HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-28-1997 Meeting
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FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE ROOM - July 28, 1997
1:00 P. M.
PRESENT: Hons. J. Brigham, Chairman; Bridges and Beard,
members; Randy Oliver, Administrator; Jim Wall, Attorney; Glenn
Greenway, David Collins, John Mitchell and Cheryl Nelson, Finance
Department; Donna Williams, Accounting Department; Brenda Byrd-
Pelaez, Equal EmploYment Opportunity Officer; Harry Siddall,
Fleet Manager; John Etheridge, Human Resources Director; Drew
Goins, Asst. Com. of P.W. & Director of Engineering; Clifford
Rushton, IT Director; Jack McAdams, Tax Commissioner's Office;
Geri Sams, Purchasing Agent; Max Hicks, Utilities Dept. Director;
Tom Wiedmeier, Asst. Utilities Dept. Director; Harrison Sears,
Tax Assessor; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Nancy
Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission.
ABSENT: Hons. Larry Sconyers, Mayor and Handy, Vice-
Chairman.
; .1' ,A.l;s!O!! present: . 'Sylvic{liCpop'e'r'.io1f ':I'hel ~l!l9u'sta Chronicl~r
George Esko1a of WJBF Television, Rosemary Forrest of The
Metropolitan Spirit and Hons. Mays, Todd and Zetterberg,
..'.. Commissioners.... . . . ... ... ........
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The Committee first considered a review of the zoning appeal
costs associated with Zoning Appeal Cases.
Mr. Oliver: We had a request from the Zoning Appeals Board
for an increase of $10,000 for their budget to support the cases
they hear. It's our opinion that these cases should be self-
supporting and should not be paid out of general fund dollars.
They have some concerns that by raising the fees, it may
encourage some people not to bother to file at all. We are
requesting that the fees be increased to $125 and that we do a
budget amendment to increase their budget by $5,000 for the 'year.
Mr. Beard: I so move.
Mr. Bridges: I'll second.
After a discussion, Mr. Wall: I had thought that the
Appeals Board would be looking at adjusting those fees themselves
so I think it would really be up to them to consider making an
adjustment and I think ultimately it.would be their decision.
Mr. Beard: I'll amend my motion to recommend to them that
the fees be increased to $125.
Mr. Bridges:
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I'll second that.
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Motion adopted unanimously.
A request for $37,000 for Personal Computers for Probate
Court, was read.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: I second it.
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Mr. Oliver: The purpose of this is to provide computer
capability to a department that has none at all.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request from Kathleen M. Daniel (Emergency 911) to
purchase 15 years 0 months prior years service in the 1977
Pension Plan, was read.
A request from Larry J. Smalley (Fire Protection) to
purchase 15 years 6 months prior years service in the 1977
Pension Plan, was read.
A request from Jack H. Milton, Jr. (Fire Protection) to
purchase 5 years 5 months prior years service in the 1977 Pension
Plan, was read.
Mr. Beard: I so move.
Mr. Bridges: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
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The Committee next considered the third and final
installment of Ryder Maintenance Agreement.
Mr. Oliver: This contract needs to be bid. Jim, do we have
a sixty-day termination for convenience provision in this?
Mr. Wall: 90 days. The expiration of the agreement was
back in April and it should have been extended at that time and
it was not.
Mr. Oliver: Let me be responsible for getting the RFP
together and we'll take bids and it would be effective 1/1/98.
We can extend this agreement through the end of this year.
Mr. Bridges: I move that we extend this agreement through
December 31 pf this year.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A first draft of the policy for local ARC Grants to
qualified agencies or groups, was read.
Mr. Chairman: With everything else on the agenda today, do I
ya'll want to postpone this?
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Mr. Oliver: Yes, we can postpone this.
Mr. Beard: I move that we postpone it.
Mr. Bridges: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
The Committee next considered cancellation of 18 security
deeds in favor of Richmond County made during the years 1986 to
various property owners under the Richmond county Rehab Program.
Mr. Wall: This will clean up the record on this and we
recommend approval.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request to approve the Chevrolet Cavalier 4-Door
Automobiles as the 'County standard administrative vehicle for
1997, was read.
Mr. Oliver: We're trying to downsize our fleet as much as
possible and we've found that we have much larger vehicles on the
road that are much more costly to maintain than we need to. This
would help standardize the fleet on an annual basis.
Mr. Siddall:. We compared four different vehicles and rated
them on a number of criteria.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A requisition for one each Chevrolet Cavalier 4-Door
Automobile, was read.
A requisition for two each Chevrolet Cavalier 4~Door
Automobiles, was read.
Mr. Siddall: These vehicles will replace vehicles which
will be moved to departments where they are greatly needed.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request for issuance of a bid for one each Aircraft
Refueling Truck (estimated cost $100,000), was read.
Mr. Oliver: This is for a new truck for Bush Field.
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Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request for funding of $23,000 for the requisition of one
Crew Cab Pickup Truck, was read.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request from Thomas E. Polite to terminate contributions
from the 1977 Pension Plan and receive a refund, was read.
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Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Motion adopted unanimously.
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Mr. Beard: Second.
A request for refund of prior year taxes - 1994, 1995, 1996
in the amount of $115.94 to Robert L. SYffiffis for paYment of taxes
in error, was read.
A request for refund of prior year taxes - 1994, 1995 in the
amount of $17.06 to Ronella B. Hobby for paYment of taxes in
error, was read.
Mr. Sears: This is for their boats in Columbia and McDuffie
Counties. The law requires that you pay the taxes in the County
where the boats are located.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A requisition for one each Portable Air Compressor valued at
$12,000.00, was read.
Mr. Oliver: This is for breaking up concrete for Roads and I
Bridges.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
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Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request to approve funding of $22,000 for the requisition
for one IS-passenger van, was read.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Chairman: I'll second it.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request for waiver of tax penalty on 1996 personal
property taxes for Norwest Equipment Finance, Inc. in the amount
of $856.07, was read.
Mr. Wall: They admitted they did not send the check due to
delays and I recommend that you deny the request.
Mr. Bridges: I move we deny the request.
Mr. Beard: Second~'
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request for authorization of signers on Government's Bank
Accounts, was read.
Mr. Oliver: This updates the signature cards for several
accounts of the government.
Mr. Bridges: I move it be approved.
Mr. Beard: Second.
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Motion adopted unanimously.
A request to approve Pension Bond Account Agreements with
Prudential Securities for the Richmond County 1945 Pension Plan
("1945 Plan"), Retirement Plan for Employees of Richmond County,
Georgia effective January 1, 1977 ("1977 Plan") and City of
Augusta General Retirement Fund ("1949 Plan"), was read.
Mr. Wall: This allows Prudential to purchase bonds now that
they have the proper paperwork.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request to review and approve modifications to the tax
bill providing for itemization of law enforcement expenses, fire
protection and street light charges, was read.
Mr. Oliver: This shows a breakdown of the fees charged.
Mr. Chairman: As this bill is presented, you will show a
greater cost accounting to the taxpayers of the fees collected
for the different services and showing everyone that we are
getting around to eventually, charging the same fee for the same
service.
Mr. Oliver: That's right.
Mr. Beard: I move we receive this as information.
Mr. Bridges: Second.
Mr. Oliver: And then we'll go ahead and work with the
proper authorities to get this implemented on the tax billings.
Motion adopted unanimously.
Mr. Chairman:'--Do'we -need to do 'i'tem#23 right now?
Mr. Beard: I move that we delete and postpone item #23 at
this time.
Mr. Bridges: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
An amendment of the 1977 Retirement Plan for employees of
Richmond County so as to provide that disability retirement
benefits shall be 50% of the employees' average earnings, as
opposed to 25%, was read.
Mr. Etheridge: I ask that you approve this.
Mr. Oliver: This will make it consistent with the other
pension plans.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request for approval of revised capital item budget for
utilities Department with no change in funding, was read.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
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Motion adopted unanimously.
An agreement between Richmond County and the Richmond County
Health Department regarding funding of the new Public Health
Clinic, was read.
Mr. Oliver: There is a
funding in subsequent years.
to make this work or do some
shortfall.
problem with the allocation of
We either have to juggle projects
short-term borrowing to cover the
After a short discussion, Mr. Beard: I move that we approve
the contract and ask the Administrator to bring back a
recommendation as to how to reallocate the projects.
Mr. Bridges: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
Communication from Mr. Lee Beard submitting the
recommendations of the sub-committee regarding the following
allocations of $750,000 in Urban Sales Tax Phase III funds:
Augusta Mini -Th-eater '-inn the amount of $550 i 000 for
construction of a new facility in the inner city.
Imperial Theater in the amount of $200,000 for repairs
and renovations.
Mr. Beard: I so move that we approve the funding for these
two projects.
Mr. Bridges: Second.
Mr. Tyrone Butler made a short presentation regarding their
proposed construction for the Augusta Mini-Theater.
After a lengthy discussion, Mr. Oliver: I would suggest
that we prepare a contract for these projects that says what the
responsibilities of the various parties are. You could also
release the money in phases as the work is performed.
Mr. Norm Easterbrook made a presentation regarding the
proposed renovations to the Imperial Theater.
After further discussion, Mr. Chairman: The motion is to
approve this.
Mr. Oliver: Subject to bringing the contracts back to this
Committee.
Mr. Chairman: Right.
Motion fails with the Chairman voting "No".
A request to approve a $173,000 request for funding for two
new state Court Judges; their secretaries and related supporting
items as mandated by the local delegation. Approximately $66,000 I
of this request is capital items and are not of a recurring
nature, was read.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request to approve a modification to Information
Technology Organization Chart deleting an Application Developer
position and adding a Lan Administrator position at a savings of
$6,016 annually, was read.
Mr. Oliver: We are making an adjustment to reclassify a
position downward based upon the needs of the department.
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
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Motion adopted unanimously.
The Committee next discussed the allocation of $25,000 to
Better Business Bureau.
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Mr. Oliver: I believe that this should be done out of
license fees. We don't have the funding except from contingency.
Mr. Bridges: I move that we postpone any action on this.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request to enter into a contract with the low bidder, The
Pollock Company. If approved, Pollock will become the service
provider for copier service for the consolidated government. The
cost of the contract, if approved, will be $21,060.00 per month
for 36 months - total amount of contract $758,160.00, was read.
Mr. Oliver: Our recommendation is to go with Pollock, the
low bidder. One thing that came up is the bid bond issue and if
the bid bond issue is not viewed by the Attorney's Office as a
formality. That issue just arose this morning and we're going to
recommend reject and rebid. We don't like.it but we think that's
the thing we ought to do.
Mr. Wall:
it in light of
are provisions
that allow for
I recommend that you reject both bids and rebid
the bid bond. It's a stated requirement; there
in the specifications and in the bid documents
a waiver of formalities and irregularities and
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this is not a contract that would have required a bid bond,
however, the specifications do call for it. In the past in
contracts for Public Works and Utilities projects if there is no
bid bond, then you're not even supposed to open the bid. In
light of that, I think it's hard to say the way the legislature
treats it with utilities, that it is a mere irregularity and my
recommendation is to reject the bids and rebid it.
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
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