HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-24-1997 Meeting
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FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE ROOM - February 24, 1997
1:00 P. M.
PRESENT: Hons. Larry Sconyers, Mayor; J. Brigham, Chairman;
Handy, Vice-Chairman; Bridges and Beard, members; Jim Wall,
Attorney; A. B. McKie, Jr., Comptroller; John Etheridge, Human
Resources Director; Lori D'Alessio of the Attorney's Office;
Randy Oliver, Administrator; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and
Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission.
Also Present: Sylvia Cooper of the Augusta Chronicle,
George Eskola of WJBF Television and Hons. Powell and Zetterberg,
members.
Mr. Chairman: We have an addition to the agenda to
reclassify eight positions as requested by the Tax Commissioner.
What do you think about that?
Mr. Beard: What is the budget impact?
11.:!W1!.r.ir. Chairman: $17,000. I don't think we should do anything
until we get our classification study back. Do I hear a motion
-..--...---.---that-we not have any additions to the agenda? ..-......... .._....
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Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
The Committee first considered a request for waiver of
penalty by Lyons & Associates, Inc.
Mr. Wall: The checks did not clear for this and Mr. Lyons
says the checks were mailed. I recommend that we waive the
penalty and require them to pay the interest.
Mr. Beard: I move that we deny the request.
Mr. Bridges: Second.
Motion fails with Mr. Brigham and Mr. Handy voting "No".
A Resolution reaffirming the necessity of the "911" charge
per month upon each exchange access facility and to increase the
"911" charge from $1.15 per month per line to $1.50 per month per
lines, was read.
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Mr. Bridges: I move we approve increasing it to $1.50 from
$1. 15.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
The Committee next considered approval of advertising for
Home Rule amendment of the 1945 pension plan for Richmond County,
and the 1949 pension plan for City of Augusta so as to provide
that workers' compensation benefits shall not be subtracted from
emploYment-related disability retirement benefits.
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Mr. Etheridge: This would change the way the pension plans
address emploYment-related disabilities. In some cases a person
would receive more in workers' compensation than the actual
retirement. I don't think that was the intent of the.emploYment-
related disability clause of the retirement plans. This would
allow us to advertise for the Home Rule amendment for all plans
and to put a cap of 60% on there whereby an individual under an
emploYment-related disability could receive up to and no more
than 60% of their five years of earnings.
After a short discussion, Mr. Wall: Why don't you let us
bring back some scenarios on this and let you look at it?
Mr. Chairman: Okay. Do I have a motion we postpone this to
the next meeting?
-_.uMr . Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Handy: I second it.
Motion adopted unanimously.
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An amendment of 1977 Retirement Plan for Richmond County,
Georgia in order to provide for immediate vesting and
participation for department heads appointed as such by Richmond
County, Georgia, was read.
Mr. Wall: This can be done by Ordinance and would allow
immediate vesting for department heads. This became an issue
regarding the recruitment of department heads whereby it would
otherwise be five years before they are vested.
Mr. Beard: I so move.
Mr. Handy: Second.
Mr. Bridges: I'm opposed to this. This gives someone who
has never worked for the County an immediate vested interest.
Mr. Oliver: It means that they vest immediately and if a
person left after one year, they would get their contribution
back that was made into the plan.
After further discussion, the motion was adopted with Mr.
Bridges voting "No".
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ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting
was adjourned.
NWM
Lena J. Bonner
Clerk of Commission