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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 30, 2011 Commission Meeting REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER MARCH 30, 2011 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 5:00 p.m., March 30, 2011, the Hon. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Mason, Smith, Hatney, Aitken, Johnson, Jackson, Bowles and Brigham, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. The invocation was presented by Rev. Greg Hatfield, Senior Associate Ministries, Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. Mr. Mayor: Reverend, thank you for that wonderful invocation. Thank you for leading us off in a different way. Madam Clerk, on to the recognitions. The Clerk: RECOGNITION: A. Approve resolution regarding Good Neighbor Policy. (Requested by Terri Turner of Planning Commission) Ms. Turner: Mr. Mayor, Mr. Commissioners, my name is Terri Turner and I’m with the Augusta Richmond County Planning Commission. The Good Neighbor Policy before you is a resolution outlining what this city is already doing in reference to Flood Plain Management. It talks about the regulations that we have passed not only with flood plain management but in our land subdivision regulations in our zoning ordinance. It talks about the $31 million dollars we have spent in drainage and flood control projects. It talks about the money we’ve spent on flood by-outs and it affirms that we are going to continue to do those things as a community on behalf of our area’s flood plains and for the national and beneficial functions of the those flood plains. And I ask with all due respect that you pass this today. Mr. Mayor: Do we have any questions? And I will tell you I had an opportunity to work with Terri and the Green Space Program. She does a phenomenal job and I would encourage us based on her request that we do pass this. Mr. Bowles: So moved. Mr. Brigham: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. If there is no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion carries 10-0. 1 Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Terri. Ms. Turner: Thank you for the continued great work we do in this community in regards to our flood plains. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, on to the recognitions. The Clerk: Yes, sir, our --- Mr. Mayor: Excuse me, delegations. The Clerk: DELEGATION: B. Mr. John Hudson, Hudson Landscape Nursery, Inc. RE: Contracting out grounds & parks maintenance and the promotion of Augusta. Mr. Mayor: And if you could keep it to five minutes, please, sir. Mr. Hudson: That’s good for me too. First, I’d like to recognize the Mayor and Commissioners and I’d like to say to you that I have found that there’s strength in humility. And I think for what I’ve seen of you I think that’s a good character in you. Augusta on a positive note, I’ve seen nothing but good and doing great and that’s the things we’re supposed to think on is the positive. And so if more of us would do that that would be good for all of us, as a country too. I’m here for two things. Privatizing or outsourcing the grounds is, Columbia County is doing it and that’s quicking me more to it. Here in the last re-bidding they saved over another $100,000 dollars by splitting up the bidding of outsourcing the grounds. And the other is to how to sell it and even also continue to promote Augusta. So but as to the outsourcing of grounds have y’all considered this before, or thought about it? Mr. Mayor: There has been discussion on outsourcing a lot of things. Mr. Russell, have we ever had a proposal brought forward for this? Mr. Russell: Obviously it’s something we talked about regularly in our budget considerations. It’s somewhat awkward to deal with a cold call from somebody selling a product. You know if we decide to do that we’d go through the process we normally do to outsource something. Mr. Hudson: Yeah, it would take a little working together in getting some resources together because I wouldn’t just throw it out there to bid. You should have some good rules to go by to really make it effective or it could be chaos. I know even it wasn’t money savings the integrity of it and the possibility of savings in adding more resources and plants and stuff to the budget could be really enhanced in it too. You know it’s just not money. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. 2 Mr. Hudson: Of course being efficient, of course, the voters like that. I know I’m sure every employee of Augusta is efficient but I’ve learned even in contractors we have to be even more efficient because our budgets are being changed everyday too as well as y’all’s. And so we have to really reinvent ourselves and really step up to the plate. And that’s all I’m saying is maybe really need to, I keep hearing maybe, I’m kind of like a fish out of water in here because of my life has changed since I don’t, everything’s about marketing and selling and it shouldn’t be. It should be about selling and hearing the message from the heart. Of course when we are led by our head we call it the flesh and all you do is have committees. It’s kind of like church. You have committee meetings but nothing ever gets resolved. And so I’ve learned I come with compassion and I come with truth I come with no agenda. And if everyone else would do that here we’d have even a better Augusta. And so I want you to hear my heart. And I pray other people. When we had prayer but I pray that we will learn to change more. Because the voters are tired and I’m speaking as a voter too not, it’s just not Augusta it’s the whole country. We need people to come up to step up and be leaders and be players not coaches. I reckon maybe it comes with age. I’ve never been fifty-five before so but I’m tired of everybody telling me how to do it and on my back all the time. So we’re all weary to a certain extent. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. Hudson: But we need to step up as people and work together and do it from our heart and so if not, you don’t see much change. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. Hudson: We need good change. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. That’s basically it. I mean it really has to do with y’all if y’all want to step forward and, you know, see what really could come from it. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Well, I’ll tell you thank you for your input on that and we are looking at efficiencies across the board and that’s something that we can take a look at is the potential to possibly if we could do more efficiently that way taking a look at it doing it that way. But thank you for coming in. Thank you, sir. Madam Clerk, on to the consent agenda. The Clerk: Yes, sir. The consent agenda consists of items 1-14. Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have any items to be added to the consent agenda? I know that we have an addition to the agenda. Do we have unanimous consent to add the addition to the, the agenda into the consent agenda? Mr. Hatney: What is --- Mr. Mayor: It’s an appointment. Okay. Hearing no additions to the consent agenda do we have any items to be pulled for discussion? Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chairman? 3 Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: I’d like to pull agenda item two and three. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Do we have any further items to be pulled for discussion? Hearing none can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? Mr. Jackson: So moved. Mr. Johnson: Second. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Motion to approve an amendment to Augusta-Richmond Code, Section 7-1-117, Performing Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC Work, so as to include Building. (Approved by Augusta Commission March 15, 2011 – second reading) FINANCE 4. Motion to approve request from the Augusta Regional Airport and Augusta Aviation Commission to purchase one (1) aircraft tow vehicle for the flight line traffic coordinators. (Approved by Finance Committee March 21, 2011) 5. Motion to approve the replacement of two sewer rodder trucks for the Utilities Department – Construction and Maintenance Division. (Approved by Finance Committee March 21, 2011) 6. Motion to approve the replacement of two utility-body crew trucks for the Utilities Department – Construction and Maintenance Division. (Approved by Finance Committee March 21, 2011) 7. Motion to approve the purchase of 1 utility body truck for the Utilities Department – Fort Gordon Division. (Approved by Finance Committee March 21, 2011) ENIGNEERING SERVICES 8. Motion to approve the Solid Waste Department to hold a Backyard Composting and Rainwater Harvesting System Truckload Sale Program. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 21, 2011) 9. Motion to approve a supplemental agreement to the Solid Waste Landfill Gas Collection and Control Contract with Dabbs-Williams General Contractors, LLC for the Carrie J. Mays Park Methane Remediation Project. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 21, 2011) 10. Motion to approve granting right-of-way to the Georgia Department of Transportation for the Marshal’s Substation on Deans Bridge Road, which is necessary right-of-way so as to provide drainage from the new Marshal’s substation located at 3050 Deans Bridge Road. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 21, 2011) 11. Motion to approve a component change to the existing Purchase Order (P187880) in an amount not to exceed $550,000 for a revised cost total of $1,334,442, for purchase and erection of structural steel for the Sheriff’s New Office Building with Potts Construction. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 21, 2011) 4 PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 12. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held March 15, 2011 and Special Called Meeting held March 21, 2011) APPOINTMENTS 13. Motion to approve the appointment of B.B. Langham to the ARC Animal Control Board and Katherine Winbush to the Augusta Canal Authority representing District 5. ATTORNEY 14. Motion to approve ordinances amending pension plan restatement ordinances 7227 and 7228 entitled 1945 Richmond Employees Pension Fund and 1949 City of Augusta General Retirement Fund. (Approved by the Augusta Commission March 15, 2011 – second reading) ADDENDUM AGENDA 1. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Frank Carl to the Augusta Port Authority representing District 6. (Requested by Commissioner Jackson) Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Motion carries 10-0. [Items 1, 4-14, addendum item 1]. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, let’s go to the first pulled item. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 2. Motion to approve tasking the Administrator with contacting the legislative delegation about meeting with the Commissioners regarding amendment of the Augusta, Georgia Charter and report back what their feeling are and the proceed from there with a meeting utilizing a mediator if that is in order. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 23, 2011) Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll be brief. Mr. Chairman, the Chair of the Richmond County Delegation some time ago sent you a letter requesting such a meeting. And what I would like and what I think would be proper is for you to engage with the Chair of the Richmond County Delegation and the two of you decide on when a meeting is going to be set up between the Commission and the Delegation and whether or not a mediator is necessary. I think that would be the proper thing because I do believe that if you had sent the Chair of the Delegation a letter and if he in turn had his secretary to contact you I don’t think that would be in the best interest of doing business. So that’s my feeling and I wish that you all as body would consider that. 5 Mr. Mayor: And, Commissioner Lockett, I’m fine with doing it that way but just you know for the record I did not receive any official letter in my office. I don’t know where things got confused on that. But I am perfectly fine with moving forward in that way that you recommended. Mr. Lockett: So my motion, Mr. Chairman, would be is for the Mayor to consult the Chair of the Richmond County Delegation and the two of you collectively set up a meeting if it’s desirous of the two of you for the Commission to meet with the full Delegation. Mr. Johnson: I’ll second that. Mr. Mayor: Okay we have a motion and a second. If there is no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, next pulled agenda item please. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 3. Motion to approve the proposed reorganization plan as presented by the Administrator. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 21, 2011) Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett, I believe this was your pull as well. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chairman, I’ll be brief. At our Administrative Services meeting on Monday last week I requested that the Administrator provide information showing the line item savings for the reorganization. That was Monday of last week. Now some ten days later I got an email which I haven’t had a chance to look at, I guess was a response to the question we’ve been asking for weeks now. This House Bill 805 referred to as the Charter said that the Augusta Richmond Commission Counsel consists of the Mayor and the ten Commissioners. In Section 2 said all members or voting members except the Mayor and the Mayor may vote to cause a tie or to break a tie. And it says in order to have a quorum you must have seven Commissioners present with six votes required for ordinary business. I do not believe that restructuring the government is ordinary business. Any business other than ordinary requires two-thirds votes which is two-thirds of eleven. I’m not an attorney, but I’m pretty good at reading. So I cannot and will not support the reorganization of that basis. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Bowles: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and second. Commissioner Hatney. 6 Mr. Hatney: Didn’t we some weeks ago --- Mr. Mayor: Can you speak into the microphone? Mr. Hatney: Oh, yeah. Didn’t we some weeks ago somebody did contact the attorney general in Savannah for some feedback on this? Mr. Mayor: That was actually with regards I believe to the Policy and Procedures Manual and the authority granted to the Administrator which was separate from the reorganization itself. Mr. Hatney: Okay. My only last comment is that that I noticed that a lot of stuff has been done with six votes. But to approve the proposal of a reorganization plan it requires more than six votes. And the reason why it requires that is because you authorized the Administrator to go forward with the reorganization plan, restructuring plan and that’s definitely in the Charter. It requires eight votes. Mr. Mayor: Okay. We have a motion and second. Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. You probably have the necessary votes that you feel that you need to go ahead and move forward so I’ll just keep it kind of brief here. But on stst January 21, I just want to put out for the record. During the January 21 work session I asked for a number of things in reference to the legal ramifications of the Charter and so forth. But in particular I asked this in particular. I need to see the cost benefit or the cost savings of merging various departments as compared with the cost they are operating now. There’s going to be a merging of departments whether it be cuts in terms of positions and if so what is the cost savings there. And we as Mr. Lockett just mentioned we see that some months later. If there’s going to be an assumption of additional duties in some cases some people may be getting some additional monies. I need to see the analyses of this in a side-by-side comparison if possible. So my question is to the city administrator where is that side-by-side comparison of the salary increases of those individuals that you have built in to the one that you sent today to show the actual savings. Do you have that? Mr. Russell: The actual savings that are in the --- Mr. Mason: Not the actual savings, Mr. Administrator, the salaries of those individuals whose salaries would increase under this reorganization. Mr. Russell: Based on the information that you have voted on that’s been passed you’ll get those salary recommendations prior to their occurrence. I don’t know what they are at the moment basically. Mr. Mason: Wouldn’t that be something that would be needed to determine what your actual savings are? Because you gave us a savings but if you’re increasing salaries then the 7 numbers that you’ve given us here would not be actually accurate if you’re going to increase some other salaries. Mr. Russell: There are numbers that have been placed in there to allow for the increase that would not be specific to individuals until we move forward with the reclassification. And once again you’ll see those as we move forward with this. Unfortunately the chicken and the eggs are in, you’ve got decisions you’ve got to make to decide to move forward in the process that we’ve got set up it then would become necessary to determine the motions that would be the changes that would be made. And once again you’ll see those as we go forward with that. Mr. Mason: Well, I don’t clearly understand the chicken and the eggs but we’re talking right now dollars. And we’re talking taxpayer dollars. I just don’t see that in here that was requested to really justify those numbers that you’re throwing out. That’s all I have, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Hatney: Could I ask --- Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, can I restate that motion? Mr. Hatney: One question I had. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Hatney. Mr. Hatney: Mr. Administrator --- Mr. Russell: Yes, sir. Mr. Hatney: --- when you talked about your savings and everything, did that include your hiring of a deputy? Was that in there? Mr. Russell: Yeah, I’m trying to remember. I don’t think so, no. Mr. Hatney: It wasn’t in there. Mr. Russell: I’m not quite sure of that. Mr. Hatney: So your savings suggestions are going out the window already. Mr. Russell: Only for the difference in the salary between what she would --- Mr. Hatney: (unintelligible) Mr. Russell: --- that money isn’t budgeted. So if it’s not in there it’s still budgeted so --- Mr. Hatney: Okay. 8 Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Brigham. Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor I want to restate the motion. The motion was a motion to approve the Administrator’s proposed reorganization as described in the Augusta, Georgia Proposed Government Reorganization Draft Project Plan last modified on March the 7th, 2011 and distributed and discussed in the retreat on March 11, 2011, to grant the Administrator the authority to begin implementing the reduction in force in the proposed reorganization pursuant to the Augusta, Georgia Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual st as approved on March the 1 2011 and any correlating standard operating procedures; and bring back for the Commission approval any code amendments necessary to reflect the changes required by the reorganization plan. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor, thank you. You know I’ve heard of a run on sentence before but that was a run on motion and I think that motion should be broken down. It should be divided in parts so that we’ll know what we’re voting on. Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Brigham: --- if you’ll put this on the screen I’ll be happy for everybody to read it. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion --- Mr. Brigham: Call the question. Mr. Mayor: --- we have a motion and a second. The question has been called for. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Lockett: You don’t know either? Mr. Guilfoyle: I need clarification on exactly what we’re voting on. Mr. Lockett: That’s what I asked for. Mr. Mayor: Voting to approve the reorganization plan. Mr. Johnson, Mr. Mason, Mr. Lockett and Mr. Hatney vote No. Motion carries 6-4. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, Madam Clerk. On to the regular agenda, please. 9 Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor, would I be out of order if I asked you whether or not I could ask the General Counsel a question? Would that be out of order? Mr. Mayor: Actually the agenda item has been disposed of, Commissioner Lockett, so we’re, I’ve called the next agenda item. Mr. Lockett: Can I have a point of personal privilege? Mr. Mayor: Does it pertain to the agenda item that’s been disposed of? Mr. Lockett: It pertains to law. Mr. Mayor: Well, that would better to cover in a legal session. But if it, once again Commissioner Lockett I, with all due respect the next agenda item has been called for. Mr. Hatney: Mr. Mayor, before you go any further. He mentioned something about another situation that’s not on the agenda. So can I ask him a question about that? Mr. Mayor: I’ll tell you, Commissioner Hatney, I’ve actually called for the next --- Mr. Hatney: What he talked about is not on the agenda. Mr. Mayor: I’ve called for the next agenda item and that agenda item has been passed, has been disposed of. Mr. Lockett: This has nothing to do with that agenda item. Mr. Hatney: But I want --- Mr. Mayor: I’ve called for the next agenda item, gentlemen, so we will be addressing the next agenda item. Madam Clerk. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 15. Motion to approve the award of Bid Item #11-090 Brigham Park Tennis Courts to Paveway of Augusta in the amount of $85,964. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Beck. Mr. Beck: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, this is a project to redo the tennis courts at Brigham Park. These courts have been out of commission for some time. This is a joint project between the Housing and Community Development with HUD funds and CDBG and our department with some SPLOST funds to get these courts back open. We did go through the Procurement Bid Process and this is a recommendation for a bid award and we recommend your approval. 10 Mr. Johnson: Move to approve. Mr. Lockett: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no --- Mr. Brigham: I make a substitute motion to refer it back to committee. Mr. Jackson: Second. Mr. Mayor: Was that a substitute motion? Mr. Brigham: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a substitute motion to refer this back to committee and a second. If there’s no further discussion we will first vote on the substitute motion then vote on the primary motion should the substitute motion not pass. And the primary motion would be to approve. So we will now vote on the substitute motion to refer it back to committee. Commissioners will now vote by the substitute sign of voting. Mr. Aitken, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Bowles, Mr. Mason, Mr. Lockett, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. Hatney vote No. Motion fails 3-7. Mr. Mayor: We will now vote on the primary motion to approve. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Brigham vote No. Motion carries 8-2. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, what I believe is to be our final agenda item of the day. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 16. Motion to approve the recommendation of the selection committee to award Bid #11- 102 to R.J. Griffin & Company for the Construction Management @ Risk FBO Terminal Project. Mr. Mayor: Take it away. Mr. LeTellier: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission this is a request to approve the recommendation from the Augusta Aviation Commission to select R.J. Griffin and Company as the Construction Manager @ Risk for the new fixed space operation at Augusta Regional Airport. 11 Mr. Mayor: Can I get a, Commissioner Lockett, did you? Mr. Lockett: I was going to make a motion. Mr. Mayor: Okay, please. Mr. Lockett: Move to approve. Mr. Aitken: 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. Bowles: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Bowles. Mr. Bowles: I don’t see any detail here. In my backup, I didn’t have anything. Mr. Speaker: I can give you some backup. This was an RFQ, I’m sorry. Mr. Mayor: No, I was going to say, Commissioner Bowles, I’m sorry I called for the vote quickly. But I did already call for the vote. Mr. Bowles: Start looking down this way. Mr. Mayor: Okay, I apologize, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. The Clerk: That motion ties 5-5. Mr. Mayor: I get to use --- Mr. Hatney: That’s right, progress Mr. Mayor, progress. Mr. Mayor: Now this actually works doesn’t it? The Clerk: Can I read this --- Mr. Mayor: And the motion was to approve the recommendation, correct? The Clerk: I need to read those in for you. Mr. Mayor: You make me wait all this time since the last time I broke a tie. Mr. Bowles, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Brigham, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. Smith vote No. 12 Motion ties 5-5. Mr. Mayor: Please, I’d ask the photographer to get a picture of this. Yes. The Mayor votes Yes. Motion carries 6-5. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk, and, Mr. Brown, if there’s no need for a Legal meeting? Mr. Brown: There is not. Mr. Mayor: Then if there’s 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 herby 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 March 30, 2011. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 13