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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-1996 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - September 9, 1996 2:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; J. Brigham, Chairman; Bridges and Beard, members; A. B. McKie, Jr., Interim Comptroller; Charles Dillard, Interim Administrator for Operations; Linda Beazley, Interim Administrator for Administration; Jim Wall, Attorney; Kip Plowman, Acting Internal Auditor; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission-Council and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission-Council. ABSENT: Hon. Handy, Vice-Chairman. Also Present: Sylvia Cooper of the Augusta Chronicle, George Eskola of WJBF Television and other members of the news media. The Committee first considered the Comptroller's response and discussion of proposed Interim Financial Statements. Mr. McKie: I reviewed what we have and the format is basically what we're doing now with the exception of reporting monthly. We will have to budget monthly if we report monthly and we don't have a problem with that except it will be more effort. .' I would recommend that we stay away from budgeting by month but we could try to submit an alternative for your review including perhaps some operating statistics, performance indicators and that type of thing. We will bring something back to you at the next meeting. The Committee next considered the budget schedule and parameters for FY 1997 Budget. Mr. McKie: We have a budget timetable for your approval as well as some budget parameters for the budget. These are suggested plans and policies regarding the budget and issues that may come up during the year. After further discussion, Mr. Beard: I move that we approve the budget calendar and receive the rest as infQrmation. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. McKie: I am not ready with the item on the 911 fees. Mr. Chairman: We'll put that off until the next meeting. Communication from Harry D. Revell requesting the abatement of $364.35 in 1996 ad valorem taxes on property of the Estate of Leroy H. Simkins, Sr. which was purchased by Richmond County on August 30, 1996. The seller's portion of the 1996 taxes ($728.80) was collected at closing and has been forwarded to the Tax Commissioner, was read. Mr. Bridges: I so move. I Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from Harry D. Revell requesting consideration to declare the property located on Eustis Drive designated as Tract "F" on the attached plat as surplus property to be sold at public sale, was read. Mr. Wall: Probably the only person interested in acqu1r1ng this would be the adjacent property owner and I recommend that you allow us to declare it as surplus and be auctioned off. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. Chairman: I have several things to add to the agenda and also to discuss. One is a request from the Attorney on the subordination of a mortgage. Also Mr. Osteen wants to address us I about Springfield Village and the other is a request from Mr. Redd and Mr. Newsome to address us about the pension plan. Butch, do you have something? Mr. McKie: I have information from the actuary on the 1949 general retirement fund and report on progress toward one general ledger and one budget and one chart of accounts. Mr. Bridges: I move we add these. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. Wall: I have a letter from Barney Dunstan who represents the Moores. This is the Cotton Exchange and there is an outstanding security deed to the Moores for $300,000. The second security deed is in favor of the City Council of Augusta in the amount of $150,000 and Augusta Tomorrow has a third security deed. This would not change the position of the Consolidated Government with respect to this loan but it would simply allow them to secure new financing for the first mortgage in the amount of $300,000 and it would take yotir consent and I recommend approval of it. Mr. Bridges: I move it be approved. I Mr. Beard: Second. I I I Motion adopted unanimously. At this time Mr. Monty Osteen appeared before the Committee regarding the Springfield Village Park project. Mr. Osteen: I'm here as a member of the Board of Directors of the Springfield Village Foundation. We are developing a commemorative park and living history museum in the Springfield Baptist Church area. We are requesting to rearrange the sales tax funding commitment of $1.3 million dollars which was scheduled originally for 1999. Circumstances have changed so that we need to move our calendar up because the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame wants to acquire a piece of property that would have gone to Springfield Village. There are two tracts of property for sale across 12th Street and we would like to acquire these in lieu of the other property. We need to purchase both tracts and we have one under option and are negotiating on the other. We are requesting that you take half a million of the $1.3 million which was allocated in 1999 and and move it to 1996 so that we can go ahead and purchase the property and move the project along faster than had been expected. After further discussion, Mr. Beard: I move that we receive this as information and have Butch look into the possibility of some of the options for funding and report back to us at the next meeting. Mr. Bridges: Second. Mr. Chairman: I'd like a review also of Phase II and Phase III funding. Mr. McKie: I'll have that at the next meeting. Motion adopted unanimously. At this time Mr. Lester Newsome and Mr. Jesse Redd appeared before the Committee regarding the 1945 pension plan. Mr. Newsome: We are concerned about the pension plan being depleted by some 14 people who are in the plan and will have a chance to retire and there are also 25 to 27 others who need help. Mr. Redd: All of us received 30 years and 60%. We understand you have recently removed the cap from this and none of us retired with salaries in the category they are today. We are asking that you consider giving people such as us 10 years additional, which is 20% more, to our pensions. Any help we can get from you will be greatly appreciated. Mr. Beard: I move that we receive this as information. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. Chairman: We will consider appointing a sub-committee on this later. Mr. McKie: We received an actuarial report on the City's 1949 general retirement fund and the actuary would like to present this report to the full Commission and I would request be put on the agenda for next week. it Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. McKie: I would also like to report that we have been working on consolidating the chart of accounts. We have completed that and we will be ready to distribute the budget documents to all departments on time so that we can budget on the County system one budget for next year. Mr. Chairman: Do you want to add that to our agenda for the next Committee meeting so we can adopt the chart of accounts? Mr. McKie: Yes, sir, please. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission-Council N~ I I I