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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCalled Commission Meeting February 27, 2012 CALLED MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER February 27, 2012 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 12:00 Noon, Monday, February 27, 2012, 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’ll go ahead and call the legal meeting to order and Mr. Attorney. 1.LEGAL MEETING A. Pending and potential litigation B. Real estate C. Personnel Mr. Brown: We would entertain a motion to go into legal regarding real estate and pending litigation. Mr. Mayor: Can I get a motion to that effect? Mr. Smith: Motion made. Mr. Hatney: Second. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Mason out. Motion carries 8-0. Mr. Mayor: We are in legal. [LEGAL MEETING] The Mayor Pro Tem called the meeting back to order. Mr. Bowles: And we’d like to get a motion – I’m waiting for my attorney to get back. 2.Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia’s Open Meeting Act. Mr. Brown: Mayor Pro Tem, we would like to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia’s Open Meeting Act. Mr. Bowles: Can I get a motion? Mr. Jackson: So move. Mr. Johnson: Second. Mr. Bowles: All in favor vote. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Bowles: Item number two. Mr. Brown: We would like to entertain a motion to add and approve a Resolution authorizing the full and final settlement of the CSRA Disposal LLC account balance to Augusta, Georgia Landfill in the aggregate amount of $12,000. Mr. Lockett: Move to approve. Mr. Guilfoyle: Second. Mr. Bowles: We’ve got a motion and second. All vote. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Bowles: Thank you and what’s the next add and approve? Mr. Brown: The next add and approve would a Resolution authorizing the settlement of the subrogation claim by Geico Insurance Company related to the damage of personal property owned by Derek Snead in the aggregate amount of $9,647.47, authorizing the Administrator to disburse that amount and for other purposes as provided by the resolution. Mr. Bowles: Can I get a motion? Mr. Johnson: So move. Mr. Lockett: Second. Mr. Bowles: We have a motion and a second. All vote by the usual signal. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Bowles: And the final add and approve. Mr. Brown: There is no further business. Mr. Bowles: The acquisition for Mr. Beck. The Clerk: No, sir. (inaudible) Mr. Bowles: Okay. Gottcha. All right, we’ll go to Item 3. 3.Motion to approve a Resolution in support of Augusta, Georgia Commission elections remaining November elections. Mr. Bowles: Commissioner Hatney or Lockett, want to speak on this or make a motion? Mr. Lockett: If Mr. Hatney doesn’t want to speak, I can speak. Back in 2007 the Commission wisely decided that it was too expensive to have commission elections odd years so they decided to vote and have the commission elections during the general election in November. The vote was 8-0 with two commissioners out so that was a unanimous vote so that was approved. Back in, I believe, December 11 the Executive Director of the Board of Elections asked the General Counsel to get an opinion from the Attorney General in reference to the election and it was decided that Augusta because it has a municipal form of government would indeed have the election in November. That was decided by the Attorney General. The reason I’m here today is because the, one member of the delegation has presented to the General Assembly that the commission election be moved to July and it passed ninety something to, I believe, fifty something, however, the person that brought this to the floor was only one member of the delegation. The other members of the delegation did not have an opportunity, at least they say they did not have an opportunity, to vote on it and they’re supposed to be taking this back to the floor today to see if they can get that changed. Now when I was elected, I was elected for a three-year term. Now if they’re in the middle of the stream and they go back and move it back to July, I feel I’m owed an additional year. So I wish – Mr. Bowles: Ya’ll can have it. Mr. Lockett: I wish that my colleagues would support me in this effort and approve this resolution that we have before us that would ensure that the commission election is held in November as was decided by unanimous vote by the Commission back in 2007 and reaffirmed by the Attorney General just a couple of months ago. That’s my motion. Mr. Johnson: Move to approve. Mr. Bowles: You want a second? Mr. Johnson: Well, I’ll second it. You made the motion. I’ll second it. Mr. Bowles: Commissioner Brigham. Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. One thing we need to correct is that we voted to move the odd-number elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. We did not move to change or set an election date. We have always followed state law at the holding of elections. This is a state law issue. This is not a local issue. The law that is being talked about is a law that applies to all consolidated governments in Georgia. It does not apply to Augusta. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chairman. Mr. Bowles: Mr. Lockett. Mr. Lockett: If I may, for the last two years I’ve consistently heard Home Rule, Home Rule. This is home rule. The motion was and I quote, “Motion to approve a resolution in support of three year terms for the next two commission elections so as to schedule future commission elections and the election of the Civil Court Marshal on the dates of the presidential and gubernatorial elections.” And I do believe that the presidential elections and the gubernatorial elections are in the month of November. Mr. Bowles: We’ve got a motion and a second on the table. Everybody vote by the usual signal. Mr. Jackson, Mr. Brigham and Mr. Smith vote No. Motion carries 7-3. Mr. Bowles: All right. We stand adjourned. [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 February 27, 2012. ________________________ Clerk of Commission