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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 18, 2011 Commission Meeting REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER JANUARY 18, 2011 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 5:00 p.m., January 18, 2011, the Hon. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Mason, Smith, Hatney, Aiken, Johnson, Jackson, Bowles and Brigham, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. The invocation was given by the Reverend Melvin Lowry, Pastor, Belle Terrace Presbyterian Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. Mr. Mayor: Pastor, thank you for that powerful invocation and we have a little something for you if you could please come forward. By these present be it known that Reverend Melvin Lowry, Pastor of Belle Terrace Presbyterian Church is Chaplain of the Day for his civic and spiritual guidance demonstrated throughout the community. Serves as an example th for all of the faith community. Given under my hand this 18 Day of January 2011. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor. Thank you Reverend. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, on to the recognitions. The Clerk: RECOGNITION(S) Employee of the Month A. Ms. Natasha McFarley, Administrative Assistant for Mayor Deke Copenhaver. The Clerk: Dear Mayor Copenhaver the Employee Recognition Committee has selected Natasha McFarley as the December 2010 Employee of the Month for the City of Augusta. Natasha is employed as a secretary for the Mayor’s Office. She has been employed with the city for five years. Ms. McFarley was nominated by Terry Turner, Assistant Zoning and Development Administrator. Ms. McFarley has played a key role in making sure that everything ran smoothly for the Extreme Makeover Project from the moment they came into town and coordinated city staff, volunteers and charitable organizations in the event. Ms. McFarley took the initiative with the Extreme Makeover Project to involve Golden Harvest Food Bank, Shepherd Community Blood Center, Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army in the city’s overall community fund raising efforts. Due to her going above and beyond what was needed to make this project a success the Extreme Makeover event not only touched the lives of one deserving family but also positively impacted many of Augusta Richmond County families in need during the holiday season. Ms. McFarley represented herself, the city and the Mayor’s Office well during this project and exemplified an attitude of service to others first during the tenure of her involvement with the Extreme Makeover Project. The city Employee Recognition Committee 1 felt that based on this nomination and Natasha McFarley’s dedicated and loyal service to the City of Augusta they would appreciate you in joining us in awarding her the December 2010 Employee of the Month. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: I just want to say, Natasha, thank you for your service to the city. I get to work with her every day but particularly the Extreme Makeover and then I read that. I might be going off script. But that program touches 1.2 billion viewers around the world and when you consider what they’ve seen happen here in Augusta which airs Sunday night, correct? That puts such a positive face on our city and you are such a big part of that so I just want to say thank you and then I’ll read that. Dear Ms. McFarley. On behalf of the city of Augusta it is with great pleasure that I congratulate you for being recognized as the Employee of the Month for December 2010. Your contribution to your organization, Augusta Richmond County Government and the citizens of Augusta has earned you this recognition. I appreciate your willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty and your outstanding work ethic. You are truly an asset to the Augusta Richmond County Mayor’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Georgia. Please accept my personal congratulations on this wonderful award. You are truly deserving of this recognition. Sincerely yours, Deke Copenhaver, Mayor. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Bowles: Unfortunately, I don’t get to see Natasha every day and I’m my own secretary so. But she is a pleasure to work with and is always very responsive and goes over and above the call of duty. And we appreciate every thing she does. (APPLAUSE) Ms. Turner: Natasha truly exemplifies what we, I hope what we all as city employees inspire to be and that’s a person of extreme dedication. Ms. McFarley: Thank you. I just want to say thank you to everyone who was involved with this project. And again it was about selfless service and just being a part of something that ultimately is bigger than yourself. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) The Clerk: RECOGNITION(S) Employee of the Year B. Sgt. Perry Fogle, Richmond County Sheriff’s Department. The Clerk: At this time we would like to acknowledge our Employee of the Year, Sgt. Perry Fogle of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department. Would you please come forward and any members of the Sheriff’s Department that would like to join in this presentation please feel free to do that. Mr. Mark Johnson? Okay. Dear Mayor Copenhaver. The Employee Recognition Committee has selected Perry Fogle as its 2010 Employee of the Year for the City of Augusta. Perry Fogle was employed as a Sergeant for the Richmond County Sheriff’s 2 Department and is currently employed with the Solid Waste Department. He has been employed with the city for 29 years. Mr. Fogle was nominated by Mark Johnson, Director of Solid Waste. th On June 5 2010 Mr. Fogle was traveling to the Sheriff’s Department’s training facility off of Deans Bridge Road and noticed smoke in the valley as he passed Fort Gordon and the landfill entrance. He wanted to confirm where the smoke was coming from so he took his personal vehicle from the training facility and traveled on the trail through the woods to reach the landfill property. Once he confirmed the fire location at the landfill he contacted 911 and met the fire department. As Mr. Fogle and the fire department proceeded to the area of the fire he observed the situation and noted a $750,000 piece of equipment that was in danger of the fire. Mr. Fogle used a nearby bulldozer to create a buffer between the equipment and the fire. He then continued to cut a firebreak around the burned area and spread additional dirt to keep the fire from spreading. After the fire was controlled he assisted the solid waste department working an additional four hours spreading dirt to smooth any hot spots. He used his time off, the job training and passion to assist landfill staff. Mr. Perry’s reaction and proactive measures exemplify an employee going well above and beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of an Augusta Richmond County employee. His actions prevented potential damages to nearby equipment saving the county hundreds of thousand of dollars in replacement costs. Fred Russell greatly appreciates that. The Employee Recognition Committee felt that based on the nomination and Perry Fogle’s dedicated and loyal service to the City of Augusta they would appreciate you in joining us in awarding him the 2010 Employee of the Year. Congratulations. (APPLAUSE). Mr. Mayor: Thank you for particularly in that situation, I mean, we have so many people that work for this city that do such phenomenal work. Every day their works go unrecognized but I just want to say thank you. Dear Sgt. Fogle. On behalf of the City of Augusta it is with great pleasure that I congratulate you for being recognized as the Employee of the Year for 2010. Your contribution to your organization Augusta Richmond County Government and the citizens of Augusta has earned you this recognition. I appreciate your willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty and your outstanding work ethic. I value your commitment to making Augusta a better place and it is with great pleasure that I present you with this award. You are truly an asset to the Augusta Richmond County Sheriff’s Department and now to Mark Johnson and the citizens of Augusta Georgia. Please accept my personal congratulations on this wonderful award. You are truly deserving of the recognition. Sincerely yours, Deke Copenhaver, Mayor. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Johnson: Simply put, initiative and motivation is what got him here today. Heart’s is what’s going to keep him for the next twenty years and with that I just say thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Fogle: I just want to thank the Lord that brought me here. My wife who stands behind me, my family who’s made me the man that I am today. Mr. Johnson who recommended me (inaudible). (APPLAUSE) Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett. 3 Mr. Lockett: A point of personal privilege, please? I think this body would be remiss if we didn’t applaud the Public Services Department for the outstanding work they did. We had the snow and ice on the ground. They were, their service was above and beyond the call of duty. And I would also like to applaud my colleague, Commissioner Joe Jackson, for his outstanding service as a citizen and as the Chair of Public Safety. And, Mr. Mayor, we could make today Joe Jackson day. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: I agree completely. Madam Clerk, on to the consent agenda please. PUBLIC SERVICES 10. New Ownership Application: A.N. 11-04: A request by Melissa Winter for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Thu’s Rub It Inn Lounge located at 2706 Gordon Hwy. There will be Dance. District 3. Super District 10. The Clerk: Our consent agenda consists of items 1-5, items 1-5. And at the request of the License and Inspections Director would like to delete item 10, if we could add that to the consent. Delete item 10, consent agenda consists of items 1-5. If there are any objectors to any of our Planning petitions would you please signify your objection when the petition is read. I call your attention to: Item 1: Is to approve a Special Exception, Heavy Industry Zone at property located at Dan Bowles Road. Item 2: Is a petition for a change of zoning from a Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) to a Zone A (Agriculture) affecting property at 3816 Byrd Road. Item 3: To approve a change of zoning petition with conditions from a Zone R-1 (One- family Residential) to a Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property located at 4580 Peach Orchard Road. Item 4: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone A (Agriculture) to a Zone LI (Light Industry) affecting property at 4260 Deans Bridge Road. The Clerk: Our consent agenda is items 1-5 with the consideration for the deletion of item 10 at the request of the License and Inspections Director. Mr. Russell: Madam Clerk, there are no objectors noted on those items. The Clerk: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, ma’am. And, gentlemen, do we have any additions to the consent agenda? Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor. If there’s no problems, I’d like to offer consent agenda for the Engineering Services of 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. Commissioner Brigham. 4 Mr. Brigham: I’d like (inaudible). The Clerk: Okay, you want to send the dates back. Mr. Brigham: (inaudible) The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Brigham: And on twenty-four I would like to recommend that and item number twenty-five. The Clerk: Um, twenty-four--- Mr. Brigham: I meant twenty-three. Twenty-four I want to keep on the agenda. The Clerk: Twenty-three, okay --- Mr. Brigham: I’m sorry, wrong call. The Clerk: --- and take twenty-four off. Okay. Mr. Brigham just for, to make sure we’ve got this right. Item 20, 21, 22 with the dates going back to committee. Mr. Brigham: Right. The Clerk: Item 23 and 25. Mr. Brigham: Yes, ma’am. The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Do we have any further additions to the consent agenda? Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor, I have a question. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: On a, this is not a complaint but a concern on item number twenty-one. I noticed that in November this request went out the Fleet Management or whatever to order these vehicles. Is that correct, Mr. Administrator? Mr. Russell: I’m sure of the answer to that question. Ron’s next door, just a second. Mr. Crowden: If you could repeat the question, please? 5 Mr. Lockett: My question, I’m talking about agenda item #21. I understand that a request went to Fleet Management in November 20, on November 2010 ordering these 44 vehicles. Is that correct? Mr. Crowden: I’m not sure that I understand what you’re asking. Mr. Lockett: Okay, agenda item #21 asks us to approve the replacement of 44 public safety vehicles using sales tax funds as approved in the sales tax referendum for Phase VI. In the documentation that I read it says something to the effect that about in November of last year a request went to Fleet Management for 44 vehicles because the Ford Corporation was phasing out these vehicles. Mr. Crowden: No, the, what happened was in October we were notified by Bobby Jones Ford that the Crown Victoria, and we knew this before but officially that the Crown was going out of production in 2011. After 2011 there would be no more Crown Victoria’s. In order to get an order in, in order to insure that we would get vehicles for 2011 they wanted to know in November they wanted to know if, the sales tax referendum had already been approved, they wanted to get an order in for us. It didn’t obligate us but they wanted to get an order in for us that if we were to go forward with this agenda item how many would we want. That’s what we provided to Bobby Jones Ford. Mr. Lockett: It was my understanding we are under no obligation at this point. Mr. Crowden: No, sir, we’re not. Mr. Lockett: Okay, and my other question if I may, Mr. Chairman, in 2007 the Georgia State Patrol decided they were going to use a different car. I think they decided they were going to use the Dodge Charger I believe it was. Before I came on the Commission I was Chairperson of the Oversight Committee with the Richmond County Board of Education and they, the offices wanted Crown Vic’s. But because of the expense, the operation expense we purchased Chevy Impalas because they got better gas mileage and everything else. So to make a long question a shorter question was any other type vehicle other than a Crown Vic considered. And is there any possibility that if the Crown Vic is not going to be in production after this year spare parts may become a problem. Mr. Crowden: The answer to spare parts is they will not be a problem because they will have spare parts. And as I understand spare parts will be available up to about ten years. Okay? Now we won’t hold those cars for ten years. Life expectancy on one of those cars is 4-6 years. We’re talking road patrol. As far as the type of car every year that we go to purchase cars we go to the Sheriff. What I present to the Sheriff is the approximate amount of capital outlay. In this case it would be sales tax referendum that is available to him. If we lay out the cost of various types of cars for him the Sheriff then decides based on the money which vehicles he wants. That’s the way I’ve been doing this since 2001. The Sheriff picks the types of cars that he wants and the Crown Victoria has by far been the number one choice of law enforcement for road type cars. The Dodge Chargers were looked at, the Impalas were looked at the Sheriff has at this time determined that the Impalas are good for his CID criminal investigating, for the investigators. 6 The road patrol cars fits the need and the mission of the road patrol but that’s, he has looked at the Dodge Chargers and there are a couple in the fleet under his narcotics division. In 2007 when the Dodge Charger first came out there were cooling issues that had not been resolved. It’s a matter of preference at that point. So all those things are taken into consideration. We do go forward we do lay out the different kinds of cars being used on the road. But the Sheriff has the pick of what type for which division. And that’s how we do that. Mr. Lockett: Thank you very much. I didn’t have a problem with it I just needed to get some clarification. And I appreciate it. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney. Mr. Hatney: One question and I may have to ask the Administrator this. I think you said this money is coming out of fund six? Mr. Russell: SPLOST 6, yes, sir. Mr. Hatney: SPLOST 6? Mr. Russell: Yes, sir. Mr. Hatney: Is that the last one that was approved? Mr. Russell: Yes, sir. Mr. Hatney: We’ve collected that much money already? Mr. Russell: No, sir, we’ve allotted some dollars up front as you approved a couple weeks ago that would take care on some of these ongoing needs, sir. Collections begin actually this week, last week. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you gentlemen. Are there any items to be, Mr. Russell? ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 15. Motion to approve personnel policy and procedures manual. 16. An Ordinance to amend the Augusta, Georgia Code, Article One, Chapter Ten, relating to the procurement of goods and services and the Local Small Business Opportunities Program so as to provide updates and to establish policies, procedures and guidelines regarding the procurement process and the Local Small Business Opportunities Program; to repeal all Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith; to provide an effective date and for other purposes. 17. An Ordinance to present proposal to amend the Augusta, Georgia Charter and Laws of Local Application, Section 1-40 relating to Equal Opportunity; to separate the function of Equal Employment Opportunity from Minority and Small Business Opportunities; to provide policies and guidelines; to create a Local Small Business Advisory Board; to repeal 7 all Charter, Code Sections and Ordinances and parts of Charter, Code Sections and Ordinances in conflict herewith; to provide an effective date and for other purposes. Mr. Russell: Yes, item 15, which is a personnel policy. I apologize but due to my illness last week we weren’t able to hold the work session that we wanted to do on that prior to me getting this far along in the process. What I’d like to do is have that held at the Commission level until after we can do the work session and as part of our session on Friday that we were talking about. It’s a fairly complex document that has a whole lot to say about how we need to be doing business here. And I think it would be appropriate to have that conversation before any vote is taken on that. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Is everybody, Commissioner Hatney? Mr. Hatney: Mr. Administrator --- Mr. Russell: Yes, sir. Mr. Hatney: --- are 15 and 16 companion items? Mr. Russell: Sixteen is the procurement code, seventeen’s the Ordinance Charter change that’s been on the agenda for several weeks, longer than that at the moment. We do plan on speaking to those briefly on Friday if you’d like. As part of that work session we’ve got a lot of things on the table. If there are questions still about that it might be appropriate to hold them until after Friday if you’d like. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Mason and then Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Mason: I just want to add something in reference to item 15. I want to make sure that both the Administrator and Legal and whomever else is prepared to break down this personnel document, be it chapter by chapter, page by page. We need to insure that we’re doing a thorough work session come Friday. Another words I’m not looking for a five-minute or twenty minute deal. I know it’s scheduled for three hours but I want to ensure that we’re looking at breaking this down bit by bit and piece by piece so we one, I can understand fully and the other Commissioner up here where the savings are and what department the saving are in and what impact that that has for us as government as a whole. Because at 9.4 million I realize that 1.5 is just a small portion of that. So I’m going to have to see very clearly where the breakdown is, what departments they are, who was involved in the process and that sort of thing. I think it’s extremely important that we move forward but let me clearly state that I’m committed to moving with the reorganization of this government but I’m committed in doing it the right way. And there’s a way to do it and we need to make sure that that happens come Friday. And also from a Legal standpoint I need to know any legal ramifications moving forward because it’s important that it does not look like we’re retaliating against any particular individual any particular department as we begin to move forward and to change the personnel and the policies. So Legal that’s you charge there to ensure from a legal standpoint there are no ramifications that can cause us harm as a government in terms of suits as we’re talking about moving people out of positions. 8 And I think that’s extremely important in moving forward. I’m very committed but we’ve got to do it in the right way. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell: Yes, and I agree fully with that. And I think the conversation that we’ve had collectively and individually reflect my desire to do that. I think what we’re looking at is a way to think about the way we do business here and y’all need to decide how we do that. And that’s what we’re going to talk about at some length on Friday. To look at the process that we go through and to look at the mechanisms that we have to insure that our citizens get a dollars worth of product for a dollars worth of taxes. To make sure that we do it in a way that’s conducive to our employees, to make sure we do it in a way that’s, that’s fair and equitable but also to make sure that we do it in a way that meets the mission that we have and that mission is to provide a level of service given a level of resources and make sure that we do so in the most effective and efficient way possible. I’m not naïve enough to think that this is a process that’s going to be done in three hours or two weeks or six months. As well you know we sometimes study things to death we sometimes look at things we sometimes do whatever but we end up with a product that I think at least the majority of you can agree with. And that’s what this process is about is putting forth the thought process and a mechanism for the way we do business that serves our citizens well and serves them in a way that they get the service level for the dollars that they give. It’s not going to be easy. I’ve talked for years about y’all having to make tough decisions. And we’ve avoided some and we’ve moved away from some. The decisions you begin to make Friday you’re going to have an impact on not only this year but our government for the next five, ten, fifteen, twenty years. And as I told Wayne Guilfoyle you picked a heck of a time to get elected because it’s going to be some tough stuff you’ll deal with. But it’s things we need to deal with and there are things we can no longer afford to deal with. So I appreciate your commitment to giving us the opportunity to put these things forward and I appreciate the opportunity to have the dialog with you to come up with a product that you all can agree with. And that’s what this is about. It’s not about what Fred Russell thinks we ought to do or what John Smith or some consultant thinks we ought to do it’s about carving out a new attitude, a new direction and an opportunity for us to do what this Commission thinks we ought to do. And I’m firmly committed to that and have been and will be and as long as I’m here that’s the mission we’ve got. I appreciate the criticisms, I appreciate the comments, I appreciate the fact that we’re never going to agree totally on what we’re doing but I appreciate the fact that we’re finally in a position where we can talk, we can argue, we can disagree and we can set a path forward for something we’re going to do. And I’ve been here many a year and I’ve never had the opportunity to work with a Commission such as yourselves and I think we’re willing to do that. And I just want to say how much I personally appreciate that and how I think each of our citizens will appreciate what you decide to do as we move forward. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Would it then be appropriate to get a motion to keep, I grab you as soon as I finish this Commissioner Lockett, to keep items 15 and 16 and 17 at the Commission level for the next meeting --- Mr. Russell: If you like, sir. 9 Mr. Mayor: --- so we can discuss them on Friday prior to? Can I get a motion to that effect? Mr. Johnson: Mr. Mayor, I would like to say I think item 30 --- Mr. Mayor: Hang on, let me see if I can get a motion and second. Did I get a motion on that? Mr. Bowles: So moved. Mr. Smith: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a second Commissioner Smith. Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Thank you. No, I was relating to item 31 the motion to approve 2011 Budget Resolution. That would be in conjunction with what we’re going to be talking about on Friday correct? Mr. Mayor: No, that, Fred? Mr. Russell: Actually not. What you’ve done, and maybe let the lawyer explain it a little bit better than this. But what we did on when we approved the budget was we attempted to incorporate a resolution into that approval which is the way we should do things. We haven’t done that in the past very well. We usually pass the motion and the resolution follows basically which is sort of backwards but that’s the way we’ve done it in the past because that’s the way it got done. In this particular case we attempted to do a resolution and we did, I did not do a very good job in communicating that physically to people. I think the speech that I gave, the motion that I made, the comments that I made all indicated very seriously what we were trying to do and that’s once again rethink the way we do business. There were some questions about that, the lawyer reviewed that and I think his opinion was he’ll be happy to share with you if I could paraphrase that was an abundance of caution we need to revisit that issue. I think the budget was passed and that was the motion but potentially the resolution there was some concern about that. So I think what you’ve got here is two different animals here basically. The budget is there the resolution is part of that budget. There will be nothing done until we reach a consensus on how it needs to be done but that budget basically gives us the authority to move forward with those savings. So I think what you’ve got to do at this particular point in time is recognize we passed a budget with a 1.5 million dollars in savings to be accomplished through a reorganization and or savings, basically. That’s done. I mean that’s what you need to do. The question becomes is how do we get there and that conversation is what we begin on Friday. And I believe it’s more independent at the moment. You know once again there’s nothing going to be done to anything or anybody until you as a group decide that’s the direction we’re going in. And that’s pretty much where we’re at. Mr. Johnson: Well, I think the thing is and correct me if I’m wrong. I don’t know if anybody else has any issues with it but just making sure we’re clear on the resolution before we 10 adopt it. Because of course is ask us to go ahead and adopt this resolution but I think we need to be made clear of what this resolution is talking about. Mr. Mayor: Well, and just for a moment to get us back on track. We’re talking about agenda items that have not been called yet and we kind of need to move along in the meeting so we can get to those agenda items. Commissioner Brigham. Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, I understood fifteen to be a rewrite of the personnel manual. Is that correct or am I wrong. Mr. Russell: That’s what it is, yes, sir. Mr. Brigham: If that’s a rewrite of the Personnel Committee I don’t think we ought to leave it at Commission. I think we need to refer it back to Committee to have the committee to review the rewrite for the personnel. As I was explained to correctly it’s 230 pages. I don’t think we’re going to resolve that in the next week and a half. I would prefer that we send that back to committee. And if we’re going to do that we probably ought to send the ordinance to changing the bylaws of personnel commission or board, which ever one it is in the system also back to committee. And I’m going to make a substitute motion to send items 15 and 18 back to committee. And we can hold items 16 and 17 until we have, at Commission level, until we have our meeting on Friday is fine with me. But --- Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Brigham: --- if somebody wants to do something different I’m willing to listen. Mr. Russell: I don’t have any problem with that at all, sir. Mr. Mayor: That sounds like a simple way to address the issue in my mind. Do we have a second on that one? Mr. Jackson: I’ll do it. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the substitute sign of voting. Commissioner Lockett I’m sorry. Mr. Lockett: Thank you. As the new chair of Administrative Services as well as you know we didn’t have a committee meeting because of adverse weather conditions. As far as th agenda item 15 is concerned on November 29 of 2010 it was decided that there be no action on that particular agenda item until this body received some training from the Administrator or his representative. That was item 15 so I don’t even know why item 15 was on the agenda today. Item 16 that was a motion to refer this item back to the Administrator to be included in his recommendation for departments’ reorganization. That passed. Item 17 the same thing, send back to Administration for reorganization. That should not have even been on today’s agenda. 11 Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, Commissioner Lockett. We have a substitute motion. And, Madam Clerk, just for the point of clarity prior to us voting could you read back the substitute motion? The Clerk: Yes, sir. The substitute motion was to hold item 15 and 18, refer that back to the Administrative Services Committee and to hold item 16 and 17 at the Commission level until after Friday’s work session. Mr. Mayor: Okay. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the substitute sign of voting. Mr. Lockett votes No. Motion carries 9-1. Mr. Mayor: And, Madam Clerk, we have not disposed of the consent agenda yet. If we could get that back up. Okay, can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? Mr. Mayor: Do we have any items to be pulled for discussion? There were so few items on there. Mr. Mason: Yes, there is, but I need some additional discussion on twenty-two. I heard what Mr. Brigham said and I need some additional discussion, just a little bit on twenty-two. Yeah, twenty-two, the furlough. Mr. Mayor: Okay, so you want to pull that off the consent. Okay. Can I now get a, actually we have a motion. Mr. Bowles: I don’t see any problems with adding items thirteen and fourteen. The Clerk: No objections to fourteen and, thirteen and fourteen for the consent agenda? Okay. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk if, do we have, if you could please read back the consent, the items on the consent agenda again. The Clerk: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: And we had a motion and a second. Is that correct or we did not? Okay. The Clerk: Our consent agenda consists of items 1-5, with the deletion of item 10. Adding to the consent item 13 and 14. Mr. Mayor: Can I get a motion, oh, excuse me. The Clerk: Items 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. 12 Mr. Mayor: Can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? Make sure to speak into the microphone Commissioner Smith. Mr. Smith: Motion made. Mr. Mason: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PLANNING 1. Z-11-01 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Richmond County Planning Commission to approve with the condition that there be no outside storage of materials, products or supplies; a petition by Campbell Recycling requesting a Special Exception in an HI (Heavy Industry) Zone to establish a recycling center per Section 24-2 (16) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond County affecting property containing approximately 2.58 acres and known as 250 Dan Bowles Road. (Tax Map 087-2- 122-01-0) DISTRICT 2 2. Z-11-02 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Richmond County Planning Commission to approve a petition by Richard A. Rezzelle, on behalf of Edward L. Oetjen, requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) to Zone A (Agriculture) affecting property containing approximately 38 acres and known as 3816 Byrd Road. (168-0-067-05-0) DISTRICT 6 3. Z-11-03 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Richmond County Planning Commission to approve with the following conditions 1) use of the property is for the manufacture of food products only; 2) should there cease to be a valid business license the 1 acre shall revert to R-1 zoning; and 3) there shall be no signage; a petition by Nevin Strite requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) to B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing approximately 1 acre and that is part of 4580 Peach Orchard Road. (Part of Tax Map 298-0-013-01-0) DISTRICT 8 4. Z-11-05 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Richmond County Planning Commission to approve a petition by Mark Johnson, on behalf of Augusta Solid Waste, requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) to Zone LI (Light Industry) affecting property containing approximately 24 acres located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Deans Bridge Road and Birdwell Road and known as 4260 Deans Bridge Road and multiple addresses on Birdwell Road. (Tax Map 163-0; multiple parcels, a complete list is available at the Planning Commission office) DISTRICT 8 PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 5. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held January 4, 2011. PUBLIC SERVICES 13. Motion to approve the renewal of a lease of property at Wood St. Park with Augusta Rugby Club. 14. Motion to accept and approve a State of Georgia DOT grant for phase 1 rehabilitation of runway 17-35 at Augusta Regional Airport in the amount of $21,961.00. 13 FINANCE 20. Approve request from the Augusta Regional Airport and Augusta Aviation Commission to purchase three (3) multi-purpose use vehicles for designated departments. 21. Approve the replacement of 44 public safety vehicles using Sales Tax Funds as approved in the Sales Tax Referendum for Phase VI. 23. Approve property insurance coverage for 2011 offered through Affiliated FM Insurance for a premium of $290,860 on a $50,000 deductible per occurrence policy ($100,000 deductible on flood, earthquake and Fort Gordon property). Breakdown on quote: $272,860 property coverage, $10,000 engineering fee and $8,000 terrorism coverage. Quote is based on property values of $580,000,000 as of 10/30/10. Premium represents a cost of $0.05 per $100 in property value. 25. Approve the continuation of the GPS tracking subscription service for 450 units installed on Augusta vehicles. ENGINEERING SERVICES 26. Motion to award bid to Harris Trucking and Construction, (Low Bidder) in the amount of $29,500 for the removal of 160’x36” failed corrugated metal pipe (CMP), two concrete storm boxes, and removal and replacement of fences at Burning Tree Lane. The failed CMP will be replaced with HDPE. 27. Award contract for construction of Lombard Mill Pond Trails pursuant to a Georgia Recreational Trails Grant. 28. Approve the selection committee’s recommendation to select Alternative Construction & Environmental Solutions, Inc. to provide Environmental Engineering Services for the Augusta, Georgia Municipal Building Renovations and Modernization. 29. Motion to approve the revised Tree Ordinance as requested by a petition by the Augusta Richmond County Tree Commission. 30. Authorize the execution of an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the operation, modeling, and analyzing of monitoring wells to investigate water levels and water quality for Augusta’s Groundwater Production Facilities in the amount not to exceed of $89,412. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further comment Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion carries 10-0. [Items 1-5, 13, 14, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26-30] Mr. Mayor: We’ll get it all together. It’s that you know rust and not having the committees and stuff. Snow day. All righty, Madam Clerk, on to the regular agenda. The Clerk: PLANNING 6. Z-11-04 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Richmond County Planning Commission to deny a petition by Larry McCord, on behalf of Clifton Michael Hunter, requesting a change of zoning from Zone P-1 (Professional) to Zone B-1 (Neighborhood 14 Business) affecting property containing .72 acres and known as 3879 Belair Road. (Tax Map 052-0-014-00-0) DISTRICT 3 Mr. Mayor: Mr. Patty. Mr. Patty: Yes, sir, this is a small tract at the corner of Dyess Parkway and Belair Road. It was affected by construction of Dyess Parkway and the side yard was taken. And in respect in fact it’s not an ideal residential property. It became, well no longer a residential property after the taking, rezoned it professional in 2005 I believe it was with the understanding that it would be a small professional use using the house and that sort of thing. The applicant before you today wants to convert this to a commercial use, a daycare and you know given the fact it’s not an ideal perfect residential or professional use and it’s got a plan that shows a forward entry into Belair Road which would limit the traffic potential of it. You know it’s certainly got merit. The reason that I and the Planning Commission recommend that you deny it is we heard through the planning process you’ve been through over and over about the tremendous number of mixed commercial and residential areas we have and the urban sprawl and all the things like that. And the question that was asked to me frankly personally to some extent how did this happen. It happened when the decisions like the one before you there are made. This area is totally residential. There is no commercial development, no non-residential development when close to a mile. And if you zone this you’re letting a genie out of the bottle and it cannot be put back in. This, and I’m not saying next week or next year or maybe three years from now this will be one of these mixed areas with a lot of commercial and residential together with the surrounding areas affected by it. But eventually it will happen and that’s why we recommend you deny it. Mr. Mayor: Is the petitioner here? Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My name is Larry McCord I reside at 2914 Damascus Road. I’m representing the owner but the owner’s here today so I’m going to let him speak, okay? Mr. Mayor: Okay. And if you could please keep it to five minutes, sir. Mr. Speaker: My name is Clifton Michael Hunter and I’m the owner. I have had the building for four years and it has not proven to be the appropriate size for businesses to perform professional services there. It’s been on the market for about 14 months. It is now vacant. I do run an office there periodically. There are two houses next to it that have become vacant. There are two homes across the street from it that have now become vacant because it’s not a good place for residents to live in. What we’re (inaudible) proposing here is to put a B-1 kind of daycare in there that does not bring (inaudible) you know that kind of business to this location that would degrade the community so to speak as a residential asset. You’re not going to find anyone who will live in this place or the one across the street that is now vacant. We understand what Mr. Patty has said and we certainly don’t want to start a snowball rolling that’s going to ruin that area for the people. But most of the homes in that area are very old and people aren’t wanting to stay there. So what we’ve done is gone to the folks in Belair Estates, which is cattycorner across from this building. We’ve gone to the folks who did live next door and across the street of Belair Road and the corner adjacent on the other side of Belair Road and they have 15 all signed a petition concurring with moving it to B-1 for the purposes of a daycare center. I only have one copy of that petition and we still need to get one more signature on it. We were not able to get to the owner of the property across the street before the meeting tonight but he has indicated to Mr. McCord that he would be happy to sign the petition and concur with that. Mr. Speaker: (inaudible) Mr. McCord: The first individual is a resident of Belair Estates, that’s Mr. Wilbur Davis 3926 (inaudible) Street. The second person down the list is Sandra (inaudible). She is the young lady who resides right, parallel to the property at 3879 Belair Road property, they’re right beside it and Bonnie Lowe is the sister of Sandra and she also, they own the property in conjunction together and Mom has passed away so they own the property and they both signed the petition. And Dr. Thomas L. Clark who resides at Ruth, 3894 Ruth Street at Belair Estates and who signed the petition. And the next name is Mr. Clifton Michael Hunter and he signed it also. And the missing one is the gentleman who lives across the street. He works at DMS. He was not able to get with me today to sign the petition and he consented that. After today I’ll get with him and he can sign the petition also. His property is vacant across the street also. Mr. Hunter: And obviously at the point here is these homes are becoming uninhabitable in talking with the folks who live there. Inaudible, Belair Estates they’re very nice homes so we’re asking that you reconsider you know our request based upon what’s going on there. When I got it rezoned to B-1 all the homes were full and they have been vacated because of noise and congestion in that area. It’s not suitable for residents. So with this plan we’ve shown before I think it will enhance the property if anything and hopefully won’t create the continuing requirements or requests for C-1 or less desirable locations. And the last thing I wanted to say is that if I understand correctly the buyer is willing to if you will consider doing this he’s willing to concur with a B-1 with restrictions which would limit it from going to a lot of other things that might be undesirable under the B-1 rezoning. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Thank you, sir. Commissioner Bowles. Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mayor, I know there’s at least one petitioner here and I’d like to here from the petitioner. And just let the body know that I had about ten phone calls last night from people in the surrounding neighborhoods on the actual side of Jimmy Dyess that the house sits on and they were all opposed. Mr. Mayor: Okay, and you have somebody that? Okay, and if you could, are you against it as well? If we could just have one just to give equal time to everybody. Unless y’all want to split five minutes. Mr. Speaker: Uh, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Okay and if you could give your name and address for the record, please, sir. Mr. Speaker: My name is Marvin Griffin and I’m the president of Belair Hills Neighborhood Association. This is the first time I’ve heard of this piece of property rezoning for 16 a daycare center. I have not been contacted by any of the individuals who have just spoken and we vehemently oppose any commercial property being rezoned in that area for use other than single dwelling homes. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Thank you, sir. Okay, if you want to. Mr. Speaker: Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Augusta Richmond County Commissioners. My name is James Germany and I reside at 4316 Reagans Lane. I also am opposed to this daycare center being placed in this particular location. The petitioner stated that he had talked with, he had put a petition up on the board and I think it had six signatures. And I must say I appreciate the fact that he did talk to six people. But there are more stakeholders in that area than just six people. We are concerned citizens we all are taxpayers we are concerned with the direction of our community and at this particular point in time I just humbly ask the Commission to please deny his request. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Go ahead, Commissioner Bowles. Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mayor based on staff recommendation and the fact we just spent a half million dollars on this study I think we should deny this petition and follow that study. Mr. Mayor: You putting that in the form of a motion? Mr. Bowles: Yes, sir. Mr. Jackson: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Johnson, did you? Mr. Johnson: No, I (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: Anybody else down there? Okay if there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Johnson votes No. Mr. Hatney abstains. Motion carries 8-1-1. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, on to the next agenda item. The Clerk: Mr. Sherman? PUBLIC SERVICES 7. New Application: A.N. 11-01: A request by William E. Williamson for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Aficionados, LLC located at 307 Eighth St. District 1. Super District 9. 17 Mr. Sherman: Number seven on the agenda is a new application request by William E. Williamson for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Aficionados, LLC located at 307 Eight St. District 1. Super District 9. William E. Williamson (inaudible). The Sheriff’s Department and License and Inspections has reviewed the application a recommend that it be approved. Mr. Jackson: Motion to approve. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion to approve. Commissioner Smith seconded it but do we have? Commissioner Johnson? Mr. Johnson: Joe reacted too quick on this one. Actually I did get a letter, a petition of just the signatures of those that did oppose this. Unfortunately they could not be here this evening. They was actually expected to be at the committee meeting on Monday. But I told them we would pull this and send it back to committee to give them time to come in and speak on behalf of this. I think it’s St. John’s Children’s Home and United Methodist Church that’s all right there. The Clerk: Yes (inaudible) sent in a petition to our office (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: Okay, we had a motion and a second and we have a substitute motion to send it back to committee. Mr. Johnson: I put that in the form of a substitute motion to send it back to committee. Mr. Smith: Second. Mr. Mayor: Do we have any further discussion? Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign, excuse me by the substitute sign of voting. Mr. Hatney abstains. Motion carries 9-1. The Clerk: Mr. Sherman, are there any objectors to any of these? Mr. Sherman: There are none opposed. The Clerk: Okay, duly noted. Thank you. PUBLIC SERVICES 8. New Ownership Application: A.N. 11-02: A request by Daryl S. Hawthorne for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Club Premiere located at 3054 Damascus Rd. There will be Dance. District 5. Super District 9. 18 Mr. Speaker: Yes, my name is Daryl Hawthorne. My address is 1502 Wylds Court Apartment G Augusta Georgia 30909. Mr. Sherman: The Sheriff’s Department and the License Department has reviewed the application and recommend that it be approved. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Well, Commissioner Brigham, I saw his hand up. Mr. Brigham: I’ll let the Commissioner from the district go first. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Hawthorne, what age group do you plan on catering to at this business? Mr. Hawthorne: Me and my partner which is my brother and my Dad we decided to do (unintelligible) to dedicate it to like Karaoke, Friday’s 21 and up and Saturday’s 25 and up. Mr. Lockett: And is this, there’ll be Sunday Sales. Are you going to sell food? No, I’m sorry, will there be any food involved? Mr. Hawthorne: (inaudible) Mr. Lockett: What are your days of operation again? Mr. Hawthorne: It will be Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Mr. Lockett: And what are your hours of operation? Mr. Hawthorne: Nine thirty to two on Wednesday and Friday and nine thirty to (unintelligible) on Saturday. Mr. Lockett: And how about security personnel? Mr. Hawthorne: We’re expecting to have three police officers with four bouncers inside. Mr. Lockett: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham. Mr. Brigham: My concerns are very similar. I do remember that we had trouble with this spot previously. I think this Commission is willing to go with licensees currently operating but will always remind them if we do have a continuation of a problem or trouble at that location we will be back to visit them. 19 Mr. Hawthorne: Yes, sir, I truly understand. My father he invested, we own it and bought it so it means more to me because you know my Dad purchasing it in cash then just renting it. So --- Mr. Brigham: I’m not trying, I know the location and I do know that it had a troubled history in the past. And that’s my concern. And I’m willing to give you a chance. I do think the parking situation is probably a little tight up there in and that building isn’t the best, it’s not all that big of a building if I remember it correctly. But from I remember I’m willing, I am willing to give you a chance. Mr. Mayor: Okay, can we get a motion on this? Mr. Lockett: So moved. Mr. Johnson: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Hatney abstains. Motion carries 9-1. PUBLIC SERVICES 9. New Ownership Application: A.N. 11-03: A request by Brad Parker for an on premise consumption Beer license to be used in connection with Forest Hills Golf Club located at 1500 Comfort Rd. There will e Sunday Sales. District 3. Super District 10. Mr. Speaker: My name is Brad Parker. I reside at 109 McGrady Drive, Ladson SC 29456. Mr. Bowles: Motion to approve. Mr. Johnson: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: I would like to know does this have anything to do with Don Grantham y’all are protesting the license now? Mr. Speaker: No, based on, Brad’s a pro at Forest Hills. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. 20 Mr. Hatney abstains. Motion carries 9-1. Mr. Mayor: Okay and ten we referred --- The Clerk: We deleted that one, yes, sir. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 11. Motion to approve Renaissance Marketing as the Bus and Shelter Advertiser for Augusta Public Transit. The contract is for three (3) years with two one year option renewal. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 13, 2010) (Referred from December 21 Commission meeting) th Mr. Mayor: And this was approved by Public Services Committee on December 13? Mr. Johnson: No, excuse me, Mr. Mayor. Actually uh --- Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: --- thank you. We referred this back to committee to give, actually we gave the instructions to, I want to say it was Mr. Johnson on --- The Clerk: To come back in January --- Mr. Johnson: Right. The Clerk: --- to have it --- Mr. Johnson: Exactly so now we need to bring it back to committee. We talked redoing it so. Mr. Mayor: Are you going to make a motion to --- Mr. Johnson: I’ll make a motion to send it back to committee, yes. Mr. Jackson: Second. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Bowles? Excuse me, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Bowles: Joe works fine too. Fred, is there any way we can get the meeting open the other, just to look at them so we can put both bids next to each other since it’s a request for qualifications? 21 Mr. Russell: That would be a legal question that we probably need to look at and make sure that we don’t --- Mr. Bowles: Figure that out between now and committee meeting and we can look at it there. Mr. Russell: Yes, sir, we can look at that. Mr. Bowles: We need to get rolling on this. Mr. Russell: I agree, we’ll look at that. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second to refer this back to committee. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion carries 10-0. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 12. Motion to approve an ordinance to amend the Augusta, Georgia Code Title Six Section 6-2-76 relating to distance between locations of package stores from 1 ½ mile to 500 yards. Mr. Sherman: This is a request to consider just what Ms. Bonner stated. The code currently requires for a liquor store that they have to be a mile and a half apart. The state code requires 500 yards. We did a survey, Columbia County, Athens Clarke County, Savannah, they referred to the state code, 500 yards is their distance requirement for a liquor store. We have had some inquiries and I think it’s just a, in order to be more business friendly to give the opportunity to open a liquor store is essentially what it will do. There’s a proposal to amend our code to reduce it to 1500 feet or 500 yards. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Sherman, I do understand your position here on this in lieu of the state code. However I do have concerns of how much this saturate some communities you know if it’s only 500 feet, 500 yards? Okay. So that’s equivalent what that is about --- Mr. Mason: One yard is three feet. Mr. Johnson: Okay. We talking what, that’s about three blocks? Mr. Mayor: Five football fields. 22 Mr. Johnson: About three blocks I don’t know. They pop up, no, I just don’t want it to get to a point where people are very concerned about it. Because of course there’s been questions about you know especially in urban areas where you got a lot of these coming about and I just, I’m not trying to really make is hard for businesses owners to come about but at the same time it can become an issue of course with the community. And I don’t want us to get into that. So if we can put things in place to kind of help protect us from that without being of course being illegal or illegal for us doing it. I’d like to see us do that. But I don’t know, maybe we need some more conversation on this but I just know whether or not it’s going to be the best thing to do at this particular time so. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham and then Commissioner Bowles. Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, I’m going to go on and make a motion that we approve this ordinance. I believe that we can control the package shops like we can the bars. If there’s an excess number of bars in a given community I think we subjectively hold those licenses and not add to them. And I believe that’s already in our code and that this would be business friendly in some other areas of town. And I would encourage somebody to second the motion. Mr. Jackson: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Bowles did you have a comment? This does have to do with liquor stores so expect it. Mr. Bowles: Maybe it’s something we could carve out of, you know carve the urban area out of this exclusion and expand. To look on that between next time and this time. I’m going to go on and vote for it. We can amend it later. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second to approve. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Aiken and Mr. Johnson vote No. Mr. Hatney abstains. Motion carries 7-2-1. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Pulled item number 22. Mr. Mayor: We had 19. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 19. Update from the Housing and Community Development Department regarding the request from Ms. Elizabeth Jones, Executive Director, Shiloh Community Center, for funding from the ARC Housing and Community Development Department. (Referred from January 4 Commission meeting) 23 Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, I just talked to Ms. Jones and we’ve been unable to get together due to my lack of presence in the office over the last couple days. I’ll share with you that we will talk in the next day or so and we’ll get a recommendation back to you at the next meeting. And she was okay with that. And I apologize for not being able to follow up on that. Mr. Mayor: You can’t apologize for being sick as a dog. Can we get a motion to? Mr. Lockett: Motion to refer this back to the Administrative Services Committee. Mr. Bowles: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Mayor: Working the kinks out. Working the kinks out. The Clerk: FINANCE 22. Approve Implementation of Furlough Reduction for 2011, approve selected dates for building closure, and to declare those dates “unpaid days of rest” in accordance with O.C.G.A. 36-1-12 and 15-6-93. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Mason, I believe this was yours. Mr. Mason: Yes, sir. I just want to be very clear. I stated this the last time and I’m going to state it again. I do not believe, I didn’t vote for it then and I’m not going to vote for it today because I do not believe that the Public Safety folks ought to be a part of these furlough days. Is there anybody here from the Sheriff’s Office, 911, Fire Department? My only issue with that is the Public Safety folks. I just don’t believe that they ought to be included in there. No one can tell me with any confidence that our safety will be a current level or higher with the absence of these five days. No one came forward to make that statement legitimately and I just have a problem with that. I don’t have a problem with the remainder of it. So that’s my statement. Thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Thank you, I’d like to also add to that. I know of course in lieu of the weather the building was closed, was it Monday and Tuesday? Mr. Russell: Yes, sir. 24 Mr. Johnson: Now how could we use that as maybe potential furlough days for some of the employees? Is it possible to look at that? Because I thought about that after --- Mr. Russell: I believe what you’re looking at and I don’t want to put words in Commissioner Brigham’s mouth. But it’s my understanding it is revision of the motion would allow for the reduction in salary about 1.8 % over the five, over the year period. And we spread that so the impact is as minimal as possible. I think his concern is the days itself and that’s why he wanted to separate those two to come back. We don’t start until April and that gives us some time to look at that. I believe there is a legal issue and a legal question about whether or not you can roll those snow into that. And I believe that was the intent of what he was trying to do by separating those motions, for us to go ahead and approve the fact that we do need that reduction in salary to balance the budget. But the days are still on the table as to how we do that and that was the question he raised with me. So I believe that you’re actually right on target with what the attempt of that motion was to do and refer that back to committee. Mr. Johnson: Do you have an idea of how much money one day we’d save on furlough? Mr. Russell: $200,000 dollars. Mr. Johnson: $200,000? Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham. Mr. Brigham: Mr. Copenhaver and Mr. Russell stated my motion real well. I’m going to make that motion again and I hope I can find a second for that motion. I think there’s no doubt in my mind that this is not something I want to do it’s something I think this government has to do. I think we’ve got to visit the furlough days, I think we need to also, I don’t see us doing less than five furlough days this year unless something miraculous comes out of Mr. Russell’s hat full of rabbits over there which I haven’t seen lately. Mr. Bowles: I’ll second. Mr. Mayor: But your motion is? Mr. Brigham: The motion is to approve the salary, well, the reduction of pay for the, is it the 1.8 percent to be spread over the ten months starting the first --- Mr. Russell: February. Mr. Brigham: --- of February and that we discuss in Finance Committee the days, the appropriate days we take off related to that. Mr. Mayor: And, Joe, you seconded that Mr. Russell: If I can --- 25 Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell? Mr. Russell: --- yeah I was a little bit off. The salary savings is about 2.3, $238,000 dollars per day. If you reduce Public Safety out of that you’re looking at making instead of five days you’re looking for the remainder of the employees at about 8.9 days, 8 ½ days at that point so. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is for the general counsel. I have some concern with the authorization that you used for this “unpaid days of rest”. I read the official code of Georgia annotated and also checked the references that you made and I cannot find anything that would justify the naming this “unpaid days of rest”. Mr. MacKenzie: Yes, I need a little further clarification of exactly what you’re asking. Are you saying that ---? Mr. Lockett: The authority that you are using to name this “unpaid days of rest”. Are you saying in accordance with O.C.G.A. 36-1-12 and 15-6-93. If you’d like me to read what is says I’ll tell you. Mr. MacKenzie: Go ahead. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chairman, is it okay? 15-6-93B that referenced says any office of a clerk of a superior court not in this code section shall be construed as acquiring of any of a clerk of superior court to be open on any public and legal holiday or day of rest which is recognized and designated as such by Georgia law and by the governing authority of the county. To me, I’m not an attorney but reading it I don’t see the relationship. And how is unpaid time considered a day of rest. A day of rest is usually Sunday and for some people it’s Saturday. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell? Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, if I may. The crux of that issue is close the buildings. There are certain constitutional or other offices that are required to be open except during holidays. And what you’re basically doing is declaring those days a holiday so we can actually close the building and reap the savings of having the building closed or whatever. I think the unpaid days of rest or is wonderful language that the legislature and its wisdom has put in there to describe what a holiday is. I don’t think it’s anything more than that. And that’s where we get where we’re going is by declaring those days holidays or unpaid days of rest if that’s the language the State of Georgia would like to use. That gives us the authority to close such offices as the Clerk’s Office, some of the courthouse, court rooms, court services and those things that cannot be closed by code unless it is declared a holiday. I mean that’s the bottom line there. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor, what I would like for you to do is I would like for general counsel to take another look at that and let me know or let my committee know next week. I’d appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 26 Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Yes, and on that note when we talk about legal opinion I’d like to hear from a legal counsel. There’s no knock against your intelligence or anything like that Fred but that’s why we pay him. And I want to hear from him when we ask a legal question. This is getting a little old and it’s happening a little too often and I’m not happy with it. So when we ask for a legal opinion I would like to hear from our legal counsel. In addition to that and Mr. Brigham I understand what you mean about the dates I just don’t see how that applies to and you may not have been trying to apply it to the situation I brought up. As far as the public safety folks even if you took those days they were still out there. They were still out there. And so I have a real concern right now given everything that’s going on in the community about those days for our public safety folks. And I’m going make a substitute motion that we do not include Public Safety in these furloughs. That we do not include Public Safety in these furloughs. Mr. Mayor: Okay, is there, Mr. Russell? Mr. Russell: Let’s see if it gets a second first. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Bowles. Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mason, when you say Public Safety are you talking about the road patrol or the entire Public Safety Department? Mr. Mason: Well, maybe we should have that discussion before we have the vote. But we certainly need to be looking at some specific agencies as it applies to these days off. We clearly saw in this particular instance where folks were out there working and they were working hard. The Sheriff’s Department and their folks were out there working and working hard. We talk about you know changing days and using days as part of that. Well that’s not going to help their situation at all because they’re out there. So yeah, perhaps we’re looking at, we need to look at particular agencies. It may not be every single one of Public Safety but I think we should at least have that discussion first as just arbitrarily saying we’re going to include everyone and that’s the end of it. I think we owe our citizens a lot more than that. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Russell? Mr. Russell: I’m still waiting to see if it got a second, sir. Mr. Mayor: The substitute motion did not receive a second. Mr. Brigham: Call for the question, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brigham has called for the question. Madam Clerk, for the point of clarity if you could read back the motion just one more time, please. 27 The Clerk: The motion was to approve the Implementation of the Furlough Reduction days for 2011 and approve selected dates for building closure, and to declare “unpaid days of rest” in accordance with O.C.G.A. 36-1-12 and 15-6-93 and that the dates be sent back to Administrative Services Committee for further consideration. Mr. Mayor: Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Brigham: Correction, Finance Committee. The Clerk: Finance: Oh, okay. Mr. Mayor: The original motion that Jerry made, Commissioner Brigham. The Clerk: Mr. Mason’s motion died for lack of a second. That motion fails 5-5. Mr. Mayor: That’s 5-5. That’s why I get paid the big bucks, I think. Mr. Bowles, Mr. Mason, Mr. Lockett, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. Hatney vote No. Motion ties 5-5. Mr. Mayor: I’m number eleven. The Mayor votes Yes. Motion carries 6-5. The Clerk: He votes yes. The motion carries. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next agenda item. The Clerk: It looks like we’re at item number 24. The Clerk: FINANCE 24. Consider a request for reconsideration due to his absence from the country from Dr. M.H. Shekastehband regarding the denial of his request for credit for fees and interest concerning property located on Hampton Drive. (Disapproved in December 21 Commission meeting) Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, go ahead. Mr. Speaker: My name is Dr. M.H. Shekastehband and I reside at 2226 (inaudible) Way in Augusta, Georgia 30909. I want to thank the Mayor and the Commission for reconsidering my item and I apologize for being absent at the last Commission meeting. I’m a major in the military and I was ordered to be shipped overseas. So that’s the reason why I was absent. This property that was in process for value for the last two years. I find that the Commissioners 28 generally approve the price reduction and lower the tax and adjust it accordingly. I know there are some fees and late fees and penalties due. After talking to the Tax Assessors office and the Tax Collector they agreed to remove those fees if it is approved by the committee. And that’s what I’m here for, asking you to approve to remove the late fees and penalties. The taxes have already been paid. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Finance Chair, do you have any? Mr. Brigham: I need to know a little more about it. I understand it was an appeal. You’re asking us to remove the interest and the penalty is my understanding is what you’re asking. Dr. Shekastehband: Yes, it was incurred during the appeal process. Mr. Brigham: When were the taxes paid? Dr. Shekastehband: Taxes for which year? Mr. Brigham: For whatever year you want us to waive the interest and penalty on. Dr. Shekastehband: It was for 2008. Mr. Brigham: When was it paid? Dr. Shekastehband: It was paid when requested. That’s why the deadline. Mr. Brigham: It was paid on 11-12-2010 for 2008? Dr. Shekastehband: Yes, because it was during the appeal process. Mr. Brigham: But you could’ve paid the taxes and we would’ve refunded you any difference you were entitled to. Dr. Shekastehband: Because the property was priced for value at four times what is the value now. That’s why I requested, it’s been since 2007 actually. Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor I don’t like it but I’m going to make my normal recommendation that I would make that we waive the penalty but not the interest. Mr. Mayor: And you’re putting that in the form of a motion? Mr. Brigham: Yes, sir, I’ll put that in the form of a motion. Mr. Jackson: Second. 29 Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Smith votes No. Mr. Mason and Mr. Bowles out. Motion carries 7-1. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, I think we’re to our final agenda item. The Clerk: ATTORNEY 31. Motion to approve 2011 Budget Resolution. Mr. Brigham: Can we put the Budget Resolution up on the screen? The Clerk: We can. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell: I think it would be appropriate for the Legal Counsel to tell us why we’re redoing this at this particular point in time. I’m still of the opinion that we’re doing this under an abundance of caution to make sure we understand exactly what we’re up to and what we’re doing. And would think that part of our continued conversation about moving our government forward then this is just a part of that. A lot of discussion needs to be had on Friday in reference to this. But I think this begins to set some of the ground work for how we need to at least think about doing business in the future as long as we get a consensus from the Commission on what direction we’re going in. An once again that’s the goal of all of this, just to make sure the Commission decides where we’re going and how we get there. It gives us a mechanism to do that. Mr. Mayor: Mr. MacKenzie: Mr. MacKenzie: Sure I’d be happy to do that. What you have in front of you is a Budget Resolution. There was another resolution substantially similar to this one that was around on or th before the time of the approval of the 2011 budget, which was November 16 2010. I was at the request of Commissioner Lockett asked to review whether or not this resolution or another version that was introduced in November was appropriately passed. I did do that. It was my conclusion that the resolution that was presented at that time was not legally passed or was invalid legally. For two reasons. One reason was that the motion itself did not include the budget resolution. The other reason was that I did not see sufficient evidence that it was introduced in writing as required by one of our rules and therefore I put it back on there for the Commission to reconsider the item. And it’s my understanding it has been distributed in advance so it’s been introduced in writing. It’s also on the overhead so that you can review it. It will be now appropriate for you to make a decision on it if that’s the will of the Commission. 30 Mr. Mayor: What would be the appropriate motion to make on this to allow passage? Mr. MacKenzie: It would just be a motion to approve since it’s my opinion that it’s never been approved. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Brigham. Mr. Brigham: Mr. MacKenzie, would the failure of passing this resolution have anything to do with the budget? Mr. MacKenzie: No, it wouldn’t. Actually y’all probably were issued a legal opinion relating to whether or not this had an effect on the legality of the budget itself. The budget itself did not suffer from the same defects as this budget resolution that was introduced in writing. It also met all the other requirements of state law. So it’s my opinion it did not have an effect on the passage of the 2011 budget itself only on this resolution. Mr. Brigham: I’ll make a motion we approve this resolution. Mr. Jackson: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to make a motion we, a substitute motion I’m sorry to send it back and to guess to the next Commission meeting because I don’t think we discussed it in Committee and give us time to really go through it. There’s a few things on here that I do have some concern about. And I think we just kind of need to go through it and define that. And if we could do that that’ll be suitable at the time to make more appropriate decisions. Mr. Mayor: We have a substitute motion. Is there a second? Mr. Lockett: Okay, we have a substitute motion and a second to send it back to. Would that be to bring it back before the next full Commission meeting or? Mr. Johnson: Yes, because I don’t think we’ll be discussing it in Committee so it’ll us time through this Friday meeting to make sure we’re all on the same page. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett, did you? Okay, I thought you had your hand up at first but it looks like you didn’t. Mr. Lockett: I will but you go right ahead. Mr. Mayor: Okay, the substitute motion we have a substitute motion on the floor. Commissioners will now vote by the substitute sign of voting. Mr. Aiken, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Brigham and Mr. Smith vote No. Motion fails 4-4. 31 Mr. Mayor: Okay, we now have the primary motion to dispose of. The primary motion is for approval. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Commissioner Lockett? Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have quite a bit of concern about the resolution. Because the resolution as presented seems to infringe on the charter. I know some of us would like to get rid of the charter but the charter is still here until it’s repealed or whatever. I think we need to comply with it. And I have a question I would like to direct to both the general counsel and the Administrator. Does this 2011 Budget Resolution fully comply with the content and intent of the official Code of Georgia as annotated an existing local authority and if so why does it. Mr. MacKenzie: I just I’ll take a crack at answering that. I can’t speak to the intent of the Legislature to pass the law but I will say that I did review the charter and the charter specifically states that duties can be designated to the Administrator. And it’s my understanding that part of the provisions in here that are that are in this resolution would delegate certain duties to the Administrator. It’s my understanding from reading the charter which is, was created by a local law that it would be consistent with that charter for this delegation to be provided to the Administrator as part of their duties. Mr. Lockett: And the charter itself spelled out, it set up the form of government so we have a Mayor, Commission formal government. It said that the Mayor is the chief executive officer. As long as he is the chief executive officer there are duties he cannot relinquish. I notice that looking at some of the literature the Administrator is going to be the day operations manager or the operations administrator or whatever. But the charter states that the Mayor is responsible for day-to-day operations. What is the difference between those two? And that cannot be delegated. Mr. MacKenzie: I just want to make sure we’re talking about the same thing. This resolution itself does not give any new title to the Administrator such as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lockett: Well, I know you can’t do that, Mr. Attorney. Mr. MacKenzie: And I’m saying this budget resolution to my knowledge does not do that. The duties of both the Mayor and the Administrator are delegated in the charter. And it’s my opinion that this resolution is consistent with the authority of the Commission within that charter to delegate the duties of the Administrator. Mr. Lockett: I’m going to have to disagree with you on that. There are quite a few other things that are in here and what are doing, providing a blank check to the Administrator, we’re going to sign it and say, Mr. Administrator, please do what is politically correct? You don’t have to respond to that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: And let me just say --- 32 Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, if I can I’d like to respond. Mr. Mayor: Hold on, Mr. Russell, let me just say first off this is, we are a business you know close to 2700 employees. My opinion, no elected official should in an organization that size should be required to the best of my knowledge the charter does not require the Mayor to operate the day-to-day operations of the city. You need a professional individual in that position. Much like they have strong managers in forms of government in Savannah and other cities. But believe me I don’t want to operate the day-to-day operations of the city. And even if it references me as CEO that’s once again that’s not something that any elected official in a city of this size I believe should handle. So with that --- Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor, one more time, please. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Lockett: And I appreciate your indulgence. But I think my colleague Commissioner Brigham way back I think in 1996 was in attendance when this decision was made. You had the Richmond County delegation and had the counsel. They were all together. Mr. Brigham, Commissioner Brigham asked specific questions about this. And I assume that he agreed based on the minutes of what he was told. And that’s contrary to what we’re talking about now. Mr. Mayor: Well, and let me say too that we’re updating the business plan for the city and if you, generally in business if you wait 15 years to update your business plan you’re out of business. But I think that’s just what we’re doing is looking at doing things more professionally as some other cities are doing. It’s not a power grab by anybody in my opinion. But Mr. Russell then Mr. Hatney then Mr. Brigham. Mr. Russell: I’d like to defer to the end if I may. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Hatney then Mr. Brigham. Mr. Hatney: Listening to all of the discussion realizing that I was under the impression that the Administrator actually is supposed to be the person that’s over personnel with the exception of a few. And the overall operation of the city was the Mayor’s responsibility. And also that if this is to be changed it has to have at least eight votes. And we don’t have that today. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Brigham. Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, Mr. Hatney said it very well. It is my understanding that if I read the charter the Mayor is the Chief Executive Officer. I believe in the original charter the Administrator was not even mentioned. So I know that there has been a change to that where the Administrator is now mentioned in the charter. I believer that the Administrator by local ordinance was the day to day operational manager, chief operating officer whatever you want to call him but was responsible for he professional side of this government. While the Mayor is overall responsible for this government I believe it’s Mr. Russell’s job to deal with the employees and the budgets and everything else with this government. That position has not 33 changed. I believe that was my position in 1996. I’d have to look at the minutes to see what, you got them I don’t have them in front of me. I’ll be happy to talk to you about that later. But I do believe that is the case, I do know that we passed a local ordinance that gave the Administrator the right to hire and fire everybody below department head level. I don’t think anything has changed in that in the last fifteen years. I don’t know that we need to change anything in that. I think that this resolution is nothing more than a restatement of the current authority of the Administrator and that we ought to get go along with this. We got to deal with this financial crisis and it’s best to be left in the hands of the professional that we look to handle it. We got ten people up here, we got ten different ideas we’ve got eleven when we can’t decide on something. And I think that we need a recommendation from the day to day professional and that’s Mr. Russell. And he says this is the resolution he wants I think we ought to be supportive of it. Mr. Mayor: I agree and, Commissioner Lockett, just one thing that I in working down here everyday I think being in the military you see that any organization functions best when there’s a clear cut chain of command which really doesn’t exist within this government at this point in time. And I think this helps with that and helps add accountability to the government in my personal opinion. Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell: If I can let me speak to this just for a second, as I seem to be the one of the issues that we’ve got here. And let me share with you how refreshing it is to have this conversation. Because these are the conversations we’re going to have to have to move this government forward. It’s not pleasant it’s not supposed to be pleasant. There’s going to be disagreements and that’s part of what we deal with on a day-to-day basis. We have ten people up there with ten unique ideas on how to run this government and it’s our job to craft together a common goal and common purpose to do that. We’re operating with a charter that was done fifteen years ago that was, and it’s best somewhat defective at that point that we haven’t really changed in any great desire or effort. And I think it’s incumbent upon you as the elected officials of this community to give us that direction. I think it’s incumbent on you to have this conversation, not to avoid it. I think it’s incumbent on you to come to a conclusion on how we want to do business in the future. That’s our job is to that business as you give us that direction. Commissioner Lockett and I have agreed to disagree on more than one occasion most of which in the last two hours. I think he brings forth a target solution that we need to have and while it’s particularly pretty or pleasant it’s the business of doing business as it is in our current environment and that’s what it’s all about. You know we can go back to what somebody wrote fifteen years ago and you can make that charter sound any way you want to. And that’s a shame because it gives a great deal of ambiguity it gives a great deal of stupidity and it gives a great deal of indecision we can no longer afford to have indecision. We can no longer afford to hide behind the fact that our charter is not the best in the world. And we need and you need to have that conversation. The whole target of this thing is to make us get better and that’s what the neat part about this is, is we’re no longer arguing about stupid stuff, we’re no longer arguing about whether or not somebody’s a CEO or the COO or the Grand Potentate or whatever. We’re arguing about things that are going to make this government better. And that’s what you’re here for. And that’s what it’s all about. And that conversation should’ve happened last week and I apologize for that. It’s going to happen Friday and it’s not going to be fun because you’re going to be called upon to make decisions that aren’t going to be popular in some circles and popular in 34 others. You’re going to be called upon to put this government in the right place and that’s what it’s going to be about. And it’s neat because ya’ll get to decide what the right place is. That’s what this is all about is ya’ll deciding what you want us to do and you know we can’t continue to meander down the path we’ve taken in the past. We can’t continue to do the same thing we’ve done for the last fifteen years and be ready for the future and our job is to make us ready for the future. You know I encourage you to have that dialogue, I encourage you to talk to each other, I encourage you to question every think we do because that’s what it’s about. I encourage you to work together to common solutions that each and every on of you can agree on at least a percentage thereof. Sixty percent I would hope and get us moving forward. You know we can argue about whether or not we buy police cars or whether or not be buy trucks or whether or not we buy let’s all (inaudible) nothing. We’re arguing about now is the future of our city and that’s pretty cool. And let’s make sure we argue that way and let’s make sure we argue fiercely and let’s sure we argue passionately because I know each and every one of you passionately care about our future. And let’s also make sure that we come to an agreement at the end of the day and that we recognize the fact that consensus is what it’s about and it’s not about one thing or the other it’s about making Augusta the great place that it can be. And it’s going to be in moving us forward with that. I look forward to the arguments, I look forward to the questions, I look forward to the criticism because that’s what makes us stronger and better. And I also look forward to working with eleven people that have our community in its best interest as we continue to fix things that have been broke for years. As we continue to deal with issues as they come up. As we continue to sometimes fall forward as we’re going to make mistakes but we’re making mistakes now in a manner that makes us positive as opposed to negative. You can’t measure success by what you didn’t do. You measure success by what you get done and we’re getting stuff done now and you know it would be nice if you didn’t be mad at me every once in a while but that’s just the way it’s not going to be. We got to do this and we got to do it right. And thank you Commissioner Lockett and Corey and Jerry and everybody else, Matt and those people up there. Dr. Hatney who’s keeps me grounded more so than I hate to admit sometimes but that’s what it’s all about. We’re going to get it done the way you want it done. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Fred Russell, I now pronounce you healed. Mr. Johnson: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Thank you. If I will Fred I definitely concur with you on that and I think that was the whole initiative in making sure that us delaying this at least giving us some time to have that dialogue so, we haven’t had time to really talk. We’ve been, since the year come in we’ve been hit with adverse weather we had one meeting, we didn’t have a committee meeting I mean we got two new Commissioners that’s not abreast of what’s happening. It’s only fair to make sure that everybody understand what we’re doing here. And we don’t need to have question. Anytime we make tough decisions like that we like to make sure that we understand exactly what it is whether we agree or disagree. But at least we know. So again I ask would it be too much for us to send it back and just bring it before the Commission at the next committee meeting. 35 Mr. Mayor: Well, from a procedural standpoint we have a motion to approve so we’ve got to dispose of that motion. And really, realistically, we can just if it doesn’t pass we can just request that it go on the next agenda. Commissioner Hatney. Mr. Hatney: Listening to this and I’m just being straight up here there are some things in our charter that definitely needs to be fixed. There’s no lie about that. But as far the Administrator’s job I think it’s very clear that he should do what he’s doing now. I just don’t think it’s fair to this city to give not only the Administrator his job but give him the Mayor’s job too. I just don’t think that’s proper. I think the Mayor ought to do his job the Administrator ought to do his. If he’s the Administrator --- Mr. Mayor: You say I’m not doing my job? Mr. Hatney: He wants to give it to him. Don’t want to give it to him, no. Mr. Brigham: Call the question, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Okay, the question’s been called. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign on the motion to approve the agenda item. Mr. Mason and Mr. Bowles out. Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lockett and Mr. Hatney vote No. Motion fails 5-3. Mr. Brigham: Move to adjourn. Mr. Mayor: With no further business to come before the body we stand adjourned. [MEETING ADJOURNED] Lena 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 Regular Meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission held on January 18, 2011. _______________________ Clerk of Commission 36 37 38