HomeMy WebLinkAboutCalled Commission Meeting October 31, 2023
CALLED MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
October 31, 2023
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 31,
2023, the Honorable Garnett Johnson, Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Garrett, Scott, McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis
and Guilfoyle, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
ABSENT: Hon. Mason, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Madam Clerk, I call this meeting to
order.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown.
1. LEGAL MEETING
A. Pending and potential litigation
B. Real estate
C. Personnel
Mr. Brown: Good morning, Mayor Johnson, Commissioners. We request a motion
to go into executive session for the discussion of pending and potential litigation.
Ms. McKnight: Motion to approve.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: I have a motion and a second. We’re voting.
Mr. Williams and Mr. Frantom out.
Motion carries 7-0.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. You need a point of privilege, sir? Commissioner
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from the 10, are you good?
Mr. Guilfoyle: I think everybody knows (inaudible) in your prayers.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you so much. Madam Clerk, we’re now in executive session.
Thank you.
\[EXECUTIVE SESSION\]
Mr. Garrett: I’d like to call our executive meeting back into session. Attorney Brown.
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2. Motion to authorize the execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with
Georgia’s Open Meeting Act.
Mr. Brown: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Garrett. We request a motion to
execute the closed meeting affidavit but first we would like to make a note that the executive
session included discussion of not only pending or potential litigation but also a discussion of
a matter pertaining to real estate. We request a motion now to execute the closed meeting
affidavit.
Mr. Williams: So move.
Ms. McKnight: Second.
Mr. Garrett: Voting, Ms. Bonner.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Garrett: All right, I believe there are, one item that needs to be removed from the
special called meeting? Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: We would like to place on the record motions that will now be appropriate
given the executive session that we just attended.
Mr. Garrett: Okay.
Mr. Brown: The first motion we request is to adopt a resolution authorizing the
settlement of all claims by Mattie Gaither and Tara Hannah as a temporary administratrix
of the estate of Nichoel Gaither in the aggregate amount of $150,000 payable as follows: to
Mattie Gaither and the estate of Nichoel Gaither and Nicholson Revell LLP as their attorney.
Mr. Garrett: I’ll entertain a motion.
Mr. Johnson: So move.
Mr. Williams: Second.
Mr. Garrett: Voting, Ms. Bonner.
Mr. Frantom out.
Motion carries 8-0.
Mr. Garrett: Next item.
Mr. Brown: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. We would request a motion to adopt a
resolution authorizing the settlement of all claims by Valencia Colon in the aggregate amount
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of $50,000 payable as follows: Valencia Colon, further authorizing the Administrator to
disburse this amount of $50,000 waiving Augusta, Georgia’s Code of Ordinances in conflict
therewith for this instance only and for other purposes.
Mr. Williams: So move.
Mr. Johnson: Second.
Mr. Garrett: All right, voting, Ms. Bonner.
Mr. Guilfoyle votes No.
Mr. Frantom out.
Motion carries 7-1.
Mr. Garrett: Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: Yes, we would request a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing a
settlement of all claims by USAA in the aggregate amount of $25,905.95 payable as follows:
USAA and further authorize the Administrator to disburse this amount of $25,905.95 waving
Augusta Code of Ordinances in conflict therewith for this instance only and for other
purposes.
Mr. Guilfoyle: So move.
Mr. Williams: Second.
Mr. Garrett: All right, voting, Ms. Bonner.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Garrett: Attorney Brown, are there any other items?
Mr. Brown: No, sir, there are not.
Mr. Garrett: All right. With that said I’d like to call executive session to a close and call
our special called meeting to order. Ms. Bonner.
3. Motion to approve the adoption of a resolution of the City of Augusta, Georgia 2023
Comprehensive Plan update Envision Augusta.
Ms. Delaney: Good afternoon. Hope everyone is doing well today. You have seen this
already. We have brought the draft and the information and the data has not changed. The most
notable difference is we had as part of the approval process, we had to send this to DCA in its draft
form. One of the changes that you will note is our goal number three in our work program.
Originally it said that it was going to be redevelopment of the downtown area and actually, it’s to
balance the redevelopment of established neighborhoods because it’s not just downtown that needs
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revitalization. We’ve had to balance that. Outside of that the information and the data is the same.
Our goals are centered around projects that are captured in the SPLOST in some of our future
budgets and I can field any questions if you have any. You also have this book that’s bound and
it has everything you need in it and goals are the same, vision is there and I can field any questions.
Mr. Guilfoyle: So move.
Mr. Williams: Second.
Mr. Garrett: Commissioner Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you. Director Delaney, we talked about the fact that New Year’s is
on Sunday and that the alcohol aspect, that bars will not be able to be open in Richmond County
for New Years and this plan would allow us to kind of tweak that, is that correct?
Ms. Delaney: No, sir.
Mr. Frantom: This has nothing to do with that.
Ms. Delaney: Nothing to do with that.
Mr. Frantom: All right, I apologize. Thank you.
Ms. Delaney: When we do the ordinance, we’ll be able to tell you how we’ll do that.
Mr. Frantom: That’s in 2024?
Ms. Delaney: We’re ready to discuss it. It’s on the agenda.
Mr. Frantom: Okay, I’m sorry, I’m all over the map.
Ms. Delaney: It missed this agenda, but it is coming up.
Mr. Frantom: Okay, thank you.
Ms. Delaney: It’s ready for discussion.
Mr. Garrett: I think I heard a motion and a second. Voting, Ms. Bonner.
Motion carries 9-0.
4. Motion to approve a resolution of support for the C-SPLOST referendum and
authorize the Law Department to craft document.
Mr. Garrett: Commissioner Frantom.
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Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Yes, I put this on the agenda at the
moment not realizing that we as elected officials in this capacity cannot put this resolution
forward so I’d like to make a motion to delete the agenda item.
Mr. Guilfoyle: So move.
Ms. McKnight: Second.
The Clerk: He didn’t, Mr. Guilfoyle, Mr. Frantom and Mr. Guilfoyle. Okay.
Mr. Garrett: Commissioner Smith.
The Clerk: Well, he said he’d make a motion, Mr. Frantom said, he made the motion.
Mr. Garrett: All right, voting.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Garrett: Any further items?
The Clerk: No, sir, that’s it.
Mr. Garrett: All right, with that being said I’d like to call our special called meeting to a
close and our committee meetings will begin in about four minutes. Thank you.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena J. Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Called Meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
October 31, 2023.
________________________
Clerk of Commission
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