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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCalled Commission Meeting February 8, 2022 CALLED MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER February 8, 2022 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 8, 2022, the Honorable Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Johnson, Garrett, Mason, Frantom, B. Williams, Scott, McKnight, D. Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. 1. LEGAL MEETING A. Pending and potential litigation B. Real estate C. Personnel Mr. Brown: We request that we go into a closed session to discuss pending and potential litigation and personnel. Mr. B. Williams: So move. Ms. McKnight: Second. thrd Mr. Mayor: A motion from the 5 and the second from the 3. Voting. Mr. Frantom out. Motion carries 9-0. \[EXECUTIVE SESSION\] Mr. Mayor: We’ll reconvene. All right, we’ve got a few matters that we need to address before we proceed with committee meetings so at this time the Chair recognizes Attorney Brown. 2. Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia’s Open Meeting Act. Mr. Brown: Mayor Davis, Commissioners, we request a motion to execute the closed meeting affidavit. Mr. Garrett: So move. Mr. Frantom: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. D. Williams out Motion carries 9-0. 1 Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. I want to draw everyone’s attention. There was an item that was part of the addendum agenda for the special called meeting and that is to discuss the Waste Management contract. If there’s no objection, we’ll add that to the special called meeting agenda. All right, without objection. All right, the Chair recognizes Administrator Donald. Mr. Donald: Good afternoon, Mayor and Commission. This item as you know sanitation challenges have definitely hit Augusta and really all of our nation in response to COVID especially during Omicron. During that timeframe Waste Management invoked the forced majeure clause to basically highlight that these challenges related to COVID negatively impacted those services and made a request in lieu of breaking contract or anything of that nature to request to reduce their fines for the month of October only keeping November and December’s fines intact down to $125,000 for which they would pay and so the request for that would result in a removal of the forced majeure clause as well as the 90-day notice necessary and so as such this item is on the special called agenda for the Commission to make a motion if so inclined to make a motion to reduce October 2021 fines to the $125,000 and accept the recension of the forced majeure clause by Waste Management. Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve. Mr. B. Williams: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’ve got a motion to approve and a second. The Chair recognizes the th commissioner from the 8. Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. This is just for some clarification from the Administrator. In reading this I see where the last sentence says they reserve the right to exercise forced majeure in the future. I know that they’ve agreed to move forward with the fines as stated but do you not see a problem here with them exercising forced majeure to get us to anytime there is a month of high fines – Mr. Donald: No, I don’t only because the plan is to identify what a standard would be so that any time there is any challenge related to something that is unforeseen because usually you just handle that when it’s unforeseen. Since COVID is going to be here for a while and all of that good stuff the consolidated government would have the opportunity to agree to some approved upon thresholds and then it would eliminate it period for that category. Mr. Garrett: Understood. Thank you, Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I believe we’ve got a motion and a proper second. Voting on the adoption of the contract with the change. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. The Chair recognizes the General Counsel for the reading of a motion. 2 Mr. Brown: Thank you, Mayor Davis. We request a motion to accept the resignation of Odie Donald as Administrator and to acknowledge receipt of Mr. Donald’s letter of resignation. th Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 7. Mr. Frantom: So moved. Mr. Hasan: Second. th Mr. Mayor: A second from the commissioner from the 6. Voting. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. The Chair recognizes General Counsel for the reading of a motion. Mr. Brown: We would request a motion to authorize a salary of $89,484.66 for Bobby Dudley as Augusta Utilities Director Distribution Superintendent – th Mr. Mayor: Commissioner of the 8. Mr. Brown: -- effective 12/25/2021. th Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Garrett: So moved. Mr. Frantom: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. One more item. The Chair recognizes the General Counsel for the reading of a motion. Mr. Brown: Thank you, sir. A motion to approve a payment of $30,477.36 to Ms. Yolanda Bryant as payment for property repair and replacement for the property located at 2234 Darlington Drive, Augusta, Georgia, due to tree damage. rd Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 3. Ms. McKnight: So move. Mr. Hasan: Second. 3 Mr. Mayor: Voting. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. General Counsel, I believe that’s all the matters before us. Mr. Brown: That’s correct. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Mr. Brown: Thank you. \[MEETING ADJOURNED\] Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission CERTIFICATION: I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Called Meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission held on February 8, 2022. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 4