Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-26-1998 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - May 26, 1998 1:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry Sconyers, Mayor; Bridges, Chairman; H. Brigham, Vice-Chairman; Beard and J. Brigham, members; Jim Wall, Attorney; Harry Siddall, Fleet Manager; Glenn Greenway, Acting Comptroller; David Collins, Finance Department; Randy Oliver, Administrator; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission. Also Present: George Eskola of WJBF Television, Stacey Eidson of The Metropolitan Spirit, other members of the news media and Hon. Todd, Commissioner. The Clerk: We have a request for an addendum item as per your addendum agenda. Mr. J. Brigham: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Mr. Beard: I would like to know a little more about this and I'd ask if we could just put it on the next agenda. Mr. Oliver: That would be fine. The Committee first considered a request from the Augusta Task Force for the Homeless for financial assistance from Augusta-Richmond County. Ms. Sharon Childs Caldwell and Dr. Gary Billingsley made presentations regarding their request for financial assistance and office space to house their operation to aid the homeless. Mr. Beard: I understand their needs and would like to see us pass this along to the full Commission without a recommendation. Mr. J. Brigham: I would make a motion that we direct the Administrator to look at our list of inventories and find out if we have any space available for this organization but I'm not going to vote at this time for any monies. Mr. Oliver: We can try to identify if there is any space and bring it back to the Commission. How much space are you looking for? Dr. Billingsley: Probably about three or four 16 x 16 rooms. Mr. Oliver: So about 1,000 square feet. Mr. Beard: I'll second that. Motion adopted unanimously. I A request from the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History regarding the acquisition of operational funds for the 1998-1999 year, was read. At this time Ms. Betts appeared before the Committee regarding the above request and made a presentation for funding in order to help provide additional personnel to staff the Museum. Mr. Oliver: They will receive $24,000 from the state very shortly and they have received $20,200 in CDBG funds. Mr. J. Brigham: How much money are you asking for? Ms. Betts: $75,000. We are hoping to funds the positions of Director, a Curator, an Office Manager, and a Developer to help write grants and solicit private funding. Mr. Beard: I make a motion that she meet with the Administrator to see if there is something that can be done. Mr. J. Brigham: I'll second that motion. Motion adopted unanimously. I A request for refund of prior year taxes 1996 in the amount of $29.56 for overpayment of taxes on Account 2047504 (boat), was read. Mr. J. Brigham: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve a purchase order to Jenkins Ford Tractor for one backhoe/loader at a cost of $48,000.00 for the Utilities Department Construction Division, was read. Mr. Siddall: We recommend the Ford tractor from Jenkins which is like those that are already being used. The lowest bidder did not meet the specifications. Mr. J. Brigham: Why choose the Ford over the Case? Mr. Siddall: Because it is similar to the machines we already have and the Shop will be more experienced with it but we can go either way. Mr. J. Brigham: I move that we go with the low bid meeting specs. I I I I Mr. H. Brigham: I make a substitute motion that we go with the recommended bid for the reasons stated by Mr. Siddall. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion fails with Mr. J. Brigham and the Chairman voting "No". A request to approve the budget calendar for the 1999 Budget Year, was read. Mr. Oliver: This provides a schedule for us to go by regarding the adoption of the budget. We also plan to have a couple of town meetings to provide information and receive citizen input concerning the budgetary process. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. J. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve allocating the remaining $44,300 in the "Commission Other" account evenly to each Commissioner ($4,430 for each Commissioner) to be used at their discretion, was read. Mr. Todd: I would like to see the amount of money that we started with before any expenditures were made. I have not voted for any expenditures and would not be in favor of doing this. After further discussion, Mr. Beard: I would make a motion that this be approved. Motion dies for lack of a second. Mr. J. Brigham: We had a debate last week about an efficiency study and I will make a motion that we spend the remaining $44,300 on that efficiency study or allocate it to the next time the efficiency study is considered. Motion dies for lack of a second. Mr. Chairman: This would go forward to the Commission. Mr. Oliver: the local option the local option SPLOST funds and to Hephzibah. We have just received money from the State on sales tax that was not properly distributed. On sales tax we got $637,569.11 and $642,777.32 in we keep all of that except $5,656.44 which goes The Committee next heard a review of the First Quarter 1998 Financial Results for all budgeted funds. Mr. J. Brigham: I move we receive this as information. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission NWM I I