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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-09-1998 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - March 9, 1998 1:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry Sconyers, Mayor; Bridges, Chairman; H. Brigham, Vice-Chairman; J. Brigham, member; Clifford Rushton, IT Director; Glenn Greenway, Acting Comptroller; Randy Oliver, Administrator; Harry Siddall, Fleet Manager; Jim Wall, Attorney; Harrison Sears, Tax Assessor; North Williamson of the Tax Commissioner's Office; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission. ABSENT: Hon. Lee Beard, member. Also Present: Sylvia Cooper of The Augusta Chronicle, George Eskola of WJBF Television and Stacey Eidson of The Metropolitan Spirit. The Committee first heard a presentation from representatives of Augusta Tomorrow who outlined their current plans regarding the development of the Downtown Master Plan area. A request for a waiver of 1997 property taxes, penalty and interest in the amount of $5,425.13 due on property donated to Augusta Preparatory Day School, was read. Mr. Wall: This is for property at 607, 609 and 611 Broad Street that they hold title to. They use this property in connection with their educational activities. It would not qualify as tax exempt property but on occasion you have, where property is used in connection with a church, is generally where it's been done. I submit it to you. It is not church related, it is just non-profit private school. Mr. J. Brigham: I move that we deny it. Mr. Bridges: I'll second that. Motion fails with Mr. H. Brigham voting "No". A request for a waiver of 1997 property taxes, penalty and interest 1n the amount of $314.00 due on property acquired by Augusta-R1chmond County, was read. Mr. Wall: This is the F & D property that we acquired after the first of the year. We recommend approval. A request to approve abatement of 1997 property taxes, penalty and interest on property described as Tax Map 22, Parcel 160, in the amount of $292.12, was read. Mr. Wall: This is also in order. Mr. ~J. Brigham: I move that we waive the taxes on both. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve the amended organizational structure for the Finance Department, was read. Mr. Oliver: We believe that this chart has a minimal savings but it makes the functional responsibilities line up better, in our opinion, and provides for a Grants Coordinator. This person in the first year will spend a lot of time with the data processing work but ultimately will work with grants. It also provides for the elimination of an Asst. Comptroller position and the establishment of a Sr. Financial Management type position to do financial analysis and we recommend favorable consideration. Mr. Chairman: Are both of these positions budgeted? Mr. Greenway: Yes, sir. After further discussion, Mr. J. Brigham: I move we adopt the organizational chart. Mr. Chairman: I'll second that. Motion fails with Mr. H. Brigham voting "No". A request for refund of 1996 taxes in the amount of $23.13 for erroneous payment of taxes to Richmond County, was read. A request for refund of 1996 taxes in the amount of $28.91 for erroneous payment of taxes to Richmond County, was read. A request for refund of 1996 taxes in the amount of $110.26 for erroneous payment of taxes to Richmond County, was read. Mr. J. Brigham: I move we abate these. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request for refund of 1996 taxes in the amount of $129.30 for overpayment of 1996 taxes on Map 139, Parcel 117, was read. A request for refund of 1996 taxes in the amount of $129.30 for overpayment of 1996 taxes on Map 84-4, Parcel 274, was read. A request for refund of 1995 and 1996 taxes in the amount of $258.60 for overpayment of taxes on Map 16-2, Parcel 168, was read. Mr. J. Brigham: I move that we abate. I I I Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to award a purchase order to Southlake Ford for 90 Ford Crown Victoria automobiles at a total cost of $2,093,400 for the Sheriff's Department Road Patrol Division, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Southlake Ford for one Crown Victoria automobile at a total cost of $20,432.00 for the Richmond County Correctional Institute (R.C.C.I.), was read. A request to award a purchase order to Southlake Ford for one Crown Victoria automobile at a total cost of $20,645.00 for the Richmond County Fire Department, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Southlake Ford for nine (9) Ford Crown Victoria automobiles at a unit cost of $23,222.00 for a total cost of $208,998.00 for the Sheriff's Department Traffic Division, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Southlake Ford for one Ford Crown Victoria automobile at a total cost of $21,091.00 for the Sheriff's Department Road Patrol Division, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Southlake Ford for four (4) Ford Crown Victoria automobiles at a unit cost of $21,045.00 for a total cost of $84,180.00 for the Richmond County Marshal's Department, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Southlake Ford for one Ford Crown Victoria automobile at a total cost of $20.749.00 for the Richmond County Marshal's Department, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Southlake Ford for five (5) Ford Crown Victoria automobiles at a unit cost of $21,676.00 for a total cost of $108,380.00 for the Sheriff's Department Fugitive Division, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Southlake Ford for three (3) Ford Crown Victoria automobiles at a unit cost of $21,171.00 for a total cost of $63,513.00 for the Sheriff's Department Civil Division, was read. Mr. J. Brigham: Do we have any policy on local preference? Mr. Oliver: No, we do not. Mr. Siddall: Only if the bid matches according to the procurement manual. Mr. Chairman: What is the difference in price on all .of these with the second bidder? Mr. Siddall: Probably about $90,000. After further discussion, Mr. J. Brigham: I move that we accept the lowest bid of Southlake Ford. I Mr. Chairman: I'll second that. Motion fails with Mr. H. Brigham voting "No". A request from the Augusta Chorale for funding to attend the spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, was read. Mr. Oliver: There are no funds budgeted for this. Mr. Chairman: We may want to put this off until the next time and let the Clerk notify.them to be here. Mr. Mayor: They were asking for $6,000. A request from Mr. James Florida to increase his disability retirement from 25% to 50%, was read. At this time Mr. Florida appeared before the Committee regarding the above request. Mr. Wall: Basically he is asking that the Ordinance be applied retroactively. I do not recommend any change at this time. I Mr. J. Brigham: I move that we receive this as information. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve a contract with RSI at $207,368.50 for Tax Billing and Collecting Hardware and Software, was read. Mr. Rushton: This is for our Tax Commissioner's Office and it will work well with what we already have. Mr. J. Brigham: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve a month-to-month lease to Alltel for property on Bertram Road to be used for siting of temporary telecommunications tower, was read. Mr. Wall: I would ask that you approve this without a monthly rent being included, subject to the documents meeting the recommendation of Mr. Oliver, the Mayor and myself. We had I I I I approved a tower to go in on the Washington Road fire station property and that tower has been constructed. It is going to have to be shortened to meet some problems and they are not certain as to whether that reduction will be 20 feet or 70 feet. If it's 70 feet, some antennas will have to come off and they will have to relocate in advance of the Masters. The only property the city owns in the area is the property the County acquired prior to consolidation on Bertram Road with that anticipation that a fire station would be built there. This would be on a temporary basis, if necessary; it would be on a month-to-month basis and we would have the right to terminate. Some other company may choose to build another tower in the area to alleviate the problem. I'm asking that you approve it knowing that the documentation has not been presented and I can't give you all of i.t to go forward. Mr. J. Brigham: I think we need to make a motion to give the Mayor, the County Administrator and the Attorney the right to negotiate on this piece of property for the possibility of the location of a cell tower with Alltel or any other vendor that is necessary for communications. The tower should also be located on the property so that it would not interfere with the location of a fire station there if that becomes a reality. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to abate the penalty and interest on 1997 tax bill for 2724 Henry Street (Map 33-4, Parcel 12), was read. Mr. Williamson: The lady purchased this property before the tax bills came out and too late for the digest to be changed. She is from out-of-state and didn't know to pursue the tax bill and I think we should give her the benefit of the doubt and abate the penalty of $277.15. Mr. J. Brigham: I move we abate the penalty. Mr. Chairman: Second it. Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. Siddall: Regarding the Coroner's car from last time, unless I have monies recovered through auctions from which I can purchase additional vehicles that we need, I would base those purchases on the priorities I have listed for you. I reviewed the history of his vehicle and it has a normal repair schedule based on its age. If you want us to replace this vehicle, we could use a Park Avenue that is in the pool for out-of-town travel. I would not get rid of his vehicle; I would reallocate it back in the fleet somewhere b~cause I still think it's a viable unit that we could use for another year. So I would allow him to just trade vehicles or see if there are additional funds available in the year and purchase a new vehicle for him. I I recommend that he continue to use his car unless he has a major problem with it and if that happens, I would be happy to provide a replacement vehicle for him until such time as we can repair his vehicle or find a new vehicle for him. We will be coming back to you soon to establish a replacement cycle. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission NWM I I