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Home My WebLink About12-08-1997 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - December 8, 1997 12:30 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry Sconyers, Mayor; J. Brigham, Chairman; Handy, Vice-Chairman; Bridges and Beard, members; Jim Wall, Attorney; Randy Oliver, Administrator; Harry Siddall, Fleet Manager; Geri Sams, Purchasing Agent; Clifford Rushton, IT Director; Ron Crowden, Risk Management; Glenn Greenway, Acting Comptroller; Harrison Sears, Tax Assessor; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission. Also Present: George Eskola of WJBF Television, Sylvia Cooper of The Augusta Chronicle, Stacy Eidson of The Metropolitan Spirit, other members of the news media and Hon. Robert Zetterberg, Commissioner. Mr. Wall: I'd like to pull items 13, 15 and 16 off which deal with the franchise agreements. Mr. Bridges: I move that we delete items 13, 15 and 16. Mr. Handy: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve participation in the Georgia Fund 1 Local Government Investment Pool, was read. Mr. Wall: This changes the authorized person to sign to Mary Grady. Mr. Bridges: I so move. Mr. Handy: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to amend 1997 budget for the Clerk of Civil Court in the amount of $4,000.00, was read. Mr. Handy: I so move. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A refund of prior year taxes, 1995 and 1996, in the amount of $447.86 for overpayment of taxes on Map 30, Parcel 110, was read. A refund of prior year taxes, 1996, for overpayment of taxes as follows: Map 71-4, Parcel 14, $673.96; Map 71-2, Parcel 297, $314.13; Map 71-2, Parcel 296, $613.00; Total $1,1601.09, was read. A refund of prior year taxes (1994, 1995, 1996) in the amount of $1,190.61 for overpayment of taxes on Account #1053545, was read. I A refund of prior year taxes (1994, 1995, 1996) for overpayment of taxes on Boat Account 2007406.02 (total $319.29), was read. Mr. Handy: I move these be approved subject to the Attorney checking to be sure the 1994 taxes can be refunded. Mr. Bridges: I'll second that. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to award the vehicle maintenance service contract to Tecom Fleet Services for January 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998 and authorize establishment of a County Fleet Manager position (pay grade to be determined), was read. Mr. Oliver: We received four bids for this and Tecom provided the best price and the highest level of service. Transit and Utilities vehicles will be brought into this program leaving only Bush Field out at this time. We would also like to establish the position of Fleet Manager who would be concerned with our best interest rather than any company who has the I contract. He would be responsible for writing specifications as Mr. Siddall has done as it relates to buying vehicles. (Mr. Beard enters the meeting) After a lengthy discussion and presentations by representatives of Tecom and Ryder, Mr. Bridges: I move that we approve the bid of Tecom Fleet Services. Mr. Chairman: I'll second the motion. Motion fails with Mr. Handy voting "No" and Mr. Beard not voting. Mr. Bridges: I'd like to make a motion that we approve the establishment of a County Fleet Manager position and follow the normal procedure in filling that position. Mr. Brigham: I'll second that motion also. Motion fails with Mr. Handy voting "No" and Mr. Beard not voting. A request to waive 1997 property taxes in the amount of $683.10 for 404 Walker Street, $1,006.43 for 412 Walker Street I and $845.52 for 414 Walker Street which belong to The Hale House Foundation, was read. I I I Mr. Bridges: I so move. Mr. Handy: ,second. Motion adoPTed unanimously. A request td grant compensation of $300.00 per month since July 1, 1997 to Judge Hamrick for serving as Chief Judge of ~tate and Municipal Court, was read. I Mr. Handy: II so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I A request to approve budget amendment in the amount of $125,000 for the City Attorney, was read. Mr. Handy: I so move. Mr. Beard: I'll second it. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approye an amendment to Grant No. 97-C-LB310 from the State of Georgta Department of Community Affairs, deleting the disburseme~t of funds in the amount of $10,000 to the Adult Development Center, and authorizing disbursement of funds in the amount of $5,000 to Souths ide Tutorial Program and disbursement of funds in the amount of $5,000 to Macedonia Connection, Inc., was read. Mr. Handy: jI move for approval subject to the state contract. Mr. Bridges Second. Motion adop ed unanimously. I I A request to abate,1997 taxes on Map 131, Parcel 99, Windsor Spring Road, Collier Land Management, was read. Mr. Wall: This is!the County's portion of the taxes that we acquired through right-of-way. I Mr. Bridges: I so move. Mr. Handy: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next/considered the establishment of an Internal Audit oepartmejt. I Mr. Oliver: I was asked to do an analysis as it relates to I the establishment of an Internal Audit Department. I believe that for an organization this size that the internal audit work should be done within the organization. This department would work for the Mayor and Commission because it would be a conflict of interest for it to work for the Administrator, but obviously there would have to be a close working relationship. We have written some modified job descriptions which would include a Manager, a Senior Auditor and a Junior Auditor with the necessary educational qualifications. There would also be a need for some start-up money for capital. We currently spend between $180,000 and $192,000 for these services. Mr. Bridges: I make a motion that we approve the establishment of an Internal Audit Department. Mr. Chairman: I'll second it. Motion fails with Mr. Handy and Mr. Beard voting "No". The Committee next considered the matter of the 1945 Pension Plan. At this time Mr. Jesse Redd and Mr. Lester Newsome appeared before the Committee representing the pensioners and requesting an increase in their retirement benefits. Mr. Oliver: The actuaries and legal people say that the I funding for a plan has to be at 150% or you have to contribute. That means that you have 50% above what you need if everybody makes their projections. Based on what the actuary is saying, we do not meet that requirement and so, based on the legal require- ment without making an additional contribution, we could not increase the benefits under this plan at this time. This is based on the actuarial report as of 1/1/97. It is my understand- ing that two people have passed away, one with no beneficiary and the other one I don't know, and that could potentially change the numbers. They have not been reworked for that. After further discussion and presentations by Mr. Redd and Mr. Newsome, Mr. Bridges: I move that we refer this to the Commission without a recommendation. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request for a refund of prior year taxes, 1996, in the amount of $11,840.54 for overpayment of taxes on Account No. 2031444, was read. Mr. Beard: I move it be approved. Mr. Handy: Second. I Motion adopted with Mr. Bridges abstaining. I I I The Committee next reviewed the Third Quarter 1997 Financial Results. I Mr. Greenway outli,ed the main points of the report. i Mr. Handy: I mOVejthat we receive this as information. Mr. Bridges: SeCOjd. Motion adopted unanimously. I ADJOURNMENT: Ther~ being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. I I Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission NWM