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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCalled Commission Meeting December 1, 2020 CALLED MEETING VIRTUAL/TELECONFERENCE December 1, 2020 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2020, the Honorable Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. B. Williams, Garrett, Sias, Fennoy, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, D. Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: We’ll call this meeting to order. The Chair recognizes Attorney Brown. 1. LEGAL MEETING A. Pending and potential litigation B. Real estate C. Personnel Mr. Brown: Good afternoon, Mayor, Commissioners. We request a motion to go into executive session for the discussion of litigation, real estate and personnel. Mr. Garrett: So moved. Mr. Clarke: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom and Mr. D. Williams out. Motion carries 7-0. \[EXECUTIVE SESSION\] Mr. Mayor: Okay, Attorney Brown, we are ready to proceed. 2. Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia’s Open Meeting Act. Mr. Brown: Mr. Mayor, we request a motion to execute the closed meeting affidavit. Mr. Hasan: So move. Mr. Frantom: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. Fennoy votes No. Motion carries 9-1. 1 Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown. Mr. Brown: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, we request the following motions. A motion to approve settlement agreement and general release and to adopt Resolution authorizing the settlement of all claims by Ursula Anderson in the aggregate amount of $198,000 payable to Ursula Anderson and Barton Good. Mr. Hasan: So move. Mr. Garrett: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. Fennoy votes No. Motion carries 9-1. Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown. Mr. Brown: A motion to approve settlement and general release and to adopt a Resolution authorizing the settlement of all claims by Treza Edwards in the sum of $78,500 payable pursuant to settlement agreement with Treza Edwards last day of employment, employment being December 1, 2020 with the customary terms as prepared by Augusta Law Department in the settlement agreement. Mr. D. Williams: So move. Mr. Hasan: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Ms. Davis, Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Garrett vote No. Motion carries 7-3. Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown. Mr. Brown: A motion to approve the appointment of Phyllis Johnson as Interim Director of the Compliance Department effective December 2, 2020 with an annual salary of $110,000. Mr. Clarke: So moved. Mr. Garrett: Second. Mr. Fennoy votes No. Motion carries 9-1. 2 Mr. Mayor: And now the companion motion. Mr. Brown: Yes, sir. Motion to authorize HR Director to advertise internally the position of Compliance Director for a period of seven days. Mr. Clarke: So moved. Ms. Davis: Second. Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Sias vote No. Mr. D. Williams out. Motion carries 7-2. Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown. Mr. Brown: A motion to approve an annual salary of $130,000 commencing January 1, 2020 (sic) term for the position of presiding magistrate judge for Miss Le Joi Walker Williamson. Mr. Hasan: So move. Mr. Frantom: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. Fennoy votes No. Motion carries 9-1. Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown. Mr. Brown: Motion to approve and enter a voluntary separation agreement with Christopher James, Fire Chief, which includes among other terms for Christopher James to be placed on administrative leave with pay effective December 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021 – Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown, can you suspend for just a moment? Pursuant to HR law should that date be effective 12-2 because he’s worked through the day already? Mr. Brown: It’s end of day but yes. Mr. Mayor: Okay, that’s for clarification. Mr. Brown: Okay, commencing December 2, 2020 through end of day August 31, 2021. It shall further include Christopher James immediately tendering his notice of resignation to the Commission with a resignation effective date being August 31, 2021. Christopher James shall further waive any and all (inaudible) for severance pay and execute a general release of claims and 3 other terms in the form as prepared by Augusta Law Department. Christopher James shall return his county equipment to be collected by the Administrator. th Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 6, state your inquiry. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, we had a couple of motions earlier, Treza Edwards was December 1 and everything I think December 1. We’re talking about close out everything and stuff like that. I don’t see where it prevents a challenge for us because that gives us so much leeway unless you think everything – Mr. Mayor: Well, the reality of it is I wasn’t thinking through that but I should have said the same thing as it relates to Treza Edwards as well. She’s worked through the day already. It’s effective 12-2. Mr. Hasan: Okay, no problem. Just wanted to make sure. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Sias vote No. Motion carries 7-3. Mr. Frantom: Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Frantom: I don’t remember hearing a motion and a second. Did I miss it? The Clerk: You did. Mr. Frantom: Okay, all right, just making sure. The Clerk: He called for the voting. Mr. Mayor: Yeah. The Clerk: Could I get a motion? Mr. Mayor: Yeah, you got one. The Clerk: Who was it? th Mr. Mayor: The commissioner from the, I believe it was the commissioner from the 6, that’s who made it. Mr. Hasan: Yeah. 4 Mr. Garrett: Second. The Clerk: Who was that, Mr. Garrett? Mr. Mayor: Right. Attorney Brown read it, Commissioner Hasan stepped in and asked a question but he had made a motion, yeah. Mr. Brown: Mr. Mayor, could we maybe cure any possible defects? th Mr. Mayor: Sure, yeah, we’ve got a motion from the commissioner from the 6, a second th from the commissioner from the 8. Voting. Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Sias and Mr. D. Williams vote No. Motion carries 7-3. Mr. M. Williams: Same thing last time. Mr. Brown: Mr. Mayor, I have no further motions. Mr. Mayor: Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Frantom: I’d like to make a motion. Motion to approve the amount of $246,645.24 for the DDA for the work on the Depot deal in 2016 to 2019. Mr. Clarke: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Hasan and Mr. M. Williams vote No. Motion carries 7-3. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I don’t know if there is any special called meeting business before us or not. We will call this meeting adjourned and we will immediately convene, Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Frantom: It was asked if we could do the alcohol petitions because the people are still in the Chambers. Mr. Mayor: We’re going to adjourn the special called meeting and then convene our commission meeting which was scheduled for 2:00. \[MEETING ADJOURNED\] Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission 5 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 December 1, 2020. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 6