HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting March 1, 2016
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
MARCH 1, 2016
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., March 1, 2016, the Hon.
Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Smith, Fennoy, D. Williams,
Hasan and Davis, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
ABSENT: Hon. Guilfoyle, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: I call this meeting to order. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: At this time we’d have our invocation delivered by the Reverend Dr. Michael
L. Cash, Senior Pastor, Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church after which we’d have our
Pledge of Allegiance. Would you please stand.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Dr. Cash, if you’ll approach. We want to thank you for being here with us
today to recognize your spiritual guidance and civic leadership that serves as an example to all of
us and your pastorate at Trinity on the Hill and what you do in this community. Thank you so
much. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: Ms. Jackson.
Ms. Jackson: Yes, at this time I’d like to introduce Michael Loeser. He’s our new Human
Resources Director that started work on yesterday. So he’s here to do our recognition of our Years
of Service Recipients and the Employee of the Month for Augusta.
Mr. Loeser: Thank you. Good afternoon, my name is Michael Loeser, your Human
Resources Director. Today we are happy to recognize our Years of Service Recipients. For the
month of February there are 22 5 to 20 year recipients and six 25 to 50 year recipients. Let’s give
them a round of applause. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk:
RECOGNITION(S)
Employee of the Month
A. Congratulations: - Mr. Barry Hyman, Augusta Planning & Development Department as
the March 2016 Employee of the Month for Augusta, Georgia.
The Clerk: At this time we’d like to offer our congratulations to Mr. Barry Hyman of the
Augusta Planning & Development Department as the March 2016 Employee of the Month. Mr.
Hyman, would you please come forward along with the Mayor, Ms. Jackson, Ms. Wilson if you
would like to join. As they make their way forward: The Employee Recognition Committee has
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selected Barry Hyman as the March 2016 Employee of the Month for Augusta, Georgia. Mr.
Hyman works with the Augusta Planning and Development Department where he was been
employed since 2014. He was nominated by Marinda Brown. Barry has consistently displayed
great integrity and has great work ethic and provides exception customer service. He’s not only
commended for his contributions by the department but his level of professionalism and the
magnitude of the service he provides has recently been recognized by Augusta Citizens and
Representatives from Georgia Power. In a particular situation upon arrival at a residence for
inspection Barry noticed that the work was not completed and the resident was without power.
Barry stayed at the scene until the entire operation was completed and then released power to the
residence via the Georgia Power online portal. During this positive interaction with the customer
Barry provided a homeowner his work cell phone to be reached in the event of an emergency.
Later in the evening the customer called back to inform him that the power was down again. Barry
reached out to Georgia Power Customer Service which resulted in Georgia Power dispatching a
crew and moments later the power was fully restored. This positive interaction resulted in
commending Barry for his dedication, commitment and customer service for insuring the
restoration of electrical power to the residence. The values of this efforts and the use of Georgia
Power Online Approval Portal positively impacts both Augusta and Georgia Power productivity.
The diligence displayed in this action show his commitment to outstanding customer service as
well as positive image of the City of Augusta employees towards its citizens. Based on this
nomination and Barry’s outstanding contribution to the Planning and Development Department
and his service to Augusta, Georgia the Employee Recognition Committee would appreciate you
in joining us in recognizing him as the March 2016 Employee of the Month. Congratulations.
(APPLAUSE) Would you like to say something?
Ms. M. Williams: Speech, speech.
The Clerk: No, he passed.
Mr. Mayor: I want to take an opportunity to do a couple of things. One, I want to share
some items that are of importance to us as a community. Commissioner Lockett, my conversations
with Madam Clerk all across the state of Georgia Georgia’s Cities Week is being held April the
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17 through the 23 and conversations with those individuals along with the Administrator
Augusta is going to be participating in Georgia Cities Week and the appropriate paperwork has
been filled out. Cities all across Georgia are encouraged to celebrate during this time and I want
to make certain that all of our elected officials and our citizens are aware of it. It gives us an
opportunity to share information about the resources that we have in Augusta, an opportunity for
us to showcase not only our residents but the state at large the positive impact that the quality of
life and our offerings have to everyone that comes to visit the great city of Augusta, Georgia.
thrd.
That’s April the 17 through the 23 It’s my hope that we’ll be working together as a governing
authority to put together a way for us to showcase this city and the highlights so that we truly can
say Destination Augusta to all of our citizens but for those that are outside of Augusta, Georgia as
well. The second item I want to make mention of is that Augusta has been chosen to host the
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Leadership Georgia March Program and that’ll take place on March the 17 through the 19. The
theme for Leadership Georgia’s 2016 Augusta Program is One Georgia Stronger Together. I want
to make mention of it because you will have over 120 of Georgia’s rising leaders along with others
coming to the City of Augusta, Georgia during this time and we want to make certain that we put
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our best foot forward and once again show the state and the world that there’s something called
Destination Augusta. Many of you may be familiar that Leadership Georgia’s is an educational
program across the State of Georgia where they identify 63 up and coming leaders and gives them
an opportunity through five programs that exposed to the State of Georgia from Brasstown to the
most southern parts of Georgia. In fact, Administrator Jackson is a graduate of Leadership
Georgia. There may be others in the audience who are graduates of Leadership Georgia and I’m
a former trustee and graduate of Leadership Georgia as well. So we’ll be hosting those great things
in our city over the next several months. And once again it’s an opportunity for us to say
Destination Augusta and as a city to be involved in that. I want to take another point of personal
privilege and recognize in the audience today one of our own Traffic and Engineering Director
Steve Cassell. Steve, if you’ll please stand. We have here with us Steve Cassell who’s been a
member of our team for over 10 years. He has given sweat, blood and tears to the life blood of
our city. He has made transportation what it is in this region and I want to take an opportunity to
acknowledge him. Tomorrow I believe is his last day as a part of the Augusta team. He will be in
the region he is one of only a few certified, qualified and registered traffic engineers here in our
region and his efforts have been stellar. I appreciate the work that you’ve done when I was a
Legislator and certainly now that I am the Mayor of the City of Augusta in making our
transportation network one of the finest in the State of Georgia along with your teammates and the
folks who are a part of our Engineering Services staff. And so I want to take an opportunity to not
only applaud you but to thank you for your services to this great city and wish you well as you
cross the street. Thank you, Steve Cassell. (APPLAUSE) All right, Steve, if you’ll stay there
you’re going to get roasted probably all in a good way. The Chair recognizes the distinguished
Dean, Chair of Administrative Services Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Along with those two initiatives you just
mentioned about the things that are happening in Augusta and what you mentioned about Steve I
echo those words myself. But to the gratitude of this body I thank this body for supporting Steve
and supporting the initiative to do the James Brown Enhancement. Those who have not been
downtown who have not seen the vegetation has been moved out and cleared out where it has
missed a tree already. And it’s just in its beginning stage but thanks to Steve and the Engineering
staff that he has and the expertise that he brought to us he stayed with that project and I really
appreciate that. We may not realize it but we have a diamond in the rough when it comes to
enhancing the James Brown not just the statue but that area. So if you haven’t been downtown I
take my hat off to Steve. I thank you for all your hard work. You told me not to give up and not
to leave but then you turn around and leave yourself so that makes me wonder why you told me
that. But I just thank you so much for what you’re doing and what you will do in the future, Steve,
because you’ve got a bright future. Just keep doing what you’re doing. God be with you.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Chair of Engineering Services Commissioner
William Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Steve, I want to say congratulations and I know that you know our loss is
somebody else’s gain. I didn’t get the invitation until late that’s why I wasn’t at your but if they
have another one between now and tomorrow I’ll make sure that I’ll be there. But I want to say
that you know not only is Steve a great Traffic Engineer but he was also a great Deputy
Administrator during the interim period. And I appreciate all the work that you have done in
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helping me get District 1 straightened out. There was not a time when we were having a somebody
was having a neighborhood association meeting and I needed Steve or Abie there and they were
there when we needed potholes or we still got a project going on over Richmond Summit that I
just got a call on but hopefully you’ll get that resolved before you leave but I really do appreciate
the great job that you have done for the city during the three years three months that I’ve been
here. It’s been a pleasure working with you and I feel comfortable about calling you addressing
any issues that I may have in my community and getting a positive response. So again thanks for
the outstanding job that you have done and good luck and much success to you in the future.
Mr. Mayor: Fantastic, thank you, thank you so much. Steve, would you like to say a few
words?
Mr. Cassell: I do want to thank everybody here that, I can’t remember how many
Commissioners I’ve worked under now I know it’s the second time around for you. But anyway
as I told my wife I haven’t gained a lot of weight my skin’s just gotten thicker so when she
complains about it, it’s just what it is. It’s part of Augusta you know but I can leave here I leave
a piece of myself here and take a piece of ya’ll with me. They said there’s not even a dimension
to the line that divides the two counties. I’ll be here. Abie Ladson and I have been best friends for
ten years and I continue that I will probably until the day I die so I can’t imagine that we won’t
stay in touch. And I think that as we move forward with Fort Gordon you’re going to see a lot
more of a regional collaboration; we need to grow as a region. You know we’re the urban core for
the region and as Augusta goes so goes the region in some cases. But, you know, continue to lead
and count on me if you’ve got anything my phone number has not changed just give me a call.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Chairman of Public Safety Commissioner William
Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wasn’t going to say anything. I said it all pretty
much the other day but I don’t want the people in the audience to feel like Bill Lockett didn’t say
anything and say oh he didn’t like you. But for the six plus years I’ve been on the Commission
one thing I really liked about you other than the fact that you are a very hard worker, extremely
intelligent you never had to wonder what Steve you’re going to see today because you realized
that the one you saw yesterday and the day before was the same Steve. And I would tell everybody
I tried to do everything except bribe this man to keep him here but his decision was made up so
I’ve been your friend for over six years. I found I continue to be your friend and I wish you the
very best on the other side. Thank you.
Mr. Cassell: I do apologize about one initiative that didn’t get quite finished, that was the
ADA transition. I know Commissioner Fennoy and Commissioner Lockett were very instrumental
and took a lot of interest in it. We had it, it’s going to be presented to the next Commission meeting
but that’s an important document to this community as we have a lot of disabled not only the aging
community the Age Friendly I know you pushed for we’ve got a lot of disabled vets in the area
and you know the disabled mobility for our downtown it should be very important and one of the
top on our list. I think you’ll see the plan. It may seem cumbersome but one of the things I wanted
to do with it was a plan that could be implemented over time and see can take bites out of the
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elephant so to speak but it’s an elephant but I challenge you all to implement that over time. I think
it’s a very important program. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. (APPLAUSE) All right, Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: Okay, I call your attention to the delegation portion of our agenda.
DELEGATIONS
B. Ms. Juanita Burney regarding Citizen Administrative Concerns.
Ms. Burney: Good afternoon, thank you for the opportunity to come before you. I am
acting President of the Rollins Area Neighborhood Association. This is an older established
community with a considerable number of senior citizens. This community represents long term
taxpayers and faithful voters that are civic minded. The average age of an active member is 75
years old. I come before you because I believe you could benefit from some of the collective
thoughts of this senior population. Some of these thoughts may sound negative but bashing our
representatives is not the goal, I repeat not the goal. These comments are meant to facilitate
constructive thought. Number one we are, are we consistently hiring employees that falls through
a culture of public service in our government. This is very important at the administrative level
because leadership sets the tone for their staff. I had to opportunity to work with a former director
of quality management for the five-star Ritz Carlton Hotel chain. They are five-star because
they’re not concerned about GPA or where you graduated from, its secondary. Primary is do you
fit the culture of excellent customer service that they aspire to? They don’t hire apples and hope
that they become oranges. When they need oranges they hire oranges. I learned from Ms. Jackson
our Administrator and thank you, Ms. Jackson, that there is a 45-minute orientation to public
service for new hires but are we reinforcing this educational effort with the refresher through
training on a yearly basis as it is done in most organizations. Number two, there is not much
empathy for an administrator seeking large raises that are already making over $100,000 dollars a
year. When substantial responsibilities are added a pay adjustment may be in order, however
individuals in the work climate today have absorbed some additional duties without increase in
pay all over America. The majority of taxpayers are living on far less and have no increases in
income and have not had for some time. Greed has no place in public service. If one manages his
personal finances poorly, no amount of increase is going to make a difference. There is empathy
for those employees at the lower levels barely making ends meet. Please be careful with your
distribution of our tax funds and severance pay needs to be addressed and brought in line with
standard operating procedures. Number three, the announcement that Berckman’s Road is
complete and ready for the Masters Tournament is all well and good but where is the same
dedication in filling all the potholes on almost every street in Augusta that ruining tires and
destroying front ends alignments. This is an issue that is of great concern to taxpayers and needs
to be addressed. Number four. Every year the water rates are automatically increasing with no
end point in sight, no end point is not right. Number five, we do not agree with board appointments
that never end. There are competent citizens in this county that are capable of serving if given the
opportunity. They can attend classes, study agendas and meet position requirements. A good old
boy system does not belong in our government. We understand that when elected some supporting
individuals will be rewarded with board appointments, however please make the effort to match
their skill set and their interests so that that the appointee and the board both benefits. And if one
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person is critical to the operation of a board or it will fail other members are not being properly
utilized. Number six, we don’t understand why the request for $20,000 dollars for Animal Services
was grouped with charitable organizations. There may be something we don’t understand but
Animal Services is a government department, the charitable organizations are not. They are
important but they ought to be addressed as a separate issue in our opinion. Lastly today it is time
to put the elephant in the room on the table. Our failure to transcend race issues is killing our
progress. Wrongs done in the past cannot be undone. Those clinging to old guard power that
don’t want to share power need to understand it is not going to work. It’s time for inclusion not
just black and while inclusion but we have a growing Asian and Latino population that also needs
representation. We are the Titanic. The ship presently has upper class and lower class patrons.
The iceberg facing us is race relations. We are headed for a shipwreck. When the ship hits the
iceberg all and I repeat all that can’t find a life raft are sinking with the boat. Please steer our ship
in a different direction. If we can work together in our communities, we need you to do the same.
I commend those in our government service that have demonstrated exemplary public service such
as Melanie Wilson in Planning, Ms. Lena Bonner in the Clerk of Commission’s office and Carla
Williamson Senior Operations Manager in the Clerk of Superior Court office. I’m sure there are
others but these are true role models for public service. I also end by commending our chief leader
Roslyn Patton on the Board of Equalization. She readily shares her knowledge with others working
on that board to make sure that no absence causes us to stumble in our duties. We are faithful to
the mission of our board and it runs as a well-oiled machine. We welcome further discussion of
these issues if we can help. Thank you for this time.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Ms. Burney. Thank you. Madam Clerk?
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
C. Mr. Al M. Gray, President Cost Recovery Works, Inc. regarding Equal Protection, Equal
Accountability.
Mr. Gray: Mayor Davis, Lady and Gentlemen of the Commission, thank you for the
opportunity to speak to you today. The baseball great Yogi Berra once said “If you come to a fork
in the road take it” but after the last two meetings perhaps this body should stop, backup and try
another form before the wheels come off of Augusta’s government like one of those KME fire
trucks. Citizens, officials and observers far and wide have been taken aback by votes to remedy a
pay increase scandal which represents a horrendous breach of constitutional equal protection for
the one employee and the simultaneous dismissal of equal accountability for three others who
arguably had more responsibility. The vote and particularly the commentary during the last
Commission meeting filled me and most observers with dismay not just because of the ugly tone
but because of the transparency so loudly promised during the SPLOST campaign is so obviously
dead. A citizenry who saw its garbage collection service cut in half some years ago now sees yet
again tomfoolery to shift money between accounts to cover pay increases and costs in downtown.
They see the time consuming macerations that this administration has undertaken to do it during a
time in which new SPLOST controls were supposedly a priority. The greatest scandal in Augusta
history the financially ruinous TEE Center Laney Walker Development deal wasted more tens of
millions of dollars that a convention of con artists could dream up. The principle TEE contract
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required extensive records to be kept until the year 2020 yet neither side of the ugliness of the last
two weeks wants to empower Augusta by learning from its mistakes there. One faction wouldn’t
want it out during the state Republican Party Convention at the Convention Center out of fear of
embarrassing party officials and the city. The other seems to want to maintain sloppiness to get
tens of millions more in loot with the assertions of it’s our turn now or we’re getting our share.
Politicians like to create a façade of controls to hide looting but never controls to stop looting.
With the TEE Center Augusta wound up with a daisy chain of expert controllers costing a
combined $1,250 dollars an hour, and that’s about the midpoint to control almost nothing and
rubberstamp nearly everything. The powerfully written construction management contract that
Augusta won was turned into mush at their hands. Why? Another yogism by Berra is its déjà vu
all over again fits my 40-year odyssey out of Augusta back and now into this chamber. The mid
70’s found me at the Labor Department in Augusta working to administer the old 13 county CETA
Employment Program. Fury erupted among the mostly black program management in Augusta
that Columbia County had preselected an overwhelmingly white contingent of ineligible folks but
then came to the embarrassing finding that Augusta’s enrollees were mostly black ineligible folks.
A poor blind black woman with a young lad in tow came in the program director’s office to see
the Reverend F. Francis Cook. “This is my grandson Jonathan who sees about me the best he can
but he needs one of those CETA jobs you all are handing out”, she said. Deputy Director Cook
was in tears. There were no jobs left for the eligible and deserving grandson. He got crowded out
by black politics. F. Francis Cook from then on made sure we quit running a program for cronies
to make room for his people. Yes, you can use the system perfected by the last administration to
loot the people and discriminatingly spread millions but “they did it and we are too” makes a
twisted concept of equal protection while hurting the wrong people, people in your community.
What happened over the last two weeks destroyed confidence that this Commission desires to
promise transparency and reform chose another form one of real reform this one is a dead end for
Augusta. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, thank you. All right. All right, Madam Clerk, I’m ready to move
on.
The Clerk: I call your attention to our consent agenda. Our consent agenda consists of
items 1-27, items 1-27. For the benefit of any objectors to our alcohol petitions once those petitions
are read would you please signify your objection by raising your hand. I call you attention to:
Item 1: It’s a request for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection
with Thriftee Supermarket at 234 Sand Bar Ferry Road.
Item 2: Is for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Super
Express located at 2447 Wrightsboro Road.
Item 3: Is for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with the
location at 3105 Deans Bridge Road.
Item 4: Is for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in a location at 3341 Deans
Bridge Road.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those alcohol petitions? Mr. Mayor, members
of the Commission, our consent agenda consists of items 1-27 with no objectors to our alcohol
petitions.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. At this time, I’d like to entertain any motions to
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add or remove from the consent agenda. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Pull number 12 please.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: I’d like to add 28 to the consent agenda.
Mr. Mayor: With objection.
Mr. Hasan: Where’s 28, let me find it first.
Mr. Mayor: Well, there’s objection, there is an objection so it will be debated. The Chair
recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Smith: I’d like to remove Charles Smith until next week if we could.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ll get to you in just a moment thank you. I’m going to recognize
you in just a minute. Other there any other addition motions to add or pull from the consent agenda.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, can I can get some clarity on 16 exactly what transpired
with 16?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right we’re adding number 16 pull it from the consent agenda Madam
Clerk, item 16. All right what else? All right, I think that’s all we’ve got before us.
Ms. Davis: Move to approve, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PUBLIC SERVICES
1. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 16-10: request by Payalben Patel
for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Thriftee Supermarket
located at 234 Sand Bar Ferry Rd. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services
Committee February 23, 2016)
2. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 16-11: request by Tasneem Hassan
Jamil for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Super Express
#6 located at 2447 Wrightsboro Rd. District 2. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services
Committee February 23, 2016)
3. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 16-22: request by Priteshkumar J.
Patel for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Shree Ganesh
Food Mart, Inc. located at 3105 Deans Bridge Rd. District 5. Super District 9. (Approved by
Public Services Committee February 23, 2016)
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4. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 16-13: request by Rickey P. Patidar
for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Super Express #5
located at 3341 Deans Bridge Rd. District 5. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services
Committee February 23, 2016)
5. Motion to approve the waiver of the usage and clean-up fees for Heights Church in
association with April’s First Friday Gospel Program at the Jessye Norman Amphitheater.
(Approved by Public Safety Committee February 23, 2016)
6. Motion to approve the re-naming of the Picnic Pavilion at M.M. Scott Park from the
Futhey R. Babcock Pavilion to the PIONEERS Pavilion. (Approved by Public Services
Committee February 23, 2016.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
7. Motion to agree to Debar Gadson Construction in accordance with the Procurement
Code. On January 22, 2016, the Procurement Director provided notification to Gadson
Construction of Debarment for six (6) months. Gadson Construction filed a timely appeal to
the Procurement Department. Notification of Hearing before the Administrative Services
Committee has been provided. (See Exhibits: 1, 2 & 3) (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee February 23, 2016.
8. Motion to approve Excess Worker’s Compensation Insurance with Safety National-
Incumbent with Statutory limits and an $1,000,000 Self Insured Retention (SIR-otherwise
known as the deductible) to cover all positions for a premium of $248,999. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee February 23, 2016)
9. Motion to approve tasking the Administrator with determining whether this union
(International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3357) is a certified union and to bring in
any bylaws or minutes that they have. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee
February 23, 2016)
PUBLIC SAFETY
10. Motion to approve a request by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) to accept
an award from Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in the amount of $20,000 for the East
Central Traffic Enforcement Network project. (Approved by Public Safety Committee
February 23, 2016)
11. Motion to approve agreement with the Sate and Magistrate Courts of Richmond County
for the establishment of a county system to provide probation services with the following
addition to the proposed order: The courts and Augusta, Georgia further agree that in the
event there is action taken by the Georgia legislature causing probation services to no longer
be a judicial function this agreement shall be reconsidered by both parties within 60 days of
the passage of such legislation. (Approved by Public Safety Committee February 23, 2016)
13. Motion to approve payment to New World Systems, Inc. for the Standard Software
Subscription Agreement for the period covering January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016.
(Approved by Public Safety Committee February 23, 2016)
FINANCE
14. Motion to accept a grant award for Public Defender from ACCG. This grant is awarded
for the 2016 summer program in the amount of $4000 for the Public Defender intern project
to cover two 180 hour internships. (Approved by Finance Committee February 23, 2016)
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15. Motion to authorize creation of new bank account for the renewal and replacements
activities at Fort Gordon. (Approved by Finance Committee February 23, 2016)
17. Motion to approve a resolution declaring the results of the November 3, 2015 special
purpose local option tax election results. (Approved by Finance Committee February 23,
2016)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
18. Motion to approve funding for Design Consultant Services Supplemental Agreement
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Number 2 to Civil Services, Inc. (CSI) in the amount of $50,020.50 for the 11 Street Bridge
over Augusta Canal-Bridge Repair & Restoration as requested by the AED. (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee January 23, 2016)
19. Motion to approve Stormwater Standard Operations Procedures (SOP) Manual, as
requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 23, 2106)
20. Motion to approve the deeds of dedication, maintenance agreements, and road
resolutions submitted by the Engineering and Augusta Utilities Departments for Haynes
Station, Phase 111. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 23, 2016)
21. Motion to approve the deeds of dedication, maintenance agreements, and road resolution
submitted by the Engineering and Augusta Utilities Departments for Haynes Station, Phase
V. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 23, 2016)
22. Motion to approve funding for the Design Consultant Services Supplemental Agreement
Two to Wolverton & Associates, Inc. in the amount of $25,000.00 for the North Leg
Improvements Project as requested by the AED. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee February 23, 2016)
23. Motion to approve funding for Design Consultant Services Supplemental Agreement
Number Two to Civil Services, Inc. (CSI) in the amount of $53,306.75 for the Old
Waynesboro Rd over Spirit Creek Bridge Replacement Project as requested by the AED.
(Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 23, 2016)
24. Motion to approve funding for Design Consultant Services Supplemental Agreement
Number Two to Cranston Engineering in the amount of $35,095.00 for the Scotts Way over
Rae’s Creek Bridge Replacement Project as requested by the AED. (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee February 23, 2016)
25. Motion to approve Supplemental Agreement with Cartegraph in the amount of
$187,633.00 for data collection in conjunction with development of the city’s sign inventory
and asset management. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 23, 2016)
26. Motion to approve Supplemental Agreement One for the Phinizy Center for Watershed
Assessment & Inventory Project in the amount of $190,000 for the completion of Phase Two
of Task C-Inventory Receiving Streams. This project will be funded through SPLOST
PHASE VI as requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February
23, 2016)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
27. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held February
16, 2016 and Special Called Meeting held February 23, 2016)
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second to approve Commissioner Frantom
is second Commissioner Davis with the motion. All right, voting.
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Mr. M. Williams: You might have changed my vote I think I might have pushed okay,
okay I thought I had pushed the no vote on it.
Mr. Mayor: I think you’re good.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m good?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir, I appreciate that, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 9-0 [Items 1-11, 13-15, 17-27]
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, the Chair’s going to recognize the Mayor Pro Tem
for a motion.
APPOINTMENTS
30. “It is the consensus of the commissioners in Super District 10 to reappoint Charles Smith
to the Board of Tax Assessors as Chairman.” (Requested by Mayor Pro Tem Grady Smith)
Mr. Smith: Yes, I’d like to remove Charles Smith from this week’s agenda and put it on
next week.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Item 30 motion to remove Item 30 from the agenda. I’ve got a motion and a
second again to remove Item 30 from the agenda. All those in favor will vote yea and those
opposed will vote no.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, we’re going to go to number 29 next.
The Clerk: Twenty-nine?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
29. Approve a transfer of $333,500.00 from the 2016 Contingency Fund to State Court for
the purpose of establishing an in-house probation office.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’m going to recognize the, all right we’re going to have some
discussion on this matter. All right, I’m going to, okay the Chair recognizes the Chair of
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Administrative Services. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 Chair of
Administrative Services.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is an item we’ve talking about for some
time. I’m in support I just think there needs to be some more dialogue as to when we approve
these funds and how that process is going to take place. The judge is here now and I don’t know
whether we want to go into that I thought we went back to committee where we’ll have time to get
an understanding as to how things will be implemented, how those departments or those salaries
and all that stuff be laid out. So I would love to have that information before I support it. And
some of my colleagues may have some other questions but I thought we could send it back to
committee because we’re all in favor, this is a part of the process. I know the judge has been
working on it pretty hard trying to get this to where it needs to be and it takes time to get everything
in place that’s why I want to make sure that I understand and I’m comfortable with knowing who’s
what when and where. That’s my motion if I can do that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, here’s what we’re going to do. We’ve got a motion and that
opens the floor for additional debate. Judge, there is a lot of questions that some still have with
regards to how you’re going to execute and implement. What I would encourage is as you’ve
given us a fairly (inaudible) to hand out that kind of details the program. I know that there’s broad
support for it. Here’s what I’d like to ask you to do. Talk about the immediate implementation
over the next three to four months and hopefully that will help us answer some questions with
regards to hiring, who does what et cetera.
Judge Slaby: All right, let me start with this. Number one I appreciate you all approving
this on the consent agenda. As far as the money’s concerned that’ll be in the last six months of
this year. We’ll start hiring in September as we discussed. And I think Ms. Williams has gone
through everything and the first person to be hired will be the Chief Probation Officer. The first
six months would be the mechanical aspect of putting this thing together, finding a location, getting
with H.R., getting all that job description which is pretty well outlined in the order that’s been
approved. That will take place in the first six months and during that period of time we’ll be
looking for a Chief Probation Officer. Now I know the concern is Senate Bill 367 part of the
Georgia Judicial Reform Act. Quite frankly I started working with this in January of last year
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gathering information. What you all approved today was the 11 draft of the proposed order that
was approved. We started as a commission in the court system in June working closely and I
stressed to each and every one of you that this is a cooperative effort hand in hand. The order that
you all approved incorporates corrections and additions that Commissioner Sias and I talked about
and I want you to understand that to me the only thing that the court system wants is an efficient,
professionally run probation office. It matters not to me whether it’s an executive branch function
or it’s a judicial function. House Bill 367 in my mind, I’m not particularly I don’t know that it’s
clear which way that’s going to be quite honest with you but that doesn’t make any difference to
me. I want to work with you. Ya’ll have worked with us and I appreciate that. The first six
months is strictly mechanical, nothing will be spent until the last six months. If you look at what
Ms. Williams’ gave you the Chief Probation Officer is hired for six months and we have probation
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officers coming in at three months, two months, administrative people in the latter part of that
twelve-month period of time. So money wise we’re not talking about anything until the last six
months of the year. I will work with ya’ll any way you want to work the way language in the order
that you all approved agrees to modification based on state law. We all agree we need to abide by
state law so that’s fine with me. I’ll meet with ya’ll any time you want to and if ya’ll want to do
the hiring you want to take responsibility for the whole thing that suits me. I just want something
in place that’s efficient and professionally run. I think we’ve got it set up with the Advisory
Committee where we can continue to interact with each other, look over the program, look over
the financial aspect of it. I think it’s a good program. We’ve been to Clarke County. We’ve
reviewed what they’ve done, I think everybody who went agrees that was a professionally
efficiently run operation. So that’s what’s going to happen the first six months will be mechanical
putting things in place the last six months will be hiring, training, implementing having a turnover
from Sentinel to the in-house run operation. I cannot begin to stress with you we’re going to need
every bit of time that we can have in order to get this thing going. I would like for the
Administrator to set up a meeting with H.R. and with facilities with Commissioner Sias, myself
and whoever else who wants to join in order to start the process in that first six months and get a
game plan together start looking at things and putting it into place. And I appreciate your help I
really do; it’s been a long tedious process.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I will tell you, judge, and I’m going to recognize the commissioner in a
moment here you allude that you don’t care what branch I’ll tell you it certainly should not be in
the executive branch. I don’t know anything about private probation and I certainly don’t have
the staff to try to do any of that. And in my experience this is better served in the judicial branch
with a tentacle to law enforcement and as such I don’t think that the legislative branch is the right
place for that to be either. You were in law enforcement, you handled that, you adjudicate these
issues and as such that is my strong urging for any us that that’s where it remains and that’s where
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it needs to be. And as we look at bringing this in-house I do know that the Senator from the 22
is concerned about a particular matter as it relates to the fees and fines. I would urge you to give
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strong consideration to working with the Senator from the 22 to help sure that we mitigate those
concerns to the degree that we’re bringing that back in-house as they take the process through the
legislature as well. Those would be my strong urgings but absolutely not in the executive branch
of the government ---
Judge Slaby: Well ---
Mr. Mayor: --- it’s not what I do and as such I don’t think that’s what the legislative branch
of this local government is tasked doing.
Judge Slaby: --- you know I agree with you. I do know the state legislature just thinks the
way they’re drawing Senate Bill 367 I don’t know where it stands to be quite honest with you and
I think they’re going to have to clarify that. In so far as the fees are concerned my approach is a
non-profit situation. I would hate in starting out where we are now if we see we reduce fees the
Advisory Board looks at it and decides to reduce them fine with me and I pass that on to the
citizens, that’s my approach.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 Commissioner Sias.
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Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Judge, I want to first say thank you for all the work that you’ve
done in this. And I just want to make one thing that’s very, very clear is we are all in support of
the change from Sentinel to a system that is better. And most just about all of my colleagues I’m
aware of has expressed this so we’re in total support of it. It just so happens that our General
Assembly came along with 367 and as they say that was the marking range. Now we will all get
past that but we do have to have a process and a goal as we go pass it in my view. And that is I
guess at this point is the only thing that we’re waiting to find out exactly and I won’t say waiting
is kind of put us in that mode okay what would happen here what would we need to do this because
I don’t think according to the law if it becomes state law it doesn’t matter whether we want it here
or we want it there it’ll be where the law says it goes and that’s what we will deal with. So the
present little momentary pause in my view is not to take anything away from what’s been done but
just insure that we as the blueprint moves forward that it is for the right house. And we will get
that done and your guidance and what you’ve done is exceptional and we’ll be extremely
dependent on that. So we have no intention of creating any vibes or (unintelligible) in any sense,
form, or fashion in that manner. And we will know definitely for sure in less than about ten days,
ten or twelve days by the time this session ends where we stand with 367 and I think from there,
judge, what you’ve already put in place with the group that’s worked with you Commissioner
Fennoy, I’m sorry Commissioner Guilfoyle, Commissioner Lockett and the Administrator we’re
ready to roll. So as just as soon as 367 clears up I think a little bit we will go no matter whether
it’s whatever branch, whatever section we’ll get it done. And I appreciate you, Mr. Mayor, giving
me that extended moment and I just wanted to clarify that judge and thank you again.
Mr. Mayor: All right I’m going to go in this order I’m going to go back to the
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Commissioner from the 9 whose hand was raised first. I’m going to go then to the 7 and then
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the 5 in that order. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Judge, I agree with Commissioner Sias 100%
whether House Bill 367 goes up or down either way we have committed to creating and to do this.
And I think that’s that may play a part when the bill is finalized and how it comes but we have
already agreed to do this and we know we’ve got to do something different than what we’ve been
doing. There’s no doubt about that. I think this whole board is in support, me because of the
criticism and because of big government or however you want to phrase it when we create or when
we do something like this I just want to be comfortable with the process, the order of I mean as far
as pay scales. I don’t serve on that board that you invited me to be I would love to be a part of that
too you can’t have all of us there but I represent half of this city and I want to make sure that when
we do something that we’re doing it the best we know how do it. We may not do it right but we’re
going to be doing it thinking that we’re going in the right direction. So I would love to have some
conversation about it some more. I would love to see how the order’s going to be set up. You
mentioned about finding a building I think we still need to move forward with those things. They
money’s there and we just got to go ahead and approve that. We got to take it out of Contingency
we all understand that but I just think we don’t have to do it today. I think if we start putting the
stuff together as if things are already done and then sit down with you talking to you looking at I
guess the board seeing how we’re going to select, how the selection will be made, how the H.R. is
going to play they’re part in whatever they got to do. I try to stay in my lane, judge, but you know
I get out all the time but I’m trying to make sure I don’t get over into anybody else’s lane and do
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something that I said oh I didn’t know I did that. So I just want I think more conversation is just
needed. Now everything revolves around the dollar. We can talk all day long but until that dollar
figure is there it’s going to hold the train up I understand. But we know you’ve got support of this
body. We already agreed to that and I just think we need to get more comfortable with it and talk
through it some more. I think you did an awful lot of work for us to turn around now and say no
we’re not going to do that. I don’t think that’s nobody’s intention on this board.
Judge Slaby: Well that’s why I proposed that with ya’ll’s permission that getting with Ms.
Jackson getting the original group together with H.R. and facilities and sitting down and starting
the process. And that would be what I would intend to do unless there’s some objection that ya’ll
have in that regard. And again I’ll invite you, I’ve got your name down, I’ve Commissioner Sias’
name down Commissioner Lockett and anyone else who wants to join in that process. As I
mentioned I’m an open book ---
Mr. Mayor: Judge, I don’t want to cut you off but we’ve got a lot of discussion and a lot
of questions so I’m going to ask you let me get to the questions and then I’ll get back to you.
Judge Slaby: Okay.
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Mr. Mayor: I’m going to go to the Commissioner from the 7.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Judge Slaby, I just have one question for you and
that is we had these positions, what is the process of people applying for these positions and hiring
them?
Judge Slaby: Well the process is and what we’ve agreed upon here in the past is I would
select the Chief Probation Officer. Chief Probation Officer hires a probation officer less staff. Now
that’s where we need to get together with H.R., Commissioner. I think I pretty well given a derived
description that they can utilize and I’ve obtained other job description information from Clarke
County that can be utilized. That would be the process. Now if this Senate Bill 367 gets involved
then we make changes, you know, that why I say to me all I’m looking for it something efficient
and something professional we can work out the details that matters not.
Mr. Frantom: Mr. Mayor, I have a question for the Administrator.
Mr. Mayor: Proceed.
Mr. Frantom: Madam Administrator, the capital startup is $158,400 budgeted. Where did
that money come from and was it budgeted before 2016?
Ms. Jackson: We have a Capital Outlay Budget that where we, the process for that is that
we take requests from the various departments and I review and make a final decision about which
capital projects would be included. We do have sufficient funding in our Capital Outlay Budget
to accommodate that $158,000 expense.
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Mr. Frantom: Thank you. My next and final question is, Madam Administrator, what is
your recommendation on this item?
Ms. Jackson: It, I think from the visits, I went up to Athens with Judge Slaby in a group
to listen to the folks in Athens who run a program similar to this and I feel comfortable that you
get better public safety services if you have more control over the program so I’m in support of us
moving forward with this initiative at this time.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Administrator, I’m going to follow up with Commissioner Frantom.
What is our dollar amount in the Capital Outlay Budget?
Ms. Jackson: Gosh I can’t remember the grand total. Can somebody help me with the
grand total? It’s over three or four million dollars I can’t recall exactly but there’s definitely
sufficient funding there. I’ve reviewed all of the numbers in fact we notified our departments of
what their allocations have been and there is sufficient funding there to do this without hurting any
of our other projects.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes we’ve got our Finance Director here ---
Mr. Sias: We’ve got your back though.
Mr. Mayor: --- to speak to this. Take your time. The Chair recognizes ---
Ms. Williams: Can you see ---
Mr. Mayor: --- Director?
Ms. Williams: --- the amount for designated for the Probation Services would be about
$178,500 as I recall to outfit their one time expenditures. The total dedicated to the Capital Outlay
Fund on an annual basis is approximately $3.8 million dollars.
Mr. Mayor: And that’s annually?
Ms. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: All right and so $178 is not included in the $333, is that correct?
Ms. Williams: That’s right.
Mr. Mayor: So it would be an addition to the $333.
Ms. Williams: $338 comes from the General Fund Contingency Capital Outlay is in a
separate fund.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay. All right okay so, so based on what you’re based on what we’re hearing
is all right, Commissioner, I’m going to go back to you I’m going to let you follow up.
Mr. Frantom: Point of clarity because I thought is it $158,400 or $178,400 on the one year.
You said $178 is the one ---
Ms. Williams: $178.
Mr. Frantom: Okay item on ---
Ms. Williams: $158 okay I don’t have the balance sheet here.
Mr. Frantom: --- okay I’m sorry.
Ms. Jackson: I think it’s $158.
Ms. Williams: $158 sorry. I’m not good with numbers.
Mr. Speaker: Are you kidding?
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right so this project is we were to move forward would be $178 plus
the $333 that we have on the screen here from the contingency, is that correct?
Ms. Williams: Correct that was on, it’s in a backup document.
Mr. Mayor: Very good, thank you very much. All right the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I worked with Judge Slaby and the others for a
long time dealing with this probation. Lots of thought, lots of work has been put into it. At the
time I was not aware of Senate Bill 367 but the good thing about it is I understand this is something
that the Governor supports and the people that I’ve spoken to said that this is something that will
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pass. By the end of the term the General Assembly will end their work on March the 24 which
is 23 days from today and I would imagine shortly after that we will have an opportunity to look
at whatever ruling they made. And I’m quite sure that another meeting will be set up with the
people that’s been working with Judge Slaby and maybe the ones that are considering wanting to
run it from in-house. And I think we’re going to have a surprise when we see all that’s involved
in it and I’m saying this for the first time. But I do agree with the Mayor 100% that this is not
something that we want to have. There’s no place for us to be involved in probation. This can
cause problems on multiple sides that I don’t think we want to really to do that. But anyway, Judge
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Slaby, thank you but we’re not going to end here because whatever happens on March the 24
we’re going to move on. But I just wanted to let everybody know that lots of work, effort, has
been put into this project and it will and one other thing the company that we are parting company
with is noted to be one of the best private probation companies in the state, one of the best, so
that’s just saying speaks volumes to you. Thank you and thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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Judge Slaby: Thank you, Mr. Lockett.
Mr. Mayor: All right so, Judge Slaby, we’ve got one more and I think there’s going to be
a motion prepared to be made. I would almost offer based on what we’ve heard what I would hate
for us to do is have the judge come back down here another day. Based on everything we’ve heard
and what’s before us and the questions that are germane to what you’re really asking the Senate
Bill does not inhibit moving forward. And I mean no matter what the disposition of the legislation
is the Senate Bill does not inhibit moving forward and for us to delay this any further I think is not
in our best interest. We should move forward. That’s what I’m going to suggest to you. And again
at the point of time that the Senate Bill is either passed or defeated we can make the necessary
adjustments because most of what I’ve heard today is administrative in nature and you know we
handled that on paper. We should move forward. The Chair recognizes the commissioner from
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the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I think one of the things that I think we’re
all on the same page around this issue. Even if the Senate Bill 367 if it’s determined at the end it’s
a legislative issue and it is legislative meaning that you know it’s kind of falling in our laps at the
same time I don’t think it takes a judicial aspect of our government out of it. I think still they will
be running this program for sure but I think at the same time it is giving us a little bit more say so
about the hiring process the operating process of that. I don’t think we ought to take ourselves out
of that process just sit down with the judge as he has recommended to try to get us to a, as some
would say a sweet spot something that we all can agree upon as we move forward with this
particular program. Just the mere fact if the judge moves forward and begins to hire then that takes
us out of the administrative side and that is the concern of mine and the Administrator’s side in
terms of structuring the program because I think it does give us some leeway in that. I agree with
you, Mr. Mayor, wholeheartedly. I don’t think we need to be in the business of trying to run a
probation service. I don’t think we need to be in the business of that but I do think we want to have
some say so in what it should look like. And I think if we was to approve what’s before us today
I think we lose that leverage because if the judge was to go out has he’s already said and no offense
to the judge in saying this that he’s going to make a hire and if we get into negotiating with him
about what we think the Chief Probation Officer looks like we may, that may be, that horse maybe
already left the barn. So we’re talking about two weeks now at this point he has given us an
excellent model to work from. I think it may take two or three just two or three meetings you
know not I said meetings I mean it may take two or three hours because you’ve given a great
framework to work from. So when the legislation finally passes if they don’t tweak it this week
or however that goes then you know what you’ve got, we come to an understanding what it says
and then we act appropriately. And so my point would be just to try to hold on to that for the next
10 days because the legislation is there and we want to be involved with it on some level. But at
the same time you as the Chief Judge is actually running that program because that’s what you do.
We don’t do that one you know and so I don’t think it takes away or diminishes you in any form
or fashion we just want to exercise authority that the legislators has possibly given us that even
they’ve given us sole discretion. It’s just whatever discretion we have we want to be able to utilize
that beyond being the funding source. That’s just me talking, it might not necessarily be all of my
colleagues.
Judge Slaby: Well, you know I’m not ---
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Mr. Mayor: Judge ---
Judge Slaby: --- I’m not for diminishing anybody.
Mr. Hasan: No, sir.
Judge Slaby: And as I mentioned this is a hand in hand deal. You all got the money, we’ve
got to implement our court orders, it’s a joint operation quite frankly. And as I understand it ya’ll
have approved on the consent agenda the order we’ll be meeting we’ll tweak it however we need
to tweak it. Based on what the legislature does with 367 which I’m sure will pass and be signed
by the governor and we go from there.
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to ---
Judge Slaby: Had enough?
Mr. Mayor: --- from you (unintelligible). I’m going to go back to my premise again. Now
a motion’s about to be made based on everything you just said and everything I’ve heard from the
Commissioners. We have an opportunity to move forward with an action that is largely
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administrative in nature. I understand that the Commissioner from the 6 said that it’s important
for this governing authority to do more than just fund these operations and I too agree with that.
But I also go back and I firmly urge and stand on the fact that our job is not to be private
probationers. The reason we’re having this conversation is that there’s a private sector entity that
has injured folks in this community not only injure folks but it’s caused folks to be injured in some
cases irreparably. And we’re saying we want to bring it in-house to correct that wrong and we all
agree that that should be done. But I do not believe that it is our purview and/or our jurisdiction
to determine whether the horse that’s in the judge’s barn should be handled and/or corralled by us.
I think we should simply provide again oversight as a governing authority that this is what we want
and in every document the eleven documents that you provided to this body you’ve said here’s
how this should work. And you’ve also said these are the folks you want involved in it. The
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Commissioner from the 9 said he represents half of the county. I represent the whole county and
I wasn’t included in those conversations and that’s fine. I just want to see it happen, I want to see
it get done. And what I would urge again as we’re having this conversation let’s not bring the
judge back two weeks from now or even a week from now, let’s just vote on it. Let’s move forward
let him do the business of the people correcting the wrong that has been a national issue all the
way to Washington written about in the Washington Post, the New York Times of private
probation that has injured people. Let’s get on the good foot, let’s just get it done. This is an
opportunity to work collaboratively together and let’s get it done. And I know the Commissioner
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from the 9 is going to tell me, Mr. Mayor, I’ve got a couple of questions but I think you’re going
to have an opportunity to ask the judge not only your question but all along this process he has
been very forthright and said that I’m here to answer your questions, I want you to be a part of the
process. And so to that end you’re going to get what you’re after so let’s just approve it let’s move
forward and let’s get on to some other business.
Mr. M. Williams: Point of personal privilege, Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 state your
inquiry.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m not the Dean today, Judge, sometimes I’m the Dean ---
Mr. Mayor: I called you three times.
Mr. M. Williams: --- yeah but I mean I was addressing something else. But that’s fine and
that’s because we’re family we can do that. I want to go back to what the Mayor just said and I
agree 100% you have been open and honest and forthright with us from the very beginning. And
I want to say again this is not to change anything, I don’t want to approve nothing today. What
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would ten days do that we have to do it today? The Commissioner from the 6 talked about
looking at the process how things could be done. I don’t want to get into that, judge, we got enough
to do here besides trying to be in the probation business so I don’t want to get into it. But we know
we’ve got a serious issue with what we’ve got that’s why we already approved the initiative to go
ahead and at the end of this year go get into something else and we’re trying to put those steps in
place. So going back to what the Mayor said versus if it’s not a rush if we don’t have to do it today
and if it’s going to hold you up and stop you from being in that process so and my Commissioner
might want to make a substitute motion or I can change my motion to just table it to just give us
enough time to talk some more with you to understand the process talking about the position that’s
going to be put in place, how that’s going to be done, what tools are going to be used how do we
do that. We just had a young lady come up here and talked about some transparencies and stuff.
Mr. Gray talked about some stuff. It is important for me as an elected official to get as good as an
understanding as I can get so I’ll feel good about what I’m doing. I don’t know about nobody else
and I can’t worry about them but I just think we’re on the same page we’re not turning this down
we’re not against what you’re trying to do. We not trying to change it trying to what we just asked
to be a part of that process or see how that process is going to actually be. Once it gets rolling now
somebody’s talking about opening the gate and letting the horses out but once they get to running
you can’t catch them on foot now you got to get something else to catch them with. So I don’t
want to let them out. I can’t run, I got a bad leg anyway, Sylvia, but my point is we need just I
mean we’re all in this together so we’re talking about the same thing, judge, that’s all.
Judge Slaby: You’ll be part of it.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay well that was just why.
Mr. Mayor: You know you need to be able to lasso that horse once it gets to running too.
Mr. M. Williams: Got to have something to catch it with.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 State your
inquiry.
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Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Just for clarity I just want to understand was there a second to
before I make my motion, was there a second to Commissioner Marion Williams’ motion from
anybody?
Mr. Hasan: What was the motion?
Mr. Mayor: There was not a second.
Mr. Sias: There was not a second. Okay ---
Mr. M. Williams: Hold on, Mr. Hasan now wait, now don’t ya’ll do me like that. Mr.
Hasan seconded that motion.
Mr. Mayor: I did not ---
Mr. M. Williams: Ms. Bonner, did you get second on my motion?
The Clerk: I didn’t hear it, sir. It was to refer it back to committee.
Mr. M. Williams: Right.
Mr. Hasan: If you consider the thing that’s what you need.
Mr. M. Williams: I know but I thought if I didn’t get it now, don’t ya’ll see ya’ll got me
up here ---
Mr. Hasan: He didn’t get it; you didn’t get it.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I’m sorry.
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to take one from your page I’m going to the Clerk.
Mr. M. Williams: Whatever the Clerk says.
Mr. Mayor: That’s right.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor, I am not finished. I asked the question, I ain’t finished.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right.
Mr. Sias:
Thank you. Thank ya’ll for cleaning that up. I’m going to just cut through the
chase for me I want to see what end of what 367 where that ends up at simple as that and while we
My
still move forward. Mr. Mayor, you may not agree with me on that but that’s my opportunity.
motion is that we table it until we find out what Senate Bill 367 says.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
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Mr. M. Williams: You seconded it that time?
Mr. Hasan: I did.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I just want to make sure.
Mr. Hasan: Same motion.
Mr. Mayor: Do you yield?
Mr. Sias: I wanted to make just a clarification. That was simple as the funding process we
still keep moving with the other mechanism.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Judge, suspend, Judge, suspend. Okay the motion that’s before us is to
table Item 29 by referring it back to committee. Please clarify, Commissioner. Okay, it was to
table Item 29. Okay all right Attorney MacKenzie please state to this body what tabling does to
this measure.
Mr. MacKenzie: Tabling would mean that the item would not be considered by the
Commission again until the contingency which is that House Bill 367 is resolved or finally
concluded at the legislative level.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, Madam Clerk, please tell us when our last meeting is before
Masters.
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The Clerk: It will be March 30 Wednesday March 30.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right okay and March the 24 then would be on a Friday, is that
correct?
Mr. Hasan: Thursday.
Mr. Mayor: It would be on a Thursday. Now I don’t know much but I do know that on
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March the 24 day forty assuming it doesn’t come up before that if it’s on the last day and they’ll
go to midnight. I believe there’s a rule that says nothing else is added to the agenda, is that not
true?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and if that be true then this matter ---
The Clerk: Wait a minute now because we have changed not having the first meeting in
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April that meeting is now March 30 then we would have to push back the deadlines as well to
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coincide with the March 30 meeting.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay and what would that be?
The Clerk: Right now it has to be into the Clerk’s office the Thursday at 9:00 a.m. prior to
the Tuesday’s meeting so who’s got a calendar can back that up for me.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
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The Clerk: The 24?
nd
Mr. Hasan: It would be the 22.
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Mr. Mayor: Right so Thursday the 24 of March.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. M. Williams: But, Mr. Mayor, anything can be added ---
Mr. Mayor: Hold on ---
Mr. M. Williams: Well
Mr. Mayor: --- now you just told me about consistency, you told me about consistency
you told me you can’t do that, you said last week you can’t do that. That’s what you said.
Mr. M. Williams: --- no, no, no.
Mr. Mayor: You just can’t add stuff. So now let’s get clarity first. I want to make sure
we’re all on the same page. All right, so continue, Madam Clerk.
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The Clerk: So if that request comes to the Clerk’s office by 9:00 a.m. or prior to the 24
the item could be placed on the agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Mr. Williams: On the 30th (unintelligible).
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The Clerk: It will be on the March 30 agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, Attorney MacKenzie ---
Mr. MacKenzie: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- if you table the matter is it not true that is has to be removed from the table?
Mr. MacKenzie: That is correct.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay and in order to do that it would have to happen in that meeting is that
not true?
Mr. MacKenzie: It could happen in any meeting.
Mr. Mayor: Then you would have to take it up at that time.
Mr. MacKenzie: That’s one way to deal with it. It would be my suggestion that the tabling
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would just table the item until the March 30 meeting.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay and as such you would have to remove it from the table on the 30 is
that not true?
Mr. MacKenzie: That’s correct but there would be an item then placed on there for the
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30 for it to be removed from the table.
Mr. Mayor: All right so the real motion before we vote on it should be to table until March
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30.
Mr. MacKenzie: That would be my suggestion.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I just to make sure everybody understands that. All right I asked that
question for the express purpose because when you table it you’ve tabled until the time uncertain.
Mr. M. Williams: That’s right and if you put it, if I, can I, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: If you’d like to be recognized I’ll recognize you.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, sir, thank you and if you set a date that’s the date you got to by. If
you don’t set a date, it can come up at any meeting we have.
Mr. Mayor: (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: Any Commissioner can bring that back up if we had a quorum in order
to do that unless you’ve got a date. Now if you set it for that date we got to wait until that date.
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The point I wanted to make, Mr. Mayor, is that even the day of the 30, Judge, if somebody wanted
to add it and you’ve got unanimous consent you still could add it is that right, Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk: Yes.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay it was like you couldn’t do it so I wanted to clear that up. Anybody
that can add it and if it’s got unanimous consent it could be added to if you needed that.
Mr. Mayor: Parliamentary procedure does not afford you that option. You have tabled the
matter it is a specific matter and as such you will be debating that specific matter. Okay, you will
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be debating that. I’m going to recognize the Commissioner from the 4 because what I’d like for
24
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you to do is amend your motion and add table it until March 30 just for clarification. I know our
rules are disjointed but I do have an idea what parliamentary procedures are supposed to look like.
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The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: For the sake of clarity and simplicity ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: --- in moving forward I will amend my motion to table this matter until March
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the 30 ---
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Sias: --- and my second would agree.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second to table until March 30. The
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to direct my question to the Judge if I may.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
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Mr. Lockett: Judge Slaby, if this monetary amount is tabled until March 30 meeting what
is it that you need to do between now and then that you won’t be able to do? Is there anything that
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you have to do between now and March the 30 that’s going to require extending monies?
Judge Slaby: No, sir.
Mr. Lockett: I do believe that the support to pass this is here. I think the only question is
is we want to eyeball the Senate Bill 367 to see what it’s going to look like. And I think as I said
early on once that passes and we get together it really should be no problem. And it really shouldn’t
be a need for you to come back unless of course we’ve had an opportunity to sit down and discuss
and decide on what direction we’ll take.
Judge Slaby: I’ve got; I’ve read Senate Bill 367. I don’t know if it’s going to give a whole
lot of clarity to what we’re talking about. The money we’re talking about won’t be expended until
six months anyway so that’s no problem.
Mr. Lockett: All right, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: And, Judge, is it also not true that Senate Bill 367 primarily deals with pretrial
intervention particularly where youth and juvenile offenders are concerned?
Judge Slaby: That’s part of it but it also deals with probation it also deals with (inaudible)
---
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Mr. Hasan: Criminal and justice reform.
Judge Slaby: --- things of that nature.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
Mr. Sias: Call for the question.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second all those in favor will vote yea and all those
opposed will vote no.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Judge Slaby: Thank you, Commissioners, I’ll be in touch with Ms. Jackson.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
12. Motion to approve the Ordinance that was approved last year for the specified time
around the Masters Tournament to amend Augusta, Georgia Code Title One, Chapter
Three, Section 1-3-44, placing regulations on the launching and operation of unmanned
aircraft systems; and for other purposes. (Approved by Public Safety Committee February
23, 2016)
Mr. Sias: That was my pull, sir, that was my pull.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. This is a public safety matter that came up before us before but
if it’s okay with the Chair I will defer to my supervisor from the Public Safety Committee.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, thank you too. There was some small changes
that had been made to the ordinance it’s been redlined; I hope everybody got a copy of it. It’s real
small changes that have been made and, Mr. Chair, if it’s okay with you I’d like to get the General
Counsel just to explain briefly what those changes are.
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely. All right, let’s get everybody’s attention here on the dias.
Mr. MacKenzie: I’d be happy to do that. If you’ll turn to the second to last page in the
handout that I passed to you this is a redline version. There’s a highlighted portion on that page
and it relates to Sub Part D of the Ordinance and it adds the highlighted language which is to clarify
that the FAA restrictions are within five miles of an airport that was discussed at the committee
level. I also know that the motion that was passed by the committee was just to adjust the dates
26
from the Ordinance from last year. If you’d like to go with the more permanent ordinance which
is the one that I passed out, then it would my suggestion that you would do a motion to approve
the ordinance that was distributed to you today which would include the amendments that are
shown here.
Mr. Fennoy: So moved.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’ve got his hand. All right, Attorney MacKenzie, you’ve indicated that
there are two documents and the one, because I want to make sure that the Commissioner from the
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1 who made the motion and the one from the second are referring to the same document and that
is the one that extended forward or just for a time certain.
Mr. Fennoy: The one that (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, so that’s the one that Attorney MacKenzie is in perpetuity.
MacKenzie: That’s correct.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, very good I want to make sure everybody understands that.
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All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It was discussed in committee and it’s my
understanding and the committee said we wanted a time certain. We didn’t want this to be
indefinite. Mr. MacKenzie?
Mr. MacKenzie: That’s correct and if you look in your book for this item that is the
ordinance that would only change the dates. But what has been distributed to you was the same
proposed amendment that the Sheriff’s office has requested that would be a more permanent
ordinance and that is the subject matter of the motion made by Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Lockett: But we are voting today on the permanent?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, suspend. All right that was the question I asked Commissioner Lockett,
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Chairman of Public Safety. The Commissioner from the 1 his motion is to approve the ordinance
and a second came from the Mayor Pro Tem to approve the ordinance in perpetuity not the one
that’s in your binder which is a time certain. So what we’re about to vote on is an ordinance that
will be in effect in perpetuity unless changed down the road. Now you have available to you an
opportunity to make substitute motion but what’s about to be voted on is to approve this ordinance
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in perpetuity. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5Continue.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chair, I’d like to (inaudible) a substitute motion. I would like
for us to approve what was approved by the Public Safety Committee a week ago and that was a
definite timeframe. It wasn’t indefinite; it was for a specified period of time similar to what we
had last year.
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Ms. Davis: I’ll second that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Madam Clerk, we good now?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right so I’ve got a substitute and the substitute is to approve ---
The Clerk: It’s in the book.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right let’s direct everybody’s attention to Tab 12. I think to help further
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add clarity Tab 12 says that we’re approving an ordinance from April 1 2016 to April 12 2016.
All right, that’s what’s in Tab 12. I see your hand, Commissioner, I’ll come back to you. All right
I want to make sure everybody’s on the same page. Okay so it’s essentially for eleven days all
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right all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. The thing that concerns me about the agreement that is in our
book is the part about the airports where it did not specify clearly the FAA rules about five miles
from an airport. And it was my contention or my discussion during our Public Safety meeting that
that was problematic for anyone one having that and not knowing that and we’re not even knowing
that. So that was set up our residents or citizens in zone enforcement for a possible failure. So
that is the change that’s in this one that we’re being asked to vote on as permanent that is in there.
So without if we go on the temporary one we won’t have that clarification. So I understand both
motions, I understand both documents, but I want to ask my colleagues that I really favor the
permanent one because of the clarification about the distance from the airports and I think that’s
extremely important the one in the binder does not address that. Thank you, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: All right let’s all right okay so Commissioner from the 4 raises a valid point.
I think the way the Attorney has communicated this to us and presented it the only caveat between
what is in your binder and what’s on your desk is the fact that he included the FAA exclusion
because that would also apply to what’s in your binders. Is that not true, Attorney MacKenzie?
Mr. MacKenzie: Well, to be accurate the document that was passed out includes all of the
proposed amendments to make a more permanent ordinance which would include more than just
the reference relating to the five-mile restriction the FAA has. It includes, it would be more than
adequate. If you look at the last few pages of the handout it shows all the redline changes from
the original ordinance of the last year.
Mr. Mayor: All right I’m sure he’s going to be excited to hear this but I fully concur with
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the Commissioner from the 4 This is a superior piece of legislature. All right we have here with
us Mr. Scott Gay. I would like for him to come forward from the Chair’s office who’s here to
speak to this matter. I think it’s important for us to recognize him but I do believe this is a superior
piece of legislation.
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Mr. Gay: Good afternoon, thank ya’ll for having me. Certainly we are looking for a more
permanent base and not just around the Augusta National but we also are concerned about events
at May Park, things that happen at the Augusta Commons. You’ve given the ordinance from last
year is just so restricted to one week during the Masters event only. We are concerned about the
county overall and we think that the proposed permanent ordinance addresses all of those issues.
And it’s fair, it’s not out in left field so to speak. It gives us an opportunity not only to enforce
and make the events that have a population of 1,000 or more safe. So that’s what the ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay fantastic. Again the Chair recognizes the Commissioner I’m going to
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come back to you down there. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I appreciate that very much thank you. Mr. Mayor,
this question is directed to I mean just general information really. One of the things that got us to
where we didn’t have the five-mile radius in the last week the Attorney was making mention and
making contact or having conversations with the FAA to formulate this ordinance that FAA was
encouraging him not to do that. I mean it would’ve been nice if he was to share with us why he
could have the five-mile radius in there this week as opposed to last week the FAA would not give
him that. The other thing the second question was also in the discussion last week if my memory
serves me correct we also were saying that there was something on the state level that was taking
place around this drone issue as well so we want to be respectful of that as well. That could very
well be inclusive that could already be passed I don’t know but those were the two factors for
number one last the Attorney said last week that the FAA would not encourage him not to do that.
We have it today we ought to know why it’s there and the same secondary like I said the state I
thought was doing something around it and we wanted to be respectful to make the necessary
adjustments if we had to do that. And that’s why we chose to go back to what we had last week.
Mr. Mayor: All right, you’ve got two you raised really three things. All right I’m going
to address one of them and that is House Bill 779 which is the Drones Ordinance. It has passed
out of the House and is waiting subcommittee assignment in the Senate. And in my conversation
just recently with Attorney MacKenzie he’s taken into consideration what to move forward. The
five-mile exclusion I can’t speak to that. Attorney MacKenzie, do you want to speak to that?
Mr. MacKenzie: I’m glad you raised that issue. There was an earlier draft of this which
ya’ll have in front of you when we were in the process of developing a more permanent ordinance
that was submitted to the FAA. It did not reference specifically the FAA regulations and the FAA
had a problem with that. On pre-emption grounds they didn’t want us referencing the five-mile
restriction without also referencing that those are FAA restriction. So what I’ve done to make sure
we include the five-mile restrictions is also referenced that these are FAA restrictions and the FAA
is okay with that because you’re saying that the five-mile restrictions are their restrictions, they’re
not restrictions that Augusta is imposing. It’s really this portion of the ordinance is actually just
referencing people who use these types of machines to let them know that there are restrictions
that the FAA have. So the FAA is okay with it as amended.
Mr. Hasan: I don’t have a problem but that was very simple.
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Mr. Mayor: All right very good. Okay I’m going to go back down to the Commissioner
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from the 5 and then what we’re going to do this is our posture. We’re going to deal with the
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substitute first and the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5 to speak to the substitute
and whatever else and then we’ll deal with that and then we’ll come back to the main motion.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chair. My concern is how did this metamorphosis occur?
When this was in committee there were two specific things that I can recall was asked for. My
colleague Commissioner Sias asked for about the five miles and the Public Safety Chair Bill
Lockett asked for to make it for a specific time the same as we did last year. Any other changes
that have occurred since then wasn’t sanctioned by the Public Safety Committee on last week. I
don’t doubt that what is presented here is a much better bill but my question is who gave the
General Counsel or whomever authorization to completely rework what we had approved in
committee. Now I don’t doubt that this is an outstanding bill or ordinance or whatever it is but my
concern is if it was passed in Public Safety with certain recommendations why would we get it one
week later with a multitude of changes that we didn’t discuss. That’s my problem and that’s a
question to the General Counsel, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely. The Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, I’ll be happy to address that. Just for clarity there’s only two
versions that have ever been contemplated here. There’s the one version that was initially first
presented to you at committee that included a more permanent ordinance and all the changes that
you see in your handout except for on Page 2 of 3 in the redline version the additional highlighted
language, that’s the only thing that was changed from what was presented to the committee level.
However, the motion that was passed by the committee was to take last year’s ordinance and just
change the date to be applicable for this year and so that’s what’s in your book what was approved
by the committee. There’s only two versions. There were no significant changes. The only change
made at committee level to the more permanent ordinance is to include clarification relating to the
five-miles on subpart T. So we’re looking at two things here is it the more permanent version
which now includes this clarification of the five miles or are you taking last year’s version without
any changes and just changing the date to be applicable for this year’s Masters (inaudible).
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chair, may I follow up?
Mr. Mayor: You may.
Mr. Lockett: Well, what is the degree of urgency? We know Masters is right around the
corner if we only pass this for that specified period of time what’s going to stop us from coming
back after the Masters which would give us an opportunity to reread this and understand it and go
on and pass it as permanent form. What do we have to do that today?
Mr. Mayor: All right, Attorney MacKenzie, I’m going to answer that. I sat in on committee
meetings on last week and to Attorney MacKenzie’s point the document that is before us is with
that one exception exactly what we had before. It’s what was discussed, it’s what’s been talked
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about the whole time and the Commissioner from the 6 in his soliloquy just said that save the
five-mile exclusion and what’s going on in the Legislature this is what we’ve been talking about.
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And as such should the Commissioner from the 5 and again this is a superior piece of legislation.
It’s something that cities all across the State of Georgia are adopting and they’re adopting it in
some sense of finality as opposed to responding to it every time we have a big event. And I think
our posture as a government is to begin making decisions that allow us to be fluid and allow us to
be progressive so that we’re not continuing to have these conversations year after year after year
after year because the due diligence has been done in this case by our Attorney, by yourselves the
committee members in vetting this and I think we’ve got some legislation right here in front of us
that is superior than we’re going to come back and have the same conversation again next year.
We’re going to come back and have it again the year after that. I would urge us let us not do that
let us take a step forward and again there are no prohibitions to the language that’s in here.
Independent of what happens with HB779 which gives more local control that’s what the
legislation does it gives more local control where the area drones are concerned. And as such let
us again give consideration to adopting something that allows us to be fluid as a government really
addressing these issues head on and we can move on to other business that’s just my
encouragement.
Mr. Lockett: Call for the question.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
Mr. Sias: Call for the question.
Mr. Mayor: All right so what’s before us, Madam Clerk, is a substitute unless he decides
to withdraw that.
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chair, could you read the substitute motion please?
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: The substitute motion is to approve the ordinance that was approved in Public
Safety Committee.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: All right state your inquiry, Commissioner.
Mr. M. Williams: What does the Sheriff’s Department want? I’m supporting the Sheriff’s
Department (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: And I think you’re going to get an opportunity to do that in just a moment he
said that this is what he wants.
Mr. Gay: That is correct, sir, we would like the permanent motion.
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Mr. Mayor: The primary.
Mr. Gay: Primary?
Mr. Mayor: That’s the primary. All right we’ve got a motion and a second. Madam Clerk,
I want to dispose of this matter all those in favor of the substitute motion which is just to approve
what’s in your notebook which is time service of eleven days you will vote yea those opposed to
it will vote nay. Voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Hasan, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Smith vote No.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Lockett and Mr. Frantom vote Yes.
Motion Fails 3-6.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re back to the main motion. We’ve got a motion from the
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Commissioner from the 1 to approve the ordinance that is before you with a second from the
Mayor Pro Tem. All those in favor will vote yea and those opposed will vote no. Voting.
Ms. Davis and Mr. Frantom vote No.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 7-2.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
Mr. Gay: Thank you, sir, thank you, Commissioners.
The Clerk: Item number 16?
The Clerk:
FINANCE
16. Motion to approve a resolution authorizing the commencement of the validation process
for the bonds approved by the voters in the November 3, 2015 SPLOST election. (Approved
by Finance Committee February 23, 2016)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I just want to get some clarity on exactly what
this process is for these bonds. I don’t know I guess Mr. Blanchard would be the one that just tells
us exactly would give me the information that I need to tell me to help me understand the process
with the bonding issue and how we do this.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Mr. Plunkett.
Mr. Plunkett: Mr. Williams, when the SPLOST VII was approved it was an authorization
for $30 million dollars’ worth of bonds. The Commission thus far I understand has not decided
what projects will be bonded but the process of validating bonds which means that once the bonds
32
are validated no one can challenge the validity that they’re not enforceable. So that process takes
30, 40 days to go through from start to finish. So if were able to go ahead and validate then you
have the $30 million dollars’ worth of bonds are available and then when this body decides what
projects they want to bond with those dollars then you would issue the actual debt. It’s just getting
some things out of the way so (inaudible) response to when that list comes together.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Jim, and I understand that my question goes back to the
process though as to how we get to who when, where and what’s done. I understand about the
vote back in November but the process itself who sets that up is that automatic is that something
that we do because the bond was approved we just go and do it. Am I making any sense in my
question?
Mr. Plunkett: I’m not entirely sure, there is a, in the SPLOST ballot there was the approval
to issue the $30 million dollars’ worth of bonds.
Mr. M. Williams: Right.
Mr. Plunkett: And so that was why you can do a Dollar Certain versus a Time SPLOST.
The, if you’re referring to the professionals involved Kent, Pollock and Denton and myself were
engaged to draft and do documents relative to SPLOST. The discussion we had previously about
the FA this the actual the issuance of the bonds can wait until after that, that’s not part of this
process. This is a legal proceeding not a financing proceeding if that makes I mean if that’s okay.
Mr. M. Williams: Well and that helps me a little bit, Jim, I guess my question would be to
you is your position in the bond process. Is that a position that’s established by this government
is that something that this body votes on or is that something that we go out for an RFP I mean
your position is that bond counselor can I call you that this time?
Mr. Plunkett: I would refer to it as an Issuance Counsel.
Mr. M. Williams: Issuance Counsel okay and you’re issuing bonds but we’re going to call
you Issuing Counsel so.
Mr. Plunkett: Augusta would be the issuer of the debt so therefore and I start to represent
Augusta.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Plunkett: When the SPLOST VII had failed and SPLOST VII that passed two firms
were engaged for the handling of all the SPLOST things through basically professional services in
order to get those documents done. When we issued that what I’m saying is when we Augusta
issued that there’s typically a resolution that reaffirms that the, who the parties will be if there’s
going to be Disclosure Counsel, Bond Counsel, Issuance Counseling terms of that. That would
occur typically once this list is developed. You’re going out for an RFQ for a FA so that person
who be identified for multiple years probably. Typically, your Issuing Bond Counsel has been
identified on a transaction by transaction basis.
33
Mr. M. Williams: But your position being in a what’s the word, Tim, professional services
that means that we don’t have to go out for an RFP or we had to, there wasn’t a bid awarded the
RFP Professional Services can be done several in different ways is that right?
Mr. Plunkett: I believe so, yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: And the reason this whole thing came up I had somebody question me
and couldn’t answer the question and I felt bad like the old Super District Commissioner had to go
to Wal-Mart at 4:00 o’clock in the morning to avoid people. But I ran into somebody there at 4:00
o’clock and they asked me about the same situation and how that’s happening. So I guess at the
time I go to Walmart it ain’t going to make no difference it just means going out there. But I’m
just trying to get an understanding because people are asking me how do this process take place,
how can they be a part of, how does it always come out the same direction, the same way and I’m
trying to make sure that we bring everybody into the table to give them an opportunity to at least
be looked upon versus whether they’d be selected or not. But I’m the longest serving
Commissioner up here and that don’t give me no expertise or anything, Jim, but me and you have
been in these conversations a long time longer that any of the other fellows. And a lot of these
fellows like Grady Smith is older than I am but you know he ain’t had as many conversations me
and you done had. So I’m just trying to get some clarity. I’m trying to get it understood that when
I see people I can let them know what the process is so we can either change that process through
Procurement or where we need to do to get other people and opportunity to come in. The Mayor
talked about hosting the whole city and people coming into Augusta a lot of people are coming
here wanting to do business but they feel like that there’s not an opportunity for them to do business
because they’re already been selected. And I tell them that that’s not the case so that’s why when
I started this I wanted to make sure they had an opportunity to at least bring to this body and at
least maybe start a conversation up here so we’ll know how to get this ball rolling so it won’t roll
down the same street all the time because it’s going to hit some pothole we talked about earlier if
we don’t fix it. Mr. Mayor, Jim helped me out a lot I appreciate that. I need to talk to Procurement
not right now but I need to find out our next step what we need to do in order to get some things
in place so people won’t be cornering me up at 4:00 o’clock at Walmart.
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Mr. Mayor: I understand. All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I appreciate that. I’d like to ask Mr. Plunkett a couple
of questions. You probably already answered it I just want to make sure I understood
Commissioner Williams’ questions. At this point you made a distinction between being a legal
matter I guess an implementation matter what was that again. In other words, I think I understood
you to be saying at this particular time this does not authorize you to go out and pursue $30 million
dollars’ worth of bonds at this particular time. You’re putting in a process a validation process in
place?
Mr. Plunkett: Yes, sir, you know sometimes when an item is pulled you kind of try to
second guess why it may have been approved. I know that in the last committee cycle or the last
commission cycle there was discussion about what would be bonded. And what I was trying to
say is that the fact that we validate the amount does not include what the project list is. So what
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you’re doing is getting authorization and so that those bonds would not be challenged for the $30
million dollars. Then when this body decides that we’re going to bond x, y, and z totaling whatever
number that is then you can move forward and we don’t have a delay of trying to get the validation
process taken care of. It’s just getting things done and so there’s also discussion about the FA.
The FA is not involved in the validation process. That is a legal proceeding so it doesn’t involve
the selection of projects so I was just trying to clarify that.
Mr. Hasan: Okay I’m not so much interested in the selection of projects my concern was
is there another process let me ask you another way. Is there another process beyond that you are
here today to ask us, okay this is the validation process to say that we’re going to make this a legal
process so it cannot be challenged in our pursuit of $30 million dollars of bonding then today
you’re not asking us to give you permission to go out and bond for $30 million dollars?
Mr. Plunkett: That’s correct.
Mr. Hasan: You’re not asking that.
Mr. Plunkett: We’re not issuing bonds ---
Mr. Hasan: You’re not issuing bonds you’re not doing that okay.
Mr. Plunkett: --- just validating them.
Mr. Hasan: What you’re doing today in giving you the opportunity to go out and validate
that. And you just said at this time you’re the Issuing Attorney how did you define yourself?
Mr. Plunkett: Issuing.
Mr. Hasan: Issuing Attorney. Even once the bonds come back from a FA to an Issuing
Counsel does this body at that point are we are married if we go out and once we pursue the $30
million dollars? Are we married?
Mr. Plunkett: To a larger extent, yes. You know we’ve been engaged to work relative to
this bond transaction.
Mr. Hasan: Engaged and married are two different things.
Mr. Plunkett: I understand. There would be both, both Dentons in our firm would be to
be compensated we haven’t been paid relative to the SPLOST so if you were to engage another
firm to handle the, you know, the bonds yes we would have an expectation to be paid but that
wedge (unintelligible) in a sense, no. FA is a little bit different because the purpose there is that
you’re well at least if you go out with the RFQ and hire someone that would be contractual for a
period of years.
Mr. Hasan: And that could be somebody different in who’s working with you on this. FA,
are they involved at this point in time?
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Mr. Plunkett: They were involved relative to discussions about SPLOST and things of that
nature. There we some numbers that they helped develop for the validation process. They have
not engaged substantially into the issuance of debt because there’s nothing yet to issue. I would
think arguably since there’s an RFQ that unless there’s an urgency to issue in other words you
wanted the project to be funded very, very soon that you would wait until after the FA engaged
and then issue the debt.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, sir, thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Jim, I thought I heard something I want to get clarity on it. You said on
the SPLOST you was involved from the SPLOST perspective is that what I heard you say?
Mr. Plunkett: Yes, sir, I was involved in SPLOST VII it failed and we were involved in
SPLOST VII that passed which would be the basically the legal work relative to issuing the Call
for the Election, the meetings and things of that nature. And there’s a reasonable expectation that
we’re doing that as part and parcel to be involved in the bond issuance.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay and I guess I’m trying to get to the point or the process and how
we select. The Mayor just said he runs you know he represents the whole city and he does but he
had to run citywide and he got enough votes you know to sit in that seat. I’m trying to figure out
how do we do that with issuance with a person like yourself and we know they’re not elected not
to go out that way but in order to get an opportunity to do what you do. And I guess that’s what
I’m getting at this process how if you was brought in from SPLOST VII the one that failed then
the one that passed was that in the SPLOST was that written in the SPLOST. I’m just asking the
question here now ya’ll is that written in?
Mr. Plunkett: No, sir, it’s not.
Mr. M. Williams: It’s not.
Mr. Plunkett: I mean I have no reason not to explain to you the situation when the issuance
of the SPLOST was going to be come up we were contacted; Finance is typically the department
that starts with SPLOST issues. They asked if we would be interested in helping with that because
we had helped in a couple of different SPLOSTs and obviously we’re always happy to help the
city. I believe Finance contacted the Legal Department because typically lawyers are engaged
through the Legal Department to find out if it was okay for Denton’s and my firm to be involved
and we got confirmation from that so we’d be doing the legal work from there. Typically, when
any type of debt is issued and I would I think you should separate SPLOST from general debt
simply because I mean there’s an election and things of that nature that’s separate. But in generally
when we issue debt Finance makes a recommendation and talks with Legal about the group and
then that team is approved by this body to issue the debt. SPLOST is just as I just said a little bit
unique because there is an actual election involved in that. But generally this body hears the names
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prior to them being engaged and Finance does a number of issues or looks at a number of issues
relative to making those recommendations of who the counsel are.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay so let me cross the field on a Sunday morning when they’re trying
to get out of church early. So Procurement, Finance and the Attorney our counsel here those three
entities get together and come up with the firm and then they eventually select someone to bring
to this body and then we approve that body, is that right?
Mr. Plunkett: I’m not sure about Procurement’s involvement. I think that’s true for Finance
and Legal and yes those parties are suggested to this body or recommended to this body as the
finance team.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay you helped me out a great deal, Jim. I need to look in another area
so thank you for your time though. I appreciate all the information.
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Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. Lockett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
28. Motion to approve giving $20,000 from 2016 contingency fund to Augusta Animal
Services Department for educational purposes and implementation of programs concerning
the new Ordinance, $20,000 to the Bethlehem Community Center for their senior services,
$20,000 to the Area Agency on Aging Meals on Wheels program, $20,000 to the Shiloh
Community Center for their work with seniors and $20,000 to Serenity Behavioral Mental
Health Center. (No recommendation from Public Safety Committee February 23, 2016)
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. Lockett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 7 first and then I’m going to go to the Commissioner from the 3.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Obviously I started this agenda item a month ago
with just the Animal Services and now it’s got non-profits attached where I said in the media it’s
apples and oranges and frankly it is. This is a city department and my concern not only that we
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need to support animal services and that department but also let’s look at the other side of it. Let’s
look at the fact that we have $80,000 dollars for non-profits on the line with no proposal, no
process, no checks and balances. What says that the next non-profit’s not going to do that and
how as a body up here are we going to tell them no? And frankly, you know, we have the most
non-profits per capita I mean how are going to support every non-profit? And these non-profits
do great things in this community and I know it. I work in a non-profit; I understand the need to
support these non-profits but it’s disappointing that we are lumping a department with non-profits.
I just don’t understand it and, Mayor, if I could direct a question to the Administrator?
Mr. Mayor: You may.
Mr. Frantom: Madam Administrator, what is your recommendation on this issue?
Ms. Jackson: Sir, as you recall during the budget process last year we identified there was
money available to the Commission for purposes such as this. So my feeling is as long as we stay
within the amount we have in our contingency if it’s within the will of the body to do whatever
they please. I will also add that we will require any non-profit that gets money to follow the same
procedures and requirements that other existing non-profits already follow. A couple of these have
already gotten money through our General Fund I believe Shiloh already gets money. Serenity
Behavioral Mental Health also applied for money so those are aware of the stipulations. We would
just place those same stipulations on any other organization.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. When I looking through this I was looking for the
budgets to show exactly where these expenses would be used. I’m not against any non-profit in
this Richmond County either. And I’d also like to even see a budget for how Animal Services
will, you know, use this in as far are these dollars for all of these agencies are they going to staff,
are they going to facilities, I just I’m just a little confused on the process too. So as much as I like
all of these organizations I’ve had phone calls from so many other non-profits in Augusta since
they read this in the paper and they said well we’d like some money too so what is the process.
And I said I don’t know the process and I really don’t, Mr. Mayor, I’m confused. So could I figure
it out so I can email these non-profits back. What do they need to do to get the taxpayer’s dollars?
I mean I’m being serious this is what I’ve had phone calls and I work for a non-profit as well so I
know that would be a conflict of interest if my organization asked for money but who do I direct
the process to because I just I haven’t seen any budget on any of these organizations to where they
why they need the funds and where they’ll spend them and that concerns me.
Mr. Mayor: All right so let me warn everybody don’t talk out of turn. I’m going to
recognize you; I see your hands. All right, Madam Administrator, would you like to respond to
that question about the process?
Ms. Jackson: Well, in terms of the process again going back to the budget process some
of these organizations submitted requests for funding when we were in our General Fund process
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some of them did not. If it is the will of the body to open the process back up, we can distribute
that same application and we can notify non-profits in the community that they can apply through
the same process that others use during the budget process.
Ms. Davis: So, Mr. Mayor, if I’m correct ---
Mr. Mayor: Continue.
Ms. Davis: --- we would just open this back up for non-profits to apply for General Fund
Dollars for their organization without a budget being proposed?
Ms. Jackson: With the applications that the applications we have they have to submit a
budget so it would be the same application that some of these agencies filled out six months ago.
Ms. Davis: But of these agencies asking for money today, have they filled out the
paperwork and sent budgets for our process?
Ms. Jackson: Two of them have.
Ms. Davis: So two of the five I mean I’m including Animal Services on this. So two of
the four non-profits have sent in and followed the process.
Ms. Jackson: Shiloh and Serenity have.
Ms. Davis: So the other two we’re just we’re not even sure exactly what the budget is or
their expenses or their needs.
Ms. Jackson: I have not seen any detail on those organizations, correct.
Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor, I have grave concerns with this that’s my opinion and nothing
against these organizations. I know they do wonderful things for our community.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so I’ve got a number of hands up I’m going to get you in order. I’m
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going to go down to the Commissioner from the 4 next.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor, I’ll defer to the Mayor Pro Tem (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: I absolutely don’t. The Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Smith: I was just going to say listen I think we’ve got a lot of prioritizations in Augusta
but I think this needs to be sent to committee and discussed what our criteria is, what we’re looking
for, do we need an audit. I know I was President of the local civic club and once we opened
Pandora’s Box I was shocked at some of the information we got back. People are sending money
to P.O. Box and all this stuff and once we dug a little deeper, you know we tightened up and we
want to make sure the money the taxpayers’ money goes to the people who need it and then set
some criteria where we can have something that the taxpayer can look at and say this going here
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this is going here and it’s the right thing to do. I’m as giving as anybody else but let’s set some
standards so we you know don’t have the proverbial egg on your face when somebody says where
did this money go and everybody’s looking around pointing a finger like the Boss Tweed ring in
New York. So I just say let’s be careful how quick we go to do something, set a standard and let
these organizations apply and then you know the ones that need it the most and then we’ll set
priorities and move forward. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: You know I don’t have a dog in this fight but I hope he’s a coon dog. All
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right, I’ve got a number of names down here. I’m going to go to the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. First off I want to say now if it was the will of this body as far
as I’m concerned if it was a non-governmental agency we can look at doing something totally
different. But here’s what I want to say to you. Number one there are a lot of agencies here that
receive money. And one of the agencies this is a non-governmental agency it’s called Project
Access. From 2002 to 2016 this agency has received from our General Fund $5,672,210 dollars.
Now we’re talking about some agencies such as Shiloh that Bethlehem that treat folks in our
community seniors, folks who need a meal. This is a non-profit that services Columbia County
and Richmond County but we pay for it. And they come every year their paperwork is immaculate
but they’re still a non-profit agency that is getting money from our government. I don’t have
anything against Project Access. I’m making a comparison. Shiloh has submitted paperwork
before we have a standard funding request for outside agencies. Serenity has received money
before but you can lump all those together for the missions that they do, multiply it by 20 or 30 or
100 and it will still not come up to what Access has been receiving on a yearly or biannual basis.
But $5,672,000 for referrals I think if we’re going to look at being accountable we need to look at
the whole picture of being accountable. So what we were asking for is some of these agencies that
treat our most needy residents such as Shiloh, Bethlehem. Serenity treats some of our folks that’s
in very serious need of treatment for what they for, health issues behavioral health issues, mental
issues. The Area Agency on Aging which does senior meals they run their programs and they run
them very well. So when we say that we are basically throwing away money I don’t see that.
We’re helping fund agencies that assist the most needy in our community and not one where we’re
referring that agency run by doctors. So I say to my colleagues I ask ya’ll for ya’ll support of this
item but I want to understand let’s take a look at all our non-profits. Let’s start this year 2016 with
a comprehensive look at every agency that receives money and decide whether they need it or not
whether we’re just feeding them at the trough because $5 million dollars is a lot of feed. So I say
to you for the ones (unintelligible) whether we pass this item or not today the consequences is do
we keep paying stuff that we’re already paying that we’re not even seeing a complete benefit from.
I have nothing against Columbia County but I sure don’t want to be spending $5 million dollars in
servicing folks in Columbia County unless they were returning the favor. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: I’m going down to the Commissioner well I’m going to go and then come on
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back. All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I’ll be brief. Just a few weeks ago one of my
colleagues had on the agenda $25,000 for the Arts Council and don’t get me wrong I have nothing
against it. $25,000 dollars for Arts and that wasn’t the first time we’ve done that. It went through
on the consent agenda; there was no debate at all on it so what’s the difference today when we’re
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concerned about making sure that seniors that can’t take care of themselves can get Meals on
Wheels or Serenity or Shiloh. What is it? I mean $25,000 dollars a few weeks ago and we’re
talking about twenty for each. And my colleague Commissioner Sias just showed that other groups
are getting millions of dollars from us and there’s no conversation on it. So what is the difference?
I didn’t hear nobody ask for a study or I didn’t hear anybody asking for how are we going to
account for these monies. In the budgetary process I made the recommendation that each
Commissioner be given $25,000 dollars. Ya’ll laughed at me to do what we’re trying to do now.
But folks we’ve got people that’s doing providing a good service for this community and we need
to show our appreciation by giving them financial support when we can. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m just trying to figure out what happened
between our SPLOST package when we had all these non-profits come in and we flat turned them
down and we said we didn’t need them. We just slammed the door on them and said we’re just
going to stop it today because we weren’t doing that and those same people are needing it then still
need it now but now we’re coming back and we’re trying to find, trying to justify why we should
do this and make it sound good. But this ain’t our money; this money belongs to the taxpayers of
Richmond County and we’re supposed to be stewards of that money to make sure we spend that
money as wisely as we possibly can. And that includes helping some folks and lifting some folks
up and pushing some folks in a different area. But we had a SPLOST package that wouldn’t have
come out of contingency, that wouldn’t have come out the general fund it would’ve come from
any and everybody that came through Augusta spending their money but we said we’re going to
cut all of them off. We’re through with them, we ain’t going to do that no more. But some of us
up here are still taking SPLOST monies and spending it in our own neighborhoods. But if it ain’t
good for them how can it be good for us? So I want to look at it all I mean let’s let it all out there
I don’t want to just look at what’s what would be easier. Let’s look at all of them and then we need
to find out how we’ve doing it like we say we’ve been doing it because what we say and what
we’ve been doing don’t match. So, Mr. Mayor, I ain’t got no problem either way that the board
wants to do that but I’m just wondering why we had all this opportunity to help and it wouldn’t
have come directly from us we could’ve added whatever dollars we need to add to take those
entities that we’ve been supporting for years. Reverend, I’ve never smoked and I think you know
that but if I want to stop smoking I can’t do it in one time it takes a few times to stop smoking at
least every smoker I talked to said that now. Now I know some folks can quit cold turkey but
they’d be shivering all night long I can imagine them. So when we stop these kinds of things we
ought to make sure that we put those things in places to progressively ease back off of those and
not just slam the door on folks like we did. So either way this body wants to go I can support it
but let’s be real about this thing too now. We could’ve done the same when we passed our
SPLOST. I heard that the SPLOST wouldn’t pass because of the non-profits in there what
everybody just said. I don’t think the SPLOST passed because we were going to do a bond issue
and go to the bank the next day and get $40/50 million dollars to do some projects for somebody
else that didn’t look good for this government and I think the people saw that. The non-profits
have been here for a while, some of them good and some of them not so good but I’m really upset
about the way we act like one day they’re good and the next day they’re bad. If they’re bad they’re
bad. If they’re good, then they’re good. Let’s take the good ones and use them and help them if
we can. I heard somebody say last night, Reverend Ivey, if you teach a man give a man fish he
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eats for a day if you teach him how to fish he’ll eat for a lifetime. That premise still stands now
but instead of giving somebody something we ought to show them how to get up and not just ride
on our back from now on but that’s my comment, Mr. Mayor, I can support it either way but I ain’t
going to sit here and act like I don’t see what’s going on. And the truth is going to come out watch
me.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Mayor, I think this past November I had a chance to go by
Bethlehem Center and have Thanksgiving dinner with the employees and the people that
participate in that senior program on a daily basis. And I talked to the people at the facility and
talked about how we could do much more if we could have just a little bit more money. I looked
at the people that and what they did they served the seniors first and then they opened it up to the
community. And there were hundreds of people waiting on the outside to get a hot meal probably
for some the only hot meal they’ll have that day. Right after Christmas I had a chance to go by
Serenity Behavioral and looked at what their needs are out there and saw that when you look at
what Richmond County gives compared to what our other counties give hundreds of thousands of
dollars because they choose to treat their people with mental health issues in a facility as opposed
to treating them in jail. A lot of our mental health people in Richmond County are being treated
in jail as opposed to being treated at the facility because we don’t have the resources to fund
everybody. It’s way out on 56 and a lot of people don’t have access to get out there to make sure
that they get their prescriptions. I used to go to Shiloh after I retired and played pinochle with
them before they put me out but they work with the seniors over there. I mean they give; they
improve the quality of life for seniors. And all of the agencies that we’re talking about do a great
job in improving the quality of life for all citizens of Richmond County. And if you look at the
productivity of these agencies you will find out that they are getting more out of the dollar than we
are getting out of the dollar. I think that we should go ahead and support this I think they deserve
to be supported. I think the quality of life issue is very important to seniors to have somewhere to
go, something to do. So I don’t see anything wrong with not supporting this 100% and I encourage
all of my colleagues to visit some of these facilities to find out what’s going on, find out what
services they are providing for the citizens of Richmond County and hopefully that will change
your mind as far as whether this is something worth the city worth supporting or not.
Mr. Lockett: Call for the question, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: Well, I understand I do want to, was the Commissioner from the 1 completed?
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right we’ve got a call for the question. I’m going to recognize the
Mayor Pro Tem whose hand has been up for a long period of time.
Mr. Smith: I’d just like to say I agree with the comments made here and I think we need
to I agree with Commissioner Williams and Commissioner Sias down the line that we need to look
at them. You know it’s taxpayers’ money but I want to help these senior citizens, I want to help
the youth and the ones that really need help. And like you say some of these you know people for
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some people get a hot meal for one time maybe in a week. And so we really need to look at that
and I think we need to let these folks have to get a system where they apply, we investigate it and
I’m telling you it’d be at the best bang for the taxpayers’ dollars and maybe even be able to give
more take some from the higher ups give it and spread it out where it’s more equitable for
everybody and let’s do the best we can. This county is a great place to live and I think part of an
award is to treat our senior citizens with the most utmost respect we can and take care of them.
They paid their dues and the upcoming youth too I give them something to look forward to. But I
would love to see a committee established and then people submit and we go over and find out
where the money’s going, audits will be available and I’m for that if we can make sure that the
taxpayers are getting the best use of their dollars and goes where it needs to go. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a call for the question.
Mr. Sias: I had my hand up but I’ll defer. I will defer.
Mr. Mayor: I was coming to you. All right, we’ve got a call for the question but the
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Commissioner from the 4 has an inquiry, state your inquiry.
Mr. Sias: I’ll defer, Mr. Mayor, in deference of calling for the question.
Mr. Mayor: All right, call for the question. Madam Clerk, can you please restate the
motion?
The Clerk: The motion is to approve giving $20,000 dollars from the 2016 contingency
fund to Augusta Animal Services Department, $20,000 dollars to the Bethlehem Community
Center, $20,000 dollars to Area Agency on Aging Meal on Wheel, $20,000 dollars to Shiloh
Community Center and $20,000 dollars to Serenity Behavioral Mental Health Center.
Mr. Mayor: All right we have a motion and a second I believe for that. Voting.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom and Mr. G. Smith vote No.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 6-3.
Mr. Mayor: All right, there’s no other business before us this meeting is adjourned.
[MEETING ADJOURNED]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
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CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, herby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of
the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission held on March
1, 2016.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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