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Home My WebLink About05-08-2000 Meeting I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITIEE COMMITTEE ROOM - May 8, 2000 1:00 P.M. PRESENT: Hons. Shepard, Chairman; H. Brigham, Co-Chairman; Bridges and Williams, members; Harry Siddall, Fleet Manager; North Williamson, Tax Commissioner's Office; Brenda Byrd-Pelaez, EEO Officer; Jim Wall, Attorney; Randy Oliver, Administrator; Walter Hornsby, Deputy Administrator; Lon Morrey, Comptroller; Geri Sams, Purchasing Director; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission. ABSENT: Hon. Bob Young, Mayor. Also Present: Eileen Rivers of The Augusta Focus, Sylvia Cooper of The Augusta Chronicle, George Eskola of WJBF Television and Hons. J. Brigham, Cheek, Mays, Colclough and Kuhlke, Commissioners. A request to increase Riverwalk Special Events budget by $8,669.00 (Account # 53-11810) to fund Riverfront 4th Fireworks Display (Funded from General Fund Contingency), was read. Mr. Williams: I move we approve it. Mr. H. Brigham: I second it for discussion. I Mr. Hornsby: We have a two-year contract for this. Ms. Thompson: That amount was in the original' budget for 1999 and 2000 and it was approved. It was cut out of the budget earlier this year. Motion fails with Mr. Bridges and the Chairman voting "No". A request to abate penalties and property exemption - Easter Seal Society, was read. Mr. Williamson: Easter Seals moved from Reynolds Street to the old Colonial Bakery on Wrightsboro Road. They did not apply for a tax exemption for the year 1998, and I believe that happened because they unknowingly thought they were a tax exempt entity as opposed to the property they occupied being tax exempt. So when they moved, the thought of applying for an exemption for that year probably didn't occur to them. They are asking that you consider abating the taxes in total now that they are exempt. Two of the four parcels they have are tax exempt. Their 1997 taxes, according to their records, were paid before the deadline, but our records indicate we didn't receive the payment until after the deadline. I After further discussion, Mr. Bridges: I make a motion that we waive the penalties but not the interest on the 1997 taxes. Mr. Chairman: Second that motion. Motion adopted unanimously. I After further discussion, Mr. Bridges: I move that we waive the taxes for 1998. Mr. Chairman: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request by Stoney MedicaIlDentallPharmaceutical Society for sponsorship of their scholarship program, was read. Mr. Wall: I believe that this would be considered as a gratuity. Mr. Bridges: I make a motion that we accept this as information. Mr. Chairman: Second. After a short discussion, the motion was adopted unanimously. A request from Helen Blocker-Adams of John B. Productions to make a presentation regarding sponsorship in the amount of $5,000 of the CSRA Multi- Cultural Hair and Fashion Trade Extravaganza, was read. I Mr. John Bell made a short presentation outlining the plans for the event and the resulting economic benefits to the City. After a short discussion, Mr. Bridges: I would suggest that a funding source for this be the hotel-motel tax funds. Mr. H. Brigham: What about funds in the Economic Development office? Mr. Williams: I move that we look for other funds for this such as economic development or other funding sources rather than Contingency funds. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Mr. Bridges: I make a substitute motion that we receive this as information. Mr. Chairman: I second the substitute motion. Mr. Bridges: Mr. Bell might check with Barry White at the CVB. They have. some funding for different programs and I'm not sure that this would qualify. I Motion adopted unanimously on substitute motion. I A request to approve a request from Recovery Fest, Inc. for a contribution from the City of Augusta, was read. Dr. George Snead made a presentation regarding the request for funding in the amount of $450.00. Mr. Bridges: I make a motion that we receive this as information. Mr. Chairman: Second. Motion adopted with Mr. Williams voting ''No''. A request to approve the 2001 Budget Calendar, was read. Mr. Bridges: I move for approval. Mr. Chairman: I'll second it. Motion adopted unanimously. I A request to approve the purchase of a Self-Propelled Sweeper for the Aviation Department - Bush Field from Burch-Lowe of Augusta for $22,684.00, was read. Mr. Bridges:, I move for approval. Mr. Chairman: Second that motion. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve the purchase of a Ford F150 Regular Cab Pickup Truck for the Aviation Department - Bush Field from Willoughby Ford of Thomson for $14,721.50, was read. Mr. Bridges: I move for approval. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I A request to approve the purchase of two (2) Ford F150 Extended Cab Pickup Trucks for the Aviation Department - Bush Field from Willoughby Ford of Thomson for $33,041.00, was read. A request to approve th~ purchase of a Ford F150 Extended Cab 4x4 Pickup Truck for the Aviation Department - Bush Field from Willoughby Ford of I Thomson for $20,112.50, was read. Mr. Bridges: I move for approval. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to declare the following properties excess and authorize the sale: 1. Corner of Murphy Street and Bransford Road 2. Barnes Alley behind Platt's Funeral Home 3. 'Sibley Road between Gordon Highway and Milledgeville Road. Mr. Bridges: I move for approval. Mr. Williams: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to select Senior Manager for Water and Sewer Revenue Bond Issue, was read. Mr. Bridges: I make a request to go into legal session to consider potential litigation. I Mr. Chairman: I second that motion. Motion adopted unanimously. [LEGAL SESSION] At the close of the legal session, the meeting was reopened to the public. Mr. Chairman: I would entertain a motion to add to the agenda and to approve the signing of a legal affidavit that we were in legal session for purposes of potential litigation. Mr. H. Brigham: I so move. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I I Mr. Bridges: On item 11, I make a motion that we send this out again for RFQs, that it be brought back to the full Commission at its first meeting in June, the price be public and that the top three contenders be presented to the full Commission then. Mr. Chairman: I'll second the motion. Mr. Mays: I would assume that this would be done through the procurement office and that questions from those persons be allowed to be asked in terms of disclosure of whatever our laws may be regarding our local procurement procedure. Mr. Bridges: I'll include that in the motion. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan as bond counsel for the 2000 Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds and Arrington & Howell as Special Counsel, was read. Mr. Chairman: In view of the nonaction on #11 in terms of the selection, would it be appropriate not to defer this until after that? Mr. Wall: Sure. I Mr. Bridges: I make a motion that #12 be brought before the full Commission at the same time as # 11. Mr. Williams: Second. Mr. Cheek: Should we not send out a request for qualifications for bond counsel? Mr. Williams: I move that we advertise for qualifications for bond counsel for this project. Mr. Wall: I'd like to have a say in that one because it affects my liability as well. Mr. Bridges: Would you amend your motion such that Mr. Wall reviews those that present and make a recommendation to the Commission? Mr. Williams: Yes. Mr. Bridges: I'll second that motion. Mr. Oliver: This will be on a real short fuse. I Mr. Bridges: Can I withdraw my second? I think in this regard we need to go with Mr. Wall's recommendation onthls. We're pushing the envelope enough here and I trust Mr. Wall's recommendation as far as an attorney. In the future we might want to consider bidding the attorneys as well. Mr. Wall: The motion belongs to the body. I (Vote on substitute motion) Motion fails with Mr. Bridges and the Chairman voting "No". (Vote on original motion) Motion fails with Mr. H. Brigham and Mr. Williams voting "No". ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission NWM I I I CLOSED MEETING AFFIDAVIT STATE OF GEORGIA COUNfY OF RIOiMOND AFFIDA vrr OF PRESIDING OFFICER Steve Shepard, Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Augusta-Richmond County Commission, being duly sworn, states under oath that the following is true and accurate to the best of his knowledge and belief: 1. The ~~ance Committee of the Augusta-Richmond County Commission met in a duly advertised meeting on /1'1t17 If , 2000. 2. During such meeting, the Committee voted to go into closed session. 3. The executive session was called to order at J:~~ ...../p.m. and adjourned at /:30 .../p.m. I 4. The subject matter of the closed portion of the meeting was devoted to the following matter(s) within the exceptions provided in the Open Meetings law: /' Consultation with the county attorney or other legal counsel to discuss pending or potential litigation, settlement, claims, administrative proceedings, or other judicial actions brought or to be brought by or against the county or any officer or employee or in which the county or any officer or employee may be directly involved as provided in O.c.GA. S 50-14-2(1); _ Discussion of tax matters made confidential by state law as provided by O.c.GA. S 50-14- 2(2) and (znsert thecit4tion to the. authority making the taxT11tlttercmfidentiaJ) _ Discussion of real estate as provided byO.c.GA. S 50-14-3(4); _ Discussion or deliberation on the appointment, employment, compensation, hiring, disciplin:uy action or dismissal, or periodic evaluation or rating of a county officer or employee as provided in O.c.GA. $ 50-14-3(6); _ Other (describe the exemptinn to the open I'I7IRings law): nus 8'!!- day of /11~~ 2000. Sworn to and subs~bed Bef re me this ~ day of ,20 O. I Not Public I If? J.-9AL. commission expires:~'Y I FINANCE & APPROPRIA nONS AGENDA COMMITTEE ROOM - May 8, 2000 1:00 P.M. 1. Increase Riverwalk Special Events budget by $8,669.00 (Account # 53-11810) to fund Riverfront 4th Fireworks Display (Funded from General Fund Contingency). 2. Consider request for abatement of penalties and property exemption - Easter Seal Society . 3. Consider a request by Stoney MedicaVDentallPharmaceutical Society for sponsorship of their scholarship program. 4. A request from Helen Blocker-Adams of John B. Productions to make a presentation regarding sponsorship of the CSRA Multi-Cultural Hair and Fashion Trade Extravaganza. 5. Approve the 2001 Budget Calendar. 6. Approve the purchase of a Self-Propelled Sweeper for the Aviation Department- Bush Field from Burch-Lowe of Augusta for $22,684.00. "' 7. Approve the purchase ofa Ford F150 Regular Cab Pickup Truck for the Aviation Department - Bush Field from Willoughby Ford of Thomson for $14,721.50. 8. Approve the purchase of two (2) Ford F150 Extended Cab Pickup Trucks for the Aviation Department - Bush Field from Willoughby Ford of Thomson for $33,041.00. 9. Approve the purchase of a Ford F 150 Extended Cab 4x4 Pickup Truck for the Aviation Department- Bush Field from Willoughby Ford of Thomson for $20,112.50. 10. Declare the following properties excess and authorize the sale: 1. Comet: of Murphy Street and Bransford Road 2. Barnes Alley behind Platt's Funeral Home 3. Sibley Road between Gordon Highway and Milledgeville Road. 11. Select Senior Manager for Water and Sewer Revenue Bond Issue. 12. Motion to approve Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan as bond counsel for the 2000 Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds and Arrington & Howell as Special Counsel. 13. Consider approval of a request from Recovery Fest, Inc. for a contribution from the City of Augusta. I