The Clerk: --- okay Item 22 is being deleted.
Ms. Davis: Oh, that’s right, that’s on the addendum, okay.
The Clerk: We’ll add it as a deletion.
Ms. Davis: Gotcha, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 4.
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Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Oon the same vane as the Commissioner from the 3 I would
like to see if we could consent also additionally and if I said anything that the Commissioner from
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the 3 said, Item 7 ---
The Clerk: Item 7 ---
Mr. Sias: --- Item 9 ---
The Clerk: 7, 9 ---
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Mr. Sias: --- Item 10, Item 13 is an information item from HCD that they don’t want to
confuse with the present item that we have so just to take that as information without discussing it
at this time. So that would be Item 13, simply accept it as information. And if I may go over to
Item 23 if there’s no disagreement ---
Mr. Mayor: All right.
Mr. Sias: --- Item 24 and Item 25.
Mr. Mayor: All right, very good.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got a problem with 23. I don’t have a problem with 24 but I’ve got
a problem with 23.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so 23 is off, okay?
Mr. Sias: And that was 24 and 25 so thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Yep, no, thank you, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: 25 is another one, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: You’ve got concerns about 25, that’s a good one for consent.
Mr. M. Williams: It is a good one. I’m not saying I’m against it. I’m just asking a question
I’m not opposing it. I mean you’re talking about $3,447,514 that’s a real good one but has that
been through the process like it should have been?
Mr. Sias: Yes.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, (unintelligible).
Mr. Sias: You’re welcome.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, can we delete at this point?
Mr. Mayor: Sure, yeah.
Mr. Hasan: I’d like to ask to delete Item 3 if there is no objection. That was the one about
doing the temperature that we asked about that last week coming into the building ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, okay.
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Mr. Hasan: --- I believe it would be kind of problematic from doing a little follow up on
that (inaudible) concern based on what we saw happen in other part of the country even though it
would be with masks, the mask and a security guard got killed about that. But I can put this in the
same line about trying to do temperature. I don’t want to start anything that’s going to cause any
(unintelligible) harm to anybody.
Mr. Mayor: Delete Number 3. All right, okay so we may as well consent Item #1 and Item
#2.
The Clerk: They’re under consent already.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, great, all right, very well, we’re deleting Number 3.
The Clerk: With the deletion of 3, yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
The Clerk: And that leaves us with consenting Item 7, Item 9, 10, 11, 13, deleting Item 22
under consent, 24.
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk: And then on the Addendum Agenda Item 1, 2, 3 and 4 and Item 8 under
deletion.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk ---
Mr. Sias: Mayor, one addition, one addition ---
Mr. Mayor: --- hold on, hold on, Commissioner, hold on, Commissioner ---
Mr. Sias: --- no problem.
Mr. Mayor: --- Madam Clerk, Item #6, #8 were there objectors to those?
Mr. Sias: I was about to request those but I wanted to ask ---
Mr. Mayor: So if there are no objectors let’s add them to the consent agenda.
Mr. Sias: No, there’s a question on 8.
Mr. Mayor: There’s a question on number 8?
Mr. Sias: I would request to add number 6 but I have a one quick question on number 8.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so number 6 is being added to the Consent Agenda.
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Mr. Sias: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Sias: There’s a good reason for number 8 to ask a question.
Mr. Mayor: --- I’ll come to you at the appropriate time. All right, the Commissioner from
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the 2. Okay all right, he waives, all right, Madam Clerk, I think that’s, I think that’s everybody.
The Clerk: Are you now asking for a motion?
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Mr. Mayor: I’m asking for a, all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: So moved for the Consent Agenda.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
1. Motion to ratify commission action relative to the issuance of a Letter of Support dated
April 27, 2020 to retain New Savanah Bluff Lock & Dam.
2. Motion to ratify commission action to amend it current Nationwide 457 (b) Plan to allow
GA employees who participate to benefit from the new Cares Act Nationwide Plan.
3. Motion to ratify commission action to authorize the Richmond County Marshal’s Office
to implement on Monday, May 4, 2020 one of the COVID-19 measures listed in the
Governor’s Executive Orders dated April 23, 2020, which is effective May 1-13 mandating
that all critical and non-critical infrastructure, business, establishments, corporations, non-
profits corporation, or organization that continue in-person operations implement the
measure below to mitigate the exposure and spread of COVIS-19 among its workforce.
1. Screen employees entering the Municipal Building for temperatures over 100.4 degrees
Fahrenheit and that such individual who have a temperature over 100.4 shall not be allowed
to enter the building.
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
4. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular and Special Called meetings held April 21,
2020.
PLANNING
6. FINAL PLAT – GOVERNOR’S PLACE Ph. 1-B - S-909 – A request for concurrence with
the Chairman of the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Jachens
Land Surveying, on behalf of Governor’s Place Partners LLC, requesting final plat approval
for Governor’s Place Ph. 1-B. This single family residential development is located at Harper
Franklin Ave. and George Crawford and contains 19 lots. DISTRICT 3.
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7. FINAL PLAT – Johns Grove – S-896 – A request for concurrence with the Chairman of
the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Ayercorp, on behalf of
Housing and Community Development, requesting final plat approval for Johns Grove. This
single family residential development is located at Westbrook Rd. and Hephzibah McBean
Road and contains 15 lots. DISTRICT 8
9. FINAL PLAT – Twiggs Street (McQueen Court) – 2015-005-FP – A request for
concurrence with the Chairman of the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a
petition by Ayercorp, on behalf of Housing and Community Development, requesting final
plat approval for Twiggs Street McQueen Court. This single family residential development
is located off Twiggs Street and Gordon Street and contains 11 lots (including the private
street). DISTRICT 2
PUBLIC SERVICES
10. Motion to approve the Budget Rental Car Concessions Agreement.
11. Motion to approve award of obstruction mitigation feasibility study at Daniel Field
Airport to Goodwin, Mills and Cawood. (GMC) – the engineer of record for Daniel Field
Airport.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
13. Motion to receive as information an update on HCD’s Economic Development Program
designed to increase capacity and opportunity for economic growth through the creation or
expansion of locally owned and operated businesses. (Deferred from the Commission April
21, 2020 meeting)
14. Motion to allow the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Historic
Preservation Commission to resume meetings immediately via zoom conferencing.
(Requested by Mayor Pro Tem Frantom)
FINANCE
22. Request to continue renewal of Augusta POL/EPL Insurance with Premium Quote for
2020 – 2021 POL/EPL coverage with J. Smith Lanier & Co. LLC, current broker, through
insurance carrier RSUI for a premium of $58,700.
ENGINEERING SERVICES
24. Approval of purchase of software upgrades for Programmable Logic Controllers for
Augusta Utilities’ Water Treatment Plants.
ADDENDUM
31. Motion to accept the Emergency COVID-19 grant funds in the amount of $6400 for State
Court DUI and Veterans Court. Increase budget in accounting system Cash Match is not
required.
32. Motion to Approve Change Order #1 in the amount of $22,049.85 for New Fire Station
#2-ITB 19-132 which was awarded to R.W. Allen.
33. A Resolution approving acceptance of Cares Act 100% General Aviation Airport
Funding through the Federal Aviation Administration and/or Georgia Department of
Transportation (GDOT) for allowable airport expenditures at Daniel Field Airport.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’ve got second from the 5, the Commissioner from the 5 seconds
that. All right, Madam Clerk, roll call.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Ms. Davis: He’s muted.
The Clerk: He’s muted?
Mr. Mayor: All right just one second, Madam Clerk, he’s coming.
Mr. Sias: Unmute that mike, Mr. Dennis.
Mr. Mayor: He’s unmuted, go ahead.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
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The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Frantom and Mr. Garrett out.
Motion Passes 8-0. \[Items 1-4, 6-7, 9-11, 13-14, 22, 24, Addendum Items 1-3\]
Mr. Mayor: All right, go ahead.
The Clerk: Okay go to, are we top to bottom, sir?
Mr. Mayor: Let’s go ahead and deal with Number 8, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: I’m sorry did we include Item 5 to the agenda, to the consent?
Mr. Mayor: We did not.
The Clerk: We did not, okay, I just wanted to make sure. I’ll go to eight.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
8. FINAL PLAT – MANCHESTER SECTION 8-B-S-905 – A request for concurrence with
the Chairman of the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by
Southern Partner, on behalf of COEL Development Co. Inc., requesting final plat approval
for Manchester Section 8-B. This single family residential development is located off 4323
Windsor Spring Road and contains 27 lots. DISTRICT 4.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. My question about this, I spoke to one of their agents the other
day and my concern was I didn’t, I don’t know his answer was I’m not sure. But anyway it was
about had the streetlights being put in place for that subdivision and do not have to be added later.
That was my concern about Manchester as we went through that before with Manchester and South
Hampton, it’s the same folks. Just wanted to ensure that the streetlights have been added.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got Director Sherman there, Director Sherman, did you hear
that question with regards to Manchester?
Mr. Sherman: If you would repeat that, I did not hear you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Sherman ---
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Mr. Sherman: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: --- Manchester and South Hampton those are the same developers. In this next
phase of Manchester my question is have the streetlights been already positioned to be in place for
that final plat approval?
Mr. Sherman: The way I understand that is the Engineering Department will bring those
back to you for approval once the houses are built.
Mr. Sias: Well, that was the question, Mr. Sherman. We are moving people in without
streetlights and that doesn’t sound good from what I’m hearing. So the question is it was my
understanding that we had to change that policy so that the streetlights would not go in and be
added in to these things before these folks move in. In other words we’re telling folks again that
they have to move in, live in the dark and then request the streetlights. That’s not acceptable.
Mr. Sherman: Okay, if I could I believe that Dr. Malik is on as well as the applicant, Mr.
Gallino, that can answer those questions. I’m assuming that they don’t want to put the streetlights,
the light poles in until the construction is completed so that the poles don’t get hit by the contractors
you know during the construction phases. That’s just my thought on it.
Mr. Sias: That’s a bad thought, Mr. Sherman.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 4 can you suspend for a moment? All
right, we’ve got Dr. Malik here and also Mr. Gallino. Dr. Malik, I’m going to come to you first.
Mr. Lewis: If you could, Mr. Gallino, turn off your You Tube stream?
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Dr. Malik?
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, we’re having a conversation. Commissioner Sias, if you would
again just restate your question.
Mr. Sias: Yes, sir, very quickly. It’s just the fact that we went through this in several
subdivisions because many of the subdivisions are in development phases and we had this issue
about streetlights not being available, folks living in the dark until they put in a petition. It is my
understanding that at a certain point actually before this Ms. Melanie Wilson left we had changed
that policy that the streetlights would go ahead and be done completely very similar to other
municipalities in the counties in this area. So I’m concerned in this expansion of Manchester are
the streetlights already being incorporated in this area? Yes or no. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: So, Dr. Malik, before you answer that question I remember vividly
Commissioner Sias’ point. This body took action and we codified that that streetlights would in
fact be put in while they were doing construction. And so if that’s not happening that is a problem,
so Dr. Malik.
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Dr. Malik: Yes, sir I have to verify if you remember we are enforcing the requirement that
the new submittals that’s coming in, I’m not quite sure of this one, sorry, but I had to doublecheck.
If it was approved prior to that action then it was most likely streetlights are still not there as part
of this approval but I have to check on that.
Mr. Mayor: Well, to Commissioner Sias’ point this is an expansion of an existing
subdivision so it will fall under the requirements that were adopted by this body so there’s no
rationale for it not to be being done.
Mr. Sias: And, Mayor, let me add one quick point please if I may ---
Mr. Mayor: Done.
Mr. Sias: --- I actually made the mistake of accusing Mr. Gallinto that they were not doing
that and he may and to his point he clarified with me and also on the Commission floor that that
was a Commission policy, a city policy, and we got that changed and their position was we do
what the city tell us to do. So I’m saying we changed that for them to do that so it’s my point we
need to be doing that. It’s as simple as that. Mr. Gallinto now will do what we request them,
require them to do so, yes, those streetlights should be there before these people move in. Thank
you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I’d like to ask Dr. Malik so I understand
his question of what he’s saying. Is he still there, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: He is.
Mr. Hasan: Dr. Malik, when you made the statement you just made in reference to you’re
not sure what become of this, are you viewing Manchester as being on going project in making
that statement and that if it did not start when it was initially there that it’s kind of hard for us to
say that we’re going to come and put it on this end because you feel it’s an ongoing project.
Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Hasan: No, I’m asking a question, Commissioner. I’m just asking a question for
clarity.
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir, it says Section 8 so that’s what my comments are sometimes the way
it’s platted the larger section being approved but then the developer takes the smaller part of it just
to make sure that they can (unintelligible) revenue and finish that small part like the 27 lots and
then try to sell it so they can get rent the revenue and move on to the next subsection so really you
can call it a subsection. The larger section that was previously approved that’s what I need to
verify on that whether you know this was approved. After that, Commissioner, I can require
streetlights when the larger section was approved. The development project was approved prior
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to that and then the developer is taking a small portion of that building the road and get it platted
so legally they can sell the lots.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I do a follow up?
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. Hasan: Dr. Malik, so are you saying, are you saying that okay even though he started
in a larger space to sell the homes he may very well have the small section at the same time you
approved everything at one time and as a result of that that’s what you’ve got to check and see
were both of those things in place at the same time, is that what you’re saying?
Dr. Malik: That’s correct, yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: All right, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, all right, the Chair will entertain a motion.
Mr. Speaker: Can I speak Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, Mr. Gallino, please.
Mr. Gallino: I’m the developer.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, go ahead.
Mr. Gallino: The streetlights, I cannot put streetlights or power into that neighborhood
unless the plat is approved. My understanding is then we apply through Jefferson Electric who
has to go to the Commission to determine or establish a streetlight district. I can’t put those
streetlights in because I don’t physically do that. Jefferson Electric does it. Augusta gets the
payment through the taxes. It has nothing to do with me as a developer. The only thing I do is
just tell them the plat’s been approved, I have my corner stake and then Jefferson Electric goes
through you. nI have to sign the petition saying we as a developer want streetlights in here which
we will do once the plat’s done. But they won’t move until after the plat is approved and recorded.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I’m aware of (inaudible).
Mr. Gallino: Unless that policy has changed that’s the way it’s always been and then both
you and the Commission approve the streetlight district which sometimes takes a very long time.
I can’t put the streetlights in, I can’t control Jefferson Electric. I need you guys to do that. Now if
there’s a new policy ---
Mr. Mayor: I appreciate that, Mr. Gallino. We’re tracking that ---
Mr. Gallino: --- I understand.
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Mr. Mayor: --- that’s why I asked for an action and so we’re going to get a motion here in
just a second, I see your finger, I see your finger. All right, I’ve got a couple of hands up. All
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right, the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m good, Mr. Mayor. I ready to go, I’m good.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, okay, all right, coming back to the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Yes, sir, thank you. Manchester’s square in the middle of my district and with
all due respect, Mr. Gallino, we’ve had this conversation before and we did change that policy that
says about that. What Dr. Malik is talking about is the entire, these subdivision plats are done in
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separate pieces. They’re not done all together and that is what my colleague from the 6
referenced. But, no, they’re not done simply where we okay a 100 square miles of development.
We come back and we do it one section at a time for as what the specifics go about the plats and
that is where the streetlights come in. And Mr. Gallino is correct as far as past history but we
changed that as you made reference to so that when they actually partition the plats they can go
ahead in those lots in those areas go ahead and put the streetlights in. And we’ve been round and
round with this in Manchester and in South Hampton which is both developed by Corvel or Mr.
Gallino’s parent company. I’m not mad at him. What I’m saying is these are measures that we
changed so that when people start buying these houses they’re not sitting in the dark. So, yes, Mr.
Gallino, that policy has changed. I’m not sure what you all do or do not know but the streetlights
you’re correct about Jefferson but if I’m wrong you tell me those plats have the location for every
streetlight that is supposed to be in that subdivision. And a quick answer on that, Mr. Gallino, is
that correct ---
Mr. Gallino: No, it’s not.
Mr. Sias: --- that the plats have the location for the streetlights?
Mr. Gallino: The plat does not have the location for the streetlights ---
Mr. Sias: What does?
Mr. Gallino: --- it’s on Jefferson Electric’s Power Plan. They provide a power plan
showing me where underground electrics are going to go, where the transformers are going to go
and where the streetlights go. Now let me ask this a question of the Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Gallino, suspend, everybody suspend. All right, the matter before us is
the approval of the final plat. We’re turning this into a streetlight conversation which can in fact
be addressed. But the matter that is before us is the issue of adopting and approving the plat. I’d
like to get a motion to approve the plat.
Mr. Sias: One quick question, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, Commissioner. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the
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8, the Commissioner from the 8.
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Mr. Garrett: Motion to approve.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’ve got a motion and second. All right, the Commissioner from the
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4 the question of streetlights again you are correct in that this body adopted some changes in the
ordinance in terms of how we would deliver streetlights and that should happen but let’s follow
the process of getting this plat adopted and your larger concern around streetlights, let’s handle
that separate from this conversation, okay?
Dr. Malik: Honorable Mayor, I’ve got some more information.
Mr. Mayor: Okay Dr. Malik, go ahead.
Dr. Malik: John (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: John?
Mr. Ussery: Yes, sir, sorry, I was on my other phone. We’ve already taken care of the
streetlight issue in Manchester. Mr. Gallino has already contacted Jefferson Electric or I contacted
Jefferson Electric; I have the design on my desk. The only other step we need to do to complete
this is I need to bring it to the Commission which I was planning on doing at the end of this month
to approve you know the number of lights, the cost, all of that but we’ve already taken care of all
this. So Manchester Section 8-B will have streetlights when it’s developed.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic. All right ---
Mr. Hasan: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: --- we’ve got a motion and a second. Hold on ---
Mr. Sias: You’ve got the floor still waiting.
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Mr. Mayor: --- all right, the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’d like, Mr. Ussery, when you said you have the costs, are you
associating that cost with us or are you associating it with the developer or with Jefferson Electric?
Who are you associating the cost with?
Mr. Ussery: How we always do this is when there’s a new subdivision Augusta will call,
will contact the power company the Georgia Power, Jefferson Electric in this case. They’ll start
the process of designing the streetlight system and they send us a plan and the plan shows the
number of lights and all that. And they also give us a cost estimate. The cost estimate is the install
cost plus the monthly recurring cost that we incur.
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Dr. Malik: And that we bill to the lot owner.
Mr. Hasan: So these costs come out of our budget.
Mr. Ussery: The upfront costs come out of our budget and then the monthly costs, all of
it’s eventually billed to the lot owners so we pay for it up front and then they pay for it over time.
Mr. Hasan: All right, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: And that’s consistent with the action taken by this body and the process for
the installation for streetlights. All right, I’ve got a motion and a second. Commissioner, we’ll
come back to you ---
Mr. Sias: I still have the floor is waiting.
Mr. Mayor: --- I’m going to come back to you one final time and then we’re going to vote
on this issue. You’ve been recognized, go ahead.
Mr. Sias: I have no problem with this final time but it comes back to the simple point when
part of that plat is the streetlight plan by Jefferson Electric or Georgia Power which ever area it
sits in but that’s part of the plat and I know that for fact. So thank you and if we’re going, we are
not I’m not going to sit quietly about folks moving to areas without streetlights. That is my point
here and I thank Mr. Ussery and Dr. Malik for bringing that forward that they’re going to bring
that plan back to us. It’s simple as this, that’s all part of the process, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’ve got a motion and a second, Commissioner
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from the 8 with the motion, Commissioner from the 5 with the second, roll call vote.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
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Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams, is he muted? Mr. Dennis Williams.
Ms. Davis: He’s muted.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Frantom out.
Mr. Sias votes No.
Motion Passes 8-1.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Madam Clerk, Number 5. What’s the background on
Number 5?
PLANNING
5. Request from Davis Beman on behalf WSM Ventures regarding Zoning Petition Z-20-01,
3351 Washington Road a continuance of an additional 30-days extension until June 16, 2020.
The Clerk: There’s additional information in your book. Mr. Sherman, are you still on?
Mr. Mayor: Who is that now?
The Clerk: Mr. Sherman.
Mr. Mayor: Yes ---
Mr. Sherman: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: --- Director Sherman, Rob?
Mr. Sherman: Yes ---
The Clerk: Can you give the Commission an update on that? Thank you.
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Mr. Sherman: --- yes, this is the property at the Goodwill campus where the applicant was
wanting to have it rezoned to B-2 to put a oil change business, automobile oil change business.
They working out a deal, the applicant and the Goodwill are working out a deal. They expected
the zoning to come back to you this month but because of the virus it’s going to be in June. They
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expect to have everything resolved by your June 16 meeting at which time if the deal goes through
the way they’re expecting then they will withdraw their application.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Move to approve.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. All right, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom. Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
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Mr. D. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Frantom out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, let’s go to Number 12.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
12. Discuss political signage on city’s Right-of-Ways. (Requested by Commissioner Marion
Williams)
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: --- thank you. I had this put on the agenda. I got several calls about signs
on the Right-of-Way whether it be political signs or any kind of sign. But my problem is this time
of year when there’s a campaign going on there’s a big issue with these signs. I had a potential
candidate who called me and asked me about signs and I explained to him I wasn’t running for
office so even if I was I didn’t need to move anybody’s sign. But there are some signs are being
left out there and then sometimes they’re not on the Right-of-Way. Now we know what the rules
are. But I wanted the Marshal’s Office or License and Inspection, whoever handles that, to inform
us as to what’s being taking place and how it’s being handled. Why are some being moved and
some are not, I guess would be the best question.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got Chief Deputy Marshal Peebles coming in and we’ll give
him a chance to get connected and speak to that issue. All right, Marshal Peebles ---
Marshal Peebles: I’m here.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay, all right, Commissioner Marion Williams has a question for you.
Marshal Peebles: Sure.
Mr. M. Williams: Marshal Peebles, I was just explaining to the Mayor why I had this put
on the agenda. I got a call from some of the candidates running for office asking me about why
some signs or their signs have been moved and some signs are not being moved. I see signs on
the right-of-way that’s not moved. I see some signs that was there and then disappeared. I
explained to them I’m not running for office, I don’t know anything about it but I would put it on
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the agenda. Can you explain why there are some of the right-of-way still and some are not on the
right-of-way?
Marshal Peebles: I would really need to know the specific locations. Our policy is to take
the signs that are on the right-of-way may be during the route that the officers are taking they may
be missing some locations but it is our policy to take the signs that are on the right-of-way. So if
they, they could call us at any time directly and just tell me you know where the location is and
we’ll be happy to address it quickly the same you know immediately.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, well just the complaint is that some I mean not just any particular
location but anywhere and I guess you don’t handle it yourself and you’ve got staff that’s working
with you but wherever the sign may be on the right-of-way and some are being moved and people
are strange and when this campaign type of stuff goes on it feels like some are being treated
(inaudible) than others. But like I said I got a call who said they were going to call several
Commissioners about the sign issue. I said I wasn’t running for office, I don’t have any signs out
there so I wouldn’t remove the sign anyway. But there are a lot of sings in different areas, not one
particular area, any sign on the right-of-way whether it be political signs or not. The city rule is
that no signs on the right-of-way whether it be yard signs, for sale signs or advertisement signs or
anything on the right-of-way but some are being moved and some are not.
Marshal Peebles: Yes, sir, we removed about 460 signs in the last 60 days. Sometimes we
will go and remove a sign and the next day or sometimes the same day there’ll be another one in
its place and that the nature of the beast during the political season and we try to reach out to those
candidates and tell them why we took it and why it’s not on the, not properly placed on the right-
of-way and usually we get compliance.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, okay, I feel as much but that was my reason for putting it on the
agenda because people are thinking there’s some in the right-of-way that’s still there and some
that’s been there but they’re gone but the others are still there. But anyway it’s a point of those
political things I guess is going happen as long as the campaigns going on.
Marshal Peebles: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, the Commissioner from the 6 you’ve got more
questions Deputy Marshal Peebles.
Mr. Hasan: (Inaudible) concerned like Commissioner Williams stated about what is the
ordinance or the policy around that but also from a historical perspective I think we’ve had this
conversation before and during an election season but there’s a lot of leeway given around political
signs and things like that. And I don’t think it’s being you know being I’m thinking we just, as a
matter of fact I know they have some candidates that have called and have been signs removed of
other candidates and things of that nature. And I just as the Marshal to be I know you say you’re
doing your job but I think if you checked historically with Ms. Lynn Bailey as well as Director
Rob Sherman who definitely from a historical perspective and involved with that process during
political season they’re given a lot of leeway for political signs and things of that nature and it
doesn’t fall, and so I think that’s what I would hope that we would take into consideration and not
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every time you get a call or something out of your office to see it but they jump out and move it.
I do respect the fact that you’re doing your job but I think historically there has been a lot of leeway
is given around during political season. I think you can check both of those sources and probably
I think it may confirm I’m assuming it would anyway. But I appreciate it if you will do that and
let us know on that behalf.
Marshal Peebles: And I’ll just let you know now we do work with Lynn Bailey and her
team when we have candidates who are putting signs in the right-of-way. The leeway that we
provide is when we take the signs up we keep them and notify the candidate that we have them
and allow them to come and pick the signs up. So that is a special privilege if you will that we
allow for the candidates and try and correct where it’s going. I think part of the problem lies within
where people don’t really know what the right-of-way is. They think the right-of-way on each
street would be the same and you know sometimes you’ll have a right-of-way that’s 12 feet off of
the road but on some roads on some highways it could be 50 feet or more so it’s not consistent and
you have to look for those utilities poles and markers and so I think that’s where some of the
problems are coming in. But we do cooperate with Ms. Bailey and work with the candidates as
much as we can.
Mr. Hasan: Yeah and like I say I’m not disputing that what the rules are. I’m just saying
but I think in many ways there’s a lot of leeway that’s normally given in that and every time we
receive a phone call or every time an officer sees it, the Marshal see it, doesn’t jump out and take
them up. But I do I can tell you first hand that there’s some that are not being touched and some
that are and I have no problem if you give everybody the same leeway and that’s what I’m
advocating for that everybody gets the same leeway at the day and right now I don’t think that’s
happening.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’m going back to the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, thank you. Commissioner from the 6th just brought up my
point and that’s why it’s on the agenda because we know it’s political season and how it works
and how people do. Some know the right-of-way and some don’t. But what Commissioner Hasan
just said some are being moved that’s on the right-of-way and some that’s on the right-of-way are
not being moved so how do we pick and chose whose sign should be there. If it's on the right-of-
way and we’re going to move them, are we going to give them the leeway? It’s about being fair.
I mean if some are left there, and I’m glad I’m not in this race, I’m glad I don’t have a sign out
there but there are some whose signs are being moved off the right-of-way and there are some who
look the other way when they see them. So if we’re going to be fair, let’s be fair about that that’s
all, whoever it is.
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Mr. Mayor: Right, we’ve got it, I appreciate that. Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: I move to receive this as information.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, thank you.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay gotcha, all right very good. All right, we’ll receive this as information,
Madam Clerk, and then we’ll go let’s go and do some heavy lifting now. We’ll receive this as
information without objection and let’s go and do some heavy lifting. Let’s drop down to Number
28.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATOR
28. Presentation of Augusta, Georgia’s COVID-19 Return to Work/Reopening Plan.
Mr. Sims: Are we able to load the presentation also?
Mr. Mayor: You can share your screen.
The Clerk: I think IT was working on that, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right, you should be able to share your screen ---
Mr. Lewis: Okay ---
Mr. Mayor: --- I believe you also sent out a copy to everybody?
The Clerk: Yes, I think, Jeff, were you able to?
Mr. Lewis: --- is this the PDF you’re talking about?
The Clerk: Yes.
Mr. Sims: Yes.
Mr. Lewis: Okay, yes, they can share it, give me one second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, when it’s up, Administrator Sims, if you’ll just proceed okay?
Mr. Sims: Sure. Good afternoon, Mayor and Commissioners. Today I’m presenting our
Return to Work Plan with the relaxing or the restrictions put in place due to COVID-19 by
Governor Kemp. I’m here to present our plan to bring back our employees to work and to restore
operations to full capacity. Please note our plans must be fluid and flexible. Just yesterday we
received notice from that Chief Justice Harold Nelson announced he was extending the statewide
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Judicial Emergency through June 12. As the state proceeds to make changes, our plan must also
be adaptable to adjust to those changes. In preparing a Return to Work Plan I’ve established two
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primary goals that should be at the core of all our decisions going forward. Number 1, a return to
a (unintelligible) where Augusta, Georgia is offering full-service delivery to our citizens. Number
2, a strategy that ensures the health and safety of our citizens as well as our employees. Keeping
these goals in mind I’ve prepared a recommended plan that outlines a schedule for phasing back
our employees for operations. This plan calls for a phased in approach for returning to operations
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but the first phase of operations to begin during the week of May 11 and having full-service
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delivery restoration by June 1 2020. We have a timeline available for you all that reflects what
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has occurred. The 21 of April our Governor issues an executive order to reopen nonessential
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businesses. At that point on the 23 of April I had a meeting with the Directors and asked them
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to provide a plan for reopening of their departments. May 4 the Directors were responsible for
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providing their plans to my office. May 12 is the first modified opening. During that week we
will have our EMA Director as well as myself and the Deputy Administrator want to do a Delta
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Safety Check for all the departments. May 18 we’re opening to the public. June 1 this is Phase
3 a modified opening. Go ahead, Jeff. We have some protocols in place once we return to work.
For our employees if they are sick we’re asking them to stay home. If they’re elderly 60 or above
we’re asking or if they have serious underlying health conditions we’re asking for this opportunity
to telework or to discuss stay home options with their Directors or H.R. If not working we ask
that they be steady and ready for redeployment as defined by the (unintelligible) Opening
American Plan. For our facilities we’re going to have hands very clean prior to opening. We’re
also going to make sure we have a routine environment cleaning and disinfecting of facilities. For
our Directors we’re asking for part-time telework if it’s available. We’re also asking for a limited
in-person meetings or gatherings so more than three individuals are property distant. If employees
are required to interact with the public we’re asking that they have PPE and consider all proposal
options for alternative work schedules, (unintelligible) and all kinds of work sites. We also are
discouraging shared work place, tools and equipment. Phase 1 where we activate those core
services that need to be in place (unintelligible) return before we open of our government. In any
of these departments such as the Sheriff’s Office, the Fire Department, 911 and Transit have the
teams operate at near 100% capacity throughout the COVID-19 outbreak due to the nature of the
services they provide. During our Phase 1 the, certain departments will be open while providing
services. Our Tax Commissioners Office, 911, Human Resources, Engineering, Planning and
Development, Clerk of Commission, Tax Assessors Office, Utilities, Environmental Services,
Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department, Transit, RCCI, the Marshal’s Office. During Phase 1 as well
as other phases we some precautions that we’re doing prior to opening, plastic shields at the service
desk, line marking at service desks, scheduling appointments where possible, social distancing
lines are probable, capacity limits set within each occupied room. For our citizens and visitors
we’re strongly recommending to wear masks if within 6 feet interacting with city staff, sanitizing
hands on entry, inquiring employees again we’re asking if they’re sick to stay home, Stay at Home
option from the H.R. Director or their Director. For employees we’re asking we’re strongly
recommending to wear masks. For Phase 2 this is the phase where we’re opening to the public.
This phase also represents the second tier departments that will be expected to return to full
capacity in order to meet the demand in services both internally and externally. The majority of
Phase 2 departments are internal service providers that support the operations of organizations who
have fewer interactions with the public. The departments that are included in Phase 2 are our
Finance Department, Information Technology, Procurement, Central Services, Housing and
Community Development as well as the Administrator’s Office. Again the same precautions are
in place, the same expectations for our citizens and visitors, the same expectations for our
27
st.
employees. Phase 3 reopening Phase 3 we’re reopening we’re recommending opening on June 1
This includes those services that are geared more towards recreation and leisure and not essential
to the operations of organizations that all the services that’s included in Phase 1 and Phase 2.
While Phase 3 are essential to the quality of life for our citizens, they generally involve
environmental groups or congregations to enjoy their services so for Phase 3 departments we’re
recommending for Library, Recreation and Parks, all the things still in place for precaution the
citizens and visitors as well as our employees with also in place we’re including self-checkout and
book drop only for our citizens and visitors. With our courts the Augusta Richmond County
Judicial Center as stated earlier with our Chief Justice Harold Nelson announcing the statewide
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judicial emergency through June 12 that has impacted our courts they have varied schedules to
accommodate this matter. Finally I do strongly believe a phased-in approach is the best approach
to ensure operations for our organizations therefore I’m recommending the following motion to be
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approved by the Commission. For our phase in Phase 1 on May 11, Phase 2 May 18 and Phase
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3 on June 1. Phase 2 again on May 11 will include public access to city buildings. I’m here for
some questions.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is a question for Jarvis. Has the Chief reviewed
this as well with you and is he in agreement with what the plan is, Chief James?
Mr. Sims: Yes, Chief James has reviewed this plan.
Ms. Davis: Okay great, thank you.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: --- motion to approve.
Ms. Davis: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. I don’t want to throw water on this plan but I’m going to get my
bucket out. I think this plan is a little bit late. We have the majority of businesses and things that
are opening in Augusta that need their government services to be functional. As I looked at the
Augusta Chronicle this morning there were several headlines just looking at the paper that are
about things that are already re-opened and we are a bit behind. I hear this always let’s see what
other counties are doing. Columbia County opened yesterday; I’m not saying we have to do what
they do but the fact that they are open. We need basically protective equipment to protect our
folks that we don’t have everybody in this government interacting with the public. Many of the
folks that are interacting with the public have been out there doing it throughout this Corona virus,
the Sheriff’s Office, the Marshal’s Office, the Utilities folks, the Engineering folks, the Planning
and Inspection folks out there. They’ve been doing this all the while. I’m just not sold on the idea
28
that we’ve got to do all this phasing in. If I’m not mistaken I thought the Mayor surveyed the
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Commissioners and the date agreed on was 12 May. Now we’re talking about 12, 18 and the 1.
I’m not saying that that doesn’t work or can’t work but I think if more folks in this government
did not get a paycheck, I don’t think we’d be going though all these phases. So the bottom line I
don’t agree with this phased in approach. I think that stuff can be done up front but I’m not going
to hold everybody with my issues on this. I’m going to state my case and then I’m going to step
back and take my vote, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from
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the 10, Commissioner Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes, sir, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have two questions. One is can you install a
date where the Commission was going to reconvene in Chambers and number two, on every phase
I see stay at home if you’re sick. What happens when we have the same people staying home sick
for an indefinite period of time because they can? Are they still going to get paid or they going to
use up their vacation pay, how’s that going to be handled?
Mr. Sims: That’s a matter that the department would have to address but we are changing
it as far as the leave that we had during COVID-19 so employees will be utilizing vacation time
or sick leave. But if it’s a matter that relates to what we are dealing with now as far as the COVID-
19 that will be a case by case matter. We would also have involve the H.R. Department as well as
their Director. As far as when the Commissioners are going back to the Chamber, I think that will
be a determination by the Commissioners.
Mr. Clarke: Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: The Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. I have a question for the Administrator. With this phased
in plan will this also do away with the requirement that the Fire Department currently has where
they’re banning vacations and people taking time off? So what would the final date be on that?
Mr. Sims: Final date is May 18.
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Mr. Garrett: So currently I believe the vacations have been banned until May 13 so that’ll
work, okay thank you.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Well, since you’ve got that one but I was going in order, go ahead
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Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: Well, what I was going to say is that there’s no perfect plan but it seems
to be organized and it seems to be well thought out. I think you know sometimes we need to look
at all that needs to be done, cleansing, we’re talking about putting plexiglass in places, we’re
29
talking about taking temperatures whether we do that or not what have you those things need to be
thought out, I think this is a good plan so I think we just need to vote it up or vote it down.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you for that. All right, the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m a little bit concerned, Mr. Mayor, myself
about this plan or any plan really but I mean we’re going to have to do something. But when you
open the government back up and people start to come in we can’t say whether are you going to
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License and Inspection or are you going to the 9 floor. People come in our building; we’re going
to have people inactive. Now this thing is very serious now and people may not think so, may
think it’s something that’s gone by. I don’t believe that. I think there’s still some lives that are
going to leave here that’s not going, people are going to perish in this situation so we’ve got to be
careful about what we do. I’m not going to support this plan or any plan right now. I mean not for
my vote. I mean ya’ll may have enough votes to do it without me but I’m just saying that I just
don’t think that I think it’s too early to just turn our heads and act like by May 18 or June 1 that
everything’s going to be fine. We can’t just sit still, I get that. We can’t just not nothing, I get that
too, but I’m not going to support people coming back into this building. I’m not going to support
putting anybody else at risk the way this situation has been taking people out of this world. We’ve
got two arms but we ain’t got but one life. You lose one of your arms you still can operate with
one. You ain’t got but one life so if you don’t think a mask is necessary, you don’t think that the
virus is still prevalent then that’s on you but for me I can’t support this because I just don’t feel
good about this. I’m not going to do it.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, all right, the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My question is to the Administrator. In
Phase 3 you talked about Parks and Rec, are you bringing in a percentage of Parks and Rec now
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or cleaning, cutting, trash or are you talking about nobody pretty much until the 3 Phase?
Mr. Sims: No, as far as the interaction with the public with our facilities as far as on the
landscaping I do know Recreation and Parks they’re doing some of that now so some of their staff
(inaudible) Recreation and Parks but as far as the interaction with the public, we put that in Phase
3. And again the plan should be flexible because things are rapidly changing.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I don’t see any difference in people coming into our building to
get their tags or pay their taxes than people going to Walmart or Kroger’s. You know we don’t,
there’s a whole lot that we don’t know about this virus but you know I’m going to continue to wear
a mask and I’ll probably be wearing a mask until November or even December. I think that you
know we’ve got to get the city up and running but we’ve got to look out for our employees and
we’ve got to look out for our citizens. I think one of my biggest concerns is you have a, I know at
Sand Hills and Brigham you have a lot of senior participation and whether there are any plans to
30
when you bring those seniors back to test them or whether there are any plans to, I mean I think
that that needs to happen.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I appreciate that. Again I appreciate the conversation in what, the
th,th
Commissioner from the 8 I’m sorry, the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: I didn’t have a question.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, thank you, sir. So again I think it’s important for us to weigh
all of these matters. I appreciate what’s been presented to us but I do want to resoundingly remind
all of us who are in this meeting today that the COVID-19 Pandemic is not over with. It’s not only
not over with but we have a responsibility not only to provide for the health, welfare and safety of
all of our citizens but we also have a responsibility to do that as it relates to our employees coming
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into any and all of our government facilities. The Commissioner from the 1 raised the issue
around our senior centers and in particular Sand Hills but let’s make no mistake about it the
Governor included in his Executive Order as well that those vulnerable populations will continue
to shelter in place until 12 June. There are no plans to reopen senior centers or necessarily
recreational centers in the short term up to and including having large events on the Augusta
Commons. I think we all need to be extremely mindful of that. The COVID-19 is a healthcare
crisis that’s irrespective of a person’s political party, their race, ethnicity or gender and I don’t
want any of us to lose sight of that. And while we have this plan, we’ve got a motion and a second,
I’m extremely cautious about bringing the general public back into the building as a result of us
now opening ‘businesses’ across the State of Georgia and without question in Augusta, Georgia.
So I’ll offer those comments and then I’ll turn it back to the fact that we have a motion and a
second and we’ll vote on what’s been presented. All right, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: No.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, Madam Clerk, Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
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Mr. Garrett: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan, do you see him, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: I do. Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: I thought I said yes.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams, Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: No, no and no.
Mr. Clarke, Mr. Sias and Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Motion Passes 7-3.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, let’s go to let’s take Item Number 18 and 19 as companion
items since they’re the same thing.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, question please.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Does that mean the Commission itself is going to follow that same
situation we just voted on, the Commission itself will be back in Chambers, the same thing as
letting the public come back?
Mr. Mayor: Well, we didn’t talk about it but if you want to talk about it before we move
on we certainly could do that.
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Mr. M. Williams: If we’re going to open the building up now, if we’re going to do that,
we must be saying the same thing. We can’t vote for the people for one thing and you give the
Commission something else. That don’t make good sense.
Mr. Mayor: Well, what’s the pleasure of the body I ---
Mr. M. Williams: Hold it, Mr. Mayor, hold it. There is no pleasure of the body if that’s
the rule we voted on. We have to accept that and do that as well. We can’t turn around now and
ask the pleasure and do something different. That’s hypocritical.
Mr. Mayor: Well, it may be hypocritical but you’re talking about two separate things. This
body didn’t has not made a decision to move from virtual meetings at this point and until further
notice we’re going to continue to meet virtually.
Mr. M. Williams: If we’re going to phase the city in and, Mr. Attorney, I need for you, I
just saw your face pop up, but you need to say something. We’re going to phase the city back into
existence the way it was that means the Commission itself got to go back for the same rule do it,
Mr. Attorney?
Mr. Brown: Not necessarily.
Mr. Mayor: I mean it’s not ---
Mr. Hasan: (Unintelligible) Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay, hold on, hold on, everybody, let’s hold on. Attorney Brown, I’m
going to yield and give you a chance to at least speak to this. It’s really not necessary but again
what we talked about is bringing staff back into the building and providing public services to the
general public. That’s what we talked about. In terms of us continuing to meet we’ve not raised
that issue and until further notice we’ll continue to meet virtually.
Mr. M. Williams: Are we not staff, are we not part of that or do we get paid? We are voted
in by the people with a paycheck. We’ve got the same rules and obligations, the same
responsibility as anybody else.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah well again I think it’s a good conversation and we’ll continue to have it,
Madam Clerk 18 and 19.
Mr. Sias: Excuse me, sir, excuse me, I have an issue with those two as companion items
as you just stated a moment ago. They are separate items.
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Mr. Sias: No, no you said that yourself. They’re two separate items.
Mr. Mayor: --- they’re separate items on the agenda but it’s the same subject matter.
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Mr. Sias: Wrong, I totally disagree with you, sir. One is a matter of the Commission.
Those are two separate items the way it’s proposed by the Commission. There’s no subcommittee
for the recreation chair or the Recreation Director, there’s no subcommittee for that.
Mr. Mayor: I don’t disagree with you on that, Commissioner.
Mr. Sias: All I’m just trying to do is keeping it real.
Mr. Mayor: Can we get everyone to mute your devices?
Mr. Sias: It wasn’t me.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Madam Clerk, we can certainly take Number 18 by itself. I’m
okay with that. Number 19 again it ties to that as well in terms of the recruitment process.
The Clerk: We’ll go with Item 18.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
18. Update from sub-committee comprised of Commission Committee Chairpersons about
search for City Administrator. (Requested by Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.)
Mr. Sias: May I speak?
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just as far as just my personal opinion we have not
met so we haven’t gotten to where we need to be. I didn’t know if the committee chairs would be
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willing to meet a week from today on the 12 and we would bring, we would redo the job
description in the process and then bring our ideas and have a real meeting and move forward
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hopefully with some recommendations for the following Commission meeting on the 19. So as
of now we haven’t had any meetings or real discussions and we need to ahead and get that
scheduled and move forward in my opinion.
Mr. Mayor: I couldn’t agree with you more, that was the whole point of putting it on the
agenda.
Ms. Davis: Yeah ---
Mr. Mayor: Yeah ---
Ms. Davis: --- so that would be my motion, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Hasan: Second.
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Ms. Davis: --- to meet on the 12 it would be a public meeting just like this, correct?
Mr. Mayor: --- yes.
The Clerk: Was that Mr. Hasan?
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second ---
Mr. Sias: And I’m waiting.
Mr. Mayor: --- I’m coming back, you are, I’m coming to you.
Mr. Sias: I don’t want to be rude.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Commissioner from the 3. All right, the Commissioner
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from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. One of the reasons why we didn’t have a meeting, sir, is when we
made the subcommittee I offered that that was an Administrative Services matter and the
Administrative Services could be the Chair. That wasn’t addressed. We never had a meeting
because there was never a Chair for that subcommittee. Every committee every subcommittee
requires a Chair. I’m simply stating the fact that that’s why we didn’t meet. There was no one
technically authorized to call a meeting and I’m pretty sure all of us know that. So the bottom line
is we didn’t select a Chair for that subcommittee and I offered that (unintelligible) chair and I think
we still need to have a chair for that subcommittee. Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you as well. So Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I agree with the District 4 Commissioner there ought to be a Chair
and the Mayor ought to appoint it, not necessarily the Administrative Services automatically be
the Chair because the Chair of Engineering Services or the Chair of Public Safety all
(unintelligible) automatically all of us can do that so I think the Mayor needs to appoint a
Chairperson from whoever he feels like should be the Chair. But this has been procrastinated for
a reason I believe we had not met not because of the virus because (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: I see your hands, I got your hands, I’ve got everybody’s hands.
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Mr. M. Williams: (Inaudible) a motion but I think there ought to be a designated Chair by
the Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, all right, I see your hands, I’m going to the hands. All right, I see
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the Commissioner from the 6, Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I don’t, there’s two ways that we can do
this about the Chair. The Commission can vote for the Chair but normally when we have
subcommittee that Chair is chose by the subcommittee, that subcommittee there’s a motion on the
th.
floor to meet on the 12 Once they meet they also have the luxury electing a Chair at that meeting.
th.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, thank you, Commissioner from the 6 I appreciate that. I do agree with
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that as well. I think the Commissioner from the 9 certainly has a valid point but I’m quite okay
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with that as well. All right, going back to the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I guess I need to call on Mae Lee and get her to
tell us how that normally works. We can get together and come up with a Chair but there’s been
many subcommittees put together that the Mayor ain’t a chairperson. Is that right, Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, have you recognized me?
Mr. B. Williams: Are we going to sit here and go back and forth about who’s going to
name a chair of something, Mr. Mayor? Come on.
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Mr. Mayor: Yeah, why don’t we chose, the Commissioner from the 3 who brought the
motion to us as the Chair of the Subcommittee.
Mr. M. Williams: That sounds good. If you chose her, that’s fine.
Mr. Mayor: I think that’s appropriate.
Mr. M. Williams: We can do it all kinds of ways. In fact we do it upside down now since
this group come on. We can do it all kinds of ways.
Mr. Mayor: That’ll be fine, that’s appropriate. Again I think let’s have the Commissioner
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from the 3 serve as our Chair for that. The key thing is we need to move all the stops and get
moving here.
Ms. Davis: Sounds good, Mr. Mayor, if the Commission agrees so I guess add that to the
motion?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, please.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, I’ve got it.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. All right, Madam Clerk ---
36
The Clerk: Yes, sir, are you ready?
Mr. Mayor: --- voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
The Clerk: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
The Clerk: I can deal with it.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
Motion Passes 10-0.
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Mr. Mayor: Right.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
19. Update on recruitment process for the Administrator and Director of Augusta
Recreation. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
Mr. Mayor: All right and in this instance we’re only talking about the Director of Parks
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and Recreation at this point. All right, the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We can’t talk about nothing else because
nothing’s been done on the Administrator so there’s nothing to talk about. But where are we with
the selection for the Parks and Rec Director?
Mr. Mayor: All right, Administrator Sims.
Mr. Sims: Yes, sir, Commissioners, we also delayed the recruitment process for the
Recreation and Parks Director due to COVID-19 now that we’re opening back our government
operations we will resume the recruitment process to hire a Recreation and Parks Director.
Mr. M. Williams: So why would we stop the process? We may not be able to bring
anybody in for the job but why are we stopping the process? Why are we stopping putting the
information out that we’re looking for somebody? I mean COVID-19 ain’t going to affect that
now. So why we may not be having any interviews but we ought to have that process done. That
should’ve been something ongoing so for what reason did we stop even sending out that we’re
looking for somebody because we didn’t say go out for a headhunter so why would we stop that
process?
Mr. Sims: Commissioner, the job is still posted on our website as well as on ICMA Website
so we’re constantly recruiting for the position but as far as what the efforts on the administrative
team as far as carefully reviewing the applicants we did delay during this time but we will resume
now being that operations is opening back.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I thought I heard you stopped the process ---
Mr. Sims: Delayed.
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay delayed, okay delayed means stop, slow down turn around and
did something else which we may not be able to interview right now, we may not be able to bring
anybody in but this part of it should’ve been done. So how many applications do you think you
have now?
Mr. Sims: I’ll be happy to get you a number back, sir, but I know over a hundred applicants
over (inaudible).
38
Mr. M. Williams: Over one hundred and you’ve got two other deputies, right?
Mr. Sims: I do.
Mr. M. Williams: When can we look for something back on the hundred applications
you’ve got? I mean you’ve got a hundred.
Mr. Sims: We have to carefully, Commissioner, we can carefully screen those applicants
to narrow down the recruitment process and we’ll be happy to follow back up with you all
regarding that process. What we normally do is we have to have virtual meetings or virtual
interviews (unintelligible) and then the direction you all request.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I didn’t hear a time though. I mean know what you’re doing
(unintelligible) but when can we look for something back by our next meeting? We’ve got over a
hundred applications now. We don’t have to go out anymore just stop that, that’s good.
Mr. Sims: We can follow back up at the next meeting as far as if we’ve identified some
candidates and then we start setting up the committee meeting, that’s correct.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, well I’ll look to see something on our next meeting as to some
follow up maybe not done final but at least narrow it down out of a hundred applications you can
get it down to what by then?
Mr. Sims: I don’t want to give a number, Commissioner, because all of the hundred I want
to make sure that they’re qualified. We have to go through and make sure so if I can follow up
with you I’ll be happy to do so.
Mr. M. Williams: No, not with me. I want to follow up with the Commission. I want to
follow up with a hundred applications in by next meeting and we ought to at least be under ten
qualified, not just ten people qualified.
Mr. Sims: Yes, sir, we should.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, all right, Mr. Mayor, thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
Mr. Sims: Commissioner?
Mr. Mayor: All right, hold on a minute. Administrator Sims, you’ve got something else?
Mr. Sims: Yes, we had 162 that applied and we have 23 possible candidates.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
39
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, is H.R., who’s screening the applicants?
Mr. Sims: Our H.R. Department is.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Mr. Sims: But we also we meaning the Deputy Administrator’s and I also review the
applicants but once they meet the minimum qualifications.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, fantastic. All right, we’ll get an update on that at our next scheduled
meeting. Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- I’m going to take a Point of Personal Privilege in the vane of the
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Commissioner from the 1 and just pause and add a little brevity to the conversation. I’m pleased
to report as we heard this morning from Director Daniel Dunlap Augusta 911 Emergency
Communication Center sent out an email sharing the really good news that our own 911 Center
has received a 2020 Public Safety Communications Technology Leadership Award for the Small
Agency Award from APFCO the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials. And
they have two award categories for this award, the Large Agency Award that’s 76 or more
employees and a Small Agency Award for those agencies 1 to 75 employees. Once again we can
all be equally proud of the work that’s being done even in this COVID-19 season by our
Emergency Communications Team, they’re the 911 Technology Center. And so just wanted to
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take a moment, they will be recognized at the 86 Annual Conference and Expo on August the 3
st,thrd
2020 in Orlando and if it pleases the Commission the Commissioner from the 1 the 9, 3 and
the Mayor will be traveling with them to enjoy some fun in the sun.
Mr. Fennoy: All right and when do we leave, Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: We’ll leave on, we’ll leave on July 27 so we can get enough time in.
Mr. Fennoy: All right. All right, Madam Clerk.
Mr. Sias: Yeah, I’ll unmute my mike.
Mr. Mayor: No, don’t do it, don’t do it.
Mr. Sias: I’m going to go ahead and mute it back.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
40
Mr. Sias: I really had something ugly to say but I put it back.
Mr. Mayor: Yup, yup. Madam Clerk, it’s back in your hands. I guess we’ll go to Item 15.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
15. Discuss the city’s discrimination against minorities and women. (Requested by
Commissioner Marion Williams)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I had this on the agenda last week my colleagues
didn’t have no thoughts, no opinion, no nothing. This is real, this is something that’s still going
on in our city today. We’re talking about COVID-19 how bad it is but I know people have been
feeling this type of situation for a long, long time and if we don’t address it, I said last time we
spent over $500,000 dollars for a Disparity Study that we’ve got to do again where the City of
Augusta still discriminating against women and minorities. So my question is we’ve got lawsuits,
we’ve got different situations happening in this government. We have not as a body talked about
any of it. I mean maybe ya’ll had some other meeting but I haven’t been privy to any meeting
about the wrong doing even in Legal, we haven’t talked about those things. We act as if they don’t
exist, they’re not real so my question is what do we plan to do with the Disparity Study that we
had put back on the shelf because it's outdated?
th,
Mr. Mayor: Well, Commissioner from the 9 I think the person to respond to that would
be Ms. Edwards. I don’t see her in the waiting room and in all deference to her I hate for us to
speak on this matter. We don’t have her in the waiting room to talk about this. Let me do this for
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a moment. Let me go to the Commissioner from the 6 and hopefully we can get Ms. Edwards,
we can get Ms. Edwards in here and have a conversation with us. All right, the Commissioner
th,
from the 6 go ahead, sir.
Mr. Hasan: No (unintelligible) say Mr. Mayor based on that put that back on the agenda
put on the agenda next agenda and just give an update on the Disparity Study ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes ---
Mr. Hasan: --- I know Ms. Edwards has started a great body of work on that so she can
give us an update of where she is. I think she identified a firm so we get a chance to see what that
is.
th,
Mr. Mayor: --- I agree with that. Commissioner from the 9 are you okay with that? I
mean I think she really needs to speak to that issue.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, I agree, Mr. Mayor, but we’ve got a Legal Counsel here that
somebody should’ve notified Ms. Edwards. This is an important issue that was on the last meeting
41
now it’s back on a different meeting. Did anybody notify her to tell her that this was going to be
on there or what or we just assume she’s just going to know by proxy?
Mr. Mayor: And again I certainly can’t speak to that but we’ll get in touch with Ms.
nd
Edwards to make sure. All right, I’m going to go to the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. D. Williams: --- we can also ask her to provide us with any with a rough review of
some kind of summary over the last five years of any cases that have come before her office and
or even claims that have simply gone in through Atlanta EEOC of any cases so we’ll have
something more concrete to work on. As if you know remember the situation she had with one
department where the people came together so she provide us that type of information we know as
a body what we’re looking at versus just a general claim.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, let’s suspend for a moment. We have Ms. Edwards on with us
now and, Ms. Edwards, let me frame for you the conversation. On the agenda we’re looking at
discussion about the city’s discrimination against minorities and women. The Commissioner from
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the 9 has raised this issue of last reported and what he’d like to do is get an update in terms of
where we are with the Disparity Study, where we are with the Disparity Study and the
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Commissioner from the 2 as you heard just a moment ago the issues that he just raised as well.
th,
Commissioner from the 10 I’m going to come back to you in just a moment.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, how much is that can you discuss publicly that you just put out
there. You said a mouthful. I think the only thing I heard that can be public is the part about the
Disparity Study; the rest should be done in Legal.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I don’t disagree with you on that. So, Ms. Edwards, if you’ll frame for
us where we in giving us an update in terms of the Disparity Study and the findings there. You are,
you are on, Ms. Edwards.
Mr. M. Williams: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Edwards ---
Ms. Edwards: Yes, can you hear me?
Mr. Mayor: --- we can now.
Ms. Edwards: Okay, I’m hearing sounds from different places. I don’t know if you all can
hear me.
Mr. Mayor: We can, Ms. Edwards, continue.
42
Ms. Edwards: Yes, the RFP was put out for the Disparity Study and I believe the original
can you hear me, hello?
Mr. Mayor: We can hear you, continue.
Ms. Edwards: Okay ---
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Edwards ---
Ms. Edwards: --- yes, can you hear me?
Mr. Mayor: --- yes, just keep talking, we hear you.
Ms. Edwards: --- okay the RFP for the Disparity Study was originally scheduled for March
th.
the 20 As a result of the COVID outbreak that had to be suspended and it’s been pushed out to
a future date with the Procurement Department. I’ll have to check what that actual yes I can hear
you, okay. There’s a future date that’s been set for the opening of the RFP for the Disparity Study
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because it was originally set for March the 20 but as a result of the COVID outbreak it was pushed
out. I can get a specific date for you but everything has been done. We’re just waiting on the firms
to submit their proposal for the return, I mean for the Disparity Study.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, Ms. Edwards, thank you, Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you. I don’t want to confuse this issue. The Commissioner from
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the 6 talked about what we can talk about. I understand there’s a legal side for stuff we can’t call
anybody’s name but there are some discrimination that’s been happening has been going through
some situations in the City of Augusta since Ms. Edwards’ been here that we have not addressed.
I’m not asking to put anybody’s name or even the department but I don’t want us to act like that
has not been any because there has been and we hadn’t brought Ms. Edwards in to give us an
update as to what found out herself. There has been situations where and I heard the District 2
Commissioner said in the past what kind of process or what kind of efforts been taking place.
When it gets to Atlanta we was told by the Legal Counsel that our hand was off of it. I’m talking
about the stuff that come in before it ever gets to Atlanta that we don’t even know about because
the Legal Department didn’t even bring it to us and it’s still happening today. So I’m not asking
to put anybody’s name or any departments out there. I’m talking about the unfair practices that’s
still going on in the City of Augusta. So that’s why I need Ms. Edwards to address for me the
unfair practices so I don’t need to put, I don’t need to throw anybody under the bus. I mean the
bus ain’t moving no way but I don’t need to throw nobody under the bus. Can Ms. Edwards
address that?
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Edwards, again ---
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: --- the question ---
43
Mr. Hasan: --- Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- that’s in front of us, hold on a minute, hold on a minute. As we have an
agenda item that’s speaks to the concerns around discrimination against minorities and women the
question, Ms. Edwards, is in your work have there been findings again with the understanding that
there are things that we would talk about in closed session as it relates to personnel. But I think
the simple question is the issue around what efforts are underway in order to address any perceived
or alleged issues around discrimination against minorities and women?
Ms. Edwards: Okay, my first response to that is I think there needs to be verification
between the two issues. You’re talking about the Disparity Study. That relates to discrimination
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in contracting practices only. I think what the Commissioner from the 9 is talking about is more
in the realm of EEO cases that we’ve seen with the city yes, those have been identified and as we
have identified those, those have been brought to the Commission, my findings have been given
to the Commission so it’s nothing further that the Compliance Department can do. Once we do
the investigation and we submit the findings it’s up to the Administrator’s Office and the
Commission as to what they want to do to rectify or not rectify those problems. Once we get the
recommendation and the finding that’s pretty much all of the power that the Compliance
Department has and we have updated this body as to everything that we’ve found so far. You
know what’s been done, that’s a question for someone else not the Compliance Department.
Mr. M. Williams: May I respond, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor, I guess my question would be
to Ms. Edwards then has anything been done? In my history of being here we have gotten a lot of
complaints but they end up going to Atlanta or Savannah because this body hadn’t moved on it.
Now I’m just trying to figure out what are we supposed to do. Are we supposed to let them go to
Atlanta or Savannah or are we supposed to address them here and resolve them if we can’t whoever
he or she may be.
Ms. Edwards: In my tenure without going into too much detail that we probably shouldn’t
talk about in this forum there has been one department where there were findings and specific
actions were taken to correct those actions. Now there has been other findings in another
department that we talked about the last time and from what I understand from the complainant in
that case nothing has been done. Now I don’t know if the Administrator’s Office can refute that
and I don’t even know if there’s been an appropriate conversation for this forum but as I understand
it by the complainant nothing has been done.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so let’s, this is what we’re going to do. We’re going to suspend that
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line of this conversation. This is not the proper forum for that. Commissioner from the 9 I’m
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going to ask you to yield at this point. I’m going to go to the Commissioner from the 6 for a final
comment and the remainder of this conversation we’ll take to closed session which is where is
should be taking place at.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Hasan: --- Ms. Edwards ---
Ms. Edwards: Yes ---
Mr. Hasan: --- yes, sir, yes, ma’am, I’m sorry. Some time ago when we talked about this
I thought maybe you had already identified a company that would carry out the study. Can you
make a distinction between the previous company that you might have been or do I assume versus
the one that you’re talking about going out now for Procurement purposes?
Ms. Edwards: Well, the prior two, Commissioner Hasan, the RFP was ---
Mr. Hasan: And we are talking about the Disparity Study.
Ms. Edwards: --- right, right the RFP for the Disparity Study was cancelled because there
was not, we felt that was the best thing to do based on the contenders that were there. Now where
we are we have everything out and we’re waiting for the proposals from the various companies to
be opened and for a decision to be made from there. That’s where we are in the Disparity Study.
Mr. Hasan: All right, thank you, ma’am. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
th,
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to the Commissioner from the 10 he’s been waiting for a while,
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the Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: Okay, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ve just got one simple question. As memory
recalls not quite two years ago we did a Disparity Study on salaries and we adjusted salaries up to
take care of salaries that were out of line. Now are we going to turn around and redo that on
another Disparity Study when we just did that?
Ms. Edwards: The Disparity Study has nothing to do with salaries.
Mr. Mayor: Right, Commissioner Clarke, the issue around compensation that was a
Compensation Study done of the entire organization. That’s a separate matter that was done two
years ago that was prior to Mrs. Edwards’ arrival here in the city, separate matter.
Mr. Clarke: Okay, just wanted to clarify that.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, certainly. All right I think that again all of the matters related to this item
will be discussed in closed session and we’ll receive this as information. Ms. Edwards, thank you.
Ms. Edwards: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- Madam Clerk, can you hear me?
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The Clerk: --- yes, are we going to Item 16 now?
Mr. Mayor: I want to go down to Item Number 20.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
20. Receive Year-to-Date (YTD) report of COVID-19 expenditures.
The Clerk: The Administrator, Administrator Sims will be addressing Items 20 as well as
21.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Administrator Sims.
Mr. Sims: Commissioners, we provided an expenditure report that related to all of the
COVID-19 expenditures. I have my Finance Director as well as the Procurement Director both of
them will talk about it. The report reflects all of the charges used with the (unintelligible) as well
as all of the charges that we have had during this particular time related to COVID-19.
Mr. Mayor: Administrator Sims ---
Mr. Sims: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: --- Administrator Sims ---
Mr. Sims: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: --- you said there is a report that you provided?
Mr. Sims: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right I missed that somewhere. All right, continue while we’re
looking for it.
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Mr. Sims: The total COVID-19 expenditures as of the date of the report of May 2 was
$452,778.72 and the report provided details on the expenditures.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, are there any questions? Can you have somebody forward that to me,
Administrator Sims?
The Clerk: I’m looking for it for you now.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, are there any questions?
Mr. D. Williams: Receive as information.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’ll receive that as information.
The Clerk: That was Mr. Dennis Williams and Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Mayor: Right.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Clarke, are we going to do it without objection or ---
Mr. Mayor: Not without objection, without objection.
The Clerk: --- okay.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
21. Designate $2 million from fund balance in General Fund for COVID-19 related
expenditures.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Administrator Sims.
Mr. Sims: Commissioners, I’ll ask Donna Williams our Finance Director to talk about this
particular item.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, she’s joining us now. Just a moment. All right, very well
we’ve got Donna and Tim here okay, Donna?
Ms. Williams: Yes, I’m here.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Administrator Sims says you’re doing a presentation about this.
Ms. Williams: Oh, okay. There was also a worksheet that was forwarded to each of you
from Ms. Bonner earlier. I was asked to put together what the, what expenditures might qualify
under COVID-19 expenditures and how $2 million dollars might be used if it was needed from the
fund balance. I’m not sure, Jeff, can you share that sheet please?
Mr. Lewis: Yes, ma’am, can you forward it to my email real quickly?
Mr. Mayor: Just did, Jeff.
Ms. Williams: I did already.
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Mr. Lewis: I’ll check.
Mr. Mayor: The Mayor Pro Tem sent it to me so I’m sending it to you now.
Ms. Williams: I sent it to Jeff also so we should all have a circle right now.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Lewis: It’s opening so just give me one second.
Ms. Williams: Okay, here we go except for the giant blank that’s in the middle of the
screen.
Mr. Lewis: I’m working on it, hang on, I think we’re good now.
Ms. Williams: Okay, I’m seeing it on my screen. Do ya’ll see it?
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, but I can’t read it.
Ms. Williams: I’m sorry.
Mr. Mayor: Donna, go ahead, we can see it.
Ms. Williams: Okay, there continues to be stuff popping up in the middle of my screen so,
okay, all right. The first two items that you see at the top of the screen relates to the Hazardous
Duty Pay. There were several discussion regarding how we might be able to pay for that, would
it be an eligible expenditure from COVID, we were originally looking at the CARES ACT in the
first round of those until the state decides to share some of their remaining $3.5 billion dollars with
us which and other local governments which there is a move to do but it hasn’t happened yet. I
understand that there’s discussions with NACO and ACCG and those with Governor Kemp about
that fact but currently those expenditures are being borne by Augusta. So as we provided you
estimates related to what the hazardous duty pay might cost Augusta across the board for all funds
at various staffing levels we had an estimate of about $1.4 million dollars which you see there in
the first column on the left. We processed the first pay period which is a two-week time increment
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that had hazardous pay on it and paid on April the 24 and the amount that was actually paid out
was $703,000 dollars. So we will process the final pay period that will have hazardous duty pay
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on it and those paychecks will go out the end of this week on the May the 8 so I am estimating
approximately $725,000 dollars which gets us back about the $1.4 that I originally estimated. Each
employee’s paycheck belongs or is paid by the fund that they work under like some of us are under
the General Fund, some are under Storm Water, some are under Utilities, Airport etc. So the
portion of that $1.4 million dollars that is attributable to General Fund and Law Enforcement
related employees is going to be approximately $775,000 dollars. As the Administrator reported
just a few minutes ago that our expenditures year-to-date for protective equipment and supplies
related to COVID-19 we have issued purchase orders and had credit card purchases of $452,000
dollars. Now that is an eligible expense that we know that we can file under FEMA or under
Category B and as such it is, the participation rate from FEMA is 75% which leaves 25% as a local
48
expenditure. That’s the $113,000 that’s in the middle of the page. Currently GEMA has not
committed to picking up any portion of the local expenditures as they typically do with a federal
declaration of a disaster but if they did typically their contribution is half of the local amount which
would be an additional 12.5% that GEMA might pay. If you did all that taking in through the
hazardous pay the and the net payment to Augusta for the supplies that were needed we would
have spent $831,000 dollars. If we did allocate $2 million-dollars out of the General Fund balance
that would leave approximately $1.2 million-dollars left over to spend. Now I do want to comment
that hopefully we have so far had the initial front uploading of our expenditures as we tried to get
prepared for the emergency so it remains to be seen what the rest of the year will bear out, what
we will have to purchase, how many sneeze guards we will have to put in place and what we will
need to do as folks return to work. So I would hope that it would not exceed much, the amount
that we’ve already spent the $452,000 like you know I can’t tell you what that’s going to be but I
do know that those types of expenditures are eligible for reimbursement under FEMA so that’s
what I’ve got to say about that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, do we have any questions at this time? All right I’m going to
go to Administrator Sims and a couple of questions.
Mr. Sims: Commissioners, if I would add we are just being proactive with the $2 million-
dollars request if in case we have any expenditures or any matters later on this year we just wanted
that amount to be available. Recognize if we don’t spend that it will go back to the Fund Balance.
Anything we don’t spend will go to Fund Balance.
Mr. Hasan: I have a question, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: I know, I know, I’m coming to you. All right, going in this order the
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Commissioner from the 6, the Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, Ms. Donna, if I understood you correctly because what I was looking at
the agenda item I assume you were talking about an additional $2 million so obviously you just
gave us a breakout of what we spent and put up $2 million to take everything we’ve already spent
as well as we have $1.1 million dollars left at this particular point, is that correct?
Ms. Williams: Yes, sir, that would be the obligation from the General Fund and then all
of the expenditures for PP and E.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, is there any amount that concerns you that after you extrapolate it
monies that were spent that you probably did not feel that at the end of the day that became COVID
related is there any expense to that or are you going to tie that up in the $452,000 dollars?
Ms. Williams: We, Procurement has looked through those as well as EMA has looked
through those expenditures. Obviously before we make a filing we will review them carefully.
But the initial look at those from those two areas all those expenditures seem to qualify under PP
and E.
49
Mr. Hasan: Okay I think, Ms. Donna, you can help me (unintelligible) and I apologize in
advance. I think the question I was asking you how much money have we spent overall because
actually you because you extrapolate it that we spent $452,000 so did we spend seven, did we
spend $600,000 dollars and we determine that $452,000 dollars was reimbursable? That’s my
question.
Ms. Williams: I’m not sure I can, my best response to that is that the $452 is the amount
we have spent related to COVID ---
Mr. Hasan: You are saying (unintelligible).
Ms. Williams: --- yes, sir that it is related to COVID and it is reimbursable because we
should not have been spending a whole lot of other things for any other type of emergency I guess
is what I’m trying to say. Everything we spent as an emergency purchase was related to the virus.
Mr. Hasan: So everything, I’m going to leave that alone, Ms. Donna. I’m going to move
on because I think you’re moving off the answer there. How much supplies do we have on hand
and what are those supplies that we have on hand?
Ms. Williams: Sir, I can’t answer that. I’m not the, I don’t have those supplies in my
department.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, okay, I’m going to make a suggestion to my colleagues once again. I
mean I do know the EMA Directors differs with me on this, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, if you don’t
mind take this chart down in front of us I think (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Jeff, you need to go ahead and take the chart down now that would be fine. I
have some questions on the floor.
Mr. Sias: I have a question on the chart.
Mr. Mayor: I’m sorry?
Mr. Hasan: Okay, I apologize, Commissioner (unintelligible) final question. Mr. Mayor,
I know my EMA Director, our EMA Director differs with me on this point here but I’m a firm
believer that anything that be spent as COVID related I believe the EMA Director should sign off
on it. I do understand the law of the organization. I realize that we have multiple departments or
what have you but I believe that as department heads put that in it goes to a central place and you
probably do you attempt to do a bulk purchase for all intents and purposes our EMA Director looks
at that and says, yes, this qualifies. I do know who makes the purchases. I do realize that the
Procurement Director will actually make the purchase but I still believe the EMA Director should
make that decision about is it COVID related and the need of that at the end of the day. I think we
give it a central location, a central person to look at because my concern as you can see we’re
obviously not nowhere near the money that was happening in 2014 around the ice storm but I think
it does give us some sense to know who to ask about why this purchase was necessary. Ms. Sams
been doing an excellent job as the requests come in. She’s going to make those purchases. I have
50
no doubt about that but I think the EMA Director should vet the need for the purchase and I think
that’ll help us in the long run because as you can see obviously there might have been some other
purchases but we’re not getting all the numbers and I’m sure not live to the level of $452,000
dollars but I do think there ought to be a central person saying yes that is COVID related and give
Ms. Sams the go ahead to make the purchases. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right so I’ve got again I’ve got a series of hands. I’m going to take the
questions as they came in but let me qualify a few things right here. One thank you for sharing
this information in giving the update as you’ve done already, Director Williams. Director Sams,
thank you for moving expeditiously to secure the first wave of PPE and other resources that were
needed for this. And without question our EMA Director for mobilizing and assembling as quickly
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as possible. I do not disagree with the Commissioner from the 6 as it relates to a single point of
contact and a single sourcing as it relates to if we’re making purchases with regards to COVID-19
what that might look like. All right, so to that end I’m pause there because I’m going to come
back with a series of other things. I’m going to the Mayor Pro Tem, the Commissioner from the
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2 and then the 4 in that order.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My first question’s for the Administrator.
Do you need the money now or you said you’re being proactive?
Mr. Sims: We were being proactive so we could have an amount dedicated for COVID-
19. We wanted to do this more or less have it in case if we had future expenditures.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay and so how much, so it comes out of the General Fund. How
much was the FEMA amount we talked about? I thought it was like $1.4 million, $1.5 million
when we started having the hazard pay conversation, is that not true?
Mr. Sims: That’s with, it’s listed 1.4 for the hazardous pay which Donna indicated.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay so why would we go up to $2 million when we’ve only spent
$831? I mean that’s just a lot of money when most of this is salaries anyway the hazard pay and
we’ve already ended that. So my concern is that why would make such a significant jump to $2
million? I’ve also, I’m pretty sure that some of the things that we’ve ordered are not even here yet
I mean if we’re not going to require masks so could we possibly you know cancel some of these
things that we ordered through Procurement? And then on top of that we need to make sure that
it’s being charged to the General Fund and not individual pledges because I heard that as well so
what are your thoughts on that?
Mr. Sims: For the General Fund serves the departments. Of course the budgets were
approved for their existing operating expenditures so we wanted to have a designated funding
source for COVID related expenditures and that was the purpose of this request.
Mr. Mayor: Well, for me I just think that we need to put in a General Fund take out more
than what we’ve got in the FEMA check. I also think as a governing body we need to start having
this conversation about how we’re going to make up this. If I was to say $1.4 million I would
recommend that we ask the Administrator to come back with recommendations to cut our budget
51
the rest of 2020 including the COLA pay. I think we need to suspend that program that was
st
supposed to be effective on July 1 because that would save us about $600,000 plus right there.
But I think as a government we really need to kind of tighten the bolts on how we’re spending
things if we’re going to designate this money out on how we’re going to recoup it in the rest of the
year. But my recommendation would be just to FEMA amount of $1.4 or five or whatever that
was. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. All right, the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: No questions.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir, thank you. I just want to get a little clarification. In looking at
the amount that we say was General Fund and some that came out of other funds that don’t
necessarily come from the General Fund, are we asking for reimbursement for like for example
hazardous pay? Are we seeking a full reimbursement or just the amount that came out of the
General Fund? And I might be a little behind but just catch me up real quick.
Mr. Sims: For the hazardous pay we’re not sure that’s an allowable reimbursable expense.
For the allowable expenditures the (unintelligible) ---
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor, I hear you talking, I can’t hear the Administrator. I apologize for
interrupting. I hear some other voices it may not have been you, sir, but somebody’s voice.
Mr. Sims: Okay, the $452,000 were the expenditures and the and now the $113,195.00
dollars is the amount as far as the amount for us then as well as Donna indicated from GEMA
12.5% of that could be reimbursed from GEMA so that the charge there would be $56,000 and the
total charges is now for the General Fund is $831,308.
Mr. Sias: Well then you haven’t answered my question. The amount of money that did
not come from General Fund, are we not seeking reimbursement for that money and again
hazardous pay or any other thing? So I mean just because it didn’t come from the General Fund,
say the Fire Department, the Fire Department, we paid our first responders hazardous pay, we’re
not requesting reimbursement for that money because it didn’t come from the General Fund or am
I incorrect?
Mr. Sims: Again for hazardous pay we don’t know if it’s an allowable reimbursement but
if there are other charges ---
Mr. Sias: That’s not my question. Are we seeking reimbursement?
Ms. Williams: Can ---
Mr. Sims: Go ahead, Donna.
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Ms. Williams: --- can I help?
Mr. Sims: Yes.
Ms. Williams: Okay, Commissioner Sias, there are two pots of money. The one that we
would have to pursue to get the hazardous pay reimbursement would be under the CARES Act.
Currently no local government with a population of under 500,000, dollars is eligible for any
money unless the state decides to funnel some of those funds down to us. There have been
numerous conversations and obviously all local governments are petitioning the state to do so. If
those funds become available to us from the state, yes, sir, we will pursue the entire $1.4 million
dollars as reimbursement under the CARES Act. That’s when and if those funds become available.
We will pursue under FEMA the PP and E supplies for Category B which is currently $452,000
dollars. We will pursue reimbursement of 75% of that which should garner us about $339,000
dollars so it’s two pots of money.
Mr. Sias: Mayor, excuse me, let me ask Ms. Williams a question. Ms. Williams, we had
this thing that came down where they defined different things that were eligible for reimbursement
under the CARES Act. Now I get the point that where it says about the $500,000 but that was, I
mean 500,000 population but there was money set aside that goes to those folks that were under
500,000 ---
Ms. Williams: No, sir ---
Mr. Sias: --- huh?
Ms. Williams: --- no, sir, that has not happened yet.
Mr. Sias: Let me ask this question ---
Mr. Mayor: Let me chime in, Commissioner Sias, if you will before you go, and you still
have the floor, let me chime in on this. The State of Georgia through Stimulus Bill 3.315 provided
$4.17 billion dollars to the State of Georgia ---
Ms. Williams: That’s correct.
Mr. Mayor: --- of that $4.17 $645 million went to four counties and the City of Atlanta,
okay ---
Mr. Sias: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- that’s Cobb, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Fulton and the City of Atlanta $645
million. The remaining $3.17 of which again is allocatable to the local jurisdictions. You received
a letter, a joint letter from GMA and ACCG that we provide to the Governor, the Governor has
agreed he said that he would be sending those dollars to the local jurisdictions so that’s $3.17
billion. Of that allocation effectively it’s $24 million coming to Richmond County. The circuit
breaker is that that’s only going to be a 45% okay that’s the number 45%. So realistically that
53
number is probably more like $17 million that might come to Augusta Richmond County at a point
in time that the Governor provides those resources to the local community and that number varies
across all 533 municipalities and all 159 counties but it’s allocated across that $3.17 billion dollars.
As it relates to your primary question, Commissioner Sias, this body made a decision that the
hazard pay component would be paid from multiple sources. The Fire Fund will take care of the
firefighters, Enterprise Fund will take care of anyone who will be allowable to paid by Enterprise
Fund and there’s a small portion that comes from General Fund dollars. To that end FEMA
guidelines and Ms. Williams knows this FEMA guidelines speaks very clearly about what is
allowable in terms of reimbursables at 75% in terms of staff time and administrative costs.
Overtime pay is eligible as long as it’s consistent with your H.R. policy. Straight time is generally
not eligible. And then there are special rules that apply for temporary labor, contractors and full-
time staff working outside of normal job titles. And what this body did was adopt the policy that
says here’s what hazard pay is so they absolutely need to submit that whether we get reimbursed
for the General Fund component or any of those other sources, to your question, that needs to
happen.
Mr. Sias: Let me let me just back up one step on what you just said and I appreciate it.
When we adopted a policy we didn’t, the policy in adopting hazardous pay and the policy itself
we agreed that those funds did not have to come from the General Fund. I don’t remember us
agreeing that hey these funds come from the fire, this comes from this, that comes from that and
we don’t have to worry about it. I don’t remember any of that since. Now I could be off in left
field but we simply was told where that money will come from in adopting the hazardous pay. It
wasn’t the fact that well we don’t have to worry about it because it’s not coming from here or
there. The idea and the concept was that we could request reimbursement for all hazardous pay
and I don’t want to beat this horse until he gets up from being dead but I know for a fact we didn’t
it wasn’t quite to the extent that you mentioned at least in my view. We was told that we did not
have to depend on the General Fund to pay the entire hazardous amount. Secondly and lastly ---
Mr. Mayor: We agreed on that, we absolutely agreed on that, Commissioner Sias, and you
were emphatic that you believed that those things would be reimbursable under the CARES Act
funding. And so I think there’s no debate as it relates you know what the source of it is. The
question that it’s going to be a question from yesterday, ten days ago and into the future is what is
allowable under FEMA guidelines to be reimbursed. All of the other expenditures to date that
have been talked about they’re allowable under the FEMA guidelines.
Mr. Sias: Okay and I’ll close with this. No matter what we have that we spent as far as
COVID-19 we should put in a request for reimbursement to somebody because we spent it in
relationship to that. Whether we get it or not we should still apply for it and we should apply and
I’ll use this as an example. $350 billion federal dollars disappeared in less than two weeks and
apparently another $300 billion dollars has disappeared so if you’re not at the front of the line
you’re not going to get any money. Thank you.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have something I need to say about this too.
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Mr. Mayor: The Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m just you know there was something that was said
that I just have to make a comment about saying to pay an approach of approving $2 million dollars
and then what’s left will be refunded, I don’t know (unintelligible) responsibility world would that
ever occur of writing a blank check and expecting money back. I agree with the Commissioner
from District 7 that I think we should approve the $1.4 that we received from FEMA and then go
apply for what we can but I don’t think we should be spending more money as a buffer. That’s all
I have to say on this issue.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic, thank you, sir. All right, the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: We can talk about this all day. I’m just going to go ahead and make a
motion and I think we need to vote it up or vote it down, motion to approve.
Mr. D. Williams: I’ll second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Substitute motion ---
Mr. Mayor: --- the Mayor Pro Tem for a substitute motion.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- substitute motion to approve $1.4 million from the fund balance.
Mr. Clarke: Second.
Mr. Hasan: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a, hold on Commissioner Hasan, I’m coming to you just hold on
please. I’ve got a substitute motion to approve $1.4 million from the fund balance ---
Mr. Clarke: Second.
Mr. Mayor: --- I got it, Commissioner Clarke, to be appropriated for additional COVID-
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19 response. All right, that’s our substitute motion. All right, the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I hope that you will accept this
as my colleague in good spirit it may not be as tragic as I think it is. I want to speak to the issue
you mentioned a few minutes ago about the reimbursement and about the four point whatever
million dollars that the Governor have. Mr. Mayor, as of today I took the liberty and I’ll tell you
why I took the liberty, I took the liberty with what we got from Larry from GMA yesterday I took
the liberty of what he sent out yesterday I was excited about something that I read yesterday. It
was 5.1 Item 5.1 on the agenda breakout yesterday he sent us. What in essence what he was talking
about was the fact that reimbursing local government for the monies that they used for grants and
things of that nature I was excited about that really been excited about this conversation we has a
55
couple of weeks ago put aside what we’re talking about today Hawthorne’s going to bring
something from his office. But in terms of that because that was giving us an opportunity to pursue
to actually put up the fund balance put two or three million dollars in knowing that we will be
reimbursed based on what the paperwork says (unintelligible). My investigation, my conversation
with one of the gentlemen this morning was saying that they just pulled that down off of the U.S.
Treasury’s website and as a result of that they’re not clear. But what I wanted to speak to was the
issue of where would those monies come from a local government. Will they come from general
fund, would they come from fund balance to make those grants, how would that work out and he
said at the end of the day he was not sure because he didn’t want to speak to the issue and we get
caught up in a gratuity clause because as of right now they did speak to your state regulation around
that issue. So as a result of that he said and he asked me to talk to one of the GMA attorneys
(unintelligible) because of pregnancy in the family. That’s one thing I did. The second thing I
asked about was those funds that you just spoke about $26 million dollars of the $17 million dollars
and what he said about that and everything I’ve read, Mr. Mayor, and I know you’ve been on
phone calls, I’m hoping and praying to God that you are right because one time want to be like the
attorney in Atlanta that she looked forward to apologizing to Governor Kemp I look forward to
apologizing to you but I asked him about okay of that money the Governor’s got in hand after
those four counties that had the population (inaudible) 500,000 does the Governor, does the
Governor has to give that money out and the answer was no. It is up to the Governor’s discretion
and at this point he has not made a decision about what he was so they are appealing to him, ACCG
and GMA I’m sorry ACCG and GEMA ACCG and (unintelligible) I know this, yeah GMA they
are appealing to the Governor to hoping he’ll release that money because like I say he is not
obligated. He said the 45% comes from, where does the 45% come from? He said the 45% came
from a national model because that’s what was happening. They had just sent the Governor per a
conversation that Alabama had just done that as well 45% given to the respective counties. More
to the story, Mr. Mayor, there are some still some discretion about some interpretation whether
we’re going to be getting the money or not getting the money or whether the Governor’s going to
release it because as of right now the money belongs to the Governor and he ain’t got
(unintelligible) the other cities and counties less than $500,000 dollars. That is totally at his
discretion and right now he's not made a decision.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’m not quite sure what your point was. I think that’s ---
Mr. Hasan: My point was that you made mention that we’re absolutely going to get the
money. I’m hoping you’re right but in my conversation today the Governor had not made a
decision and even though you used the 45% threshold and that may be true that’s what they are
appealing the GEMA and ACCG is appealing to the Governor to release the money but he is not
obligated by no federal laws to give to those cities less than $500,000 dollars and you can get Ms.
Donna alluded to the same thing. I know you’ve been on conversations (unintelligible) ----
Mr. D. Williams: (Inaudible) over the same thing.
Mr. Hasan: --- GEMA representative felt a little different about that this morning and I
spoke to him this morning.
Mr. Sias: Dennis, your mike’s open.
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Mr. Mayor: --- okay, the Commissioner from the 5 all right, I recognized you a moment
ago. I’ve got a ---
Mr. B. Williams: We need to vote on it.
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah, I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve got the Commissioner from the,
Madam Clerk, I’ve got a substitute motion with a proper second and let’s vote on that first.
The Clerk: Okay ---
Mr. B. Williams: And what is it?
The Clerk: --- what the substitute motion is to appropriate $1.4 million from fund balance.
That was by Mr. Frantom and Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Sias: What was the primary motion?
The Clerk: Well, it’s to designate the $2 million from fund balance and general fund for
the COVID-19 related expenditures as recommended by the Administrator. Mr. Bobby Williams
and Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. Sias: Thank you.
The Clerk: The substitute motion Mr. Mayor? Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
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Mr. Hasan: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams, unmute your mike. Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: I don’t know what the motion was.
The Clerk: The substitute motion to appropriate $1.4 million dollars from fund balance for
the COVID-19 expenditures as of to date. Are you voting, Mr. Marion Williams?
Mr. M. Williams not voting.
Motion Fails 3-6.
The Clerk: The original motion, Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: No.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
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Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams, Mr. Marion Williams?
Mr. M. Williams not voting.
Motion Fails 5-4.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay, we’ve got a number of items. I believe the remaining items on the
agenda are 16, 17, 23, 26, 27, 29 and 30.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Ms. Davis: --- was 14, was that consented?
The Clerk: Yes, ma’am.
Mr. Mayor: It was.
Ms. Davis: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, again the remaining items are 16, 17, 23, 26 ---
The Clerk: Well, let me back on 14, Mr. Mayor. I think Commissioner Marion Williams
had a question about that but if he’s no longer in the meeting we could, are you going to try and
craft the Consent Agenda now?
59
Mr. Mayor: Well, I wasn’t necessarily trying to craft the Consent Agenda I wanted to
calibrate ourselves so we would know where we are. I’m about to turn it over to my wingman.
I’ve got to step out for just a minute here and the Mayor Pro Tem was going to continue to lead
the meeting but crafting a consent agenda is certainly appropriate. I don’t have a problem with it.
Mr. Sias: There’s only one item that can be consented and that’s Number 29 if possible. .
Ms. Davis: And 14.
The Clerk: And number 14.
Mr. Sias: That was consented. I could have sworn 14 was consented.
The Clerk: Well, it was offered. It was offered but Commissioner Marion Williams had a
question.
Mr. Sias: Okay, my bad.
Ms. Davis: That’s what I thought.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
14. Motion to allow the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and Historic
Preservation Commission to resume meetings immediately via zoom conferencing.
(Requested by Mayor Pro Tem Sean Frantom)
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, do you want to go back to 14, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I don’t need to. I mean it’s a pretty easy request. They want to be
able to meet.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
The Clerk: Let me have the motion again.
Mr. Sias: From Sias move to approve Item 14.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
The Clerk: Second, Mr. Hasan ---
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: --- okay and this is to approve Item Number 14.
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The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
Mr. Frantom: Who are you on Ms. Bonner?
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, hold, suspend one moment. Jeff, can you put Commissioner
M. Williams back in? He called me and says he got kicked off for some reason but he wants to be
back in.
Mr. Sias: It’s too late.
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Mr. Lewis: I’ve seen him come back in two or three times so I think he’s having
connectivity issues. It looks like it’s a signal problem or something.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, Commissioner, he said you’ve got some kind of signal problem. I’m
not sure what it is but they’re working on trying to get you back in.
Mr. Sias: We can’t suspend, we done voted. Ask Commissioner Hasan about that.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, before we move on do we need if any of the agenda item
for Tim or Geri? I still they’re both in the room. Do we need them in moving forward or Chief
James?
Mr. Fennoy: Yes ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Which number and we’ll go to that number.
Mr. Fennoy: --- it’s the one with the, about the parking.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we’ll go to Agenda Item Number 27, Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
27. Discuss Holley and Brown Streets parking issues. (Requested by Commissioner Bill
Fennoy)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, the reason I placed this on the agenda is that a lot of the Augusta
University students are parking on Brown and Holley Streets and it’s creating a problem for the
residents that live there. And I think Chief James and Mr. Ussery was able to go out there and take
a look at it and I’d like for them to chime in and give their opinion about what they saw and how
we go about getting the issue resolved.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have Mr. Ussery in queue to come into the conversation?
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes.
Mr. Sias: --- did we publish the vote on Item 14?
The Clerk: No, they didn’t but it carried with Mr. Marion Williams not voting.
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Mr. Sias: Just wanted to get that in for the record.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, sir. Is Mr. Ussery on standby to come into the room?
Mr. Ussery: I’m here.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, he’s here. Okay, we’ll start with Chief James.
Chief James: Yes, Mayor Pro Tem and Commissioners. Myself along with Commissioner
Fennoy did go down and look at that particular Holley and Brown the street there. During the
daytime when those students are parking there you absolutely would have trouble you could drive
a firetruck down the center lane but you could not turn it around. It would be difficult if you had
a structure fire down that road. If you drove to the end you could not turn the firetruck around to
get it back out. I think the best solution would be the part that we done with the other part of the
neighborhood if you get, you know however the Commission works that out. In the area that the
parking permit was passed and used, that area did not seem to have any parking issues but the area
where the parking permit program was not in place, the day that Commissioner Fennoy and I was
there, there was some severe parking issues. The Medical College students are taking up the road
on both sides. The worst case scenario and Mr. Ussery and I talked about this the last thing I think
we want to do is if you turn part of that road into a fire lane and that means that on one side of the
street they could not park but that also would eliminate the residents from parking on that side of
the street. Based on the conversation that I had with Mr. Ussery that’s not the best option or that
would be the last option if the Commission chose to do something other than the parking permit.
The parking permit I think is the best solution.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Mr. Ussery, then we’ll take questions.
Mr. Ussery: Okay, thank you. Yeah, I agree with Chief James. We did talk a little bit
about this. We do we did create the Residential Parking Pass Program really for this instance in
this neighborhood. There are several streets that chose to become part of this program and I have
some pictures that I could forward to the Clerk and she could forward it to the Commissioners that
show the streets that are part of this program there is no issue with student parking. We have the
necessary signs up, the Sheriff’s Office has been great about enforcement in making sure that those
streets stay clear other than for the residents. I recommend that we try to get these two streets that
were sort of the holdouts from the last time signed up for this program. There’s a couple of
residents who were kind of set against it because of the cost of the program but that’s something
we could work with them on and I think that would be our best way to go. We could install a fire
lane as Chief James said but it is sort of a last resort because wherever we put that fire lane no one
can park in that fire lane. It doesn’t matter if you live there or not no one can ever park in that fire
lane so I’m not sure that’s exactly what the residents that own property there want.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, the program worked on Augusta Avenue and Mauge Street and I had a
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meeting scheduled at Antioch for the 24 of March but because of the virus that meeting had to be
postponed. So as soon as we could gather I’m going to reschedule a meeting and get I think 50%
63
of the residents in that area would have to sign up for it in order for implementation. So I’m
waiting on the Corona Virus to allow us to when it’s safe for us to have a meeting and I will
schedule another meeting with the residents that are living there. But I don’t think that will
continue to be a problem for the remainder of this year but I could see in August and September
that problem starting all over again.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: I waive.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay so, Commissioner Fennoy, do you just want to receive this as
information then until you have your meeting?
Mr. Fennoy: That will be fine.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Ms. Bonner, we’re going to move on.
Mr. Lewis: Commissioner Frantom, it’s Jeff. Ms. Bonner got kicked out because her
computer (unintelligible) so I’m trying to get her back in right now.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we’ll wait. We’ll go to 23 next when we get done
(unintelligible). Ms. Bonner, you back yet?
Mr. Lewis: She’s not yet. I’m still trying to help her with it.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
Mr. Sias: Commissioner Hasan can handle those duties, can’t he?
Mr. Hasan: What is that, which duties is that?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Making a motion to receive as information to put it on, just write it
down, we’re receiving as information.
Mr. Sias: He can handle all that, he can handle all that other stuff (inaudible).
Ms. Davis: Commissioner Williams, Mayor Pro Tem ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes.
Ms. Davis: --- I wanted to show Commissioner Williams my new backdrop.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Close your camera for a second. Do you know how to do that, do
you know how to close your camera on your computer where you can see the back?
Mr. Sias: I know that wasn’t District 3 (unintelligible).
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Ms. Davis: That’s James Brown in Athens. Commissioner Williams, can he see it?
Mr. M. Williams: Mary, can you hear me ---
Ms. Davis: Yes ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- Mary, can you hear me? It looks good ---
Ms. Davis: --- I can hear you. I knew you would.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I got to get that backdrop there. It looks good.
Ms. Davis: Yeah, you do I’ll send it to you.
Mr. M. Williams: All right, I need that one.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Jeff, are we close?
Mr. Lewis: I think her computer did a reboot on here so she’s trying to ---
Mr. Sias: I move that Commissioner Hasan handle all the Clerk’s duties.
Mr. Hasan: I can’t do all that, that’s, I mean you got to be an English major and everything
else and an attorney.
Mr. Garrett: You’ve got all these departments you should be able to do it.
Mr. Fennoy: I think they need to pay him hazardous pay also.
Mr. Lewis: Commissioner Frantom, it’s doing a Windows update so it may ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’m sorry?
Mr. Lewis: --- I said it’s doing some Windows updates so it may take a minute. I don’t, it
apparently forced a reboot on her. Let me see if I can get her to call in by phone, give me one
second.
Mr. Sias: All right, Jeff. Mayor Pro Tem, see what happens when we put you in charge.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Ah yeah, technology, got to love it.
Mr. Hasan: That’s why I like coming down here because I’d be at the house because I
know ya’ll would be cutting me up (inaudible).
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Mr. Sias: Ain’t nothing wrong with hanging out where you live. Commissioner Fennoy,
---
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
Mr. Sias: --- sleeping during the meeting ain’t allowed ---
Mr. Fennoy: I just had my eyes closed.
Mr. Sias: --- especially on video.
Mr. Fennoy: I was reminiscing.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams ---
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- do you need, okay, no, you don’t, I’m good. I was looking at the
agenda items left but we’re good.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, sir ---
Mr. Fennoy: --- on the, on my next agenda item I think Jeff has some pictures that he’s
going to show.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- oh, on the ---
Mr. Sias: Number 26?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- 26?
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
Mr. Sias: That ain’t no same picture you had three years ago, is it?
Mr. Fennoy: They’re a little bit worse than that.
Mr. Sias: Are you sure you don’t want to postpone on that?
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
16. Discuss Commissioner’s authority to direct city contractors. (Requested by
Commissioner Marion Williams.
17. Discuss COVID-19 responses from federal, state and local entities. (Requested by Mayor
Hardie Davis, Jr.)
66
Mr. M. Williams: Sean, Item 16 I’m going to put it back on the agenda. The lady that was
going to address that she left, she couldn’t hang out no longer so.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, well, I think we’re going to move 16 and 17. The Mayor’s gone now
too so move 16 and 17 to the next agenda.
Mr. Sias: Well, we got to vote on that now.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah, I know.
Mr. B. Williams: Do you need a motion?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We got to wait on, we’re in the middle here.
The Clerk: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, can you hear it, Ms. Bonner?
Mr. Lewis: That was my cellphone. She’s calling in right now, she’s just going to do a
call in ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
Mr. Lewis: --- I just gave her the numbers.
Mr. M. Williams: Jeff, what’s wrong with this technology?
Mr. Lewis: No comment.
Mr. M. Williams: No comment, okay I mean we’re supposed to award winning, ain’t we?
Mr. B. Williams: Number one.
Mr. Sias: We didn’t create the Zoom program ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: That’s right.
Mr. Sias: --- the Mayor Pro Tem did that.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I wish. I’d be making high on the hog.
Mr. Sias: I heard they gave it to you for free.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Not for companies who are using it. You got to pay for a
subscription.
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Mr. Sias: You getting your cut, huh?
Ms. Davis: Commissioner Sias, I think it’s free for like what 40 minutes and then it shuts
you out?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah.
Mr. Sias: See that way the Mayor Pro Tem didn’t tell us that, huh?
Mr. Fennoy: Didn’t tell Ms. Bonner either.
Mr. Sias: Shame, shame, shame. You get a three finger (unintelligible) on that one.
Mr. Clarke: Ain’t nothing free if somebody else is always paying.
Mr. Sias: Mayor Pro Tem, I guess when you’re in charge of the meeting and it screwed up
you’ve got to sing.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: You don’t want to hear me sing; I can assure you of that.
Mr. Sias: Yeah, I kind of figured that but (inaudible).
Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, is there an opening date yet for ya’ll or you still just
holding out?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: There’s none, no telling.
Mr. Ussery: The new street name signs are in so if you drive by you should see TopGolf
Way.
Ms. Davis: We were talking about state budgets I mean the state earlier the state school
system just cut their budgets 14%.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Ms. Bonner, with us yet?
Mr. Lewis: Working on it.
Ms. Davis: Mayor Pro Tem, I’m going to have to scoot in about five minutes just so ya’ll
know.
Mr. D. Williams: Can we suspend the meeting until tomorrow?
Ms. Davis: Not until tomorrow.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: No, we’ll get it done.
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Ms. Davis: We can’t do anything without the Clerk.
Mr. D. Williams: Well, that’s what I mean and she’s not here. Just suspend it.
Mr. Sias: We have Clerk #2 available.
Mr. D. Williams: We’d really be up the creek then.
Ms. Davis: Commissioner Sias, how much of a raise do you want?
Mr. Sias: One point 9 nine hundred percent. I don’t want to break the bank.
Mr. D. Williams: Just clean it out.
Mr. Sias: Yes, sir. I cleaned out one little tiny corner with three coins in it.
Mr. Lewis: She’s trying to dial again, Commissioner Frantom.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
Mr. Sias: It’ll be well worth, well spend that day Commissioner number eight.
Mr. Garrett: And one of my favorite community centers in my district.
Mr. Sias: Yeah, remember you got to relocate it there through a disproportionate
redistricting. It’s not original not #8 just took things that didn’t belong to him.
Mr. Garrett: Okay, then.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Ussery, hey, John, I think we’re going to receive this as
information. Are you on any, I don’t think you’re on any other agenda items. If you want to leave,
you don’t have to stick around.
Mr. Ussery: All right, appreciate it, thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Take care, thank you. Is Commissioner Marion Williams still here?
Ms. Davis: I don’t think so.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I was wondering if he needed Chief James for Number 23 or not or
if there was a reason --- who pulled 23?
Ms. Davis: I think he might have lost, Commissioner Williams lost service again, Mayor
Pro Tem.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, I was going to let Chief James go.
Mr. Sias: It was objected to as far as consent.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, it was him though? Okay.
Ms. Davis: Which one?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: 23, I was just going to say ---
Mr. D. Williams: It’s a simple one.
Ms. Davis: 23, Mayor Pro Tem, 23 and 25 were both objected to consent from Marion
Williams.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- okay.
Mr. B. Williams: I know why.
Mr. Fennoy: We still have a quorum?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We do.
Mr. Sias: And to my colleague from #8 in 2000 Jamestown was not in #8 just for the record
---
Mr. Garrett: Okay.
Mr. Sias: --- 21, that’s when it come up.
Mr. B. Williams: Let everybody know that District 8 is gaining residents every day.
Mr. Sias: You done moved already?
Mr. B. Williams: Not me.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, what’s going on ---
Mr. Sias: I missed that one.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- all right, guys.
Mr. Lewis: She’s close, she’s close, she’s close.
Mr. Garrett: Brown Road area, it’s hopping.
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Mr. Sias: Ya’ll got any streetlights yet?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, welcome back, Ms. Bonner. All right, Ms. Bonner, you
in?
Mr. Sias: Mayor Pro Tem, you cut off my answer.
The Clerk: I’m back.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, welcome back. So for 27 we’re going to receive as
information ---
The Clerk: Number 27, receive as information, okay.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: And then the Administrator asked that we go to Agenda Item #30
next and then bring 10 back into the room for Number 30.
Mr. Sias: 29 after that please.
The Clerk:
OTHER BUSINESS
30. Update from staff on SPLOST 8 in light of new March 2021 election date. (Requested by
Commissioner Marion Williams)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Marion Williams, are you here?
Ms. Davis: He’s not.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
Ms. Davis: Can we move it to two weeks?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah if he’s not, anyone else want to talk about it or was there any
other thoughts behind oh, he’s back, there he is. Commissioner Marion Williams, Commissioner
Marion Williams.
Mr. Sias: Move to put it on the next agenda.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams, are you there, we can’t hear you.
Ms. Davis: I don’t think his connection is working.
Mr. Sias: You’ve got a motion and a second.
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The Clerk: That was you, Mr. Sias, and who else was that?
Mr. Sias: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, well, we tried we’ve got a motion and a second to move it
to two weeks agenda ---
The Clerk: Without objection with the ones present the ones that are present?
Mr. Fennoy: No objections from me.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- okay, voting.
The Clerk: Okay, we just do it without objection, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, is that okay?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah, that’s fine.
The Clerk: Okay, do you want to go to Item 29 next?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk:
OTHER BUSINESS
29. Augusta Housing and Community Development (AHCD) to introduce the COVID-19
Small Business Relief Program and seek Commission support.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: And we’re going to bring him Mr. Hawthorne for this, Mr. Welcher,
are you there?
Mr. Welcher: I’m here.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we’ll start with you on 29.
Mr. Welcher: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, members of the Commission we, I’m here with Deputy
(inaudible) Daniel Evans so Mr. Daniel Evans is going to take this part our presentation just give
a brief overview program (unintelligible) about the process.
Mr. Evans: (Inaudible) Commission, I’m here to talk to you about a (unintelligible) related
to the COVID-19 crisis facing our communities across the nation and the world. This is a program
that will if approved will be operated under the City of Augusta’s allocations under the Community
Development Block Grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development as part
of the CARES Act funding stream. The basic principle of this program is to provide economic
relief to local small owned businesses suffering as a result of the current crisis to enable them to
remain open and create and retain jobs for low to moderate income persons. (Inaudible) Economic
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Development Loan Program (unintelligible) basic (unintelligible) and eligibilities (unintelligible).
So again it’s open to local City of Augusta based businesses with (inaudible) employees are
licensed within the City of Augusta. The single individual that applies on behalf of the business
st
must be at least the majority 51% of the majority owner, they must provide us with 1 quarter
financial statements for this calendar year and they must be able to show evidence of their ability
to create or retain a job as a result of receiving this assistance. And there’s a general condition for
most assistance this the entities that are applying must not be in bankruptcy, they must be current
with all local and state federal taxes and fees and they must also be in compliance with obligations
to the City of Augusta as it relates to operating a business to include licensure, tax, insurance or
land use requirements. We will be providing the opportunity for businesses to apply for up to
$15,000 dollars in assistance with basic operating capital for staff salaries or also for other
operating costs like leasing space cost, insurance or utilities. The funds will be able to be disbursed
to the awarded firms via reimbursement for eligible documented expenses that those businesses
incur. They will have to allow the city to collect income and demographic information
(unintelligible) that qualify for their job creation or retention requirement. And again these are
(inaudible) not as a loan but a relief effort to allow the City of Augusta to treat it as a forgivable
loan where we abate 20% of the value of the loan per annum every year for 5 years on the
anniversary of the loan creation date. This is standard procedure rules and regulations for
economic development and allows us to provide a mechanism to show our due diligence as well
as protecting the interests of Augusta within the offering of these small business relief loans. We
would hope to be able to provide both a paper copy as well as electronic applications. Local
business owners can access via the city’s website as well as some direct social medial
communications that we can utilize upon approval by the Commission and again they will be
reviewed by an independent loan committee separate from Augusta, Georgia that will be composed
of members of local development authorities, two local banking professionals and a deputy
director of a city department other than Augusta Housing and Community Development. The
application is intended to include a brief summary checklist that everyone all the applicants can
see as well as guidelines so they know the steps and process that they will be applying for and are
well informed of what is required of them in advance of their application. So with today’s
presentation we’re certainly hoping for some questions but we will just state that with the approval
of the program today instruction the Administrator to identify a reimbursable funding source to be
utilized for this program. Housing and Community Development can proceed to administer this
program along three different options of timelines, madams and sirs. We can do an immediate
rollout of this program upon approval or we can have a public notification go out as soon as this
week with applications available as soon as next week. For approval we could submit the structure
of this program for conversational guidance from the local field office of Housing and Urban and
Development to insure that we’re in compliance with how we choose to approach this program or
with your approval today we can simply submit part of our plan to utilize COVID-19 resources
from HUD and wait for their formal approval process which would take no later than 30 days.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, my first question is did you send this presentation to the
Commission? Do we have all this?
Mr. Evans: Yes.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we do, okay, I missed it.
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Mr. Welcher: The summary that we provided to you all provides the summary for the
applications (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, Commissioner Sias then Clarke then Fennoy,
Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. Yeah all that information is under Item 29. I just
want to go ahead and say this I thank the (inaudible) he has done a very good job on this program.
It’s needed and the only caveat that I want to add to that is is that we if we approve this program
today, it’s a reimbursement program. We already know that $1,067 thousand I think 900 and some
dollars has been allocated to Augusta for this purpose of how we use this. So but it’s a
reimbursable program so we do have to pay up front so here’s my motion. I want to make a motion
on this item is that we approve it contingent on our Housing Department sending this program via
email to the HUD local field office and that we approve out of our Contingency Fund $1,061,000
to go with this program and then once we get an answer back from them we proceed forward. So
let me say that motion again and let me make sure I have the money correct because it’s to the
penny. It’s one million, sixty one thousand and what is the 900 and something, Housing folks ---
Mr. Welcher: $1,061,135 dollars.
Mr. Sias: --- $135, okay, that we approve that amount of money for this program and
approve the program itself and contingent upon we get a response from HUD and then we’ll be
reading to move forward. That’s my motion.
Mr. D. Williams: I’ll second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second from Dennis. Commissioner
Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes, I want clarification. Is this federal money or is it Augusta taxpayer
money?
Mr. Evans: Yes, sir, Mr. Commissioner, this will be federal tax dollars through the CARES
Acts provided by Housing and Urban Development.
Mr. Clarke: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Second the motion.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Ms. Bonner, let’s go
ahead and vote.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
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Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Mr. Clarke: Gone.
The Clerk: Okay out. Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett, is he out?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: He’s out.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams, is he out?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: He’s here.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Bobby Williams, I’ll come back to him.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: He’s out.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Garrett, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. B. Williams out.
Motion Passes 6-0.
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ENGINEERING SERVICES
23. Approval of Master Agreement for Security and Fire Alarm Services provided by
Johnson Controls International for nine Augusta Utilities facility locations.
25. Approve award of Construction Contract to Reeves Construction Co. in the amount of
$3,447,514.40 for Resurfacing Various Roads as requested by AED. Award is contingent
upon receipt of signed contracts and proper bonds.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we’re going to take if the Commission agrees to consent, we’re
going to consent Agenda Items 23 and 25. Can I get a motion to that affect?
The Clerk: 23 and 25.
Mr. Sias: Motion to consent Items 23 and 25.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second. Ms. Bonner, please vote.
The Clerk: Okay, was that Mr. Dennis Williams?
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can I get a, oh I’m sorry you haven’t done the vote.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Hawthorne can be taken out now, right? We voted on this, right?
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: He’s out.
The Clerk: He’s out, Ms. Davis is out Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett is out, Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
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The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams, is he back? He’s out, Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, do we still have a quorum?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We do.
The Clerk: We do. That motion fails 5-4.
Mr. B. Williams: Clarke’s back.
The Clerk: Who’s back?
Mr. B. Williams: Clarke.
Mr. Sias: We didn’t have a quorum at the time.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke was out, okay, how are you voting, Mr. Clarke?
Mr. Clarke: Well, I had to step away for a moment what was ---
The Clerk: It was to approve Item Number 29 as presented by the HCD.
Mr. Hasan: No, we got that, Mr. Bonner ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: No, it’s 23 and 25.
Mr. Hasan: --- (inaudible) 23 and 25.
The Clerk: Yeah, to consent that.
Mr. Hasan: 23 and 25.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Garrett, Mr. B. Williams and Mr. M. Williams out.
Motion Passes 6-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can I get a motion to send Agenda Items 16 and 17 to the next full
Commission meeting?
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
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16. Discuss Commissioner’s authority to direct city contractors. (Requested by
Commissioner Marion Williams)
17. Discuss COVID-19 responses from federal, state and local entities. (Requested by Mayor
Hardie Davis, Jr.)
Mr. Hasan: I make a motion to send 16 and 17 to full Commission.
Mr. Clarke: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ve got a motion and a second.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Clarke.
The Clerk: --- I didn’t hear the second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Clarke.
The Clerk: Clarke.
Mr. Sias: It takes seven to make a quorum now.
Mr. Hasan: (inaudible) six here?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Well, Bobby’s here, isn’t he?
Mr. Sias: No, he’s out.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, I guess we’re done then.
Mr. D. Williams: Happy Trails.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: This meeting is suspended because we don’t have a quorum.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
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CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of The Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
May 5, 2020.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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