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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCalled Commission Meeting February 23, 2021 CALLED MEETING VIRTUAL/TELECONFERENCE February 23, 2021 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 23, 2021, the Honorable Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. B. Williams, Garrett, Sias, Johnson, Frantom, Scott, McKnight, D. Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: We’re here to do the people’s business and we’re going to begin by calling this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, we will address the items on the special called meeting agenda so we’ll do that prior to a vote to go into closed session. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk. 3. Discuss to allow outside events on city property if they meet the CDC guideline plan they have established for outside events. (Deferred from February 16 Commission meeting; requested by Commissioner Sean Frantom) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the commissioner from the 7. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and I appreciate everybody’s work on this. I’d like to make a motion to remove COVID restrictions specifically for the Market and allow the working group to bring back formal recommendations. Mr. Garrett: Second. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have a question on that. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: When you said remove COVID restrictions, what does that mean when you said remove them? Mr. Frantom: I’m going to let the Administrator speak to this because I meant to say actually citywide so I’ll defer to the Administrator. Mr. Donald: Yes, I think in following up with Parks & Recreation as well as with Commissioner Frantom what we’re looking at is the right now based on COVID restrictions and guidelines the Market is not able to operate. There’s an appetite to expand beyond the market which the working group is managing so his request is simply ensuring that the Market is able to operate during this time so that we don’t lose that revenue. We’ve got a plan in place and we’ll be able to monitor and manage it but those other specific areas whether it’s outside dining or other activity restrictions haven’t been released on those and so he’s basically proposing to give us time to be able to figure that out through the working group but not lose this valuable revenue for a process that we already kind of have in place. 1 Mr. Hasan: Okay, thank you. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. Sias votes No. Motion carries 9-1. 4. Approval of a resolution being drafted and brought before the Commission for a vote on 2/24 in opposition to Georgia senate bills 67, 68, 69, 71, 73, 74 and other bills aimed at restricting methods available to Augusta residents to exercise their right to vote or cause undue financial burden on voters. (Deferred from the February 16, 2021 Commission Meeting; requested by Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.) Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Attorney Brown to speak to the resolution. Mr. Brown: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: Do you want to speak to the resolution what’s in it? Mr. Brown: I can. I wasn’t prepared, I thought you wanted to speak to it. Mr. Mayor: Well, I didn’t have enough time to review it. Mr. Brown: Okay, all right, the Commission had requested at the last Commission meeting that this item be brought forth at this special called meeting due to the urgency of the Senate bills that are being proposed in the General Assembly. This is a resolution in opposition of Georgia Senate Bill 67, 68, 69, 71, 73, 74 and any other bills aimed at restricting methods available to Augusta residents to exercise their right to vote or cause any undue financial hardship to voters. Augusta by this resolution is reaffirming the importance of every citizen having a right to vote as being a fundamental and constitutional right and that no legislation should be enacted to hinder citizens’ right to vote. Therefore Augusta is deciding today whether to resolve to oppose Georgia General Assembly Bills 67, 68, 69, 71, 73, 74 and any other bills that infringe upon the fundamental rights of citizens to exercise their right to vote. Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. B. Williams: Motion to approve. Mr. Hasan: Second. Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Administrator Donald. Mr. Donald: Yes, Mayor, I think we had just briefly spoken regarding making sure that all of the bills were included but the, just to follow up so that you have that confirmation because I 2 know our State Department has asked about it, it is included because he called out those bill numbers but it also includes any other bills that support it so it’s right on target and you’re right on it for observing that so it’s good. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Voting. Motion carries 10-0. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I wanted to speak before the vote was taken. I had my hand up but it’s irrelevant at this point. Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. My apologies, sir. The Chair recognizes Attorney Brown. 1. LEGAL MEETING A. Pending and potential litigation B. Real estate C. Personnel Mr. Brown: Mr. Mayor, commissioners, we request a motion to enter executive session to discuss litigation, personnel and real estate. Mr. Garrett: So move. Mr. Frantom: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. We’ll transition into closed session, everyone. \[EXECUTIVE SESSION\] Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown, all right, we’re ready. Mr. Brown: We’re on the floor? Mr. Mayor: We are on the floor. Mr. Brown: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Commissioners. 2. Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia’s Open Meeting Act. 3 Mr. Brown: We request a motion to execute the closed meeting affidavit. Mr. Sias: So move. The Clerk: Is that Commissioner Dennis Williams? Mr. Frantom: Second. th Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 4and the – The Clerk: The first I think, Mr. Jordan Johnson. Mr. Mayor: All right. Voting. Mr. Clarke out. Motion carries 9-0. Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Attorney Brown. Mr. Brown: We request a motion to approve settlement agreement and general release of claims and to adopt a resolution authorizing the settlement of all claims by Veronica Currid in the sum of $15,500.00 and to authorize the Mayor to execute settlement documents and the Finance Department to disburse the settlement amount waiving Augusta, Georgia Code Ordinances in conflict in this instance only and for other purposes payable to the settlement agreement with the customary terms prepared by Augusta Law Department in the settlement agreement. Mr. Garrett: So move. Mr. Frantom: Second. The Clerk: That was the Mayor Pro Tem Williams and Mr. Frantom. Mr. Mayor: Garrett and Frantom. Voting. Mr. Clarke out. Mr. Hasan vote No. Motion carries 8-1. Mr. Brown: Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brown. Mr. Brown: Thank you. A motion to approve a settlement in the matter of BR Investment vs. Richmond County Board of Tax Assessors Case No. 2021RCCV00062 in the 4 amount of $20,000 and authorize the transfer of the $20,000 form Contingency Fund to the Law Department’s settlement account for payment of attorney fees. Mr. Frantom: So move. Ms. Scott: Second. Mr. Clarke out. Motion carries 9-0. Mr. Mayor: Next item, Attorney Brown. Mr. Brown: Yes, Mr. Mayor, as related in companion items I have three motions to read for adoptions of three resolutions. The first one is motion to adopt and approve a resolution authorizing the settlement of all claims by Briana Anderson as parents and legal guardian of Sage Carthern in the aggregate amount of $425,000 and further authorizing the Administrator to disburse the amount of $425,000 waiving Augusta Georgia Code of Ordinances Sections in conflict with this matter in this instance only as stated in the caption of the resolution. The other resolution number two is a motion to adopt and approve a resolution authorizing the settlement of all claims of Brandon Anderson and Monique Code Anderson as the parents and legal guardian of Braxton Anderson, the claimant, in the aggregate amount of $80,000 authorizing the Administrator to disburse said $80,000 waiving Augusta Code of Ordinances Sections in conflict for this instance only and for other purposes and finally a motion to adopt and approve a resolution authorizing the settlement of all claims by Briana Anderson in the aggregate amount of $75,000 and further authorizing the Administrator to disburse said $75,000 waiving Augusta, Georgia Code of Ordinances Sections in conflict in this instance only and for other purposes. Mr. B. Williams: So move. Ms. McKnight: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. Clarke out. Motion carries 9-0. Mr. Brown: There are no further motions to my knowledge, Mayor Davis. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, I believe that’s all the business before us, Madam Clerk, and we’ll proceed with committee meetings. \[MEETING ADJOURNED\] 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 February 23, 2021. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 6