HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-07-11 Meeting Minutes Finance Committee Meeting Commission Chamber - 7/11/2017
ATTENDANCE:
Present: Hons. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor; Frantom, Chairman; Sias, Vice
Chairman; Hasan, member.
Absent: Hon. Guilfoyle, member.
FINANCE
1. Approve request for five (5) Assistant District Attorney (ADA's) positions. Item
Action:
Approved
Motions
Motion
Type Motion Text Made By Seconded By Motion
Result
Delete
Motion to delete this
item from the agenda.
Motion Passes 3-0.
Commissioner
Ben Hasan
Commissioner
Sammie Sias Passes
2. Motion to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee held on June 13, 2017. Item
Action:
Approved
Motions
Motion
Type Motion Text Made By Seconded By Motion
Result
Approve
Motion to
approve.
Motion Passes
3-0.
Commissioner Ben
Hasan
Commissioner
Sammie Sias Passes
3. Approve New Position in the Juvenile Court (Administrative Assistant II, Salary
Grade 43).
Item
Action:
Approved
Motions
www.augustaga.gov
Motion
Type Motion Text Made By Seconded By Motion
Result
Approve
Motion to
approve.
Motion Passes
3-0.
Commissioner Ben
Hasan
Commissioner
Sammie Sias Passes
Finance Committee Meeting
7/11/2017 1:05 PM
Attendance 7/11/17
Department:
Presenter:
Caption:
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Finance Committee Meeting
7/11/2017 1:05 PM
District Attorney's Office - Request for Personnel
Department:District Attorney
Presenter:Natalie S. Paine
Caption:Approve request for five (5) Assistant District Attorney (ADA's)
positions.
Background:Two events in 2011 significantly increased court demands on the
District Attorney's Office. First, on April 1st, our judge count
increased from five to six, to seven on October 1st to eight on
April 1, 2012. Second was the opening of the Judicial Center
which increased courtrooms from two to eight. Our attorney
staffing have maintained the same level, i.e. 22 ADA's, since
2012. Three additions in 2013, 2014 and 2015 are attributable to
Juvenile Court, Accountability Court and Juvenile Court,
respectively. In 2008, our ADA population totaled 20.
Analysis:With Judge David Roper's retirement in January 2017 and his
appointed successor former District Attorney Ashley Wright, his
three-county caseload was redistributed among the other seven
judges which increased their case counts exponentially. As a
result, the two ADA's assigned to the Roper Team were
reassigned to other teams; the third team member was DA Wright.
Continually adding to each judge's case count is due to Judge
Wright's exclusion from the assignment/rotation of criminal cases
until September 2017. Court appearances have dramatically
increased in the past five years. Expansion of Accountability
Courts from one to three, i.e. Drug Court, Veteran's Court and
Mental Health Court. With Burke County building a new
courthouse and Columbia County expanding theirs, additional
courtrooms are included in construction. Of 25 ADA's, 15 have
less than three years of experience as a prosecutor.
Financial Impact:With a base salary of $53,674.00, benefits would increase this
amount to $69,134.00 x 5 for a total of $345,670.00. As circuit-
wide positions, Burke and Columbia Counties are accountable for
their customary percentages of 6.7% at $23,160 and 35.66% at
$123,266, respectively to Richmond County's 57.64% at $199,244
annually.
Alternatives:No alternatives realistically exist.
Recommendation:Approve these five ADA positions for six months of funding in
2017 as well as their inclusion in the District Attorney's Office
yearly budgets thereafter.
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
Approximately $50,000 has been identified from the District
Attorney's Office 2017 Budget. The balance would need to come
from another funding source. forwarded for discussion - dbw
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Clerk of Commission
Finance Committee Meeting Commission Chamber - 6lL3l20l7
ATTENDANCE:
Present: Hons. Frantom, Chairman; Sias, Vice Chaiffnan; Hasan and
Guilfoyle, members.
Absent: Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor.
FINANCE
1. Motion to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee held on May 30,2017 . Item
Action:
Approved
Motions
Motion
Type
Approve
Seconded By
2. Consider a request from Ms. Patricia Ann Bailey Clark regarding a waiver for Item
her homestead exemption on the property located at704 Albany Avenue. Action:
Disapproved
Motion Text
Motion to
approve.
Motion Passes
4-0.
Made By
Commissioner
Sammie Sias
Motion
Result
Commisioner Sean passest rantom
Motions
f#:"" Motion rext Made By Seconded By Motion
Result
Motion to approve.
Mr. Frantom, Mr. Commissioner
Approve Guilfoyle and Mr. wayne commissioner
Sias vote No. Guilfoyle Ben Hasan Fails
Motion Fails 1-3.
3. Consider a request from Rhonda and Brad Greek regarding their homestead Item
exemption 172A. Action:
Approved
Motions
ryJ:"" Motion rext Made By seconded By fffii
Motion to delete this Delete item from the agend, commisstoner commissioner
Motion passes 4_0. Sammie sias Ben Hasan Passes
4. Discuss creation of additional Tax Allocation Districts (TAD's). (Requested by Item
Commissioner Ben Hasan) Action:
Approved
Motions
f.]l:" Motion Text Made By seconded By MotionrYPe ^'^--- -J Result
Motion to approve
^ receiving this item as Commissioner CommisionerApprove information. sammie Sias Sean Frantom Passes
Motion Passes 4-0.
www.auqustaga.gov
Finance Committee Meeting
7/11/2017 1:05 PM
Minutes
Department:Clerk of Commission
Presenter:
Caption:Motion to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee held on
June 13, 2017.
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Finance Committee Meeting
7/11/2017 1:05 PM
New Position
Department:Juvenile Court
Presenter:Patti Strength
Caption:Approve New Position in the Juvenile Court (Administrative
Assistant II, Salary Grade 43).
Background:Judge Heath was appointed as Juvenile Court Judge October 2016.
The person selected to fill this position will work as Judge Heath's
Assistant. He / She will prepare the Judges Court Calendar; Court
Orders as required; as well as Office Correspondence for Judge
Heath.
Analysis:No additional funding required for this position. Will be using
funding from approved budget.
Financial Impact:The need for the Administrative Assistant II will be reporting to
Judge Heath and will be a Salary Grade 43 at $32,019.00,plus
benefits.
Alternatives:Not to Approve New Position
Recommendation:Approve New Position as Indicated
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
Transfer Funds from 101-02-2110 / 5224111 (building rental) to 101-
02-2110 / 5111110 (salaries and wages)
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Finance.
Law.
Administrator.
Clerk of Commission