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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCalled Commission Meeting July 7, 2014 CALLED MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER July 7, 2014 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 12:15 p.m., Monday, July 7, 2014, the Honorable Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Mason, D. Smith, Williams, Fennoy, Jackson, Davis and G. Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. ABSENT: Hon. Johnson, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: I’ll call to order the special called meeting. Mr. MacKenzie. 2.LEGAL MEETING A.Pending and potential litigation B.Real estate C.Personnel Mr. MacKenzie: I would entertain a motion to go into a closed meeting to discuss pending and potential litigation, real estate and personnel. Mr. G. Smith: So move. Mr. Mayor: It’s just legal. Can I get a motion? Mr. G. Smith: I gave one. Mr. MacKenzie: To add to that as well discussion relating to the process for the hiring of the Administrator. Mr. Mayor: Can I get a motion to that effect? Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: I just wanted to make sure that the, not the process, but the EEO Director will be brought into this meeting. I have been trying to get her to explain some legal stuff with legal and hadn’t been able to do it. We can’t do it outside, we can’t do it inside. I don’t want to go into legal today and then find a reason not to have her come and present the stuff that I’ve been trying to get on the table for the last six or seven months now. It’s July. So is that a part of that and I’ve got no problem. I just want to make sure. I don’t see her in the building. I want to make sure that the EEO Director will be brought into legal to discuss some of this pending litigation we’ve got in Atlanta and some other things we talked about. I think the attorney is aware of what I’m speaking about. 1 Mr. Mayor: Mr. MacKenzie. Mr. MacKenzie: If her presence is necessary for pending and potential litigation, she is certainly invited. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Williams: Well, I may want to make sure that when I get her, Ms. Bonner, so we can have her here. The Clerk: At the last meeting you asked the Law Department to make sure that – Mr. Williams: Well, and I didn’t hear that today. That’s why I’m asking that question because it wasn’t stated and I want to make sure that we don’t go in and come out and say, “Oh, I didn’t think about it.” I thought about it. Who’s to make that happen, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: As far as notifying the EEO Director? The Clerk: You’re asking me to do it? Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am, that would be great. The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Mayor: Okay, can I get a motion to that effect? Mr. Williams: So move. Mr. Mayor: Do we have a second? Ms. Davis: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been made and properly seconded. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Smith and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion carries 6-0. Mr. Mayor: We are in legal. [LEGAL MEETING] Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’ll go ahead and call the meeting back to order. Mr. MacKenzie. 3.Motion to approve authorizing execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia’s Open Meeting Act. 2 Mr. MacKenzie: I would entertain a motion to execute the closed meeting affidavit and also note there was no discussion on real estate. Mr. Lockett: So move. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been made and properly seconded. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. G. Smith out. Motion carries 7-0. Mr. Mayor: Mr. MacKenzie. Mr. MacKenzie: That’s all I have. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: If there’s nothing further to come before the body, we stand adjourned. The Clerk: We have one other item. Mr. Mayor: Oh, excuse me. 1.Environmental Services Department Update on Solid Waste Collection fees for Vacant Lots. (No recommendation from Engineering Services Committee May 27, thth 2014; referred from the June 3, 2014 to June 17 to July 7 Commission meeting) Mr. Mayor: I take that back. We did have another agenda item. Mr. Williams: That had to be added, didn’t it? The Clerk: Well, you referred this item back from your May 27, June 3 meeting regarding the vacant lot. You had directed the Solid Waste Director to come back at this meeting. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: A point of personal privilege, please. Mr. Mayor: Go ahead. 3 Mr. Lockett: I have a lots of documents that was passed out to me since I’ve been here that deals with this agenda item. I move that it be sent back to the next committee so that we’ll have an opportunity to review it because I don’t like to get – The Clerk: This information doesn’t have anything to do with – Mr. Lockett: I have two documents here and these were just given to us. The Clerk: Yes, sir. Mr. Lockett: And we haven’t had an opportunity to read it. The Clerk: You’re right. Mr. Lockett: Therefore, I would make a motion that this go back to the next committee meeting which would give all of us an opportunity to review it before we’re asked to make a decision on it. Mr. Mason: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been made and properly seconded. Mr. Johnson, is there a time-sensitiveness here? Will that get you where you need to go? Mr. Mark Johnson: The information that we, we sent the information to the Clerk’s office and asked them to distribute. I don’t know when it got there, probably the latter part of last week. Right before the holidays so from our standpoint there’s a timing issue. We have to have all of our information to the Tax Commissioner for billing towards the end of this month. th So if it runs through the next cycle I believe it puts us at the 28 and that does not allow the Tax Commissioner enough time to do what he needs to do. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett, would it give you enough time to and would you be willing to amend your motion to place this on the next Commission agenda? Mr. Lockett: No, I won’t, Mr. Chair, for the simple reason if the timeliness was so important I think this information should have gotten to us before now and I do believe that if it was received by the Clerk’s office in a timely manner, it would have been a part of the agenda items that were sent out. The Clerk: Yes, sir, the information was received after the agenda books were completed and delivered and the agenda posted. We received this information on July 2 after 5 and which I notified you that the information had just been delivered to our office and I made it available to you as soon as I received it. Mr. Lockett: And therefore, Mr. Mayor, I’m not willing to change my motion. 4 Mr. Mayor: Okay. Is there any further discussion? We have a motion that’s been made and properly seconded. Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: Madam Clerk, what was the motion please? The Clerk: It was to refer it back to the next committee. Mr. Mayor: Okay, commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Ms. Davis, Mr. Jackson, Mr. D. Smith and Mr. Guilfoyle vote No. Motion fails 5-4. Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: No action taken. Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams: I just wanted to state that – The Clerk: Mr. Johnson out. Mr. Williams: -- that’s how we got in this predicament in the first place by these documents and not knowing what’s in there. This solid waste thing has been a nightmare. This empty lot thing has been worse than that so I’m in favor of this sending it back to committee. Had it been that important I think Mr. Johnson would have found a way to get it to us before now. Mr. Mayor: Well, there was no action taken so nothing is stopping anybody from putting it on the next committee cycle. Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: I’d like to make a motion to send it forward to the Commission without a recommendation. And we would have time to look at it and call Mark if any questions needs to be asked or answered. Mr. Mayor: Well, we’ve had a motion that’s been made on the agenda item and already voted on. Mr. MacKenzie, would that take a motion to reconsider the agenda item? Mr. MacKenzie: Yes, but I’ll just note that an item can be asked to be placed on the Commission agenda. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Guilfoyle, is that, are you making a motion to reconsider the agenda item? Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes. Mr. Mayor: Is there a second on that? 5 Mr. Jackson: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been made and properly seconded to reconsider this agenda item. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Mr. Mason, Mr. Lockett, Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Williams vote No. Motion fails 5-4. Mr. Mayor: No action taken. If there’s no further business to come before the body, we stand adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission CERTIFICATION: I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is true and correct copy of the minutes of the Called Meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission held on July 7, 2014. ________________________ Clerk of Commission 6