HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting March 2, 2021
REGULAR MEETING VIRTUAL/TELECONFERENCE
MARCH 2, 2021
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., March 2, 2021, the Hon.
Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. B. Williams, Garrett, Sias, Johnson, Frantom, Scott, McKnight, D.
Williams and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Absent: Hon. Hasan, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, well, good afternoon, everybody. We are here to do the people’s
business, the March 2, 2021 full Commission meeting. We’ve got a lot of business in front of us
today and it’s certainly a day that we’re excited and looking forward to talking and taking care of
some things that are real important in moving the city forward. With that I will call this meeting
to order and the Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. At this time we would have our invocation led by Commissioner
Jordan Johnson after which we’ll ask Commissioner Francine Scott to please lead us the Pledge of
Allegiance. Thank you.
The invocation was given by Commissioner Jordan Johnson.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you both for that, Commissioner from the 1 and Commissioner from
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the 9 thank you both for that. I want to take a few minutes to just share a few thoughts today.
We have most recently have come to the close of February which is Heart Health Month all across
the globe and the nation. It’s also a time when we celebrate Black History, the achievements, the
accomplishments, the life and the legacy of black Americans and as we step into the Month of
March, we recognize it as Women’s History Month. So often we see, hear, appreciate, and respond
to the call of women all across this nation, the state and certainly here in Augusta, Georgia. And
so as we celebrate and acknowledge Women’s History Month and soon International Women’s
Day, we put together a short video that we wanted to share with the community and the members
of the Commission to celebrate women all across this community. At this point we have a short
video that we want to share with you. Again, this is Women’s History Month. To the women of
the Commission thank you for your leadership and your service, to our Clerk of Commission,
thank you. We celebrate you this entire month and we’re excited about the contributions that
you’re making and will continue to make. Thank you.
Ms. McKnight: Thank you too.
The Clerk: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Back to you, Madam Clerk.
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RECOGNITION(S)
February 2021 Years of Service Recipients!
A. Congratulations! February 2021 Years of Service Recipients!
The Clerk: Yes sir, I call your attention to the Recognition portion of our agenda. We’d
like to offer our congratulations to our February 2021 Years of Service Recipients. I think Ms.
Rookard is available.
Mr. Mayor: All right, yes.
Mr. Lewis: I don’t see her, Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: I don’t either, all right, we’ll come back. All right, we’ll come back to Ms.
Rookard and our Recognitions. Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Okay, I call your attention to the Consent portion of our agenda which consists
of Items 1-19, Items 1-19.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: While we had no objectors during our Public Service Committee Meeting, Mr.
Mayor, I will call the alcohol petitions and ask if there are any objectors in our public space
regarding these petitions:
Item 2: Is a request for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection
with Discount Food located at 545 Sand Bar Ferry Road.
Item 3: Is a request in connection with Gas World located at 2510 Milledgeville Road a
retail package Beer & Wine License.
Item 4: Is a request for a Sunday Sales License in connection with Noble Jones located at
15 Eighth Street.
The Clerk: I’d ask for if Ms. Walton or Ms. McFarley is in the public space if there are
any objectors to either of these alcohol petitions.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Walton, you’re muted.
Ms. Walton: There are no objectors to the alcohol petitions.
The Clerk: Okay, our Consent Agenda consist of Items 1-19 with no objectors to our
Alcohol Petitions.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Madam Clerk, and we have an Addendum Agenda with
two items on it. One is an addition to the agenda. Madam Clerk, if you’ll read that for the record.
Before you do that is there any objection to the Addendum Agenda? All right without objection,
these are added to the agenda without objection. All right, Madam Clerk, if you’ll read that first
one.
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The Clerk: Okay, the first one is a motion to approve land lease agreement with Augusta
University Health Air Care LLC for 61,020 square foot parcel of land north of the Georgia State
Patrol hangar.
Mr. Mayor: All right and revisions to your item, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Item Number 12, yes, sir. Our RFP #20-187A which is our Legislative
Management Electronic Agenda Software was written, however, did not take into consideration
specification requiring the integration of two extremely important functions. One, the electronic
online recodification of city codes and two, electronic meeting agenda. Such integration in either
use would be invaluable to Augusta’s department and employees as well as elected officials.
Augusta citizens, media and the public at large. This has become even more needed and valuable
in light of conditions arising out of the pandemic and the state of emergency we face. So, we
would like to revise our motion to read to approve that RFP Item 20-187A be cancelled by the
Commission pursuant to Augusta, Georgia’s Procurement Code Section 1-10-60 and to allow the
Clerk of Commission to undertake further review and evaluation of needs, timing and availability
of services and improvements relative to the integration of the Electronic Agenda Software and
Electronic Legislative Management and Agenda Software.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you for that, Madam Clerk, again without objection. All right, the
Chair will entertain a motion to add these items to the Consent Agenda. The addition, the land
lease, and with the noted revisions as read into the record by the Clerk and Item #25.
Mr. Clarke: So noted to add to the agenda.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
The Clerk: Is that Mr. Clarke and Mr. Frantom or ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Clarke and the Mayor Pro Tem.
The Clerk: --- okay, are we voting?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- are you still taking items for the Consent Agenda?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, if you have additional items, certainly.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, sir, I’d to add 24 --
The Clerk: I’m sorry, sir, you’re breaking up.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Item 24 from the consent agenda --
Mr. Mayor: Mayor Pro Tem, it says you’re muted but you’re talking. I don’t know if you
can unmute your device. Okay, let’s try that.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can you hear me now?
Mr. Mayor: Much better, I think.
The Clerk: That’s better, okay, can you start from the beginning, sir?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah, I wanted to add 24 to the Consent Agenda and understand Mr.
Hasan and the Mayor had a conversation about the Blue Ribbon Committee and Mr. Hasan wants
to delete that from the agenda on Number 20.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, so we’re deleting 20 and adding 24 to the Consent Agenda.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 8.
The Clerk: We’re adding Number 20 as a deletion, okay.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, ma’am.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. I’d like to add Item 25 to the Consent Agenda.
The Clerk: It’s been added, it was recommended for addition.
Mr. Garrett: Okay, I’m sorry, I missed that.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, I didn’t have my hand up.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, all right, very well.
Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve.
Mr. Johnson: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PUBLIC SERVICES
1. Motion to approve the Airport Director’s Spending Authority as approved by the Augusta
Aviation Commission on January 28, 2021 in the amount of $25,000. (Approved by Public
Services Committee February 23, 2021.
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2. Motion to approve New Ownership: A.N. 21-06: request by Harpreet S. Walia for a retail
package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Discount Food Stop located at
545 Sand Bar Ferry Rd. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee
February 23, 2021)
3. Motion to approve New Ownership: A.N. 21-07: request by Pragna Patel for a retail
package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Gas World #3 located at 2510
Milledgeville Rd. District 2. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee
February 23, 2021.
4. Motion to approve Existing Location: A.N. 21-05: request by John Wier for a Sunday
Sales License to be used in connection with Noble Jones located at 15 Eighth Street. District
1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee February 23, 2021)
5. Motion to approve Alcohol Ordinance amendments to the Augusta, Georgia Code Title
6, Chapter 2, Article 1, Alcoholic Beverages, to include a definition of premises, hours of sale
on Sunday, brown bagging revisions for clarity, regulations for tasting events at package
stores, and single event license revisions for clarity. (Approved by Public Services Committee
February 23, 2021)
6. Motion to approve the Change Order #1 to the Construction Contract ITB 20-214 with
S.D. Clifton Construction Inc. in the amount of $6,838.00. This is the first change order
requested on the project. (Approved by Public Service Committee-February 23, 2021.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
7. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s) request
to provide funding to assist two (2) low to moderate income homebuyers with down-payment
assistance to purchase a home. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee – February
23, 2021)
8. Motion to approve eleven (11) Emergency Rehabilitation projects. (Approved by
Administrative Service Committee–February 23, 2021)
9. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s) request
to provide HOME funding to assist one (1) low to moderate income homebuyer with gap
financing, down payment and closing cost to purchase a home through the Homebuyer
Subsidy Program. (Approved by Administrative Service Committee-February 23, 2021)
10. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to procure two (2) Georgia Real Estate Brokerage Firms for the Laney
Walker/Bethlehem Project with an Agreement for a period of one (1) year. (Approved by
Administrative Service Committee-February 23, 2021)
11. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide funding for (10) ten business owners via the Seeds of Life Program, to
assist them in sustaining and growing their business. The following Seeds for Life recipients
are listed below. Each recipient will receive a grant funding amount of $10,000.00:
1. Jaruwan Charintranont (Sweet Moments Café)
2. Frederick Gibbons (Soultry Sounds Auto Sales, LLC)
3. Carol Jackson (Carol’s Hair Care)
4. Sheila Johnson (Kenise’s Tax & Business Services, LLC)
5. Donjinia Moore (CM Moore In-Home Tutoring Services, LLC)
6. DeWayne Pearson (Ikonz Sportsbar & Grill)
7. Vivian Ross (Elephant in the Room Counseling Services, LLC)
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8. LaTanya Thurmond (Mending Lives, LLC)
9. Pedro Vendrell (Vendrell and Sons, LLC)
10. Ernesia Wright (Georgia Soul/Georgia Pro-Basketball Soul) (Approved by
Administrative Service Committee-February 23, 2021)
12. Motion to approve RFP Item #20-187 Legislative Management Software (ELECTRONIC
AGENDA) For Augusta, Georgia (Clerk of Commission’s Office) via – Information
Technology Department be cancelled upon further review/re-evaluation. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee February 23, 2021)
PUBLIC SAFETY
13. Motion to approve the District Attorney’s Office – Augusta Judicial Circuit request to
create and maintain an Asset Forfeiture Account so pertinent line items can be ordered to
support the daily functions of the DA’s office. (Approved by Public Safety Committee
February 23, 2021)
14. Motion to approve and award the Tenprint/Palmprint Scanning System vendor for the
Richmond County Sheriff’s Office to Idemia Identity and Security USA LLC. (ITB 20-245)
Approved by Public Safety Committee February 23, 2021)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
15. Motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Commission held on
February 16, 2021 and the Special Called Meeting on February 23, 2021.
APPOINTMENTS
16. Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Stefanie Reed to the Animal Service Board
and Mrs. Brenda Garman to the Augusta Library Board of Trustees representing District 3.
17. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Morris Porter to the Augusta Library Board
of Trustees representing District 1.
18. Motion to approve the appointments of Kim Brown-Augusta Library Board; Chavas
Boyd-ARC Board of Zoning Appeals; Earl Kelton-General Aviation Commission-Daniel
Field; Marian Nanett Barnes-Augusta Personnel Board; Iris Angel Little-KCD Citizens
Advisory; Ruby Johnson-Public Transit Citizens Advisory Board; Teresa Mills-Public
Facilities; Kim Gaines-Canal Authority; Charles Givens-Riverfront Development Board and
Alvin Mason-Augusta Port Authority representing District 5.
19. Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Anna Reeves to the Augusta Library Board
of Trustees representing District 8.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
20. Discuss if there is a need for a Blue Ribbon Committee and/or different avenue to study
the Consolidation Bill (Charter). (No recommendation from Administrative Service
Committee-February 23, 2021)
APPOINTMENTS
24. Motion to approve the appointment of Rev. Anthony Booker to the Augusta Downtown
Development Authority. (Requested by Commissioner Jordan Johnson)
25. Consider recommendation from the Community Service Board of East Central Georgia
d/b/a Serenity Behavioral Health System to reappoint Dr. Franklin E. McPhail.
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ADDENDUM
28. Motion to approve land lease agreement with AU Health Air Care LLC for a 61,020
square foot parcel of land north of the Georgia State Patrol hanger. (Requested by Mayor
Pro Tem Bobby Williams)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, that was the Commissioner from the 7 and the 1.
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The Clerk: The 7 and the 1 to approve the Consent Agenda right, sir?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Clarke:
Mr. Sias: Can we get a review from The Clerk?
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am, go ahead.
The Clerk: --- okay Consent Agenda consists of Items 1-19 with the addition of Item #20
as a deletion, add Item #24 and Item #25.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: And the Addendum Agenda.
The Clerk: And the Addendum, I’m sorry, the addition for the Augusta Airport and
Augusta University and the revision to Item #12.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan, Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: Yes, ma’am.
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The Clerk: Ms. McKnight.
Ms. McKnight: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ms. Scott.
Ms. Scott: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. B. Williams.
Mr. Bobby. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Hasan Out.
Motion Passes 9-0. \[Items 1-19, 20, 24, 25}
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to go in this order. We’re going to take
Item 21 and Item 23.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
21. Update from the Commission’s appointed Homeless Task Force. (Requested by
Commissioner Jordan Johnson.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, to my colleagues I want to just first of start by
thanking everyone for their support on the Homeless Task Force. We have been in the process of
engaging providers throughout the community who are you know service providers for the
homeless whether that means shelters, whether that means resources. We’ve engaged those
individuals and plan to bring them to the table for an initial meeting this month and ask that a panel
gets put together. We’ll make sure to send out an email letting the Commission know who those
members are and also so the general public will know. In regards to the item we're talking about
right now we the working group that came together decided that, you know when we had our last
couple days of inclement weather Augusta got down into the 30’s overnight into the low 30’s and
we thought it was necessary to have warming centers open across the county so that folks could
have a safe place to go, someplace that was warm away from the cold, away from the rain. I believe
we had a flood warning out of those five nights as well. And so out of that working group we had
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some folks who really did some outstanding work, some amazing work to get this warming center
open. As a result of the work May Park was open for five nights from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 a.m.
and that working group that helped put this together was EMA, Housing and Community
Development, the Sheriff’s Office, Parks and Rec staff. Some are in the Chambers today, our
CERT volunteers, the Fire Department and Public Transit. And the goal of that whole working
session again was to figure out how and I apologize to the City Attorney and our Administrators
Office. The goal of that working group was to identify how to open up a warming center to again
to make sure folks had a safe place to go. And throughout those days a total 395 hours of work
with ten Parks and Rec staff working and the good thing about this whole item was that we were
able to service over 40 people throughout those nights. I know there was conversation about
whether or not this service was needed. Well, that showed that over 40 people were served
including children. We had families in the warming center at night so that was amazing. Each
family was given a cot, a blanket and some snacks and all of the excess items that was not used
was donated to the Marion Barnes Center. So I wanted to take this opportunity to not only just I’ll
give you an update, Commissioner Williams and I give you and update on the warming center the
happening over at May Park but I wanted to take the opportunity to publicly thank the working
group who had a hand in making sure that this was successful, again EMA, Housing and
Community Development, our Sheriff’s Department, Parks and Rec, CERT volunteers, Fire
Department, Public Transit making sure that this was a successful endeavor. And again it was a
great first step to show exactly what can be done when we come together and just you know
strategize to serve our homeless, to serve folks who need the help the most. And so again I want
to appreciate take this opportunity to give my appreciation. I think I can speak for Commissioner
Williams as well for those who had a hand in making this successful including every member on
the Commission so thank you again for believing in that. We have some work to do where the
homeless is concerned. Again this a good first step towards solving the problem that has been
around longer than any of us but we want to make sure that you know that this working group has
been extremely serious about providing some results where solving this issue is concerned. So
again we are in the process of continuing to identify those service providers and once those service
providers are identified and have responded accordingly to invitations to serve on the Taskforce.
We’ll announce those names and a meeting date. But germane to this item thank you for all who
had a hand in making sure that this operation was successful and I look forward to working closely
with everyone in the near future. And, Mr. Mayor, if I could yield some time over to Commissioner
Williams to address the item if he has anything additional to say.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 7, I’m sorry, Commissioner from the 2
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then I go for the 7, Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My hat’s off to everyone that helped out with
the Taskforce regarding our short-term goal. We broke our task up to a short term goal and long
term goals and when we meet later on this month we’ll be addressing the long term goals for
addressing the homeless problem in our community making the decision if there’s additional beds
that needs to be available in the community and just address some of the issues or problems that
the homeless may have that we could help them get over. So basically that’s what it would be. So
after our next meeting later on this month we’ll have a more of a detailed and an outline of where
we want to go with this action, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the
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7.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have a question for the Chairs of this committee.
I was wondering the Continuing of Care Organization that is the Homeless Advisory Organization
mandate about HUD now to receive funding, do you have any plans to bring them into the
conversation or are they working with you yet or kind of where does that stand in relation to what
ya’ll are trying accomplish?
Mr. D. Williams: We will bring some organizations in with us at our next meeting this
month and outline the plan and the objectives. Once we get the plan outlined and get our objectives
clear it will bring in some more of our community or neighbors and have them work with us on
the Taskforce. Right now, there’s only a small group of people until we get the picture painted.
Mr. Frantom: I gotcha and that’s good to hear because I think that organization I mean
they’ve been doing it for a long time and I mean the Salvation Army right now is looking to build
a new shelter at the Pullman Hall and you know they have resources and things that can really
enhance and help us. So I definitely hope that we would bring that organization into the picture
you know from their experience standpoint of dealing with the homeless in Augusta so thank you,
Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you as well. All right again thank you for the update. Madam
Clerk, we’ll receive this as information. Item #23.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
23. Joy Barr presenting Entrepreneur Skills Training And Broadband Project. (Requested
by Commissioner Brandon Garrett)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. I’m glad to present Joy Barr. She is here from the
Clubhouse to talk about some ongoing projects that will be very beneficial to our community as a
whole. There’s a lot of opportunities here and I think she has a brief presentation for us so I’m
just going to turn it over to Joy.
Ms. Barr: Fantastic, can ya’ll hear me okay?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk: Yes.
Ms. Barr: Wonderful. For those of you that aren’t, first let me say thank you for all that
you all do I know that the vast majority of you have full time jobs and families and other obligations
in our community. I lived here my whole life and absolutely love my city and truly appreciate the
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work that each of you do to support the city. The Clubhouse we’re entering into our 10 year as
an organization serving in Augusta. For those of you who aren’t familiar we have a few different
missions here at the Clubhouse. We offer training that includes entry level development, full staff
development. It’s a 12-week training program. We’re also co-working space which means that
small businesses before they have the need or the capital move into their own location can rent
various options here. They can share desks all the way up to renting their own office suite but it
gives them professional presentation for a new business startup by way of address, receptionist,
printers, those sorts of things. And then we’re also a maker space so we’ve got access to 3D-
printers and a laser printer so when you think anything innovation or entrepreneurial related that
would fall into the Clubhouse. The (inaudible) that I have on the screen right now is a history of
our (inaudible) grants and I won’t go through all of these but I shared them hopefully just to
confirm the work that we’ve done previously and build your confidence about what we’re going
to do with our latest grant coming up this year. So we can move to slide two. Thank you. So the
two things I want to talk to you specifically about today and where Commissioner Garrett and I
have spoken and he asked me to come share are our, one is a program and one is a project. The
program is the Make Startup Entrepreneurial Skills Training and it is a 12-week instructional
training program with 6 months of mentorship specifically for new small business owners, new
entrepreneurs or those that have yet to launch their business. They have an idea and they want to
move into that small business space with the highlight around disadvantaged entrepreneurs and
then also bridging the digital divide. And I know that several of you are on the Metro Chamber
Digital Divide Committee and work on this in different ways. Connectivity is obviously a huge
problem to solve but also an enormous opportunity and these kind of go hand in hand for what
we’re going to be talking about today. So the four challenges with entrepreneurs specific to
disadvantaged entrepreneurs is the gap between affording and finding training. Often times we
find that disadvantaged fans back, it touches a lot of areas in some one’s life and so entrepreneurs
you know are included in that and it is difficult if not impossible to launch a business if you don’t
have access to internet where you are currently. Investment capital it’s not meant absorb the
training costs associated with industry is not a big training program and what I mean by that is
every industry has training opportunities. If you want to learn to be a realtor you go and get training
in that, if you want to be a doctor, an attorney, a welder, there are all of these training opportunities
but entrepreneurs isn’t, you can be an entrepreneur in any vertical. And so having training that is
available for the specific functions around creating and managing a small business is what this
training program is. And so without high quality training entrepreneurs don’t qualify for
investment capital and then entrepreneurial support organizations like The Clubhouse and there
are others around the state and the nation struggle to sustain themselves and offer these services.
Here at the Clubhouse we’re very conscientious about not applying for grants in a competitive
space with help need services so we work real diligently to not compete with the Salvation Army
or the Boys and Girls Club for those political you know top tier human needs concerns. And so
that eliminates a lot of opportunities for us to seek funding. We feel like we have figured out a
good system for that and you know want to be able to share that with other organizations around
the state. Next slide please. So our solution as a confidant is creating this training program that
centers around nuts and bolts if you will for a small business, (unintelligible) legal components to
owning a small business, marketing, human resources, federal guidelines giving folks that have a
great idea for a product the tools and backing, the technical skills that they need to launch and then
sustain a successful business. And I’ve got some information on here and all this will be shared
with ya’ll but it gives you the parameters for what qualifies the term disadvantaged is a term
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associated with the funding that we’re going to talk about in a bit but each county has slightly
different parameters for that and then how we will measure success here in the program. Next
slide please. So how does the training get funded? The Department of Labor as you can see
manages an enormous amount of money, $9.4 billion dollars in Discretionary Training Funds and
we have heard of them as Workforce Development Funds. And so inside of here locally the
regional commission is what covers Richmond County and then Workforce East Central Georgia
covers other counties that are you know included in the CSRA. And they manage Leola Funds
and that’s those Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Funds and it is, think of it as a bucket of
money to train those disadvantaged individuals in our community to either a first introduction into
training or a retooling of skills that support open positions in our community. So those
organizations work in tandem with industry and community needs. For example, Cyber. So we
all know that you know that we hear a lot of information about how we don’t have the current
workforce that we need to accept the open positions available for Cyber so the Regional
Commission in East Central Georgia have connections to potential employees that either lack the
skills you know who are underemployed and they work to bridge that gap to connect all those
pieces so that we have the people that we need with the skills that they need as a community and
that the members of our community have the skills that they need to be gainfully employed and
take care of themselves. So this legislation has always allowed for entrepreneurial skills training
but up until now we’ve lacked the accreditation system to access this opportunity. So the Federal
Legislation has you know nothing needs to happen on a legislative matter to, the approval is
already there for this. We just lack that essential accreditation system and with our most recent
grant award which is through the, the Lt. Governor created right before COVID happened a
committee that is the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation and they started seeking funding for that
and I believe that they had amassed a million dollars, they opened up a grant opportunity. We
applied along with multiple other organizations around the state and were awarded the first I
believe the only grant thus far from that organization. It’s $250,000 dollars and that grant is what
we are using to launch this program and four other like programs around the state. So Make Startup
is the name of the program so the Make Startup Certificate of Entrepreneurship is the bridge
between these federal funds that already existed but just weren’t being utilized towards
entrepreneurship to folks in our community you know those that true American spirit of
entrepreneurship and fantastic ideas that we know exist in our community most especially to those
who are disadvantaged and have historically lacked the opportunity to go from those great ideas
and the ability to create a small business but not having access to the process or the funds to do so.
Next slide please. So our next step. Applications are now currently open for entrepreneurs or
hopeful entrepreneurs to apply for the program, and they’ll be open through the end of this month
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so still a full month with our first (unintelligible) beginning classes on Tuesday April 27. Some
of our other next steps, so if you think about this program having two main components. One is
training the actual entrepreneur; it’s taking them through the process that they acquire all the skills
and resources and networking that they need to be successful and then the accreditation validates
that training and will open up capital to them. So currently without a personal relationship with a
commercial banker it’s very difficult for an individual to access small business capital and so this
accreditation process will help to verify and acknowledge the training that individuals have had
and their readiness to manage capital business. Like I shared about earlier we are launching, so
the Clubhouse is the first pilot of this program and there will be four others in cities around the
state. We are quite excited about being able to launch this you know from our home city here and
have the connections and the opportunity to shine if you will not necessarily as an organization
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but as a city. And so that our goal for each site is to train 50 entrepreneurs, it’ll be 25 individuals
per coport and then of course around the state that’ll give us 250 statewide. And then from there
establish a national training and accreditation program you know that will always be centered here.
Next slide please. So I, so that is the program this is the project: Bridging the Digital Divide. So
there are several wonderful organizations like I spoke about earlier. The Chamber of Commerce
has a Digital Divide Taskforce that the Cyber Center here with Eric Fuller and his team. I know
that they’re working on this and this is where we are in this equation. We all recognize a huge
disparity between folks who have adequate access to the internet. COVID amplified that times a
million. We see it most especially with our students and our seniors not just the school but seeking
healthcare and mental healthcare, connecting all the resources that we need. And so in those places
in our community that either have no access or inadequate access there are plenty of pockets where
there is access but it’s not affordable. And then we also have the hurdle of there might be access
and it’s not affordability but there’s the component of adoption, people having more mental
barriers not recognizing the value or fears around the internet and so those are kind of the three
biggest hurdles to getting connected. So we have, we were connected to an organization that has
a pilot in with the Michigan school system and then also in Dallas, Texas they reached out to ELA
and they connected us to the Clubhouse so that’s eight or ten months ago and we’ve been working
with them so they got these pilot areas. We applied for a grant here with them and are just waiting
to hear on that grant and a significant portion of that grant is for us to find a regional director of
digital inclusion. One of the hurdles is that it is such a difficult problem to solve that without
someone really championing that full time it makes it difficult to continue to move that ball. Their
concept is a municipality led similar to a co-op and will eventually be revenue positive and so
obviously this sort of infrastructure supports education, small business growth, healthcare and just
our overall community connectivity. Next slide and thank ya’ll for hanging in with me this is the
last one, how you can help. The biggest component or the biggest way that you can help honestly
is by sharing the opportunity for budding entrepreneurs in your district. Once they apply to a
program, we’ll help them walk through the LEOLA funding process and if they fall into that
disadvantaged category all the training is covered through these Workforce Innovation
Opportunity Act Funds. And so the program is open to any entrepreneur that wants to you know
gain the skills through the program. Anyone can self-pay but we anticipate an majority of the
applicants or probably 50/50 will qualify for the training to be covered. Also to, other ways you
can help think about and utilize the Clubhouse as your subject matter expert in all things connected
to innovation and entrepreneurship. Eric Parker and Grace Bellangia are both founders here, both
still you know deeply connected to the organization and work here full time and have vast
resources. I know that several of you are connected to them. And reach out and I want to encourage
all the Commissioners to reach out, reach out to me I can connect you to them but use us in the
same way that you would economic development or Augusta and Company. And so one of the
other things I want to highlight is the opportunity to offer to some of these graduate businesses the
opportunity for the city to be a first customer so as you go through a bid process and you issue an
RFP we’d like to explore the opportunity to have a set aside or highlight the opportunity for small
businesses and especially disadvantaged new businesses you know to apply for those and help
them get off the ground to overcoming those first initial hurdles. And then for those of you that
you know have any connections or resources to other policy makers to help us move this process
along in our area and across (inaudible) and I believe that is my last slide, is that right?
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Barr, thank you for your presentation and are there any
thth,
questions? Commissioner from the 8, Commissioner from the 8 you’re muted.
Mr. Garrett: (Inaudible) technology thing, Mayor. You know us diaper dandies hadn’t
quite fully got the grasp of it. Joy, I appreciate you so much for presenting today and these are
some really good opportunities. I’m most excited really about the broadband project and I really
hope that becomes a fruition here just because we’ve come to see the areas that are really
underserved in our area. We’ve heard from constituents that have come in and talked to us about
their inaccessibility to having internet access. You mentioned a letter of support. Is there a specific
request for one right now or this just a general letter of support?
Ms. Barr: Yes and thank you for that so in how you can help. We do currently, so as I
mentioned earlier when we apply for grant funding, we’re very mindful to not be competitive with
those health services. And so an organization called the Kaufman Foundation has an open grant
so an example of how the Commission could support us through a letter of support we can apply
for a grant and use the, it’s $15,000 dollars and use those funds to pay our instructors for the
entrepreneur training program but we have to work in conjunction with the municipality for that.
So if the City of Augusta can issue a Letter of Support for this specific program then that opens up
funding opportunities so not seeking funding from the city but your support and partnership in a
more formalized way allows us to seek funding in other places so we do have that current
opportunity now for that $15,000 dollars. And so either departments inside of the city or we have
you know we work with HCD and I know that they can’t offer Letters of Support without
Commission approval so that’s kind of an example of, I’m not sure if ya’ll offer letters in a more
general way or if they are always tied to a specific ask and I can understand where you’d want
them to be tied to a specific ask.
Mr. Garrett: I appreciate that yeah and I think that us as a Commission I think that this is
definitely something that we would look into supporting especially as it reaches the gap that’s out
there in regards to digital access. Thank you, Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Ms. Barr ---
Ms. Barr: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, thank you. Madam Clerk, all right, we’ve got just a few more
items, a few more items on our agenda at this time and ---
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Joy, for doing this.
Ms. Barr: Thank ya’ll very much.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, thank ya’ll. Madam Clerk, we’ve got just a few more items that
are left for us. It has been brought to my attention that there was a meeting that the Judicial
working group met with Burke County and so there’s some information that I think they’d like to
share with us. That would probably best be fit under Other Business when we get to that point.
14
But again we’ve got just a few more items that are before us at this point. Let’s go to Item #26
and 27.
The Clerk:
OTHER BUSINESS
26. Discuss commissioners resuming to chambers (in-person). (Requested by Commissioner
Catherine Smith McKnight)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. McKnight: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Bringing this back maybe one day earlier than we
had talked about it about 30 days ago, we had discussed the fact that maybe we were try to get
back into the chambers in person. Mr. Donald presented to us that we come back, discuss it so
I’m bringing it today and what I was going to do is make a motion to resume meetings in person
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April 13 the week after Masters.
Mr. Clarke: I’ll second that motion.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. When I made the motion for 30 days I’d like to
hear from the Administrator as far as the 30 days I think it’s next week but I’d like to hear kind of
where he’s at on this for me please.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Substitute motion to May 1, substitute motion to May 1.
Mr. Mayor: All right, you’re muted again, Mayor Pro Tem, but let’s do this let’s just hold
that, let’s hear from the Administrator and then I’ll come back to you, okay?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
Mr. Donald: Good afternoon, Mayor and Commissioners. I think Commissioner Frantom
is correct. We’re on track to present those findings for next, at the next committee meeting or the
next meeting of the Commission. The current status is while there hasn’t been a date for
recommendation, I think we do have to have a plan to reenter safely. One of the biggest obstacles
that I would have, I had an opportunity to speak to have a candid conversation with Commissioner
McKnight earlier today is that if you were to place all of our staff and Commission in the same
Chamber without certain precautions then let’s say one person was to come up positive, you
basically take out your whole commission and staff at one time. And so I think there’s some things
that we can do to alleviate those challenges, we’re working on those things now and we’ll have
them prepared for next week. I think she made a good point that there are other entities including
15
the Georgia Senate that are meeting regularly but also as I expressed to Commissioner McKnight
they actually test I verified today by calling the General Assembly on Mondays and Thursdays and
then they have a protocol for if someone comes up positive how you actually coordinate that and
how long they’re out. I think they do a mandatory seven days and three consecutive negative tests.
And so we’re establishing those same draft protocols as well as the process for reentering into the
chambers and we’re on schedule to have those for you next week. And, Commissioner Frantom,
I think I answered your question because you just wanted a status update from what I understood
of where we are for next week and where we are right now.
Mr. Frantom: Yeah and I appreciate your follow up. I guess I kind of put you on the spot
st.st
a little bit like the Mayor Pro Tem is about May 1 Are you feeling confident about May 1 or are
you kind of, you know?
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Mr. Donald: I would tell you not as, I’m more confident about May 1 than I am April
th.
13 I think we have to have, I’ll have to inquire with Procurement and some others to make sure
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we can get that space ready by then but definitely more confident about May 1 than I am April
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13.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right again I’m going to go to the Mayor Pro Tem but let me
say this that unequivocally as we’re giving considerations to returning to the chamber we’re going
to have to have not only safety measures in place as the Administrator indicated, got to have
equipment in place and so that means that we will utilize emergency procurement procedures to
do that. This will not be something that we stand idly by on but we will exercise emergency
procurement procedures in order to get that done while there’s an interest in returning to the
chamber. This is a still ever growing pandemic, we’re excited that vaccinations are available to
include the third vaccination or vaccine the Johnson and Johnson which is a single dose hopefully
will be arriving in the State of Georgia soon but even with that we’ve got new strains of the virus
and we have to make sure that we provide for the health and welfare and safety of all of our citizens
but without questions those individuals who are employees in this local government and that
includes those of you as elected officials as well and those things have to be in place before we get
back into that chamber. All right, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, sir, can you hear me ---
Mr. Mayor: We can now.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- can you hear me ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
th.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- okay. Like Commissioner McKnight I was thinking April 13
In fact I polled a couple of people to see which way they wanted to go but it’s been pretty much
indicated to me that the Administrator needs a little bit more time so that’s why I made the
substitute motion to May 1.
16
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. McKnight: So would that motion, that substitute motion being from May 1 does that
mean that is the day we’re going to be back in the chambers in person?
Mr. Mayor: Well, it failed because it didn’t get a proper second. Commissioner from the
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8.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. I have a question for the Administrator before you know
I make a second or support the original motion.
Mr. Mayor: Continue.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. Administrator, you mentioned that the state is meeting
and you know that the representatives up there are testing twice a week. Are they allowing the
public inside during their meetings or are they still excluding the public?
Mr. Donald: They’re excluding they’re actually having, you know they’re allowing them
to do the one on one meeting at the discretion and within the safety measures of the individual
elected official but they’re not allowed on the floor and things of that nature like they normally
would be.
Mr. Garrett: So in regards to local municipalities is that something that we can look at as
well?
Mr. Donald: Oh, absolutely, yes, sir. You have the authority to develop how you
coordinate that and I think my recommendation is likely going to include kind of staggering how
you do your staff so that everyone’s not in there at the same time. And then secondly limiting the
access to the public to those who might be presenting and things of that nature but, yes, you could
kind of mirror and my recommendation is going to align very closely with those successful
procedures that they’ve have.
Mr. Garrett: And in regards to these emergency procurements that the Mayor stated that
we’re going to need what sort of items are we going to need? I mean we’ve know that we’re going
to have to be preparing to meet in person for quite some time. I know that the plexiglass is already
in place as well as other measures. What else is needed?
Mr. Donald: Yes, I mean some of those things won’t be on the emergency so the
temperature checks and all that stuff we’ve already kind of put those on order but the actual size
of the Chamber does not necessarily fit the public. So based on what the Commission approves
because we don’t know which direction you’re going to go in just yet if you allow the public in
then we’ll likely have to procure other materials to kind of reconfigure the Chamber. If it’s only
going to be staff and elected officials then we can likely just stagger our staff and have you guys
safe behind the plexiglass and then we reconfigure where our staff would be sitting and responding
to you.
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Mr. Garrett: So do the motions need to be restated to state about the intentions of the
Commission with the public?
Mr. Donald: So I again defer to the will of the Commission. My recommendation has not
presented yet because my assessment is not complete so any decision that the Commission offers
today is fully up to the Commission and we’ll observe and comply.
Mr. Mayor: May I suggest that we allow the Administrator to complete his
th
recommendation consistent with what the Commissioner from the 7 requested I don’t know two
weeks ago. And it’s on the docket to be presented on next week at which point in time you’ll have
an opportunity for a more thoughtful conversation because you’ll have that data and associated
background to support whatever decision you make.
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Mr. Garrett: I’ll second May 1.
st
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have a question for our Administrator maybe for
yourself as well. How often are we receiving updates about COVID numbers you know cases in
Richmond County, how often do we receive those updates?
Mr. Donald: Yes, and we’re monitoring those on a daily basis. I’ve been trying to get those
in the middle of the second and third week because that’s when they are kind of verified or whatnot.
And so you receive those on a regular basis except when we have a closure or something of that
nature internally I just send those as they come.
Mr. Johnson: Okay, yeah, I would, thank you, Administrator Donald. I would agree with
the Mayor I think we ought to allow you to finish your assessment and come back to us before we
make a decision on a date to go back to the chambers. You know I would, it’s important we take
this pandemic seriously. I’m in favor of returning back to the chambers but I want to make sure
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we do it in a safe way. While I think May 1 is a good date to chart towards I just I would hate
for us to move prematurely without hearing recommendations from your office and also you know
put us a position where we’re going to have to ping pong back to virtual. So you know that’s just
my opinion. I think we ought to wait for your recommendation and with that thank you, Mr. Mayor,
recognizing.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. My question is a procedural issue. You had declared the May
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1 motion by the Mayor Pro Tem had failed for lack of a second and then ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: (Unintelligible).
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Mr. Sias: --- my colleague from the 8 turned around and said well, he was going to second
it. 15 minutes later after it had been declared a failure, failed. So my question is that is in my view
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that’s an invalid second. I’m just, I’m expounding on the procedure here so I don’t see that as a
valid second to a failed motion.
Mr. B. Williams.: Okay, so can I second it again I mean can I do it again, Mr. Mayor, if
he doesn’t see that as valid?
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to toss it over to the Attorney. I think that the Commissioner from
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the 4 raised a very valid concern. The Chair recognizes Attorney Brown, Attorney Brown.
The Clerk: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: He’s sitting there.
Mr. Sias: And again to my colleague the reason I raised that issue is we have a fair motion
and then 20 minutes later somebody come back well I second that so (inaudible).
Mr. B. Williams: That’s fine so if I could make it again that’s fine. If not, we’ll deal with
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August, I mean April the 13 or what have you but Mr. Brown has the floor.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Attorney Brown for a ruling, Attorney Brown.
Mr. Sias: Does he know what he’s ruling on?
Mr. Brown: No, I do not.
Mr. Sias: Come on now.
Mr. Brown: No, I was working on that kind of hot button issue that the Administrator just
announced these meetings can be had physically in the chambers and to exclude, exclude the public
that certainly bears a need for research in that the State Legislature is not bound by all the sunshine
laws that local governments are so I was just assigning that to one of the senior attorneys to jump
right on that so I did not hear your latter discussion.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 4 you’ll restate this concern, Commissioner
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from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. I hear the Administrator trying to jump in but I, Attorney Brown ---
Mr. Brown: Yes, sir.
rd.
Mr. Sias: --- there had been a regular motion made by the Commissioner from the 3 The
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Mayor Pro Tem from the 5 made a substitute motion and after a period of time the Mayor declared
that that motion failed for lack of a second. And then another period of time passed and the
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Commissioner from the 8 said well, he’s going to go back and second that motion, the substitute
motion that failed due to a lack of a second. My question is I’m concerned that if we could just
anytime go back and say the motion that didn’t get a second you can throw one up 30 minutes later
19
and say I’ll second that motion. It’s my belief and understanding that once it was declared failed
by the Chair and that was the end of that unless another motion was made, thank you.
Mr. Brown: Actually that’s an easy call. That is correct. The motion failed to get a second,
it died. It cannot be resurrected by a second at that time. When a motion is made, there is to be
no further discussion until there’s a second. If there is no second, the Chair is supposed to
announce that the motion dies. The problem we have sometimes is that a motion is made, we
allow discussion and then second of the motion. You have the motion and a second before any
discussion occurs. In this case the second occurred but the problem we have here is that the motion
had been declared dead by the Chair.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Gotcha, so Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- let’s just go back to Ms. McKnight unless she just wants to rely
on the report next week or what have you that’s fine, I’m good.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- but what I really do believe is that we’ll probably end up with
waiting on the report, we’ll probably end up back in the chamber sometime in May.
Mr. Mayor: --- I appreciate that and I’m going to get back to that here in just a second.
I’m going to give the Administrator an opportunity to clarify some statements that were made just
a moment ago and then we’re going to come back to this main matter and we’ll dispose of it. The
Chair recognizes the Administrator.
Mr. Donald: I think for, if Mr. Brown in doing that research the assumption is not that the
public would not be allowed to attend and participate in meetings. It would be that they would not
be in the chamber. So right now we are abiding by those sunshine laws having, giving the public
access as we are doing this virtual piece. What a recommendation could be and again we’re still
assessing it is that while you may be in person or some of you may be in person the public might
be accessing it through that hybrid channel similar to what we’re doing right now. I think
Commissioner Garrett eluded to that so it would not be excluding the public from participating in
the meetings. That would by no means be a part of any recommendation that we would bring forth
so I wanted to give that clarity to Legal.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: The only reason I wanted to try to get this clear is so we won’t have a barrage
of articles, newspaper articles tomorrow stating that the Commission is going to be physically in
session and physically exclude the public which beforehand is either not allowable or questionable.
I do hear what the Administrator’s saying because I know he was kind of put on the spot because
he hadn’t finished his assessment so he has not really made any recommendations at this point.
However I do think there’s arrangements to have the spacing that’s needed which will limit the
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public access to the chambers without a full exclusion. The problem you would have is and maybe
IT would help with this is if the meeting is to be a physical in person meeting and you attempt at
the same time to zoom it out so that the public can see everything as it has a right to do. You
usually have so much technology interference is the reason we didn’t do that earlier. But all those
things can be worked out and the Administrator certainly seems to have a handle you know on the
different aspects that you’re asking about. But I know Augusta is not intending to exclude the
public if the meeting is deemed a physical meeting.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to go back to what we said earlier. The Administrator is
still in the discovery and investigation phase for his final review. It is prudent for us to allow that
to take place and as he indicated earlier he’ll be prepared to make a recommendation and present
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on next meeting. I would urge the Commissioner from the 3 and those that are interested in
seconding a motion I would urge that any and all motions at this point be withdrawn and wait until
next week, get the recommendations and you’ve got a clean slate upon which to paint on your
canvas about when and a date certain of when to come back into the Commission chambers.
Ms. McKnight: Mr. Mayor, so we’re going to not vote on it now, is that what I’m hearing?
Mr. Mayor: That’s what I recommend but you’ve got a motion. I urge you to withdraw
your motion and you’ve got an opportunity to make a motion on next week.
Ms. McKnight: Or restate, maybe restate this and vote on it go ahead and vote, am I able
to do that?
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to leave that up to each and every one of you all to determine but
again you don’t have a full recommendation we’re just having a variety of conversations about
what could and should happen with not supporting date to back it up.
Ms. McKnight: All right so we can come back next week with Mr. Donald’s
recommendations and discuss it then and then make a motion to vote?
Mr. Mayor: That’s what I would recommend.
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Mr. Sias: Commissioner from the 3 you have a valid motion and a second. The Mayor’s
recommending you withdraw it. If you don’t want to withdraw it you don’t have to. Let’s just
keep it simple.
Ms. McKnight: Let’s just ---
Mr. Garrett: I think that’s not part of the procedure.
Ms. McKnight: --- let’s go ahead and vote please.
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Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, the motion before us if voting to return April the 13, voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
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Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan, Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ms. McKnight.
Ms. McKnight: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ms. Scott.
Ms. Scott: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Abstain.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: No.
Mr. Clarke, Mr. Garrett and Ms. McKnight vote Yes.
Mr. Frantom, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Scott and Mr. B. Williams vote No.
Mr. Sias abstains.
Motion Fails 3-5-1.
Mr. Mayor: Number 27.
The Clerk:
OTHER BUSINESS
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27. The Richmond County Board of Assessors requests the ratification of the contractual
agreement with Mr. Scott Roundtree who was selected by the Board as the new Chief
Appraiser for the Property Appraisal Office during a called meeting on Friday, January 29,
2021.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I don’t have an objection to this contract. It’s simple. I just want
to ensure that the Board of Assessors understand what I consider some valid points within this
contract. And if the Attorney has, if our Attorney has reviewed that contract, I would appreciate
it if he would let me know that if I’m right or wrong on this. I have a couple of points to make,
Mayor, and one of them is concerning Page 3 Section 6 and the second paragraph of Section 6 it
says that in addition for years 2 and 3 of this agreement the Board agrees to increase said base
salary and/or other benefits around treating such amount and to such extent as recommended by
the Board of Assessors with funding approved by the Augusta Georgia Commission but not in
access of such rates as granted general employees of Augusta and not to exceed 5%. What I
understand that to mean is that they can’t give the Chief Tax Assessor any larger raise than was
granted to the employees of Augusta as a whole. And then it says annual base salary provided
above shall be adjusted as necessary to include any cost-of-living adjustments i.e. COLA or merit
raises that may be given or awarded to Roundtree from time to time. So that means he’s eligible
for COLA and I don’t have a problem with that because the COLA is given to all employees. But
I just want to make sure in my untechnical view that that restricts the raise to what the rest of the
employees at a percentage. The second thing I want to bring our attention to is voluntary
resignation in this contract which is on Page 2 Section 4 Item C it says in the event Roundtree
voluntarily resigns his position with the Board before the expiration of the aforesaid terms of his
employment then Roundtree shall give the Board 90 days advance notice unless the parties
otherwise agree and this is a voluntary resignation. If such notice is properly given Roundtree
shall be entitled to receive severance if eligible as provided in the Augusta Georgia Personnel
Policy and Procedures Manual for SES employees. As we all know there is no longer a severance
pay for voluntary resignation for SES employees so in accordance with that he would be ineligible,
Mr. Roundtree will be ineligible for a severance pay if he voluntarily resigned. Now I just wanted
to bring those items out so we don’t have to argue or fight about that later. And if I’m wrong in
that I’d appreciate if the Attorney would correct me there and I would request that.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. The Chair recognizes Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: Yes, Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, Commissioner Sias as to the first section
that you referenced which I believe is Section 6 Paragraph 2 I believe that paragraph is
problematic, it is ripe for dispute and litigation. My interpretation of the first part that you read
regarding the first sentence that referenced the 5% I agree with your interpretation of that but that
is so poorly stated until I believe that will cause legal problems for this government as well as the
Board of Commissioners. I believe that paragraph needs to be restated so as it to be clear especially
given the history that we have for this position and this contract. The second part when you refer
to the COLA I believe that statement could be reasonably disputed and I think a more proper
interpretation of it is different from what you state. The way that is written the Board of Tax
Assessors could give him a COLA or give him merit pay. It does not restrict it to the COLA or
23
tied to the COLA’s that Augusta Georgia Commission authorizes so I believe that statement also
needs to be rewritten. As to 4C I agree with you in which you pointed out that his resignation and
any benefits he gets from resignation is tied to the PPPM and other informant policies of Augusta
and therefore the result would be as the PPPM and the policies are written right now if he
voluntarily leaves he does not get a severance so with that I do agree. But I do believe Paragraph
6 is significantly flawed and that I recommend that you do not sign this contract with the way that
it is written.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- can we just, can I just make a motion to simply send this back
and make the clarifications and/or make it clear about the separation pay and bring this back next
week?
Mr. Mayor: (Inaudible) second?
Ms. Scott: Second.
The Clerk: Can you clarify that, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Scott, she seconded that motion, Ms. Scott seconded that motion.
The Clerk: Thank you, to refer to next week Special Called Meeting?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: For clarification does that review also include what Commissioner Sias asked
about which is also Section 6 and 4?
Mr. Mayor: That review includes getting this contract in the proper form so that you can
represent it to the Commission for adoption whatever that means.
Mr. Brown: All right, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke, Mr. Clarke he’s out.
Mr. Mayor: He’s out.
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The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan is out, Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ms. McKnight.
Ms. McKnight: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ms. Scott.
Ms. Scott: 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.
Mr. Clarke and Mr. Hasan Out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, we’re going to go to Item #22 and then any new or other
business that might come up, all right?
The Clerk: Item number 28?
Mr. Mayor: Twenty-two.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
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22. Review and evaluation the claims against Gold Cross contained in the attached email.
(Requested by Commissioner Sammie Sias)
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Recently we all received an email from an anonymous person
expressing some serious concerns about the performances and issues going on with the Gold Cross
EMS Service that we contract with or have an MOU with to provide EMS Services for the City of
Augusta and 200,000 residents plus any time another 150,000 visitors on a daily basis. I’m very
much concerned about that but as is clear it’s anonymous letter so I’m not going to spend a whole
bunch of time saying everything in this email is correct. But, however, I think that email is a
wakeup call for us that we do need to get a little bit more intimate with our service provider for
EMS and ensure that we have some accountability in our MOU which we do not presently have at
the time. No response time, none of the issues or anything like that, no infractions. So the bottom
line is I think this is a bunch of wakeup calls for the Commission to actually review and look at
what it’s doing with them providing this emergency services is absolutely required and we have to
have it and right now we’ve taken our own ambulances out of service. I just think we need to be
really aware when you put all your eggs in one basket and then in this case the basket doesn’t
belong to us. So we’ve got all our eggs in somebody’s basket that belongs to somebody else.
Thank you, I’m done on that.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: You still here, Mr. Mayor? All right, the Mayor stepped out. Mr.
Donald, do you have some new item?
Mr. Donald: Yes, sir, there is one item ---
The Clerk: If we could, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, are we going take action on 22 or are we just
going to receive it as information?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Receive it as information.
The Clerk: Without objection?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah, any objections? We’re good, Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk: Okay, I’m sorry, I’ll read Item #28 added on Judicial Working Group Report.
Is that Mr. McDonald? Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, Mr. Donald?
ADDENDUM
29. Motion to approve a Joint Resolution of the Augusta, Georgia Commission of Richmond
County, Georgia and the Burke County, Georgia Board of Commissioners requesting the
Georgia General Assembly to specifically provide, within Senate Bill 9, clarifications of
impact and process and affirmations of provision for key components of the Augusta Judicial
Circuit that would be transitioned by Senate Bill 9 from three-county judicial circuit to a
two-county judicial circuit consisting of Richmond County, Georgia and Burke County,
Georgia and creating a single-county judicial circuit for Columbia County.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, ma’am.
Mr. Donald: Yes, so the Augusta Judicial Working Group that the Mayor assigned led by
Mayor Pro Tem Williams as well as additional Commission members as a portion of this group
had communication with Burke County who has agreed and found necessary to issue a Resolution
to the Georgia General Assembly in advance of crossover to clarify areas within Senate Bill 9 so
that there is not an adverse financial burden on the City of Augusta and Burke County as remaining
partners within the circuit. And so Attorney Brown has created a draft resolution and the partner
that Burke County will be meeting tomorrow to ratify that same resolution. They’ve had an
opportunity to contribute to it although the draft was completed today after a potential approval by
the Augusta Commission. It would then go to the Burke Commission where they would ratify it,
we would put it in the hands of our Delegation down at the General Assembly as well discuss it
and insure that those clarifications are placed in the bill so that there are no unintended
consequences which result in increased financial obligation to the remaining circuit.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, do we have any questions?
Mr. Donald: I believe, Madam Clerk, I believe we forwarded that resolution. I don’t know
if you wanted to put it on screen or just distribute it as such but it is very simple. If, Mayor Pro
Tem, if you wanted me to highlight those four key areas that we’re asking for clarification on.
The Clerk: (Inaudible) forwarded out to the Commission I will now.
Mr. Donald: Perfect that’s even better.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay so with, Mr. Donald, go ahead and go over those four points
for us.
Mr. Donald: Okay, well it is the Superior Court Justices are really the only area for which
there is very clear delineation within SB9 so we are asking for clarity in the other four areas which
would include Juvenile Court you know that we did a group grant that covers the entire circuit so
we’re asking for clarification on how those funds would be distributed because it’s not addressed
at all in the bill and we don’t want to carry those costs forward. Also how the insuring that the
Senior Judge Supplement remains the same that no new judges who were not a part of the judicial
circuit at the time of retirement are added which would of course add cost to us. I think we’re all
prepared to carry the cost otherwise. Also clarifications on the supplements that are allocated to
those senior judges, I’m sorry the judges that exist now within the circuit right now the way that it
is written in a very vague form it looks as if they would have Augusta, the Augusta Circuit carry
the Columbia County’s share when we believe that the intent based on their own committee
hearings is that the state would actually carry those costs. And so that type of clarifying language
even within the Public Defenders Office and the DA’s Office where again we keep the which we
support keeping the level of personnel the same but again the committee hearings actually allude
to the state carrying those additional costs but it is not clear at all within the bill. And so we support
the intent but without that being included in the bill it dumps additional costs on the remaining
circuit which of course would be unfair and something we wouldn’t support.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, is that that Mr. Donald, is that it, Mr. Donald?
Mr. Donald: Yes, sir, it is.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, do we have a motion?
Mr. Garrett: So moved.
Ms. McKnight: Second.
The Clerk: Is that Mr. Garrett and Ms. McKnight?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, ma’am.
Ms. McKnight: That’s correct, yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: To approve this resolution?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan out, Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ms. McKnight.
Ms. McKnight: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ms. Scott.
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Ms. Scott: 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.
Mr. Hasan Out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, is there any more business, Ms. Bonner?
The Clerk: No, sir, that’s it for me.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Donald, any more business?
Mr. Sias: I got one thing I want to say. I ain’t the Administrator but I want to tell Ms. Scott
I saw you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Donald, anything else?
Mr. Donald: We do have one personnel item for which there may be a motion that is
prepared.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
The Clerk: Is that going into, are we doing the item number ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Hang on, hang on a second, Mr. Garrett, Commissioner Garrett.
Mr. Sias: We’re going in Special Session.
The Clerk: --- well okay, that’s item ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Hang on a second, Mr. Garrett?
Mr. Garrett: Yes, I have a motion as Administrator Donald was speaking.
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The Clerk: Into Executive Session?
Mr. Sias: Got to go into Executive Session to do that, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Hand on a second, is that where we need to go, Mr. Brown?
The Clerk: Mr. Brown is muted, Mr. Brown you’re muted, sir.
Mr. Brown: If I recall correctly, that’s what the Commission stated that it would do. It
will go into Executive Session to discuss personnel on this week is what the Commission said last
week.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, is Jeff ---
The Clerk: Well, I need a motion to go into Executive Session. Who was that? Mr. Sias?
ADDENDUM
31. Motion to approve going into an executive session.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
Ms. Scott: Second.
The Clerk: Ms. Scott.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Right.
The Clerk: Okay, motion to go into executive session to discuss personnel. Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: I guess, yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan, Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ms. McKnight.
Ms. McKnight: No.
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The Clerk: Ms. Scott.
Ms. Scott: 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.
Mr. Garret and Ms. McKnight voting No.
Mr. Hasan Out.
Motion Passes 7-2.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Jeff, carry us to Executive Session.
\[EXECUTIVE SESSION\]
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Are we back on the floor?
Mr. Lewis: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Do we need a motion to end the Executive Session?
The Clerk: We need a motion to approve the Closed Meeting Affidavit.
32. Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia’s
Open Meeting Act.
Mr. Sias: So moved.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
The Clerk: Who was that second? Mr. Frantom?
Ms. McKnight: Five of us seconded. It was Sean.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Clarke.
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Mr. Clarke: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan out, Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ms. McKnight.
Ms. McKnight: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ms. Scott.
Ms. Scott: 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.
Mr. Hasan and Mayor Davis Out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Garrett, you have a motion?
ADDENDUM
30. Mr. Garrett: Yes, Mayor Pro Tem. I make a motion to accept the resignation of
Environmental Services Director Mark Mehall effective May 2, 2021 authorizing a severance
of 45 days based on the severance agreement to be developed by the Augusta Law
Department.
Mr. Sias: Second.
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The Clerk: Mr. Garrett and Mr. Sias, okay.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan out, Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ms. McKnight.
Ms. McKnight: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ms. Scott.
Ms. Scott: 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.
Mr. Hasan and Mayor Davis out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Is there any other business, Ms. Bonner?
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The Clerk: No, sir, that’s it.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Ya’ll have a great day. Francine Scott, stop scratching your head.
Ya’ll have a great day.
Mr. D. Williams: Take care.
Ms. McKnight: You too, bye, everyone.
Mr. Johnson: Bye, everyone.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom, can you give me a call?
Mr. Johnson: He’s left the meeting, he’s gone. Have a good evening.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena 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 Regular Meeting of The Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
March 2, 2021.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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