HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-11-1998 Meeting
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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