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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09-1998 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - February 9, 1998 1:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Bridges, Chairman; H. Brigham, Chairman; Beard and J. Brigham, members; Randy Oliver, Administrator; Jim Wall, Attorney; Glenn Greenway, Acting Comptroller; Harrison Sears, Tax Assessor; Harry Siddall, Fleet Manager; North Williamson, Tax Commissioner's Office; John Etheridge, Human Resources Director; Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission and Belinda Brown of the Clerk's Office. ABSENT: Hon. Larry Sconyers, Mayor. Also Present: Sylvia Cooper of The Augusta Chronicle, George Eskola of WJBF Television and Stacey Eidson of The Metropolitan Spirit. At this time Mr. Melvin Nichols appeared before the Committee regarding the 1949 Pension Plan. Mr. Ben Jackson: I am here on behalf of Mr. Nichols. He is retired and was a member of 1949 Pension Plan who did not receive the $2,000 which was given to some members of this pension plan. He is requesting that he be included to receive this money as the others in the plan did. He did not retire voluntarily; he was a part of the layoff in 1995. Mr. Wall: I was at first under the impression that there were no individuals who retired after January 1, 1995 other than the enhanced early retirement people. I subsequently discovered that there were about 14 or 15 people who retired prior to the enhanced early retirement but subsequent to January 1, 1995. If a person retired prior to January 1, 1995 with 25 years of service, he would get 50% of his salary. If a person retired on January 1, 1995 or thereafter, he would get 53.75% of his salary. The $2,000 adjustment was to take care of those people who retired prior to January 1, 1995 because they didn't get the benefit of this increase that went into effect January 1, 1995. If we gave it to the 14 or 15 people, they would get $2,000 more than an employee who retired today. After further discussion of the matter, Mr. J. Brigham: I move that we receive this as information. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request for refund of 1996 taxes in the amount of $173.45 for overpaYment of taxes on Map 33-3, Parcel 227, was read. Mr. H. Brigham: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A Resolution authorizing the Tax Commissioner to waive penalty and/or interest up to $350.00 for payment of delinquent taxes, was read. I Mr. Wall: The words "or interest" should not be in there. We get requests from taxpayers who have penalties and after meeting with Jerry Saul, the idea was to come up with a procedure so we wouldn't have to bring so many up here. Mr. J. Brigham: I make a motion that we deny it. Motion dies for lack of a second. Mr. H. Brigham: I make a motion to approve. Mr. Beard: Second. Mr. Oliver: I think there should be some kind of quarterly report showing what the Tax Commissioner's Office abates so that we can see how much money is involved. Mr. Beard: I think that's reasonable. Motion adopted with Mr. J. Brigham voting "No". I A contract between Augusta-Richmond County and Shiloh Comprehensive Community Center which is part of the Capital Improvement Plan of Phase 3 of the 1% Sales Tax, was read. Mr. Wall: These are the monies remaining to carry through the rest of the contract. I think the contract is in order and we recommend approval. Mr. Oliver: It's my understanding that CDBG is to be reimbursed and I think we need to set that forth in the contract. Mr. Wall: Okay. Mr. Oliver: And I would suggest that we add onto the end of it "with reimbursement of any CDBG funds". Mr. H. Brigham: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second it. Motion adopted with Mr. J. Brigham voting "No". A request for a waiver of ad valorem taxes on the' following properties belonging to Springfield Village Park Foundation, Inc.: I 1202 Reynolds Street, 1211 Reynolds Street, 1133 Jones Street, Reynolds Street, Acct. #97A0364024040, 1222 Reynolds Street and 111 Twelfth Street, was read. I I I Mr. Oliver: This is a policy decision you need to make. They have asked that these properties be exempted at least for the current year and it amounts to $6,323.98. Mr. J. Brigham: Are these properties currently being rented? Mr. Wall: I do not know. Mr. 0liver: There may be one that is still being rented but I can find that information out and bring it back next time if you would like. Mr. Chairman: Why don't we pull this off and do that? We'll bring it back at the next meeting. A request to approve funding request to purchase five Ford Crown Victoria automobiles at a total cost of $109,000 for the Marshal's Department, was read. A request to approve funding request to purchase eight Ford Crown Victoria automobiles at a total cost of $192,000 for the Sheriff's Department Civil and Fugitive Division, was read. A request to approve funding request to purchase 15 mid-size, 4-door automobiles at a total cost of $244,500 for the Sheriff's Department Criminal Investigation Division, was read. A request to approve funding request to purchase 100 Ford Crown Victoria automobiles at a total cost of $2,496,000 for the Sheriff's Department Road Patrol Division, was read. A request to approve funding request to purchase one Ford Crown Victoria automobile for the R.C.C.I. Department, was read. A request to approve funding request to purchase one Ford Crown Victoria for the Fire Department and lease the unit through Georgia Municipal Association, was read. Mr. Oliver: All these items are budgeted. After a discussion of the matter, Mr. J. Brigham: I make a motion we approve. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve a waiver of late payment penalty in the amount of $626.47 on the tax bill of JHBC, Inc., was read. Mr. Wall: The Tax Commissioner has indicated that there was an incorrect address when it was mailed out. You may want to consider instituting a progressive penalty system. Mr. Oliver: I agree with the progressive penalty. Florida had one that was similar and I think it's a more equitable situation and you may want to think about it for next year. And then you don't waive any of them. I think we may have to work with ACCG and GMA on that because that will take statewide legislation. Mr. J. Brigham: I think we should pull this because we haven't heard a reason why the person wants it waived other than he didn't get the tax bill. I Mr. Wall: The Tax Commissioner verified by letter that there was an incorrect address in the system. It does not identify who was responsible for it but they recommend the waiver. Mr. Chairman: Does anybody object to pulling this off and bring it back at the next meeting? No objection noted. Mr. Chairman: We'll do that. A request to approve the amended organizational structure for the Finance Department, was read. Mr. Beard: I would like to have a little more time to look at this before I vote on it. We don't have a permanent Comptroller at this time and if we're going to get one, maybe we should hold off until that time. . I Mr. Chairman: Would you want to look at it and possibly bring it back at the next meeting? Mr. Beard: At the next meeting or possibly a little later than that. I move that it be pulled at this time and brought back at another time. Mr. Oliver: There are two points I would like to make. The new structure provides for a Grants Accounting Coordinator which is important to work with departments to make sure the grants are properly accounted for and to provide assistance in securing grants. We've eliminated an Asst. Comptroller position and created a Budget Analyst position which we really need. We're not changing any of the staff numbers. Mr. Chairman: Why don't we bring this back at the first meeting next month and that will be four weeks. A request to abate balance of 1997 taxes on five parcels of land purchased by the Richmond County Department of Health for the' construction of New Health Clinic on Laney-Walker Boulevard, was I read. Mr. J. Brigham: I'll make a motion we abate it. I I I Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to abate balance of 1997 taxes on property of Blair Properties, L.L.C. in the amount of $95.95 on Map and Parcel No. 223-0-004-02-0 and $86.44 on Map and Parcel No. 224-0-006-00-0 - property which Augusta, Georgia bought from Blair Properties on September 29, 1997, was read. Mr. J. Brigham: I make a motion we abate it. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Nancy W. Morawski Deputy Clerk of Commission NWM