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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-28-2003 Meeting I PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - January 28, 2003 1:30P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Bob Young, Mayor; Williams, Chairman; Boyles, Co- Chairman; Shepard and Beard, members; Jim Wall, Attorney; George Kolb, Administrator; Fred Russell, Deputy Administrator; Sheriff Ronnie Strength, Sheriffs Office; Chief Al Gillespie, Fire Department; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission. Also Present: Shawn Norris of The Augusta Focus, Stacey Eidson of The Metropolitan Spirit, Heidi Williams of The Augusta Chronicle, George Eskola ofWffiF Television, other members of the news media and Hons. Hankerson, Kuhlke, Mays and Bridges, Commissioners. The Clerk: We have a request for one addition from Ms. Betty Hodge of National Cab regarding affIXing the light on her taxi cab. At this time Ms. Hodge appeared before the Committee concerning the above request. She noted that she wished to affix the magnetic top light to the vehicle without drilling holes in the top of the vehicle as requested by the inspector. I The Sheriff stated that he had received complaints from citizens and other cab companies about the ordinance not being adhered to. He noted that some operators remove the magnetic lights from one vehicle and place them on another one which violates the ordinance. Mr. Boyles: I move that we follow the recommendation of the Sheriff. Mr. Shepard: Second. Mr. Mays: Perhaps the ordinance should be reworded to state that the light must be permanently attached to the vehicle rather than simply attached. Mr. Beard: Could the motion be amended to change the exact wording of the ordinance to "permanently attached" and I think that would solve everything. Mr. Boyles: I would be happy to do that. Mr. Shepard: I accept it also. Motion adopted unanimously. 1. Approve changing salary grade from grade 43 to grade 48 for the position of Community Training Coordinator in the Fire Department. I Mr. Boyles: I move for approval. Mr. Shepard: I'll second it for purposes of discussion. Motion adopted unanimously. I 2. Approve and sign Maintenance Renewal Agreement with SunGard Bi- Tech, Inc. for the period covering January 1,2003 - December 31, 2003. Mr. Shepard: I move approval. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 3. ReportJbriefing from Chief Gillespie and Max Hicks regarding the recent apartment fll'e (Brandywine) relating to insufficient water supply to the fire plugs. (Requested by Commissioner Williams) Dep. Chief Carl Scott made a report regarding the apartment fire and the discovery of a fire hydrant that did not have a sufficient water supply. He noted that the hydrant had been inspected in November and had sufficient water at that time but was dry on the day of the fire. He stated that it had since been checked and was working properly. Mr. Shepard: I make a motion that we receive this as information. I Mr. Boyles: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 4. Update from Chief Gillespie regarding the revised history of the Augusta Fire Department. (Public Safety meeting of December 9, 2002) (Requested by Commissioner Williams) After a short discussion, Mr. Beard: I move that wc authorize the Fire Department to bring the history up to date to the present date. Mr. Boyles: I'll second that. It was the consensus of the Committee that this come back by March I. Motion adopted unanimously. 5. An Ordinance to amend Title 3, Chapter 4, Section 11 ofthe Augusta- Richmond County Code regulating certain events consisting of five or more persons to be held on sidewalks, streets, public right-of-ways or other public property within Augusta; to provide for a permit for such events; to provide I 2 I for the contents of said application; to provide that the Sheriff shall issue or deny said permit; to provide considerations for the Sheriff in issuing or denying said permit; to provide time requirements for applying for said permit; provide for appeal; to provide for judicial review; to provide for the intent of said ordinance; to provide for revocation of termination of event or permit; to provide for severability; to provide an effective date; and for other lawful purposes. (Requested hy Commissioner KuWke) Mr. Kuhlke: In talking with both the Attorney and the Sheriff, I asked them ifit was workable if we changed the timing for applying for the permit from thirty days to twenty days, and if the Sheriff could have rather than ten days to review that he could have seven and if the permit were denied, that the Attorney would then have seven days to go before the courts to see whether the denial was valid or not. That brings it down to a reasonable period of time and we're not depriving anyone of the opportunity to apply for a permit, we're not trying to prevent someone from coming in and demonstrating or protesting and I would be opposed to anything like that. This shifts the burden of proof on the county government, it takes some of the pressure off the person that's applying for the permit and rather than put ourselves in a position that if the existing ordinance were challenged in court and we lost because our existing ordinance was not valid, then we're talking about thousands of dollars potentially that could cost the taxpayers of Richmond County. I Mr. Shepard: I make it in the form of a motion that we adopt Mr. Kuhlke's proposed ordinance with the amendments that he suggested with the time being reduced from thirty to twenty days and ten to seven days. Mr. Beard: I'll second for discussion. Mr. Boyles suggested that city officials meet with the two groups who had stated that they would come during the time of the Masters Tournament and try to work out the arrangements. Mr. Mays asked that his comments from the previous Commission meeting be made a part of the record of this meeting through reference. Motion adopted unanimously. 6. Approve the reclassifications and additional personnel for the Information Technology Department. (See backup information attached under Administrative Services Committee) The Clerk: A sub-committee was appointed in the Administrative Services Committee to review this request and will report back. I Mr. Shepard: I move that we defer this to that sub-committee. J nWffi Mr. Beard: Second: I Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission I I 4 I PUBLIC SAFETY AGENDA COMMITTEE ROOM - January 28,2003 1:30 P. M. I. Approve changing salary grade from grade 43 to grade 48 for the position of Community Training Coordinator in the Fire Department. 2. Approve and sign Maintenance Renewal Agreement with SunGard Bi- Tech, Inc. for the period covering January 1, 2003 - December 31,2003. 3. Report!briefing from Chief Gillespie and Max Hicks regarding the recent apartment fire (Brandywine) relating to insufficient water supply to the fire plugs. (Requested by Commissioner Williams) 4. Update from Chief Gillespie regarding the revised history of the Augusta Fire Department. (public Safety meeting of December 9,2002) (Requested by Commissioner Williams) 5. An Ordinance to amend Title 3, Chapter 4, Section II of the Augusta-Richmond County Code regulating certain events consisting of five or more persons to be held on sidewalks, streets, public right-of-ways or other public property within Augusta; to provide for a permit for such events; to provide for the contents of . said application; to provide that the Sheriff shall issue or deny said permit; to provide considerations for the Sheriff in issuing or denying said permit; to provide time requirements for applying for said permit; provide for appeal; to provide for judicial review; to provide for the intent of said ordinance; to provide for revocation of termination of event or permit; to provide for severability; to provide an effective date; and for other lawful purposes. (Requested by Commissioner Kuhlke) I 6. Approve the reclassifications and additional personnel for the Information Technology Department. (See backup information attached under Administrative Services Committee) I