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Home My WebLink About08-26-1996 Meeting I I I ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - August 26, 1996 3:00 P.M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry E. sconyers, Mayor; Beard, Chairman; Bridges, Vice-Chairman; H. Brigham and Powell, members; Charles Dillard, Interim Administrator for Operations; Linda Beazley, Interim Administrator for Administration; George patty, Housing & Neighborhood Development Interim Director; Sirena Rogers, Housing & Neighborhood Development Interim Director for Operations; Glenn Greenway of the Finance Department; John Etheridge, Human Resources Director; Homer Moore, Traffic Engineering Department; Keven Mack of Housing & Neighborhood Development Department; Jerry Saul, Tax Commissioner; North Williamson of the Tax Commissioner's Office; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission-Council and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission-Council. Also Present: Sylvia Cooper of the Augusta Chronicle, Gale Mino of WBBQ Radio, George Eskola of WJBF Television and Hons. Zetterberg, Mays and J. Brigham, Commissioners. The Clerk: and an addition program. We have an addendum to Item #1 on your agenda from Keven Mack regarding a grant for the HOME Mr. Powell: I move these be added. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Attorney regarding a proposed amendment to the UDAG Promissory Note and Loan Agreement which was previously executed between the City Council of Augusta and Ron1yn Corporation, was read. At this time Mr. Ben Allen, Attorney, appeared before the Committee regarding the above communication. Mr. Chairman: Mr. Brown is asking that this be changed to a grant and I think we should send it back to full Council for approval. Mr. Bridges: What documentation was made that he would receive this grant? Mr. Allen: It was apparently a verbal statement by the last administration that he would receive this money. As a result he purchased these buildings and wishes to move his headquarters there. Mr. Powell: He has a loan and he wants a grant also. Mr. patty: The recaptured UDAG funds can be used for this purpose if you choose to do it and we would have to execute this j amendment. There were no formal procedures that I'm aware that were in place when these loans or grants were given. come up with a process for the future for this type of transaction. of We've I Mr. Mayor: He is asking to have this $100,000 loan forgiven. Mr. Allen: That's correct. Mr. powell: I think they should be held accountable to the loan. Mr. Bridges: This is for a grant in addition to the loan. He is going to payoff the loan. Is there money to do this? Mr. Patty: There are UDAG funds. Mr. Jerry Brigham: If the City Council made a commitment, then we have a commitment to honor. If there was no official commitment, then this should stand on its own merits at this time. Mr. Chairman: I think there was a verbal commitment made by the Mayor and members of that committee. There were times when things went through committee and did not go through Council. I believe there was a commitment made. There was no documentation made other than verbal. I Mr. Brigham: I move that we send this to the full Commission. Mr. Powell: I'll second the motion. Mr. Mays: This commission can made a decision if the funding source is there and if the merits of the project deserve having grant money out a legitimate, legal funding source. I think you do have both a funding source and a need. Mr. Brigham: I would accept any amendment you want to present. Mr. Chairman: We can add that as an amendment based on the availability of funding and the need. Mr. Brigham: That would be fine. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Tax Commissioner requesting approval to fill the existing position of Bankruptcy Clerk that is now I vacant in this office with an employee that is to be transferred from another department, was read. I I I Mr. Chairman: Do you have someone in mind for this? Mr. Williamson: Yes, we do. Mr. Brigham: I move that we grant the request. Mr. Bridges: Is there money in your budget for it? Mr. Williamson: The money, as I understand, will be transferred from Butch's department to our department. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted with Mr. Powell voting "No". The Committee next considered a Fringe Benefit Communication Service Agreement with Select Benefit Consultants. Mr. Etheridge: I looked over this information and it is a good thing to do. But I'm concerned about us going into a new benefit package the first of the year and I think it might confuse our employees. We are also looking at a new software package in a few days as well. Mr. Powell: I asked Mr. Plowman to look at the equalization at the audit committee meeting and he may have some comments. Mr. Plowman: People get a lot of value in addition to their paychecks, including benefits, cars, etc. in the forms of service. Doing this now before you make any adjustments may be helpful. I'd be glad to look at it and report back on Tuesday. Mr. Chairman: Maybe you can both work together on it and discuss it. Mr. Powell: I move that we receive this as information and ask Mr. Plowman to report back to the next Committee meeting. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Interim Director recommending rebidding of 982 Broad Street and 984 Broad Street Facade restoration projects, was read. Communication from the Interim Director recommending revision to the Facade Rehabilitation Grant Program Guidelines concerning owner's responsibility for Lead-Based Paint Removal and restricting the number of Facade projects per contractor, was read. Communication from the Interim Director and Architect recommending approval of an application for a Tier #2 facade grant in the amount of $15,000 for 658-662 Broad Street, was read. Communication from the Interim Director and Architect recommending approval of an application for a Tier #2 facade grant in the amount of $15,000 for 822-824 Broad street, was read. I Communication from the Interim Director and Architect recommending approval of an application for a Tier #2 facade grant in the amount of $30,000 for 519 Greene Street, was read. Communication from the Interim Director and Architect recommending approval of an application for a Tier #2 facade grant in the amount of $15,000 for 1030 Greene Street, was read. communication from the Interim Director and Architect recommending approval of an application for a Tier #2 facade grant in the amount of $30,000 for 1102 Laney-Walker Blvd., was read. Communication from the Interim Director and Architect recommending approval of an application for a Tier #2 facade grant in the amount of $30,000 for 415 Seventh Street, was read. Mr. Powell: I move for approval. Mr. Bridges: Second. I Motion adopted"unanimous1y. Communication from Keven Mack stating the Georgia Department of Community Affairs has granted Augusta-Richmond County Consolidated Government permission to participate in the State's FY 96 HOME and CDBG competition (see attached letters). In accordance, the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department is asking you and the Council-Commission to allow us to apply for the maximum $200,000 grant to continue the HOME program for the suburban are~ of the consolidated government. This is the housing rehabilitation program that was administered by the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority. Applications are due to DCA by September 16, 1996, was read. Mr. Brigham: I move for approval. Mr. Powell: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: was adjourned. There being no further business, the meeting Lena J. Bonner Clerk of commission-Council I NWM