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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-11-1998 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - May 11, 1998 1:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; Bridges, Chairman; H. Brigham, Vice-Chairman; Beard and J. Brigham, members; Jim Wall, Attorney; Glenn Greenway, Acting Comptroller; Harry Siddall, Fleet Manager; Walter Hornsby, Asst. Administrator; Michael Greene, Public Works Department; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission. Also Present: George Eskola of WBJF Television, Sylvia Cooper of The Augusta Chronicle, Stacey Eidson of The Metropolitan Spirit and Hon. Shepard, Commissioner. Communication from Commissioner Steve Shepard regarding the concerns of retired employees of the former City about their present Medicare Supplement Insurance, was read. At this time a delegation of retired former City employees appeared before the Committee regarding the above communication and Mr. Billy Lynn expressed their concerns about the present coverage not providing for their needs. Mr. Chairman: I understand that there are some complaints about the insurance and I believe that this should really come under the Administrative Services Committee. The consultants are not here today anyway and perhaps we should let them consider all \ of this at one time. Mr. Shepard: I think that Mr. Lynn feels that there is a gap in coverage and unfortunately, he has also suffered a claim and there is some issue as to whether or not his present claim should be covered under this. After further discussion, Mr. Hornsby: I think we will have some answers to your questions after we meet with the parties involved and we could probably have something ready by the next Administrative Services Committee meeting. Mr. Beard: I move that we refer this to the Administrative Services Committee and ask the Administrator to work with Mr. Etheridge on this matter. Mr. J. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve abatement of penalty on property owned by Travis Land Company for 1997 tax bill in the amount of $265.26, was read. Mr. J. Brigham: I move we deny. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I A request to increase the parking rates for the Radisson Riverfront from $1.75 to $2.50, effective July 1, 1998 and from $2.50 to 90% of gate rate, effective January 1, 1999, was read. Mr. J. Brigham: I move we approve it. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to award a purchase order to Altec Industries for one (1) articulating, telescopic aerial truck at a cost of $60,789.00 for the Public Works Department Street Lights Division. (Best bid due to time frame), was read. A request to award a purchase order to Bobby Jones Ford for one (1) full size pickup truck at a cost of $18,149.90 for the Utilities Department customer Service Division, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Southlake Ford for two (2) compact 4x4 pickup trucks at a cost of $32,458.00 for the Utilities Department Engineering Division, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Bobby Jones Ford for I one (1) compact 4x4 pickup truck at a cost of $16,248.00 for the Utilities Department Waste Water Treatment Division, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Bobby Jones Ford for one (1) sport utility vehicle at a cost ,of $21,164.85 for the Public Works Department Engineering Division, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Bobby Jones Ford for two (2) crewcab trucks at a cost of $71,456.62 for the Utilities Department Construction Division, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Bobby Jones Ford for two (2) full size pickup trucks at a cost of $32,724.50 for the Utilities Department customer Service Division, was read. A request to award a purchase order to Bobby Jones Ford for one (1) full size pickup truck at a cost of $16,362.25 for the Utilities Department Construction Division, was read. A request to award a purchase order to SRECO-Flexible for one (1) sewer-rodder truck at a cost of $63,378.00 for the Utilities Department Department Construction Division, was read. A request to award a purchase order to LJL Truck Center for one (1) dump truck at a cost of $73,936.62 for the Utilities I Department Construction Division, was read. After a short discussion, Mr. Beard: I move for approval. I Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to fill the Groundkeeper I position for the West Augusta Soccer Complex, was read. Mr. H. Brigham: I so move. Mr. J. Brigham: I'll second it. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve assignment of lease agreement and consent to assignment of lease agreement in connection with sale of WBBQ assets to Cumulus Broadcasting, Inc. by the Medical College of Georgia Foundation, was read. Mr. Wall: In connection with the sale of the radio station to the Medical College, they need an assignment of the lease agreement where the radio tower that's on City property would be assigned to the purchaser. It has no impact on the City and we recommend approval of it. Mr. J. Brigham: I so move. I Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve acceptance of $7,000.00 as full and final payment of loan to Augusta Riverboat Cruises, Inc., was read. Mr. Wall: There is an unsecured note with a remalnlng balance of approximately $13,363 from Mr. and Mrs. Morris. They have sold the boat and didn't recoup the full amount that they had borrowed elsewhere. They are making a proposal to forward immediately the sum of $7,000 and I would concur that we go ahead and get what we can for this. Assuming that the money came from the loan fund, this money would go back into that loan fund. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. J. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I A request to authorize negotiation of contract with Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and David M. Griffith & Associates to conduct an operational review of Augusta-Richmond County government, was read. Mr. Hornsby: It's estimated that the cost for this will be between $150,000 and $200,000. We do have this amount in contingency and this is where it would be funded from. Mr. Greenway: This would leave us with about $800,000 in contingency. I Mr. J. Brigham: I'm going to make a motion that we postpone this until Mr. Oliver gets back because I have some questions about this. Mr. Beard: I'd like to see us pass this on to the full Commission and let them deal with it rather than waiting another two weeks to consider it. Mr. Chairman: Would you make a motion to send this on to the full Commission without a recommendation? Mr. Beard: I will do that. Mr. H. Brigham: I'll second it. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve the addition of one (1) Administrative Assistant position to the staff of the Augusta Canal Authority with all costs of salary and benefits paid from Augusta Canal Authority accounts, was read. I Mr. Glenn Coyne: I've been on the job for a year and I'm writing checks, taking minutes and doing other things that take up too much of my time and we're asking for approval to hire an Administrative Assistant to perform these duties. We have identified funds in our accounts with the City and have funding from other sources as well as long as we match them with local funds. After a short discussion, Mr. J. Brigham: I move we approve that we approve it. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted with Mr. Beard voting "No". ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission NWM I