Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-29-1999 Meeting I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - March 29, 1999 1:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Bridges, Chairman; H. Brigham, Vice-Chairman; Beard and J. Brigham, members; Jim Wall, Attorney; Randy Oliver, Administrator; Harry Siddall, Fleet Manager; Clifford Rushton, IT Director; North Williamson, Tax Commissioner's Office; Lon Morrey, Comptroller; Hope Goodwin, Finance Department; Harrison Sears, Tax Assessor; Gary Hewett, IT Department; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission. ABSENT: Hon. Bob Young, Mayor. Also Present: Sylvia Cooper of The Augusta Chronicle, Stacey Eidson of The Metropolitan Spirit, other members of the news media and Hon. Colclough, Commissioner. The Clerk: We have a request to add two items as per our addendum agenda. Mr. H. Brigham: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. I Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. 1. Brigham cut of the room. A .oequest for a tax refund for 1992 through 1995 for Ronald Fairburn - Map 104, Parcc~1 2:01, was read. Mr. Williamson: This man applied for a homestead exemption in 1968. His mortgage company paid the taxes for him for 30 years and when the mortgage was paid ofT, he inquired about his bill and found he had no homestead exemption in the process. It was dropped in 1988 and he is requesting some relief We have applied for three years relief and we are suggesting that seven years might be appropriate in this situation. Mr. Wall: It is my opinion that we are not legally responsible to go back beyond three years and in recent times that is what we have done in several cases. Mr. 1. Brigham: I move that we concur with the Attorney's ruling. Mr. Beard: I'll second it. After a short discussion, the motion failed with Mr. H. Brigham and Mr. Beard voting "No". I A request to consider refund of taxes for exemption dassification error for Ernest Smith, Jr., 4321 FairblufT Rd. - Map 233, Parcel 28, was read. Mr. Williamson: This is a similar case in that the man applied for a service- connected disability exemption and he was given a regular disability exemption. It is a significant difference and the Tax Assessor's Office is processing the refund request for three years. This exemption goes back to 1982 and we are asking for consideration to be given for up to seven years. Mr. Chairman: We had previously adhered to the ti1fee-year rule and if we're going to establish another precedent, I'd prefer that it be done by the full Commission so the Chair would entertain a motion that we pass Item 2 to the full Commission. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to procure Internal Audit Services on a contractual basis with a firm or firms for the remainder of calendar year 1999 and discuss composition of the Audit Committee, was read. Mr. Oliver: The Mayor, Mayor Pro Tern, the Comptroller and I interviewed various candidates for Internal Auditor and we feel that none ofthose candidates had the experience to perform this work appropriately. We felt we would be better served to contract these services out either with one firm or more than one firm. We have no contract at this time with anyone to provide these services. After a short discussion, Mr. 1. Brigham: I move that we go out for a request for qualifications for this work for the rest of the year. Mr. Chairman: I'll second the motion. Mr. H. Brigham: I'd like to make a substitute motion that we retain Baird and Company for the rest of the year. Mr. Beard: Second. Mr. Chairman: And is it my understanding that both of these motions include advertising for an Internal Auditor toward the end of the ye;ir? Mr. 1. Brigham: Yes. Mr. Chairman: Let's vote on the substitute motion first. Motion failed with Mr. J. Brigham and the Chairman voting "No". Mr. Chairman: And now the original motion. I Motion failed with Mr. H. Brigham and Mr. Beard voting "No". A request to appoint existing Pension Committee as Pension Committee for the GEMBS Plan and appoint Comptroller as Secretary, was read. Mr. Wall: This Pension Committee is different from the other pension committees in that the State runs this and this is more of an administrative function. I think the mechanism is already in place and there is no need to change it. Two members need to be appointed by the governing authority. One is the Finance Chairman and the other you need to appoint. Mr. Oliver: Do you want us to put the other appointment on the next Commission agenda? Mr. Wall: You can. Mr. Beard: I move that we delete this item at this time. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I A .oequest to increase Indigent Defense Budget by $120,000 for the Indigent Defense Council with funds to be taken from General Fund Contingency, was read. Mr. Chairman: What is the level of our contingency? Mr. Oliver: Probably about $500,000. I'll give you a report at the next meeting. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request for authorization of signers on government's bank accounts, was read. Mr. Beard: I so move with all signatures to stay within the Finance Department. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. I Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Transition Centers, Inc. requesting emergency funding for the continuation of their operation, was read. Pastor Maggie Banks spoke in favor of the request for funding of $30,000. Mr. Beard: I move that we refer this to the Housing & Neighborhood Development Department for a recommendation and bring it back to us. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve disbursement of February 20, 1999 equipment auction funds for the purpose of replacement of vehicles and equipment through the normal bid process, was read. Mr. Siddall: I would recommend that we give those monies back to those accounts as we're required to and the remainder of the amount, basically $392,000, would come back into the capital replenishment fund. Mr. 1. Brigham: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve a Resolution reaffirming the necessity of the 911 and the wireless enhanced 911 charges, was read. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. 1. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve award for $138,415.00 to Southern Power & Equipment for one 50,000 lb. Hydraulic Excavator for the Public Works Department, Roads & Bridges Division (Bid # 99-036), was read. A request to approve award for $111,960.00 to Vie's Harley Davidson for eight Police Motorcycles for the Augusta Richmond County Sheriff's Department (Bid # 99-035), was read. A request to approve award for $23,962.78 to Prime Equipment Company for two Air Compressors, one for the Augusta Richmond County Landfill and one for the Utilities Department Construction Division (Bid # 99-037), was read. I Mr. H. Brigham: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. Oliver: We had an item on the Commission agenda last time about the purchase of vehicles and trucks. Mr. Siddall has found out that the cut off time for ordering these vehicles is April 9 and if we don't award them by that date, we won't be able to get any for about six to eight months. We have prepared a letter directing us to go ahead and purchase those vehicles. Mr. 1. Brigham: I make a motion that we go ahead and add it to the agenda today. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. 1. Brigham: I move that we approve the bids on all the vehicles. Mr. Beard: Second. I Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from Commercial & Military S)'stems Co., Inc. regarding real and personal property taxes, was read. Mr. Doug Cates: This company had never applied for their freeport exemption and the change in the real estate values and they are requesting the exemption for the year 1998. Mr. 1. Brigham: I make a motion that we postpone 3.Ily action until after the Board of Tax Assessors takes action on it on April 12. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next discussed the need to perfolom actuarial valuations for pension plans for 1998. (Valuations are not required by law) Mr. Wall: I think these have to be done every year. I Mr. Morrey: We've seen information that they should be done every other year. Mr. Chairman: Let's let you both confer and bring it back next time. A request to approve $17,500 to purchase a Hewlett Packard DP 640 for Accounting, was read. Mr. Morrey: We're having problems with the existing printer and we would like to try this one on a trial basis to see if it compatible with our present software. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted with Mr. 1. Brigham abstaining. A request to increase Tax Assessor's Office 1999 budget by $9,030 to fund an additional two members of the Board of Tax Assessors, as approved by the Legislative Delegation. These appointments will become effective April 1, 1999. (Funded by General Fund Contingency), was read. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to waive demolition charges of $1,900.00 and penalties of $782.18 on properties on Florence Street, Perry Avenue and 10th Street, (identified in Exhibit A attached), contingent upon proposed transaction closing and a copy of the closing statement furnished to the City Attorney, was read. Mr. Wall: The $782.18 on penalties should be $552.48. There are ten properties under contract on which there are outstanding taxes. They are requesting a waiver of demolition charges and the penalties and this would give a total waiver of $2,452.16. The purchaser hopes to upgrade these properties and put them back into a tax producing posture. I would be in favor of doing this in order to get these repaired and occupied. Mr. 1. Brigham: I move that we forward this without c-ecommendation. Motion dies for lack of a second. Mr. Beard: What was the recommendation? Mr. Wall: My recommendation was to waive the demolition charges and the penalty. Mr. H. Brigham: I move that we go along with the Attorney's recommendation. I NWM I I Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted with Mr. 1. Brigham voting "No". ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS AGENDA COMMITTEE ROOM - March 29, 1999 1:00 P. M. 1. Consider request for tax refund for 1992 through 1995 for Ronald Fairburn - Map 104, Parcel 2:01. 2. Consider refund of taxes for exemption classification error for Ernest Smith, Jr., 4321 FairbluffRd. - Map 233, Parcel 28. 3. Motion to procure Internal Audit Services on a contractual basis with a firm or firms for the remainder of calendar year 1999 and discuss composition of the Audit Committee. 4. Appoint existing Pension Committee as Pension Committee for the GEMBS Plan and appoint Comptroller as Secretary. 5. Increase Indigent Defense Budget by $120,000 for the Indigent Defense Council with funds to be taken from General Fund Contingency. 6. Authorization of signers on government's bank accounts. I 7. Communication from the Transition Centers, Inc. requesting emergency funding for the continuation of their operation. 8. Approve the disbursement of February 20, 1999 equipment auction funds for the purpose of replacement of vehicles and equipment through the normal bid process. 9. Motion to approve Resolution reaffirming the necessity of the 911 and the wireless enhanced 911 charges. 10. Approve award for $138,415.00 to Southern Power & Equipment for one (1) 50,000 lb. Hydraulic Excavator for the Public Works Department, Roads & Bridges Division (Bid # 99-036). 11. Approve award for $111,960.00 to Vic's Harley Davidson for eight (8) Police Motorcycles for the Augusta Richmond County Sheriff's Department (Bid # 99- 035). 12. Communication from Commercial & Military Systems Co., Inc. regarding real and personal property taxes. 13. Approve award for $23,962.78 to Prime Equipment Company for two (2) air compressors, one for the Augusta Richmond County Landfill and one for the Utilities Department Construction Division (Bid # 99-037). I I 14. Discuss the need to perform actuarial valuations for pension plans for 1998 (Valuations are not required by law). 15. Approve $17,500 to purchase a Hewlett Packard DP640 for Accounting. I I