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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-28-1998 Meeting I :1 1 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - September 28, 1998 3:45 P.M. PRESENT: Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; Handy, Chairman, Kuhlke, Mays, Shepard, members; 1. Beard, Mayor Pro Tem; H. Brigham, J. Brigham, Bridges, Commissioners; R. Oliver, Admini.u-ator; J. Wall, Legal Counsel; S. Jolly, Solicitor; C: Rushton, Director IT; H. Siddall, Fleet Manager. ALSO PRESENT: S. Edison, Metro Spirit; G. Eskola, Channel 6; Channel 26; 1. Bonner, Clerk of Commission; B. Brown of the Clerks office. Clerk: We have a request to add (1) one addendum item: Motion to approve Lease Agreement between The McKinney Corporation and Augusta. Georgia for 7,000 square feet in Southgate Shopping Center for new substation. Mr. Shepard: So move to add. Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A presentation by Ms. Sheryl B. JoUy, Solicitor General. Ms. Jolly: I'm asking at this point to be given one attorney now and one attorney and one investigator in April of next year so that it will be a staggered time period. Total dollar wise to the office, the starting salaries for the attorney position is $33,348, the investigator position is $22,967. I'm asking for a staff increase of two attorneys. I currently have a chief assistant and four other prosecuting attorneys in the office, which gives a total of six. I have nine judges, plus one retired judge who still sits on the bench quite a lot, especially now that the probate court duties are not required to be handled. Weare also short in the investigative field because I only have two investigators in the office. On the performance measurement it gives you an idea of the fines that were assessed. Revenues that were collected in 1996 were $4.1 million dollars, in 1997 revenues were $4.2 million dollars. I don't have a total for 1998, but the last time I was here it was a little over $3.1 million dollars. Which indicates it will be that gradual increase with fines collected within the court system. I am authorized to say that the State Court Judges support my request for additional staff in that we've had some scheduling difficulties. We do have issues to take into consideration with splitting courtrooms and handling motion hearings. I'm here to ask the Public Safety Committees approval of my request at this time and then subject to that approval, I'd like to address it with the full Commission. Mr. Shepard: I think we need to give Ms. Jolly some immediate relief and then probably long term come to some grips with the needs in next years budget process which we are going to do before the end of the year. So I make the motion that we approve the additional attorney for the balance of this year and that we deal in the budget process with the other request of the investigator and the attorney to be taken out of the funding within her office. I Mr. Kuhlke: Second. I think we all would like to give you exactly what you want. I think that Mr. Shepards' motion is in order. Ms. Jolly: Am I authorized in understanding that who ever this individual will be will have ajob January 2, when the new budget goes into effect? And that the position for the other attorney and investigator will be handled in the budget process? Mr. Shepard: Will you be able to utilize some the economies in next year's budget to keep this person? I think that we have to do a net increase of one (1) come next budget Yes, it is my intention that we add a full time person. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the IT Director to approve $65,658 for purchase of Trimble Navigation GPS Equipment hardware, software, and training. Mr. Shepard: I move approval. 1-. Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A discussion of elimination of gas chambers at Animal Control. Mr. Handy: I had this put on the agenda prior to the Mayor making his decision last week concerning the gas chamber. I would like Jim to look into an ordinance requiring people that advertise selling or breeding animals to have a permit, business license or some kind of number so that when they sell a dog they be charged a fine or tax for that service. Ms. Cathy Acreage: The problem we're having with our animals is that people are not spading or neutering. That's what will stop your animal population. There is an organization in Savarmah started by a group of people who supply the certificates for spading and neutering. I'm working with some people now to try and get this organization moving to Augusta. Mr. Shepard: So move to accept as information. I. I Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request from Jim Larmer, Director Animal Control to approve allowing two Animal Control officers to write court citations. Mr. Wall: The code already authorizes Animal Control officers to issue citations. Mr. Shepard: I move we receive this as information. Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the Fleet Manager to award a purchase order for ten (10) radar speed detection units for the Sheriff s Department Road Patrol Division at a total cost of $19,490.00 (Bid #98-145A). I Mr. Siddall: This is a request for ten radar units. W eoriginally sent the specifications out for six. Once we received the prices back we noted that we had enough additional funds to go ahead with the ten units. We have nine traffic cars that are due in next week that we can place the units in and replace one of the older units that are already in the cars. We do have funds in the budget. Mr. Shepard: I move approval. Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the IT Director to approve installation of a PBX system to reduce associated telephone expenses by $57,360 annually. I Mr. Rushton: We are purposing a PBX system to be purchased that would save us $57,360 a year. This would give us our own functionality and our group would be able to make the moves, adds and changes that people ask. Right now it's still taking a seven- day average. This would allow us to do it the next day. Right now we have features that we pay for, with this system we will no longer pay for these fees. The features would include voice mail; conference calling and intercoms will be available. This proposal has (I) one additional personnel that would come to work in our department and help us do these adds, moves and changes. :-) Mr. Kuhlke: So move. 1- Mr. Shepard: Second. Mr. Handy: What will it cost to install this? Mr. Rushton: $234,000. ~ .~ Mr. Handy: Where is that coming from? Mr. Oliver: We are going to lease it. We can take it out of capital funding for this building. I think that would be better. How about between now and Commission meeting I'll put that plan before you. iI Mr. Handy: How are we going to save that $57,360? Mr. Rushton: We're paying a flat amount a month for every phone. The cost of the features for each phone will be a savings. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the Sheriff's Department to approve a Lease Agreement between The McKinney Corporation and Augusta. Georgia for 7,000 square feet in Southgate Shopping Center for a new substation. 1- Mr Shepard: So move to approve the lease extension. Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion carried unanimously. With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission Ibb 1-