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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCalled Commission Meeting August 16, 2011 CALLED MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER August 16, 2011 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 16, 2011, the Honorable Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Mason, Smith, Hatney, Aitken, Johnson, Jackson, Bowles and Brigham, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: I will call the legal meeting to order. Mr. MacKenzie. 1.LEGAL MEETING A.Pending and potential litigation B.Real estate C.Personnel Mr. MacKenzie: I would entertain a motion to go into a closed legal meeting to discuss real estate, litigation, and personnel. Mr. Mayor: Can I get a motion to that effect? Mr. Smith: So move. Mr. Bowles: Second. Mr. Mayor: If there’s no further discussion, Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Mayor: We’re in legal. [LEGAL MEETING] Mr. Mayor: We’ll go ahead and call the meeting back to order. 2.Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia’s Open Meeting Act. Mr. MacKenzie: I would entertain a motion to execute the closed meeting affidavit. Mr. Mayor: Do we have a motion to that effect? Mr. Johnson: So move. Mr. Hatney: 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: Mr. MacKenzie. Mr. MacKenzie: I would entertain a motion to add and approve a resolution to authorize the purchase of property located at 1901 Second Avenue, to purchase such property in the amount of $3,600 and to authorize the Mayor and Clerk of Commission to fill out the necessary closing documents to purchase this property. Mr. Hatney: So move. 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. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Mason: Mr. Mayor, before you close out can I be recognized? Mr. Mayor: Mr. Mason. In light of the discussion we had back here in Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. legal, Mr. Mayor, I’m going to make a motion that Mr. Russell be terminated effective immediately. Mr. Lockett: Second. Mr. Mayor: Hang on one second. Madam Clerk, did I not call the meeting to adjournment, the legal meeting? The Clerk: I – Mr. Mason: You recognized me, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Mason: You recognized me. The Clerk: Did you hear, Mr. Parliamentarian? I didn’t hear it. Mr. Mason: You recognized me. Mr. MacKenzie: We did pass a motion to execute the closed meeting affidavit from legal, so – Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Mason: From legal. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Well, you’ve made a motion – Mr. Lockett: And second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Mr. Mason: Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Mason. Mr. Brigham: It takes unanimous consent to add it to the agenda and you don’t have that. Mr. Mason: No, that personnel was already on the agenda. Mr. Mayor: Hang on one second. Mr. MacKenzie. Mr. MacKenzie: If it was a discussion that was already on the legal agenda, then it could be added and approved. Mr. Mayor: So it would have to be a motion to add and approve the agenda item. Okay. Commissioner Mason, would you like to revise your motion? Mr. Mason: To what? Mr. Mayor: To add and approve the termination of Mr. Russell to this agenda item. Mr. Mason: Mr. Mayor, I object to that opinion from our legal attorney. I do believe that this was a open session. It was publicized that we would be discussing personnel. Previously on May 17 we had an agenda item where we were going to discuss the operations of Mobility Transit and an RFP. Out of that discussion came a motion that did more than discuss. So what is the difference now between discussing personnel in legal that was already advertised and the discussion of Mobility’s RFP which turned into us awarding them the contract. We did more than discuss it. So I need to know what is the difference and cite for me where the difference is and what you’re referencing in terms of the fact that it has to be added and approved. Mr. Mayor: Mr. MacKenzie, I would look to your legal opinion on this. Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, and let me just give some additional facts. You’re referring to a motion from Mobility to do what now? Mr. Mason: On May 17 there was a discussion. The topic was discuss the Mobility RFP. Out of that discussion came a full-fledged motion to award the contract for services. Today, there’s a discussion of personnel. We’ve done that. I am now making a motion after the discussion based on what we did back here in the back and not naming anything specific but I am asking for a motion to terminate Mr. Russell effective immediately. Mr. Lockett: And I second that motion. (Applause) Mr. Mayor: Calm down. Mr. MacKenzie. Mr. MacKenzie: I would be happy to look at this provision if you’d like to take a short recess and I’ll quote you the exact provision if that’s okay with the – Mr. Johnson: We have unanimous consent? Mr. Mayor: We have unanimous consent to add it? Mr. Brigham: Yeah. Mr. Mayor: Okay. We have unanimous consent to add it so the motion has been made and properly seconded. Now, if there’s no further – Mr. Mason: There is. Mr. Mayor: I’ve recognized you twice on this, Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: No, actually you have not. Now, there is further discussion because I have, I made the motion, the second came and I wasn’t finished. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Mason: So, please. Today is not just about Mr. Russell. It’s about the citizens and employees of Augusta Richmond County in regards to what is right and what is fair. Today is also about a few good men. Men who have the ability to effect real change with their decision here today. All the citizens are looking for is a few good men who have the intestinal fortitude to do what is right. We have all run on a platform of change, setting the tone, and moving this city forward. Well, today gentlemen, is the day to make that campaign promise a reality. I’m not here to embarrass Mr. Russell. I have over two pages of legitimate reasons for his removal. But it’s more about the ten of us instead of the one of him. Today is about true leadership as defined by the seven army values, LDRSHIP. L standing for loyalty to whom we serve, that’s the citizens of Augusta Richmond County. The D stands for the duty that we have to simply do what is right. The R stands for the respect that we should have for the citizens for whom we are the financial stewards, not Mr. Russell. The S is for selfless service, not selfish service. The H is for honor that we should have and feel in the elected positions that we hold. The I is about integrity which truly determines the type of men we really are and the P is about personal courage, the ability to make the hard, right decision. So the question is do we have at least six good men in here today that’s willing to provide the leadership that this city so desperately deserves. The worst thing that can happen here today is for good men to do nothing. Today we need a few good men. Say yes to progress, say no for status quo. The decision is ours. Let’s vote wisely. Mr. Mayor: Okay. The motion has been made and property seconded. If there’s no further discussion, Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Bowles, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Brigham, Mr. Guilfoyle, Mr. Smith and Mr. Johnson vote No. Motion fails 4-6. Mr. Mayor: With no further business to come before the body, this meeting stands adjourned. [MEETING ADJOURED] Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission