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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-29-2004 Meeting I ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGENDA COMMITTEE ROOM - March 29, 2004 1:00P.M. 1. Report from the Administrator's Evaluation Sub-Committee regarding goals and objectives. 2. Report regarding a listing of the Section 8 Program Housing by district and the rules for participants in that program and a listing of the government subsidized housing program by district and by street for the City of Augusta. (Requested by Commissioner Cheek) 3. Consider approval of salary discrepancy in the Motor Vehicle Dept. 4. Approve to transfer supervision of custodian from Library to Public Works. 5. Approve City's participation in an Agreement to support preparation of an application under HUD's HOPE VI Program. 6. Communication from the Mayor regarding the securing of abandoned buildings. . I 7. Approve revisions of current promotion policy. 8. Approve salary of $68,000 for Airport Finance Director. (See background information under Item 7 on Public Services) .- -- I I I ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - March 29, 2004 1:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Bob Young, Mayor; Hankerson, Chairman; Grantham, Co- Chairman and Acting Chairman; Cheek and Mays, members; Steve Shepard, Attorney; George Ko1b, Administrator; Jerry Saul, Tax Commissioner; North Williamson of the Tax Commissioner's Office; Gary Swint, Main Library Director; Warren Smith, HND Director; Brenda Byrd-Pelaez, Human Resources Director; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission. ' Also Present: Stacey Eidson of the Metro Spirit; Haley Dunbar of the Augusta Focus and Hons. Beard, Sims, Boyles, Smith and Williams, Commissioners. 1. Report from the Administrator's Evaluation Sub-Committee regarding goals and objectives. Mr. Cheek: I'd like to recommend these ten goals and objectives for your review and approval and 1'11 make that in the form of a motion. . Mr. Grantham: I'll second that to get it on the floor. After a lengthy discussion of the various goals and objectives, the motion failed with Mr; Mays not voting and Mr. Hankerson out. Mr. Cheek: I'd like to make a motion that you appoint the same sub-committee that worked on these goals and objectives to meet in October to develop the grading tool that will be used to measure the performance against these goals. Mr. Grantham: I'll second it for discussion. Motion failed with Mr. Mays not voting and Mr. Hankerson out. 2. Report regarding a listing of the Section 8 Program Housing by district and the rules for participants in that program and a listing of the government subsidized housing program by district and by street for the City of Augusta. (Requested by Commissioner Cheek) After a lengthy discussion of the report, Mr. Cheek: I move thatwe receive this as information. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Hankerson out. 3. Consider approvaf of salary discrepancy in the Motor Vehicle Dept. 1 , Mr. Saul: This would equalize the salaries for the two office managers of the two offices. After a discussion, Mr. Cheek: I move to approve it. I Mr. Mays: I'll second it to get it on the floor. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Hankerson out. 4. Approve to transfer supervision of custodian from Library to Public Works. Mr. Swint: The custodian at the Main Library is under the pension plan of 1977. When he decides to retire he can take his health care insurance with him. The library employees are under the teachers' retirement system with the exception of the custodian and lunchroom workers. We need to move our health care insurance to the Georgia Health Care Insurance and we cannot do that, the state says, as long as we have this person listed on our payroll because if we did, we would have employees who have access to two cafeteria plans for insurance. So we would like to transfer him to another department. We will continue to pay for everything, but he will just not be listed as an employee of the public library. It has no financial impact. 'Mr. Mays: We can approve this and in order not to delay the process, we can move it officially from here today with enough signatures so that they can get that person into the system so that they caD. proceed-quickly. I Mr. Shepard: I think you have enough time because it doesn't have to be done until July. Mr. Mays: I so move. Mr. Cheek: Second. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Hankerson out. 5. Approve City's participation in an Agreement to support preparation of an application under HUD's HOPE VI Program. .Mr. Smith: This is to allow the City to approve the participation with the Housing Authority in preparation of going through a process to prepare the plan for a HOPE VI Project for Gilbert Manor revitalization. It means that the city would provide $50,000 as part of a $200,000 application cost and it would be part of the overall effort to initiate a process to plan the redevelopment of Gilbert Manor and the revitalization and improvement of housing to make for a better quality of life. The process would set up committees, initiatives, councils and allow work with the neighborhood associations and residents to move forward with the application to bring about $20 million into the community for the redevelopment effort. We have to have the commitment of the city I 2 I I 1 for a 5% match before we submit the application. We can take that language out at this point because we're not ready to move with the application yet. After a lengthy discussion and various questions from Commissioners, Mr. Ed Tarver: We would like to discuss all of this with you in a workshop. Mr. Williams: Does this project affect the CHDOs in that it stops them from what they're doing to focus on just one project? Mr. Smith: Absolutely not. Mr. Williams: Has anyone been told to stop their project? Mr. Smith: Let me go back. . . Mr. Williams: Have the funds for these CHDOs been stopped because of their lack of participation from even 2003? Mr. Smith: The year 2003 and year 2004 funds went into a moratorium, which means we stopped funding, because we had a major crisis in match. We had a million dollar match deficit. We've been working with the CHDOs to figure out how to resolve that match issue. We've been doing it as a team and we've been doing it with our consultants and we've finally gotten to the point where we've turned the corner on it. Mr. Williams: Have you or anyone from your office come to this body and told us that because of the shortfall, we have stopped the funds in these CHDOs? Mr. Smith: I reviewed this with the Administator. After further discussion, Mr. Grantham: I'll entertain a motion that we accept this as information today with a workshop to be arranged in the very near future. Mr. Mays: I so move. Mr. Cheek: Second. Mr. Mays: When Marion asked about the money, you said you had consulted with the Administrator. A second question was about the match money. Most of the CHDOs have complained that our staff does not know adequately how to calculate the match and what the government could use. That was a major complaint and they said if the city had known how to adequately calculate what could be used for a match and what they had, they could have greater sat down and explained to you what was there. If you calculated that and sent it to the Administrator, those are the type of things that should be brought to our attention so that we can deal with it. When we have the workshop, MCG also needs to come to the table with their plans other than what we've already heard. 3 6. Communication from the Mayor regarding the securing of abandoned buildings. I Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. Mayor: We're all concerned about the appearance of our community and one thing that would help improve the appearance of commercial and residential buildings is securing them in such a way that is attractive rather than placing a piece of plywood up there. I'm suggesting that we change the code so that the manner in which a building is secured would be complementary to the architectural style of the building. I would ask the Commission to refer this matter to the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Commission so that they could explore this, develop the appropriate language and then refer the revised ordinance back to us for consideration. Mr. Mays: I move that it be approved. Mr. Cheek: Second. Could they also study a sunset clause on boarded up houses? I've got several in my district and there is presently no limit on how long they can be boarded up. If they could just study that, look at what other cities are doing and make a recommendation back to us. I'll amend the motion to that effect. Mr. Mays: I'll accept that if he will also add that we seek funding for people who want to improve their property. I Mr. Cheek: I'll accept that. Mr. Williams: We also need to address the issue of people who have walked away from their property and just left it to deteriorate. Motion adopted unanimously. 7. Approve revisions of current promotion policy. Ms. Pelaez: Currently an individual can be hired in at 10% over the minimum of the new range without going before the Commission for approval whereas an employee interested in that position would be limited to either 15% of their current salary or the minimum of the new range thereby more or less making a 10% gap in the current salary ofthe employee and the new hire. We propose to eliminate the difference and make it a level playing field. Therefore, now when an employee is eligible for a promotion we would remove the current requirement of having to serve in your position for one year as well as allowing the employee to receive up to 15% of their current salary or 10% over the minimum of the new hire range, whichever is greater. However, if the department director wanted to give more than 10% of the minimum of the new salary range, they would come before the Administrator and request approval to have it approved by the Commission. I 4 I Mr. Shepard: We need to write that amendment and I would suggest that Brenda and I get together between now and the Commission to get it ready for next Tuesday. Mr. Cheek: I so move with the attorney to come back as he suggested. Mr. Mays: Second. After further discussion, the motion was adopted unanimously. 8. Approve salary of $68,000 for Airport Finance Director. (See background information under Item 7 on Public Services) Mr. Mays: I'm going to make a motion to get it on. Mr. Grantham: I'll second it to put it on the floor. Mr. Williams: Are there any other benefits with this? Mr. Boshears: Just a cell phone and a pager. This position is classified as a 57. The applicant is now at a salary grade 59 and she is currently making the minimum of that salary grade which is about $64,000. So she would get a pay raise by moving to the airport. I Mr. Hankerson expressed his concerns about the negotiation of the salary for the position. Motion adopted with Mr. Hankerson voting No. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena 1. Bonner Clerk of Commission nWffi 1 5