HomeMy WebLinkAboutCalled Commission Meeting November 17, 2020
CALLED MEETING VIRTUAL/TELECONFERENCE
November 17, 2020
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 17,
2020, the Honorable Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. B. Williams, Garrett, Sias, Fennoy, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, D.
Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Good afternoon. We are here for the November 17 special called meeting and
executive session followed by the Commission Meeting at 2:00. We hereby call this meeting to
order and the Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. Item 1. Oath of Office – Administrator Odie Donald, II.
1. Oath of Office – Administrator Odie Donald, II.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. Members of the Augusta Commission, Attorney
Brown and our Clerk of Commission and to the general public who is tuning in. We’re incredibly
excited to welcome to the City of Augusta, Georgia our new Administrator Mr. Odie Donald, II.
Today we will be conducting the oath of office for the said position of Administrator, Richmond
County and also a loyalty oath for the State of Georgia. We will do that. Mr. Donald, welcome.
I hope that you are prepared and ready to begin this journey officially. Looking forward to it. I
know that the City certainly is looking forward to it. In advance of the conducting the oath of
office I want to say this to our Interim Administrator, Mr. Jarvis Sims. Thank you for your
leadership during this past year and several months. You have stepped in, Jarvis, and done a
yeoman’s job to not only bring us to this place but it has not gone unnoticed. Your quiet leadership
has helped us get to this point that we find ourselves in and we as a city and certainly the Augusta
Commission we appreciate that and we thank you for that and I think it’s appropriate. I’ll give
you an opportunity to say a few words before we move into that next phase of our official oath.
Mr. Sims.
Mr. Sims: Mayor and commissioners, it was an honor and privilege to serve as the Interim
Administrator and look forward to working with Mr. Donald and continue the great path that we
have here in Augusta.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic, thank you. And if the members of the Commission would
join me in thanking Mr. Sims for his incredible work during this (inaudible).
(Applause)
Mr. Mayor: Fantastic. If we were the Augusta National we could have piped in real crowd
noise and kind of like the NBA bubble and the clapping would have been a lot louder, Jarvis, but
we don’t have all of that technology but again, thank you, and I sincerely mean that. Thank you
for stepping in and supporting the City of Augusta during this time. Mr. Don.
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Mr. Donald: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Are you ready, sir?
Mr. Donald: Absolutely.
Mr. Mayor: Again, I believe you have a copy of the oath. We’re going to do the oath first
and that is the official oath followed by the loyalty oath.
Mr. Donald: All right.
Mr. Mayor: All right, if you’ll repeat after me. I, state your name.
Mr. Donald: I, Odie Donald, II.
Mr. Mayor: Solemnly swear.
Mr. Donald Solemnly swear.
Mr. Mayor: Or affirm.
Mr. Donald: Or affirm.
Mr. Mayor: That I will truly and faithfully.
Mr. Donald: That I will truly and faithfully.
Mr. Mayor: Perform the duties of the office.
Mr. Donald: Perform the duties of the office.
Mr. Mayor: Of Administrator.
Mr. Donald: Of Administrator.
Mr. Mayor: Of Augusta, Georgia.
Mr. Donald: Of Augusta, Georgia.
Mr. Mayor: To the best of my ability.
Mr. Donald: To the best of my ability.
Mr. Mayor: I do further solemnly swear.
Mr. Donald: I do further solemnly swear.
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Mr. Mayor: That I am not the holder.
Mr. Donald: That I am not the holder.
Mr. Mayor: Of any unaccounted for public money.
Mr. Donald: Of any unaccounted for public money.
Mr. Mayor: Due this state.
Mr. Donald: Due this state.
Mr. Mayor: Or any political subdivision.
Mr. Donald: Or any political subdivision.
Mr. Mayor: Or authority thereof.
Mr. Donald: Or authority thereof.
Mr. Mayor: That I am not the holder.
Mr. Donald: That I am not the holder.
Mr. Mayor: Of any office of trust.
Mr. Donald: Of any office of trust.
Mr. Mayor: Under the government of the United States.
Mr. Donald: Under the government of the United States.
Mr. Mayor: Any other state.
Mr. Donald: Any other state.
Mr. Mayor: Or any foreign state.
Mr. Donald: Or any foreign state.
Mr. Mayor: Which I am prohibited.
Mr. Donald: Which I am prohibited.
Mr. Mayor: From holding by the laws of the State of Georgia.
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Mr. Donald: From holding by the laws of the State of Georgia.
Mr. Mayor: And that I am otherwise qualified.
Mr. Donald: And that I am otherwise qualified.
Mr. Mayor: To hold said office.
Mr. Donald: To hold said office.
Mr. Mayor: According to the Constitution of the United States.
Mr. Donald: According to the Constitution of the United States.
Mr. Mayor: And the laws of Georgia.
Mr. Donald: And the laws of Georgia.
Mr. Mayor: And that I will support.
Mr. Donald: And that I will support.
Mr. Mayor: The Constitutions.
Mr. Donald: The Constitutions.
Mr. Mayor: Of the United States.
Mr. Donald: Of the United States.
Mr. Mayor: And of this state so help me God.
Mr. Donald: And of this state so help me God.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
Mr. Donald: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: And now, Mr. Donald, the loyalty oath. State of Georgia, County of
Richmond. If you’ll repeat after me. I, state your name.
Mr. Donald: I, Odie Donald, II.
Mr. Mayor: A citizen of Augusta, Georgia.
Mr. Donald: A citizen of Augusta, Georgia.
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Mr. Mayor: And being an employee of Augusta, Georgia.
Mr. Donald: And being an employee of Augusta, Georgia.
Mr. Mayor: And recipient of public funds for services.
Mr. Donald: And the recipient of public funds for services.
Mr. Mayor: Render as such employee.
Mr. Donald: Render as such employee.
Mr. Mayor: Do hereby solemnly swear.
Mr. Donald: Do hereby solemnly swear.
Mr. Mayor: And affirm.
Mr. Donald: And affirm.
Mr. Mayor: That I will support.
Mr. Donald: That I will support.
Mr. Mayor: The Constitution of the United States.
Mr. Donald: The Constitution of the United States.
Mr. Mayor: And the Constitution of Georgia.
Mr. Donald: And the Constitution of Georgia.
Mr. Mayor: So help me God.
Mr. Donald: So help me God.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
Mr. Donald: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Congratulations, Mr. Donald. Welcome to the City of Augusta.
Mr. Donald: Thank you. Excited to be here.
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Mr. Mayor: Outstanding. You are now officially the Administrator of Georgia’s second
city, the Godfather of Soul James Brown’s home, the home of the Masters Golf Tournament, the
home of the cyber security capital of the nation and the most important city in the globe. Welcome.
Mr. Donald: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: If you’d like to say a few words, Mr. Donald.
Mr. Donald: Yeah, well, listen, Mayor, I’d just like to say I am extremely honored to be
appointed as the Administrator. I thank not only you but the Commission for your unwavering
support and I’m excited. You know I heard you say Georgia’s second city but I think with a
commission like this and citizens like we have in Augusta you know it is Georgia’s most important
city and I’m excited to work with a dynamic team of staff as well as our outgoing and incoming
commissioners to make Augusta, Georgia exactly what they see it as so I’m thankful for the
opportunity and me and my family are excited to become citizens of Augusta and bring your vision
to fruition.
Mr. Mayor: Wonderful. Thank you so much. We are excited and again documents are
being executed and with that we’re ready to proceed with the business of the people. Madam
Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. Next will be our legal meeting. Attorney Brown.
Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown.
2. LEGAL MEETING
A. Pending and potential litigation
B. Real estate
C. Personnel
Mr. Brown: Good afternoon, Mayor and Commission and welcome Mr. Donald. We
would request a motion to go into executive session for the discussion of litigation, real estate
and personnel.
Mr. Garrett: So move.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
th
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, commissioner from the 8 with the motion and the Mayor Pro
Tem with the second.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. We’re going to transition into closed session.
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\[EXECUTIVE SESSION\]
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Attorney Brown.
3. Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with
Georgia’s Open Meeting Act.
Mr. Brown: Mr. Mayor and Commission, we request a motion to execute the closed
meeting affidavit.
Mr. Hasan: So move.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: Mr. Mayor, we request a motion to approve a settlement of claims and
for the adoption of a resolution of claims in the matter of Verdi vs. Investigator Grant and
others, Case No. 1:20-CV-30.
Mr. Mayor: Motion please.
Mr. Sias: So move.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
The Clerk: Who is that, sir?
nd
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 2 with the second.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: Motion to approve settlement and adopt a resolution of claims in the
matter of Ursula Robinson vs. Deputy Calvin Swan in the amount of $5,000.00.
Mr. D. Williams: So move.
Ms. Davis: Second.
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The Clerk: That was Mr. Marion Williams and Ms. Davis?
Mr. Mayor: No, Dennis Williams and Ms. Davis. Voting.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: Motion to approve a lease agreement between I Feel Good, LLC and
Augusta, Georgia pertaining to the real property located at 925 Laney Walker Blvd.,
Augusta, Georgia.
Mr. Hasan: So move.
Mr. (inaudible): Second.
The Clerk: Need a second on that, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Dennis Williams.
The Clerk: Okay.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: Yes, sir, just a moment. Motion to approve an annual salary of
$146,291.95 for Jarvis Sims as Deputy Administrator effective November 14, 2020.
Mr. Hasan: So move.
Mr. (inaudible): Second.
Mr. D. Williams: Did you get a second?
th
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 10 gave a second.
Mr. Clarke: No, that wasn’t me, Mayor.
Mr. B. Williams: It was me.
The Clerk: Commissioner Bobby Williams?
Mr. Sias: No, Commissioner Sias.
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The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. B. Williams: It was Bobby Williams.
The Clerk: Well, we’ve got a first, a second and a third.
Mr. Clarke, Ms. Davis and Mr. Garrett vote No.
Motion carries 7-3.
Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: A motion to approve amended and restated Memorandum of
Understanding between Augusta, Georgia and Gold Cross EMS.
Mr. Hasan: So move.
Mr. Clarke: Second.
th
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 10 with the second. Voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Sias and Mr. D. Williams vote No.
Motion carries 7-3.
Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: Mayor Davis, there are no further motions.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic. All right, if there are no further motions, we will again
adjourn the special called meeting and stand at ease for five minutes.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena J. Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Called Meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
November 17, 2020.
________________________
Clerk of Commission
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