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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-23-1997 Meeting I I I PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - June 23, 1997 3:30 P.M. PRESENT: Hon.' Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; H. Brigham, Chairman; Kuhlke, Mays, Zetterberg, members; Handy, Mayor Pro Tern, J. Brigham, Todd and Beard, Commissioners; R. Oliver, Administrator; B. Byrd-Pelaez, EOE Director; J. Wall, Attorney; Pam Tucker, EM Director; Ronnie Few, Dennis Atkins, Fire Dept; C. Webster, C. Toole, Sheriff's Department; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Belinda Brown of the Clerk's Office. ALSO PRESENT: Sylvia Cooper, Augusta Chronicle; Rosemary Forrest, Metro Spirit and other members of the news media. The Clerk: We have a request for four addendum items: 1. Approve Capacity Agreement for FY 1998 with Georgia Department of Corrections regarding State inmates being housed at the Richmond County Correctional Institute. 2. Approval of $556,800.50 (Sheriff, $519,900.50; $36,900) for the purchase of furniture and equipment in order to occupy and operate the County Detention Center on Phinizy Road. Central Services, other necessary Augusta-Richmond 3. Approve Lease Extension Agreement Company and Augusta-Richmond County for June 30, 1998) at a rental of $1,500.00 between Bell one year (July per month. Inves,tment 1, 1997 to 4. Update from Sheriff regarding escapes from JLEC. Mr. Kuhlke: So move. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A communication from the Emergency Management Director requesting to appoint Terrell L. Washburn to the Local Emergency Planning Committee to fill the unexpired term of Joe Muller, ending April 1998. Mr. Kuhlke: So move. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. Motion carried una~imously. An Update from the Emergency Management Director to Commissioners on the Local Emergency Planning Committee "Risk Management proj ect" and "Meteorological Monitoring System". At this time Ms. Tucker gives a summary of the Project and the System. Mr. Zetterberg: I move that we accept this as information. I Mr. Kuhlke: So move. Motion carried unanimously. A request Title 6, regarding from the Section issuance Administrator to approve an Ordinance revising 6-6-47 of the Augusta-Richmond County Code of "Going Out of Business Sale" licenses. Mr. Oliver: What this does is tighten up the time frame for going out of business, it says that it is 90 calendar days with the possibility of a 60 day extension. This company has to be in business for 12 months. That is the actual Ordinance change, before it only counted business days, obviously that is kind of tricky, because now most business are open seven days a week. That will tighten up that side. The other part of it that Mr. Walker and I talked about was, we would not only get their inventory that they had, but also any items that they have ordered that they have currently not received. That way there wouldn't be any question as to what may come in. So consequently, we would recommend these changes or amendments to the going out of business part of the Ordinance. Mr. Zetterberg: So move. Mr. Kuhlke: Second. I' Motion carried unanimously. A request from Chief Ronnie Few to approve the organizational chart for the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department. Chief Few: What we did was look at the organization itself and looked for accountability. Some of the jobs, through attrition we can redline because we don't need that much authority in some of the different locations. By redline I mean, as people leave or retire those positions will not be replaced. Our training program is almost non-existent at this time, and that has to be improved. We don't have a training program at this time and we are trying to work with some of the private industries in the area because they need training also, and to cut the cost. We are trying to do some things together. With this chart we have slim lined and put some people in positions of authority that we feel like? We haven't promoted anybody, but we have an organizational chart now that will take care of accountability on a daily basis so we can put our hands on where the prob~~ms lie. At this time Chief Few presents the organizational chart for the Fire Department. Mr. Kuhlke: What is your timetable from the standpoint of I putting people in those positions? I I I Chief Few: I have to go out and get someone to come in and do the promotional process, in about three to six months we should have somebody in place. We can get the upper administration up very quickly, because that is a mini assessment. Mr. Zetterberg: I would like to make a motion that we approve the organizational chart for the ARC Fire Department. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A communication from Chief Ronnie Few requesting approval to change the Promotional Process in the Fire Department, to eliminate the awarding of points by the Fire Chief, and to hire a consultant to administer the promotional test. Mr. Oliver: There is a policy right now as Chief Few had indicated where the Chief gives 20 po~nts. Obviously with 20 points you can affect the outcome, there is no question about that, and it basically becomes the Chief's decision. Mr. Zetterberg: I would like to make a motion move that we go along with the Chief and eliminate the awarding of points by the Fire Chief. Also, the Fire Chief along with the Administrator bring back the cost and parameters of hiring a consul tant to administer the promotional test. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A communication from Chief Ronnie Few requesting authorization to have a pre-ISO inspection performed in late fall of 1997. The cost of this inspection is not to exceed $5,000.00 Mr. Zetterberg: I would like to make a motion that we go ahead and approve this at the cost of $5,000.00 with just the modification that if we can find it for free by one of the national organizations I would like to have us do that. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A communication from Chief Few to hire a consultant to perform a study and present finqings on Fire Station locations within Augusta-Richmond County. The cost of this consultant study will not exceed $5,000.00. this back cost Mr. Oliver: The person that Chief Few was considering to do study is unable to do it. So we may have to bring this item to you again, because we believe we will have to get another figure. Clearly, we believe that this needs to be done objectively forgetting other things, but just sheer fire safety. Mr. Kuhlke: I would like to motion that we accept this as information and proceed to look for a consultant to do this. I Mr. Mays: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A communication from the Administrator requesting an Approval Capacity Agreement for FY 1998 with Georgia Department of Corrections regarding State inmates being housed at the Richmond County Correction Institute. Mr. Oliver: This is an agreement with the State of Georgia it runs from July 1, for one calendar year. We have indicated to them that this is subject to Commission consideration on July 2, and that we believe in going forward. One thing we have to look at is that the State of Georgia is not compensating us at a level sufficient to support housing these inmates. Even though we are working these inmates we have done some preliminary figures and we believe we can break even by continuing to work them. But, if they don't increase this compensation in the near term, we believe we will have to seriously look at doing something different, and we think we should lobby the Legislature in this regard, it's not fair to get $12.50 a day. Mr. Kuhlke: Mr. Oliver, are you recommending that we go ahead and approve this. I Mr. Oliver: For this year, yes I am. And I seriously think though, that based on our analysis that we have to have such a large percentage of these inmates working, that if they don't raise that rate next year we are seriously going to have to consider not doing that. But, as I understand it, they are considering raising this rate to $14 and something. We did a quick analysis on it and it's costing us $24.36, to house each inmate. Mr. Todd: I strongly recommend that we get out of the business of housing State prisoners. With the State building prisons allover the state, they have vacant beds. And when Ft. Gordon is looking for someone to house their prisoners maybe we need to look at that option and look at making some additional room available to the Sheriff at RCCI and to deal with our misdemeanor inmates and not the States 200 and some odd inmates. Mr. Oliver: We ,,have 175 inmates currently under this agreement, we have 100 beds set aside for the Sheriff's Department. The Federal government pays very well when it comes to housing inmates. Mr. Kuhlke: Well, why don't we turn it down, just say no? I What negative effect would it have on clean up crews. I I I Mr. Oliver: Are you all willing to reduce the staff to do that? If we don't have the inmates there we don't need the staff. It would have an effect. I had the Finance Department do an analysis of it and basically we have come to the conclusion, that if we keep the majority of the inmates working, we break even. I would expect that when the new facility opens up, the Sheriff will not use the 100 beds that are allocated to them, as it currently stands they are using about 70. So the total RCCI population as I understand it, is comprised of state and your inmates, so if we don't have the inmates out there we don't need the staff. We need more time to do the analysis. Mr. Zetterberg: I make a motion that we ask for an extension of 90 days. After further discussion; Mr. Wall: I would encourage you to go ahead an extend it for another year and that will give you plenty of time, because I think there are some hidden cost in this thing that need to be considered. Mr. Kuhlke: Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a substitute motion that we approve this contract for this coming year to give us time to really analyze this over the next year and my concern is that we will have things coming up during the summer that we will have to take care of and I think that we need a little more time than 90 days to analyze it to really take a strong look at it and then come back with a recommendation. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A communication from the Sheriff requesting approval of $556,800.50 (Sheriff, $519,900.00; Central Services, $36,900) for the purchase of furniture and other necessary equipment in order to occupy and operate the Augusta-Richmond County Detention Center on Phinizy Road. Mr. Oliver: This is only for FF&E. And it's understood that if any of the items come in under budget it goes back into the capital account and this is both for the Sheriff's Department and Central Services for maintaining the facility. This is in the budget. It will come out of contingency. Mr. Kuhlke: I reco~mend approval. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A communication from the attorney requesting a Lease Extension Agreement between Bell Investment Company and Augusta-Richmond County for one year (July 1, 1997 to June 30, 1998) at a rental of $1,500.00 per month. Mr. Wall: This is an extension of the lease that we have had out on Barton Chapel Road. You renewed it for a year and it expires on June 30. If you recall from last year, it went up from $300 a month to $1200 last year, this year they are asking for $1500 or agreed to this amount which is still less than what they were asked for last year, and we are only asking for one year until this consultant gets in and looks to see where a new fire station should be sighted. Mr. Zetterberg: I motion that we approve this for the 1 year lease with an option for 1 year at the same price. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion carried unanimously. An update from the Sheriff's Department regarding escapes from JLEC. Chief Jailer Toole: I'm sure everybody knows that we had an escape from the prison last night, it's the first one we've had in the 11 years and 7 months that we have been in operation down there so none of us feel real good about it. The problem we have is improper working locks and panels inside the old tower building. Mr. Kuhlke: I make a motion that we accept this report as information on the escape. And that we authorize the Administrator working along with Chief Toole that once specifications are adopted for new locks that they can immediately go out for bids using the Emergency Bid Process. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Wall: The other item that is not on your printed agenda came from the Finance Committee. With Mr. Oliver's help we are trying to get the Law Clerks in business with $10,000 and Brenda in business with a computer at $26,000. This is for furniture, a computer and printer for the Law Clerks and a computer for Brenda. Mr. Kuhlke: I move for approval. Mr. Mays: Second. Let Committee members, including attendance at this meeting. the record note that the Chairman were two Finance sitting in With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. Lena Bonner Clerk of Commission I I I