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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-28-1997 Meeting I I I PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - April 28, 1997 3:30 p.m. PRESENT: Hon. H. Brigham, Chairman, Zetterberg, Kuhlke, Mays, members; Beard, Bridges, Todd, Commissioners; Handy, Mayor Pro Tem; R. Oliver, Administrator, J. Wall, Attorney; R. Few, Fire Chief; C. Rushton, Director MIS; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission; Belinda Brown, of the Clerk's Office. ALSO PRESENT: Members of the News Media. The Clerk: We have a request from the Attorney to delete item 5 and to add the Ordinance appointing the Chief Judge of the State Court as the Chief Judge of Municipal Court and designating the Solicitor as the chief prosecuting attorney of Municipal Court. Mr. Zetterberg: I move for approval. Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Appoint Daniel T. Leonard to the Local Emergency Planning Committee to fill the unexpired term of Deborah Foster, ending April 1998. Ms. Tucker: This is an industry position, and Ms. Foster has been transferred to a Texas facility. Mr. Leonard is the next in line to be a member. Mr. Zetterberg: So move. Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to Approve a Rural Fire Understanding between Georgia Forestry Richmond County Fire Department. Defense Memorandum of Commission and Augusta- Chief Few: This is an agreement between the Forestry and the Fire Service. It actually is not very much different from the present agreement that we have, it's just an upgrade. In the last couple of weeks we have trained the firefighters on how to work together with the Forestry Commission. There is no financial impact. Mr. Kuhlke: I so move. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Authorize a Telecommunications Technician in the annual salary amount of $43,750.00 to perform telephone work in-house. Mr. Oliver: This is for salary and benefits for this I position. In most major organizations you have a person that manages the phone system and the purpose of managing the phone system is to make that sure that you get the most cost effective rate plan that you can get, in addition to making minor modifications and things that may be required. Based on cost benefit analysis we have determined that we can save approximately $30,000.00., in return for this position plus this person can help us minimize our phone bill by looking at the most cost effective rate plans that we can have. This person would also be capable of pulling wire, reprogramming the phone system if you do minor moves and modifications. The position would be under Mr. Rushton. Mr. Zetterberg: Before I give this my support I would like to see this put out for bid. If the cost is close enough, I think that it would be worth doing it outside rather than adding more people inside. If you can't do it cheaper by out sourcing then I will support it 100%. After further discussion; Mr. Kuhlke: I move that we approve the position and send it on to the Commission. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion adopted with Mr. Zetterberg voting no. I A request to approve a policy for establishing rewards for the detention or apprehension of the perpetrator of a felony. Mr. Wall: This came up in the last Commission meeting and I was concerned about a recent amendment to Georgia Law. In essence, the authorization for Counties or Municipalities to spend money for a reward is only in cases in which the Governor has first offered a reward. I would point out that the Sheriff does from time to time in so far as any recovered drug money that he has available does offer rewards using drug money. The suggestion was that any recommendation for a reward be forwarded by the Sheriff to the Public Safety Committee for recommendation on whether or not they want to offer a reward and the amount of it. I think that you do have to have the approval of the Governor and he has to initiate the first step. After further discussion; Mr. H. Brigham: I recommend that we appoint a subcommittee; Mr. Mays and Mr. Kuhlke to work with the Sheriff and the Administrator to find the funds. I would also like to ask Representative Ben Allen who is on the State Judicial Committee to help us with this. Mr. Zetterberg; So move. I I I I Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to Approve Organizational Chart for Information Technology including deleting Computer Operator position and adding Application Developer position. Estimated financial impact, exclusive of salary study impact - $7,804.00 plus benefits. Mr. Oliver: What is being proposed here is to eliminate a less technical position in favor of a more technical position as with everything else in data processing thing are moving toward a more technical position. The personnel count will remain the same however the cost increase is $7,804.00 plus benefits a year. Mr. Zetterberg: this. I would like to make a motion to approve Mr. Kuhlke; Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to Approve Ordinance appointing Chief Judge of State Court as the Chief Judge of Municipal Court and designating the Solicitor as the chief prosecuting attorney of Municipal Court; assign Municipal Courtroom to Superior Court; assign old Commission Room on sixth floor to State Court; assign two of Municipal Court staff to solicitor's office and absorb remaining staff into county organization after transition. Mr. Wall: As I discussed with the Finance Committee earlier and I requested that this be placed on both agendas because of the future impact that some of the positions that resulted from the recent General Assembly and specifically talking about the two new State Court Judge positions as well as making the Solicitor a full time position. When Mr. Allen introduced the legislation for the second State Court Judgeship had proposed that the Municipal Court be consolidated with State Court. During the last two weeks of the session that legislation was amended and the two bills have finally passed in so far as the State Court Judges did not consolidate the Municipal Court. The State Court Judge consented to serve as the Chief Judge of Municipal Court, that the Municipal Court would then have general misdemeanor jurisdiction corresponding with the same jurisdiction that was in State Court. Which essentially allows the functions of the Municipal Court and the State Court as far as misdemeanors are concerned to be the same. The State Court would still have different jurisdiction in so far as civil cases and certain other things but in so far general misdemeanor cases would be the same. Mr. Oliver: What we are proposing right now is that there would be a net staff reduction of two. However, I would caution this, that when we get these two new State Court Judges they will want secretaries, and my obj ecti ve here is to come out staff neutral. At this time Solicitor Sheryl Jolly gave a existing State Court's caseloads and the need personnel. summary of the for additional After further discussion; Mr. Kuhlke: Ms. Jolly, I recommend that you talk with Mr. Oliver and let him analyze the situation and then come back to the Committee with a recommendation. Mr. Oliver: That's the purpose of the staffing study. What we propose to look at is not only the number of cases, but how our number of cases compare per capita with other jurisdictions in the State and look at the number of people in the Solicitor's Office in other areas. Mr. Kuhlke: I move that we approve the Ordinance. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission bjb I I I