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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCalled Commission Meeting May 9, 2023 CALLED MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER May 9, 2023 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 9, 2023, the Honorable Garnett Johnson, Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Garrett, Scott, McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis and Guilfoyle, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: Good morning, colleagues. I hereby call this meeting to order. Clerk Bonner. The Clerk: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. The attorney, Attorney Brown. Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown. 1. LEGAL MEETING A. Pending and potential litigation B. Real estate C. Personnel Mr. Brown: Thank you, Mayor and Commissioners. We request a motion to go into executive session for the discussion of pending or potential litigation, real estate and personnel. Mr. Mason: So move. Ms. McKnight: Second. Mr. Mayor: There’s a motion and second. Voting. Mr. Johnson out. Motion carries 9-0. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Madam Clerk, we are hereby adjourned to executive session. \[EXECUTIVE SESSION\] Mr. Mayor: Good afternoon, everybody, thank ya’ll for being here. I call this meeting back to order. Attorney Brown. 2. Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia’s Open Meeting Act. Mr. Brown: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Commissioners. We request a motion to execute the closed meeting affidavit. 1 Mr. Frantom: So moved. Ms. McKnight: Second. Mr. Mayor: So I have a motion and I have two seconds. Who was first? The Clerk: Commissioner McKnight. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner McKnight. If there are no further discussions, voting. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. Attorney Brown, are there any motions out of the closed-door session we need to address? Mr. Brown: Yes, sir. We would request a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the settlement of all claims by Linda McQueen in the aggregate amount of $90,000 payable as follows: Linda McQueen and Joshua Tucker as her attorney, further authorizing the Administrator to disburse this amount of $90,000 waiving Augusta, Georgia codes or ordinances, sections in conflict for this instance only and for other purposes. Mr. Frantom: So moved. Mr. Williams: Second. Mr. Mayor: So I have a first – The Clerk: Mr. Frantom and Mr. Williams. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, voting. Mr. Johnson not voting. Motion carries 9-0. Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown, are there any additional motions? Mr. Brown: There is nothing further, Your Honor. Mr. Mayor: Thank you so much, Attorney Brown. Before we move over to the committee meetings if we can, can we get the ladies from Aquinas High School into the Chambers? While we’re waiting on the ladies from the state championship female soccer team, I want to wish everybody a National Travel and Tourism Week. This morning I was presented a $44 million dollar check on behalf of the Destination Augusta group for champions that have invested in our community through conferences and events and a lot of other things. $44,500,000 dollars and some change. If it’s okay with my colleagues on the Commission, I’m adding this to a Special Called Meeting without objection. Any objections? Without objection. Thank you. 2 Presentations were made to the Aquinas High School State Champion Ladies Soccer Team. th Mr. Mayor: We’ve got one more point of privilege from commissioner from the 4. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Could we have the representatives from Augusta Utilities team. Are they in here? If we can have Augusta Utilities come down front, please and if you would face this wonderful audience down here. For more than 40 years the American Waterworks Association has used Drinking Water Week as a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives. Augusta Utilities Department is a member of the American Waterworks Association and is celebrating Drinking Water Week from May 7 to May 12. Water serves as an essential purpose to health, hydration, and hygiene needs for the quality of life for our citizens. It delivers public health protection, fire protection, support for our economy and quality of life we enjoy. The hard work performed by the more than 250 employees of the Augusta Utilities and the entire water sector includes designing capital projects, operators ensuring the safety and quality of drinking water, members of our construction and maintenance crew maintaining the infrastructure communities rely on to transport high quality drinking water from the Savannah River to the homes and businesses of the Augusta Richmond County. Let us all join in with Augusta Utilities team and celebrate the service of Augusta Utilities and all in the water industry for the countless hours 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week that they contribute to providing clean and safe drinking water. Can we please give them a big round of applause? (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: Thank you guys. Director Byne and crew, thank you so much. Thank you, Commissioner Mason. With that being out last piece of business, I consider this special session closed. We are hereby adjourned. \[MEETNG ADJOURNED\] Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission CERTIFICATION: I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Called Meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission held on May 9, 2023. ________________________ Clerk of Commission 3