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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-23-1998 Meeting I 1 -I PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - February 23, 1998 3:30 p.m. PRESENT: Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; Handy, Chairman; Kuhlke, Mays, members; J. Brigham, Todd, Commissioners; L. Beard, Mayor Pro Tern; R. Oliver, Administrator; J. Wall, and L. D' Alessio, Legal Counsel; R. Few, Fire Chief. ABSENT: S. Shepard, Commissioner. ALSO PRESENT: Syl via Cooper, Augusta Chronicle, Stacy Eidson, Metro Spirit, Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Belinda Brown of the Clerk's Office. The Clerk: Attorney: We have a request for one addendum item from the 1. To approve a contract between Augusta, Georgia and the Housing Authority of the City of Augusta for Sheriff's Deputies. MR. KUHLKE: So move to add. MR. MAYS: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the attorney to approve a Lease Agreement'between Augusta, Georgia and WRDW Channel 12 for lease of space on transmission tower in North Augusta, South Carolina. Mr. Wall: These are lease agreements for heights on the tower. Last year we went on a month to month lease agreement with them, however we were contacted by them and they had another customer that was willing to go into a long term lease agreement. We will need these towers until SCANA comes on line. We need to enter into an agreement for one more year. I've reviewed this with Gary Hewitt and recommend approval of the lease agreements. MR. KUHLKE: So move. MR. MAYS: Second. Mr. Handy: Why do we need an antenna in North Augusta for Augusta? Mr. Wall: For the height and coverage that it affords. SCANA is also putting a tower in North Augusta because of the higher elevation. Mr. Hewitt: The reason for this is simply due to the higher I elevation. The standard of public safety that we would get out of the new contract for SCANA which is not part of this, this is the old system that we are doing away with, is 97% of the time you have a 95% liability that when the officer keys the button, another person on the other end will hear that person. This will afford us the ability that if we wanted to put mobile data terminals in the car, anything thing along those lines, there is approximately a four year waiting list to get on these towers, if we give them up, we'll never get it back. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the Administrator to allow fire fighters at Station #10 to use Fire Department property for parking for patrons at the 1998 Masters Golf Tournament. Funds to be returned to Fire Department. MR. MAYS: So move. MR. KUHLKE: Second. Mr. Kuhlke: I would assume that this is all cash? Chief Few do you feel comfortable from the standpoint of accountability on I something like this. Chief Few: Each station has a captain and each captain is responsible for assessing each one of their people personal items. In the past they have used this a way of decreasing the money that they have actually had to spend out. I wouldn't be the custodian over the money, it will go back to the station captain who will make sure the monies stay within the station budget. This money will stay in that particular station. They have bought furniture for the station. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the Attorney to approve the salary of $94,400 for the Chief Judge of State and Municipal Court, plus retirement contribution equivalent to FICA contribution and a $3,600 supplement for serving as the Chief Judge. Mr. Wall: Mr. Oliver has been meeting with Judge Hamrick in so far as a salary increase for him and has provided data, the $94,400 is approximately equal to 90% of the Superior Court judges salary. We have been paying a $3,600 supplement for serving as chief judge in State and Municipal court. Judge Hamrick does not I pay into social security. As you know there is a matching portion by the employer and he is requesting that. The proposal is that we would pay the 7.65% of the FICA portion of payroll which this year I 1 I will be based on a salary of $68,400, so we would pay 7.65% of it versus $68,400 of his salary into the trial judges retirement plan. This money was included in the budget for a salary increase. Mr. Oliver: We would note this is within the 15% that was done for other employees. MR. KUHLKE: So move. MR. MAYS: Second. Mr. Kuhlke: I would like to ask Mr. Oliver, from a comparison standpoint, the increase in his salary as far as the senior state court judge, how does he rank, are we in the medium? Mr. Oliver: We did a comparison of the other jurisdictions and I can provide that. The eighty-three is the lowest of all the jurisdictions surveyed. The $94,400 will bring this up into just slightly below the middle. The one thing I do want everybody to know is that at some point the other two judges after the election is over will come back and want some form of an increase. Mr. Beard: Am I to understand that this is ninety-four plus, he will continue to receive a supplement. Mr. Oliver: Yes, it will make it $98,000 total. Mr. Beard: Why is this being proposed at this time? Mr. Wall: This has been talked about for months. I think that some time back in January is when there was some consensus about the level of compensation. The judge has not for some reason wanted to move forward with it until recently. There was some discussion with Randy about whether there was sufficient data to justify the increase and that has been presented to Randy. After further discussion; Motion carried unanimously. A request from the Attorney to approve a contract between Augusta, Georgia and the Housing Authority of the City of Augusta. Mr. Wall: This is a renewal of the contract. There has been some changing in the wording, but they are still reimbursing. There will be thirteen officers plus two sergeants. We recommend approval. MR. KUHLKE: So move. MR. MAYS: Second. Motion carried unanimously. I With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission I I