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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-23-1998 Meeting I ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - November 23, 1998 2:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. H. Brigham, Powell, Vice-Chairman; Beard and Shepard, members; Keven Mack, HND Director; Lon Morrey, Comptroller; Lillian Katharine Blanos, Augusta Clean & Beautiful Director; Jim Wall, Attorney; Randy Oliver, Administrator; Sirena Rogers of the Planning Commission; Sheriff Charles Webster; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission. ABSENT: Hon. Larry Sconyers, Mayor. Also Present: Stacey Eidson of The Metropolitan Spirit, Sylvia Cooper of The Augusta Chronicle, George Eskola of WJBF Television and Hons. Mays, Colclough and Handy, Commissioners. The Clerk: We have a request to add an item regarding funding for the CSRA Regional Development Center. Mr. Beard: I so move we add it. Mr. Shepard: Second. I Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Powell out of the room. A request to approve a transfer of CDBG grant from Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church Social Services Ministry to N.B.C.-U.S.A. Housing Inc., Thirty, was read. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. Shepard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Powell out of the room. A request to approve $4,000 from 1998 Community Development Block Grant funds for the Augusta Richmond County Planning Commission, was read. Mr. Beard: I move for approval. Mr. Shepard: I second it. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Powell out of the room. I A request to approve an additional $20,000 in 1999 Community Development Block Grant funds for Communities in Schools, was read. Mr. Beard: I move it be approved. Mr. Shepard: Second. I Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Powell out of the room. A request to approve $5,000 from 1997 Community Development Block Grant funds for the Augusta Youth Center, was read. Mr. Shepard: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Powell out of the room. Mr. Mack: We would like to have the CSRA Regional Development Center come in and assist us with our loan program and also provide some technical assistance and perform some economic development planning in the Laney Walker area. This would cost $5,000 for their assistance. (Mr. Powell enters the meeting) Mr. Beard: Second. I Mr. Shepard: I move it be approved. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next heard a presentation from Mr. Keith Benson of the United Way regarding the concept ofIndividual Development Accounts. Mr. Benson: These are accounts set up by individuals and families to assist with housing in the revitalization of inner-city neighborhoods. This program allows people with low and moderate incomes to establish savings accounts targeted toward down payments for the purchase of homes in targeted areas. Their contributions are matched by government and local partners and require that the participants attend education classes designed to help them with home ownership. This is a national program and locally, we are proposing a five-year project beginning in January, 1999 with a projected 225 accounts established with 25 in 1999 and 50 each year thereafter. We are talking to about seven initial partners and the commitment from the City would be $40,000 over the five-year period amounting to $200,000. Mr. Oliver: I would suggest that if we go fOIWard with this that we make the commitments subject to businesses making the commitments for the other three to one so that there would be that four to one match in the community and I think that's achievable. I I Mr. Powell: I move for approval with Mr. Oliver's recommendation to be included. Mr. Shepard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next discussed the Weed and Seed Project Director's position. Mr. Colclough: The Commission previously approved two interim positions for the Project Director for a year. I would like for you to approve posting that position, interview for it and hire someone for the two interim directors to train during the year so they will be ready to go into the job. Mr. Beard: I think it was already our plan to train someone to take over at the end of the first year. I could see hiring someone in about six months but I don't see why we need to hire someone just now. After further discussion, Mr. Shepard: If you were thinking about a six-month training period, then were you considering hiring someone in approximately April or May? I Ms. Blanos: Yes, that was our plan. Mr. Oliver: It may be better to hire an Administrative Assistant! Assistant Director that can work themselves into that position because the transition would be somewhat seamless. And that makes sense because with a department, I always want to be in a position where the number two person can take over operation of the department if something happens to the number one person. Mr. Bridges: How much money is budgeted for this position? Ms. Blanos: $14,500 per year. After further discussion, Mr. Oliver: It may also make sense to hire someone a little later for a higher salary in order to build up the reserves available. Mr. Powell: I'd like to make a motion that we get Mr. Oliver to bring us back a scheduled plan in order to hire this program ( sic) and address Mr. Colclough's concerns about training and bring it back to us as a recommendation on which way we should go with this. I Mr. Beard: I'll second that. Mr. Mays: Is that the salary that will be offered? Mr. Oliver: Ms. Blanos and Ms. Mercer's year will expire at the end of September and at that time the money being paid to them will go away and will ultimately come to whoever the successor is. We would then go back to a conventional Director and Assistant format, and I think the numbers can be worked to bring them in at the Assistant's level, if you will at about $20,000, and make it so they have an opportunity to advance assuming they do a good job. I think I can work that out and bring back a proposal next time that will meet everyone's needs. I Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena 1. Bonner Clerk of Commission NWM I I