Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-12-1998 Meeting .. . I PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - October 12, 1998 4:00 P.M. PRESENT: Mays, Chairman; Colclough, J. Brigham, Kuhlke, members, R. Oliver, Administrator; J. Wall, Attorney; T. Beck & R. Houck, Recreation; R. Acree, Central Services; M. Williams, Bush Field; J. Johnson, Johnson & Laschober. ALSO PRESENT: S. Cooper, Augusta Chronicle; S. Eidson, Metro Spirit; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Belinda Brown of the Clerks office. A request to waive all building inspection fees for the residential house being renovated at 1862 Ellis Street. This house is owned by the City. Mr. Kuhlke: So move. Mr. Colclough: Second. Motion carried unanimously. I A request from the Bush Field Director for approval of post Marketing Director position and hire at up to the midpoint of salary range. Mr. Wall: This came before the Aviation Commission in September. If you'll note in the financial impact it talks about we'll be eligible to receive a commission payable through the Metro Chamber of Commerce of up to $15,000. When this issue came before the Aviation Commission I had concerns about whether or not an employee could be hired based on a commission and it indicated that it might be necessary to go through the Chamber of Commerce. I gather that's the reason this agenda item was prepared the way it was. Since then I have been able to do some research and I think you would be allowed to pay on a commission basis if you wanted to do so provided that there is a measurable standard and ascertainable method of coming up with the compensation. In the policy decision, this will be the first employee, to my knowledge where an employee would receive a base salary plus a commission based upon sales, increase local airline agent sales, increased visibility in the media and achievement of goals. If this is approved this will be a contract between the Aviation Commission and this employee that will have that commission added into the total compensation package. Mr. Oliver: Total potential compensation first year would be $64,102 provide that they hire that individual at the midpoint. I would note that we did something similar to this at the Newman Tennis Center regarding the tennis people and the golf pro. I Mr. Brigham: My concern would be what are we paying commission on. I think we need to have a factual basis paying a commission out of a net for a plus. Mr. Wall: That was discussed at the Aviation Commission that there would be an I ascertainable standard and that would be something that would be a part of the agreement. I have not seen any details and I can't answer the question of what the standards would be. Ms. Williams: Other than what's outlined in the job description, no. One of the things that the airport director did want to make mention of is that this did come as a direct part of the air service study. One thing that was identified in the air service study is that we are losing 36% of our market to Atlanta. One of the things that they talked about was the possibility of the marketing director recouping some of that market, which would mean about a $150 million financial impact to this area. We have gotten a commitment from the Chamber of Commerce for $10,000 and from Economic Development for $5,000 supporting this because of the economic impact to the area. That's why I'm here to tell you how that came about. The end of the job description that was attached to the agenda item does have some very basis objectives as to what were discussed by the Aviation Commission that would be the goals that they would be set on and what those goals would be. But as I understand it from Mr. Wall that needs to be part of the contract as the contract comes up between this employee and the Aviation Commission. Mr. Kuhlke: And they need to be measurable, increase visibility in the media, I don't now how you would measure that. Mr. Brigham: I think it has to be tied totally to an increase in ticket sales. I Mr. Colclough: Does that mean that we will bring in another carrier or we still use the same carrier? Mr. Oliver: It would be beneficial to this particular position to bring in a carrier because that would enhance claimants. But the other thing is if the economy falls off, clearly the claimants are going to fall off, and that's the down side to the way this is proposed. Mr. Colclough: Because right now if you're talking ticket sales, most people drive to Atlanta and Columbia because they don't want to pay the cost out there at the airport because there is only one carrier. Ms. Williams: That is part of the job description of the marketing director to not only service current existing markets but to research the potential but to bring in other markets. A big goal of the marketing director would be to recover our lost market, because that's part of the reason that all of this lead to in the air search study. Mr. Brigham: The other thing I would like to say is I would prefer that we start at the minimum salary and maybe leave the commission level at the same level and put the I rest in salary and commission rather than start at the midpoint. _. '" I Mr. Oliver: What we could do is post the position at the minimum, if you want, with the caveat that they bring that and the contract back to the Committee for your approval. Mr. Brigham: I think that if there is going to be a market director, if you're going to pay a commission that is the true incentive for doing the job and maybe we should set the maximum cap there. But I think we should set a more minimum salary. Mr. Kuhlke: What is the minimum salary for that position? Mr. Oliver: The minimum of the salary would be approximately $37,080. Mr. Brigham: Let them be able to eam $65,000 on the commission, but start the base salary at $37,000. I Mr. Beard: It bothers me a little bit because at certain points, certain departments can come in and we can give them all kinds of incentives and we bend over backwards and leap over three or four buildings for them and another department comes up and we can't do anything for them, we can't even consider that. I'm not questioning whether you need a market director or not, I think you probably need one out there. The point is, you should hire and be fair. Every time I look around I'm hearing this word fairness, and when we want to exclude that fairness then we can all find the justification for it. I think that's what I see here in this. I think the Committee should really look at this before they jump up with a $15,000 commission. Mr. Kuhlke: I move we receive this as information. I think we need more back up information. I would like to know who they surveyed to determine what the salary is in comparison to our airport. I would like to have this information at our next committee meeting. Mr. Brigham: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the Recreation Department Director to approve a capital expenditnre of $1,432.77 for Change Order #1 for the renovations and improvements to W.T. Johnson Community Center to Mars Construction Company, Inc. I Mr. Houck: We had a contingency of$5,000 allowance built into the contract for some unforeseen situations that might come up there. Two of the items we decided to make changes on were to add some additional down spouts on the building and on the ball field there were a couple of fields that were a little short oflighting. Mr. Kuhlke: So move. ,. l' Mr. Brigham: Second. I Motion carried unanimously. A request from the Recreation Department to approve and award swimming pool plastering bid to Augusta Sunshine Pools at Bernie Ward Pool for $38,974 and at Dyess Pool for $24, 847, reallocating $26,000 from RoyaJ/Barrett Park SPLOST funds to Dyess Park. Mr. Kuhlke: So move. Mr. Brigham: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the Recreation Department to approve and award bid and contract to Allen Batchelor Construction, Ine. for $397,500 for improvements and renovations to May Park as part of the SPLOST, Phase ill recommended projects. Mr. Brigham: Second. I Mr. Kuhlke: So move. Motion carried unanimously. With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission /bb I