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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting June 7, 2016 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER JUNE 7, 2016 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., June 7, 2016, the Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Smith, Fennoy, D. Williams, Hasan and Davis, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: There we go, all right. So all right we’re going to call this meeting to order. I know there’s lots of people in the audience today, bear with us. For those of you who were trying to figure out where you were going to park just a few minor changes being made. That’ll get completed on short order and things will go back to being normal but thank you for coming to be a part of your local government today. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Yes, sir, thank you. At this time, we’ll have our invocation delivered by Pastor David B. Hunter, St. Lutheran Church of the Resurrection after which we’ll have our Pledge of Allegiance. Is Pastor Hunter in the chamber? Mr. Mayor: All right, Pastor Hunter is not here. All right the Chair calls on Pastor Roger Gardner of Bridge Ministry if you’ll approach. And if you’ll, yes, sir, from that podium thank you, sir. (The invocation was given by Pastor Roger Gardner, Bridge Ministry) The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of American was recited. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Pastor Gardner for stepping in. I’m not sure about Pastor Hunter. The Clerk: At this time, Mr. Mayor, we’ll have our Recognitions of Years of Service. Mr. Loeser, Ms. Jackson would you please --- Mr. Lousier: Yeah I’m right here, thank you. The Clerk: --- the Mayor and Ms. Jackson are coming down to present those awards. Mr. Loeser: Okay, 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 May. There are 21, 5 to 20 years’ recipients and 9 over 25 year recipients of which four are here this afternoon. Please when I read your name come up to the podium as individually and as a group so we can get a group photo. Thank you. With 25 years of service Tonya Owens from the Library. (APPLAUSE) With 30 years of service David James from the Sheriff’s Department. (APPLAUSE) With 35 years of service there’s two individuals Mark Smith from Information Technology (APPLAUSE) and Perry Fogel from Environmental Services (APPLAUSE). The Clerk: At this time we would like our Housing Community Development Department Director, Mr. Hawthorne Welcher, along with any of his staff members who would like to participate in this recognition please come forward. In recognition of Home Ownership Month 1 whereas Home Ownership Month is the American dream and there’s a unique quality in the neighborhood where most families own their homes. And whereas the new homeowner receives a key that does more than unlock a door it represents a place where children can grow, learn and feel safe an opportunity to save money and to build equity for the future and a sense of stability in belonging to the greater community. And whereas the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are working in partnership with state and local governments, community groups and the private sector to make the most effective use of federal funds. And whereas through a combination of housing, counseling, down payment assistance and tax incentive the Augusta Housing and Community Development Department is helping Americans buy homes. They will continue to assist this jurisdiction toward efforts to increase home ownership and home buyer opportunity. Now therefore I, Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor of the City of Augusta do hereby proclaim June 2016 as Homeownership Month in Augusta, Georgia and urge all citizens to join us in recognizing homeownership and the importance of providing every citizen with the opportunity to achieve the American dream. In witness thereof I have unto set my hand and cause the Seal of Augusta, Georgia to be affixed this day of June 2016. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: I want to take a moment to applaud the efforts of our Housing and Community Development Department under the leadership of Director Welcher. His staff and what they’re doing in our community to provide meaningful opportunities for our citizens to live the American dream has not gone unnoticed and we certainly want to make certain all of our residents across Augusta understand that June 2016 is Homeownership Month and will hopefully provide opportunities for people to move into their first home. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) The Clerk: Honorable Sean Frantom, would you please come forward? Office of the Mayor whereas by these present it be known that the Honorable Sean Frantom Commissioner District 7 is the first sitting Commissioner on the Augusta Georgia Commission to celebrate the occasion of becoming a brand new parent. You had what it takes, you embraced the challenge, th showed the world that you could do it. Whereas on April 26 2016 Charles Emory Frantom was born and whereas being a first time Dad is an incredible experience. And whereas the Augusta Commission encourages you to enjoy all the busy moments that parenthood brings your way. On this special occasion we congratulate, pray and hope that you, Jennifer and your baby boy have a th healthy life filled with nothing but joy and happiness. Given unto my hand this 7 Day of June 2016, Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor. Congratulations. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Frantom: First off, thank you all so much for this. Charles Emory was born at 7:39, 7 pounds 4 ounces, 19 ½ inches long, I’ll never forget those numbers. But it’s been a great twelve days. I never changed a diaper until his and I’ve changed about over a hundred in 12 days. So thank you all for the love and support. It means a lot from the City of Augusta and all my sitting Commissioners. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: Congratulations. All right, wonderful. I thank the Commission for thinking about Commissioner Frantom, I remember those days well. All right, okay, all right, we’re going to, Madam Clerk, let’s do one thing let’s dispose of the delegation that we have on the agency --- The Clerk: Yes, sir. th Mr. Mayor: --- then we’ll take an opportunity to recognize the Commissioner from the 4. 2 DELEGATIONS A.Mr. Mike Samadi regarding property located at 4013 Belair Rd., Augusta 30909. The Clerk: Mr. Mike Samadi has requested that this item be deferred from today’s agenda. We need a motion do we have unanimous consent to delete it or --- Mr. Mayor: We do, from the agenda. Mr. Sias: I’m good with deleting it. The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Speaker: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right thank you. All right the Chair is going to recognize the th Commissioner from the 4 for a Point of Personal Privilege. Mr. Sias: Thank you Mr. Mayor. At this time, I want to recognize two very distinguished individuals who served Fort Gordon and the CSRA area for a long time. That would be Colonel Tom Tuckey from the CSRA Alliance Executive Director and his replacement Retired Sergeant Major Tom Clark. Can we get you gentlemen to stand? All right, let’s give them a hand. (APPLAUSE) Thank you all so much for coming, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right thank you, Commissioner Sias. The Chair recognizes the th Commissioner from the 5 for a Point of Personal Privilege. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I just want to make one correction that’s Retired Command Sergeant Major. The Clerk: So noted, sir. Mr. Sias: Make that post Sergeant Major as well, okay? Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Okay this is good I like this, this is typical how it functions in the Legislative body you take all the Points of Personal Privilege first and you deal with that and st dispose of that. All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1 for a Point of Personal Privilege. Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Mayor, I’d also like to acknowledge the presence of the newly elected Commissioner for District 5 and the presence of the newly elected House Representative I think its 124 or 125? Mr. Mayor: 125. Mr. Fennoy: 125 Ms. Sheila Nelson and Mr. Andrew Jefferson. 3 Mr. Mayor: All right so if you’ll please stand. All right (APPLAUSE). All right congratulations anybody else? That’s right anybody else. All right there being none everybody’s on ready. Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Yes, sir, I call your attention to our consent agenda which consists of items 1- 24, items 1-24. For the benefit of any objectors to our alcohol petitions once those petitions are read would you please signify your objections by raising your hand. I call your attention to: Item 1: Is for a request for a wholesale Beer License to be used in connection with Savannah River Brewing Company at 1813 Fifth Street. Item 2: Is for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in connection with Foxes Lair located at 349 Telfair Street. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to either one of those alcohol petitions? Okay, Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, our consent agenda consists of items 1-24 which no objectors to our alcohol petitions. Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic. All right, the Chair will entertain any motions to add or remove items from the consent agenda. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from st the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Yes, I’d like to add item number 25 to the consent agenda. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right there’s an objection, all right, there’s an objection. The Chair th recognizes the Commissioner from the 5. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chair, I would like to --- The Clerk: Mr. Lockett, can I get you to pull your mike down, sir? Mr. Lockett: --- thank you, ma’am. I would like to pull agenda item number nine please. th Mr. Mayor: Okay. All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I too would like let’s have some understanding about number nine but I like to get clarity about number seven as well. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. M. Williams: I’m not opposed to it but I’d to get just a little history to see what that grant is exactly. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, item number seven. Are there any others? All right, the Chair recognizes Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Yes, sir, and I apologize for not getting this out. Item number 8 the Administrator is requesting that that item be deleted from today’s agenda due to a bid protest submission. 4 Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so we’ll remove that one and then dispose of it afterwards, Madam Clerk. All right, any other motions? All right, so again items nine and seven remove from the consent agenda to be placed on the regular agenda and debate it and then item number eight we will delete from the agenda in its entirety. Mr. Sias: Move to approve the consent. Ms. Davis: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PUBLIC SERVICES 1. Motion to approve New Application: A.N. 16-22: request by Steven B. Ellison for a wholesale Beer License to be used in connection with Savannah River Brewing Company, LLC located at 813 Fifth Street. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee May 31, 2016) 2. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 16-23: request by Charles R. Hardin for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Olde Town Innterprizes d/b/a Foxes Lair located at 349 Telfair Street. There will be Dance. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee May 31, 2016) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 3. Motion to approve amending the schedule for 2016 strategic workshop. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee May 31, 2016) PUBLIC SAFETY 4. Motion to approve entering into a Mutual Aid Agreement with the City of North Augusta to provide for the protection of life and property of the citizens of Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia and North Augusta and to authorize the Mayor to execute the appropriate documents. (Approved by Public Safety Committee May 31, 2016) 5. Motion to approve the renewal of Superior Court’s case manager service agreement. (Approved by Public Safety Committee May 31, 2016) 6. Motion to approve acceptance of Criminal Justice Coordinating Council 2017 Grant Award for the Accountability Court DUI court program. (Approved by Public Safety Committee May 31, 2016) FINANCE 8. Motion to approve award of RFP #16-128 for Financial Advisor for debt issuance and economic development project evaluation to Davenport & Company. Authorize the Mayor and Clerk of Commission to execute contract for professional services. (Approved by Finance Committee May 31, 2016) ENGINEERING SERVICES 10. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of the entire parcel, (Parcel 087-4-150- 00-0) 2027 Leona Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) 5 11. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of the entire parcel, (Parcel 087-4-139- 00-0) 2049 Leona Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) 12. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of the entire parcel, (Parcel 087-4-146- 00-0) 2035 Leona Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) 13. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of the entire parcel, (Parcel 087-4-166- 00-0) 2028 Leona Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) 14. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for right-of- way (Parcel 087-2-166-00-0) 2022 Walnut Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) 15. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for right-of- way (Parcel 193-0-075-00-0) 2454 A Patterson Bridge Road. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) 17. Motion to approve the deeds of dedication, maintenance agreements, and road resolutions submitted by the Engineering and Augusta Utilities Departments for Hanes Station, Phase IV. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) 18. Motion to approve funding for Engineering Consultant Services Supplemental Agreement Four to URS Corporation (now merged with AECOM) in the amount of $169,200.00 for the Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS) Master Plan Project as requested by the AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) 19. Motion to approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Augusta, Georgia and the Richmond County Board of Health (RCBOH) to provide inspection and mosquito control services for the City’s detention/retention ponds and ditches as requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) 20. Motion to approve the continued funding of the current On-Call Construction Management, Construction Inspection and Field Engineering CM_CI_FE) Services contract in the amount of $516,000. Funding is available in Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Projects Funds, SPLOST VI and TIA Discretionary Funds as requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) 21. Motion to approve Traffic Engineering’s purchase of thermoplastic striping material. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) 22. Motion to approve entering into a Project Framework Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the Wheeler Road at Robert C. Daniel Parkway Intersection Improvements Project (PI #0012866) as requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) 23. Motion to approve award of Bid #16-166 for the construction of Windsor Spring Road Sanitary Sewer Extension Project to Blair Construction, Inc. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 24. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held May 17, 2016 and Special Called Meeting held May 31, 2016) Mr. Mayor: Okay, before we vote I do have a question. In fact, let me do this. Let me add item number 16 to the, to be pulled, Madam Clerk, item 16. Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor --- 6 Mr. Mayor: Yeah. Mr. Sias: --- that wasn’t included in my motion but I’ll be happy to amend my motion per your request. Mr. Mayor: I would greatly appreciate it if you did that. Mr. Fennoy: I’ll second the amended motion. Mr. Sias: I made my motion to for the consent agenda to also include 16 as being pulled. Mr. Frantom: Second. Mr. Mayor: Right, all right fantastic. Okay all right, there being no additional items to add or pull from the agenda we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting. Motion Passes 10-0. [Items 1-6, 8, 10-15, 17-24] Mr. Mayor: All right, I want to make sure that everyone we fully understand that item 8 is requested to be deleted from the agenda in its entirety and brought back at another time. Okay, Madam Clerk, item 16. The Clerk: ENGINEERING SERVICES 16. Motion to approve entering into a Project Framework Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the Barton Chapel Road at Gordon Highway Improvements Project (PI #0012868) as requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 31, 2016) Mr. Mayor: Okay all right. Director Ladson, a simple question. Several months ago we had a constituent who came before us with regards to street lights on Barton Chapel Road and there was an action taken by this body to meet with that individual. Then there was a transition in terms of who was handling that. Does this Project Framework Agreement by chance include street lights or can it be amended to address that issue because I know that this is an open item that has not been resolved pursuant to that same constituent coming down just a day ago I believe, Ms. Bonner? The Clerk: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Ladson: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission this particular item actually addresses the intersection as it relates to left turn lanes whether they be single or dual lefts on Gordon Highway, not Gordon Highway but on Barton Chapel Road. Now it’s, this item is to fund the actual concept in the study so it may it could be amended that lights could be included in this particular item. So that’s, we’re just starting the ball on this particular project so what’s being funded is $200,000 dollars for the engineering portion of it. 7 Mr. Mayor: Okay and would it be prudent for us to give consideration to include in that knowing that we have an existing framework to look at that? Mr. Ladson: We, I can get with Ms. Wilson and we may be able to amend the amendment to consider that. Mr. Mayor: I’m looking for guidance from you. I just know that it’s an open item and one that you will hear again in two weeks if we don’t have a productive step towards resolving that. th All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. On this particular item to include the street lights I have a concern, Mr. Mayor, and to Mr. Ladson because for me that seems that we’re kind of pushed that idea back. Basically for the street lights we should’ve been at the point where we have not did the survey with the citizens to go ahead and get these lights installed. And so my question to you, Mr. Ladson, would that put us in a backwards direction if we go back and include this in this? Mr. Ladson: No, sir, because we’re just starting the planning process. The initial investment of the funds on this particular project is to start the planning and engineering process. We’re just funding the first portion of this so it could while during the planning stage that hey we need to add street lights or we need instead of doing a single left turn we may need to do a dual left turn lane so all of these need to be determined during this phase. Mr. Sias: I’m still very concerned because this is almost a study and you know we can it could be five more years before we get to that part. Street lights don’t need to wait that long so I’ve got a concern about doing it that way. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Well, you know I couldn’t agree with you more, I wouldn’t want to wait five th years either. And so I know the Commissioner from the 5 is equally concerned about this and th the Commissioner from the 4 if you’ve got a better alternative this just appeared to be a likely mechanism to be able to address that ongoing issue but if you’ve got a better alternative I would th certainly be open to entertaining that. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My concern I indicated several months ago when Barton Chapel at Wrightsboro Road was that intersection was opened up. Why haven’t we or do we have plans to continue what began there down Barton Chapel Road all the way at least to Deans Bridge? Mr. Ladson: As far as the lighting? Mr. Lockett: Not only the lighting but as far as the road itself. You know we expect to have the same thing done with the road there as was done at in close proximity to Baron Chapel and Wrightsboro Road that opened several months ago. Mr. Ladson: There not, there’s no plan right now. We are looking at the street lights and staff is looking at that but there was some improvements that was done to Barton Chapel probably about ten years ago. Mr. Lockett: But that’s dated already. 8 Mr. Ladson: Yes. Mr. Lockett: You know and we are in desperate need as former Commissioner Hankerson was in here some months ago talking about the same things that needs to be looked at. And I think that you could probably find that that would be one of our priorities. Mr. Ladson: Okay. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: All right thank you, sir. All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from th the 4. Mr. Sias: Real quick, sir, thank you. As I think you said if I had a better alternative, in this case I believe I do. Having had the experience of doing we’ve had this body recently did some street lights out in a subdivision area I believe off Brown Road or somewhere out there they had no street lights. Also we did one at the Arbor at Sand Ridge they had no street lights. So bottom line that process was fairly short in time sequence getting the residents to sign a petition and getting And so, that rolling. So I think that would be the absolute quickest and best way to move on this. Mr. Mayor, I would move that we approve this agenda item as stated without adding that particular piece from Barton Chapel. Mr. Lockett: Second. Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second to adopt this measure. Any additional th discussion? All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner form the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I’m just looking at the agenda item, it says Engineering. Does this engineering work this light work I mean we’re mixing apples and strawberries up and they’re all fruit but is the Engineering what we’re doing or are we doing lights? Mr. Mayor: Well, lights are not included in this, Commissioner, lights are not included in th this as the Commissioner from the 4 indicated. You’re voting on this measure as written and the project framework as Director Ladson indicated is strictly engineering design. Mr. M. Williams: I’m thinking the engineering design would come back and tell us some things that we may need to add the lights and do that at the proper time. Now we’re going to get ahead because I’ve know these fellas know a little bit more about that type work but I’m just looking at the agenda item and want to do it the right way. Mr. Mayor: Well, I want to do it the right way too that’s why I just thought I’d ask the th question but let’s vote on this measure. The Commissioner from the 5 and the Commissioner th from the 4 they’re going to work aggressively on making sure that former Commissioner Bobby Hankerson and the residents out there get the lights they need on Barton Chapel Road, I’m confident of that. Voting. Motion Passes 10-0. 9 The Clerk: Are we moving forward in sequence now sir or are we, seven and nine we’re pulled. Mr. Mayor: Let’s go to number seven, I’ll follow your lead. The Clerk: PUBLIC SAFETY 7. Motion to approve acceptance of 2017 Criminal Justice Coordinating Council grant award. (Approved by Public Safety Committee May 31, 2016) Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Page. Ms. Page: First of all my apologies. That was my error in not making that more clear on the agenda for everyone. But that is the state court Veterans Court Grant that our court received last year and it’s a continuing grant that we use to operate the state court Veterans Court Program. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. M. Williams: So moved, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Lockett: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right motion and a second to approve. Voting. Motion Passes 10-0. The Clerk: FINANCE 9. Motion to approve establishing a subcommittee to analyze, review and report back to the Commission on establishing a “South Augusta Development Authority”. (Approved by Finance Committee May 31, 2016) th, Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes the distinguished gentleman from the 5 Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I fully think that a Development Authority in South Augusta is definitely needed. It was needed years ago because the development there has been stymied because we don’t really have anybody looking out for us as far as retail is concerned. But my concern is with the process that we anticipate using. As a member or the Commission we are the governing authority and according to Georgia Municipal Association we have legislative responsibilities involved in setting policies for the government by enacting various ordinances, resolutions and regulations. And secondly, we have administrative responsibilities that deal with the implementation of policies and procedures established by the governing body. Now I said that to say this we need to have someone to concentrate on South Augusta specifically especially dealing with retail. But I wish the maker of this agenda item would allow me to make a substitute motion and task the Administrator with this. I think the Administrator would be in a much better 10 position to coordinate with our Downtown Development Authority we have now, with the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, with the Chamber and with others to get this done. I think too many times we as members of the governing body we’re relegated to tasks that should be done by the employees of Augusta Richmond County excluding us. So I wish that we would have an open mind and consider what I said because it’s not our job to go out and do this, this is why we are part time and under paid. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. I know there’s a lot of passion about this issue. It certainly is as a resident of south Augusta I am equally concerned. The Chair recognizes the Dean of the th Commission Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: I’m back, Ms. Bonner. Mr. Mayor, I really think that something needs to be done and I ain’t got no problem with some dialogue some conversation. But I’ve got a little problem when you create any kind of authority. Now we just heard Commissioner Lockett talking about the Georgia Municipal Association and all the training and different stuff. When you create an authority you better know what you’re doing because once you create an authority this governing body’s hands is off of it because it is an authority. Now I know we talked about the Downtown Development that we got the several other authorities in Augusta. I think we need to have some dialogue some conversation but you just don’t have, you just don’t put a business have a group to put a business in our area because you think it’s blighted. There’s got to be a need and if you’ve got a need the businesses will follow. Not only that but there’s got to be maintenance work done, some upgrades done for businesses to decide to come into that whatever area. So I think we know that’s the only area we’ve got left to grow is south Augusta I mean you can say what you want to that’s the only one we’ve got left. So but we need to make sure we don’t create something that we are discussing back and forth with another group and that’s why I think we’re in the junction we’re in now. Commissioner Lockett eluded to it a few minutes ago. This body ought to be the leading body to decide and make those decisions but we’ve got other groups around this city who’s not necessarily elected but runs the government in one facet of another one. So I’ve got no problem with you know putting a group together for the subcommittee to talk about it and coming back but I don’t want to sit here thinking we’re going to create an authority that we say we’re going to control and we’re going to help and we’re going to work together with because once an authority and the Georgia Municipal Association will clarify what an authority has and what it don’t have. There’s a difference in the enterprise then there’s a very different in an authority so when you create that and it’s not just in Augusta, they’re all over Georgia. So when you create one you’d better know what you’re creating because if you don’t you end up tying yourself up even worse. So those are my comments I’ve got no problem with the conversation and talk about it, talk about retail talk about things but you just don’t put a grocery store or a convenience store or even a dress shop on a corner because you think it ought to be there. There’s got to be a need it just don’t look good on that corner and don’t work; there’s got to be a facility that’s going to be able to attract the community. Somebody’s going to be able to stay there and grow with it so there’s a lot of facets to it, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Yes, you’re absolutely correct a variety of facets to it. All right the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem Smith and then I’m going to go down to the far end and recognize th the Commissioner from the 5. 11 Mr. Smith: Mr. Mayor, what I you know had in mind was just a thought but you know the DDA will gather the Downtown Authority folks maybe we should task them to help out and kind of zero in on the south Augusta area along with some of the folks out there that are involved such as some of the people in Pride and Progress and a couple of other things. Maybe they can mix in and blend in and learn what we’ve done over here taking care of downtown and everything and work together to kind of promote the you know the south side of town. And there’s a lot of good areas there with the right ideas I believe could really take off. And you know just get them to blend in and report back to us maybe you know in a few months of what they’ve come up with. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, very good. All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner th from the 5. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I don’t think the motion necessarily hinders us from having all of this discussions around the comments that were made. I think that as we have discussions I think it would be broad minded enough to do what needs to be done. I think first to committee we ought to take it to Commissioner Williams’ comment that we need to have a discussion. We may get in there and find out sometimes there’s some another options and I think we’re open minded enough to say that at the end of the day I just thought you know I’m just a little surprised you know by one or two comments. But for the most part I think it gives us the latitude but I do think we would like to be a part of this discussion. It is something that has been an ongoing conversation in south Augusta. Whether we do it this way or any other kind of way I think it’s important for them to see that we take it seriously. I think if we decide in doing something different of all the things that the Administrator has going on right now and not for us to see as a visible visibility from this body and other entities. Commissioner Smith just mentioned the DDA. Margaret Woodard is a part of this process per the motion and would be able to give us her expertise of commission to your point. So I think there would be enough people at the table to have a broad enough conversation that if we decide if this body decides to do something different, remember it’s just a recommending body for a lot of different conversations about what And I would make a motion that we needs to be done to grow and develop South Augusta. approve the motion that’s there. Mr. Sias: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right I’ve got a motion and a second okay from the Commissioner from thth the 4. All right I’m going back to my left the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m going to kind of take it back on Mayor Pro Tem. Retail Strategies is who works with the DDA and Downtown Augusta. They brought Zoe’s Kitchen, Which Witch, World of Beer; this group already has the relationships, they’re the experts at this and I feel like you know I’m not against, we’ve got to have some developments out in South Augusta I’m in 100% agreement and I’m going to support that. But working with this company and expanding their footprint in my mind gets us it’s more efficient and it gets us quicker results. And I hope that this committee will look at all avenues when they’re meeting. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 and then the th Commissioner from the 8. 12 Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. For one thing for me it’s forever we talk the talk but when it’s time to walk the walk we seem to be afraid. We’re talking about putting a committee together to analyze and review this and bring back a recommendation. With some of the comments I’ve heard I would think that we had locked the Development Authority in it and when we vote it today it was going to be a done deal. What we are talking about is establishing a committee to bring a recommendation for what we would need as far as a development authority in South Augusta. This for me this conversation started in 2008 and we talked about a retail or commercial retail concept initiative. We talked about a developmental authority and this committee is one that can put together and bring back a recommendation to this body based on input from all across this county outside this county and everybody else that wants to come up and give some opinion and some expertise to that committee, and that’s what that committee’s about. But this conversation started in 2008 and we’re trying to work on this now nearly ten years. So I would just ask that we at least give the committee concept an opportunity. And as far as a name the Development Authority if you go to Atlanta there’s nine, there are nine development authorities in the Atlanta area. We have two we have two here already that’s not nothing frightening about the name development authority. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Hasan: Point of Personal Privilege, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right just hold I’ll come back to recognize you. I’m going to give everybody an opportunity to speak who hasn’t spoken at this point. The Chair recognizes the th Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. You know I’m hearing a lot of good remarks on the floor. We’ve got to look out for Augusta as a whole. We realized only potential growth for there is in south Richmond County and I understand that, I drive it every day. But we’ve got to learn how to retain the retail or any kind of business here in Augusta to see what it takes to keep them here. Instead of closing the doors we’ve got to support our local businesses, there’s no doubt about that. I’ve seen it so many times on Highway 56 where these Mom and Pop’s open up a restaurant and nobody supports it. But you know this is what it’s going to take we’ve got to support our local businesses in order for it to succeed. Listening I agree with everything everybody has been saying because we do have to focus on it. My only concern is after talking with Walter Sprouse with the Development Authority it was, it was havoc in Macon, Georgia because you’ve got a development authority there and then there was a just like we have here is a committee. I think if the maker of the motion would change it to South Augusta Development Committee that way people don’t get mistaken from outside the area so that we realize that there is one. I’m glad to be a part of it, I’m glad that Commissioner Sias had reached out to me before he put it on this agenda to see if I wanted to be a part and I thank him and I thank the rest who’s going to be a part of it. I know that we’re going to have private developers, DDA the Development Authority and anybody who actually is progressive. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and thank you, Mr. Sias. st Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1 to speak on the matter. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, from East Augusta all the way out to Goshen Plantation east of Deans Bridge Road you only have two grocery stores. I think both of those are Bi Los. You don’t have any hotels or motels. I think that and then you’ve got the airport and when people come in 13 or fly into Augusta they have to go all the way to Washington Road in order to find a decent place to live or a decent place to eat. I think that if we want to make Augusta truly a destination spot then we have got to include South Augusta and we have to have people that are committed to making that happen. I think what is being proposed is a recommendation or committee to put their heads together and bring back a recommendation. We don’t have to like their recommendation and if we don’t like it we don’t have to support it but I think that at this point in time we need some people sitting down putting their heads together and bring back to us what is in the best interest of that area. If we like it, we support it then if we don’t we tell them to go back to the drawing board and bring us something different. But the longer we prolong this is really not doing us any good. So I think that we need to move forward and at least have people talking about what it is we need to do that’s going to bring some retail, going to bring some restaurants and that’s going to improve the quality of life not only for the people that live in South Augusta but people that live throughout Richmond County. Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right so all right while everybody’s thinking I’ve got your hand on this end and I’ve got two hands on this end. I’m going to make a suggestion I want to draw everybody’s attention to Tab 9 in your books, Tab 9 in your books. The lead sheet once again spells out in the caption what is being requested but also talks about somewhat of a narrative or idea of what this subcommittee will be tasked to do and what it ultimately looks like. I have a suggestion that if you’re going to have this conversation that you include the Development Authority as a part of this process and the reason I say that is that they are already engaged in that conversation. And as such since you’re acknowledging that this is nothing more than a group tasked to come together and to discuss wholeheartedly the idea of retail commercial investments in the South Augusta corridor having one more group at the table who already is actively engaged in the efforts of economic growth and development it certainly couldn’t hurt those efforts by no stretch of the imagination. That would be my recommendation to just add that. Mr. Sias: No problem with that. Mr. Mayor: Other than that if somebody’s prepared to make that in the form of a motion I certainly would be ready to entertain that. All right --- Mr. Hasan: Would that be amending the motion? Mr. Mayor: --- it would be, it would be. Mr. Hasan: And I’d still like my Point of Personal Privilege. Mr. Mayor: I’m going to come to you I promise, I’m going to come to you. All right I’m th going to go to the Commissioner from the 5. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe about a year and a half ago a little longer I heard on a continuous basis the words “One Augusta”. That’s what we need now. I spoke with the people from the Downtown Development Authority several years ago about their lack of support for South Augusta and I was told at that time they had no qualms at all with doing that but they would have to have adequate staff in order to do that. So if we’re going to expand their footprint into South Augusta we’re going to have to make sure that they have the people to do it. If we did that we would continue to have continuity. But who would have in this government the 14 expertise to put a team of people together to go out and study and find out what the needs in South Augusta are and how we can go about implementing our Development Authority footprint in South Augusta. This is why we have an Administrator, two Deputy Administrators and others, this is their responsibility. What the governing body does is direct them, task them with doing this and when they come back they report to us with their recommendation. I mean the idea of having coverage in South Augusta I support it now and I’ve been supporting it for years. But the methodology we talk about using this is what I am in opposition to. Now with the Administrator taking the lead on this I can support it but with a Commission Subcommittee consisting of Commissioners I have to vote no on that because that is not a part of our powers and duties as Commissioners. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: All right, all right well I thought we were going to get to a posture but I’m not convinced right now. All right here’s what I want to, all right I’m going to -- Mr. Sias: Call for the question. th Mr. Mayor: All right I’m going to go down to the Commissioner from the 6 for a Point of Personal Privilege then I’m going to come back. th Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I appreciate it. My colleague from the 8 Mr. Mayor I think he made a comment about a conversation he had with Walter Sprouse from the Economic Development Authority. Well in Fulton County Commissioner Sias mentioned about nine authorities I think there’s about fourteen, about fourteen. And so just to create another one that to say people are going to get automatically confused I think is a bit misleading with that. For me personally it’s not my motion I mean I made the motion but it’s not my agenda item, I’m sorry. If it was up to me I wouldn’t put him on the committee I wouldn’t even be near the committee if it was up to me but it’s not, I just have a vote. Also when you talk about retail strategy retail strategy is a company I’m not directly familiar with but I’ve had a conversation with Ms. Woodward about the body of the work that they do. I’ve also had a conversation with Hawthorne Welcher about the body of work they do. As a matter of fact, I’m supposed to have lunch with him one day but I was not able to I think it was on the same day I lost my Mother if I’m not mistaken. So we’re very familiar with those so I don’t think in a very real way all the comments that’s been made all of those parties in their own way can participate in this conversation no different as we do with the subcommittees that I’m not associated with as a member of that subcommittee I attend the ones I’m interested in. So all these parties, all these different conversations they had an opportunity to come there and be recognized and weigh in on that conversation and be heard. So I think it goes back to getting this conversation started and so we can do some things because what happens with the families in South Augusta they feel neglected once again it becomes a stall tactic, let’s get the conversation started and see where it ends up. But I think once again to your point Mr. Mayor I see fully what you’re bringing to our attention but what’s on the agenda I think you’re absolutely right about what’s there it’s very clear but I do think are broad minded enough to that we get in there we realize that we need to do something different I think we will do something different. I think Commissioner Guilfoyle made a good suggestion because it is a committee you know what I’m saying, it’s not an authority it’s a committee we’re forming right now. So all those things have merit. So I don’t think anything we’ve said that’s it’s falling on deaf ears but everything that I said this conversation is just like Prego in terms of what we’re trying to do here. It’s in there; I think we need to move on it and get the work done. 15 th Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I agree with what Commissioner Hasan just said I’m just looking at the back up and how this did not come through committee and had the dialogue that we’re having right now we should’ve had that in committee where people could’ve at least weighed in and weighed out whether you agreed to disagree. But the committee’s already been set up by somebody I mean I guess the smart folks down here already knew who was good on what and what it should be because it’s about ten even go outside with the Tax Commissioner and State Representative and all this. I mean we’re putting people in a room who have not even had the opportunity just to sit down and talk with each other. I think this is the right thing to do we’ve got to talk about it but you can’t, all these smart folks, Mr. Mayor, that might be in the wrong position we got to understand that you have to work with people. You can’t plan for them; you’ve got to plan with them. And people are trying to plan for folks whether it be South Augusta or any part of Augusta we’ve got to plan with people and we ought to at least have a conversation to talk. Since 2008 and we ain’t had a conversation yet and we think we can put this together and do it now, you ain’t got my support on it. st Mr. Mayor: All right well all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Call for the question. Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right okay, we’ve got a call for the question. All right the Chair th recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. You know I’m about sick and tired of hearing about these smart people, I’m going to just tell you. Well we’ve got a, well, this is a recommendation it ain’t nobody planning for anybody none of that kind of foolishness this is here’s an opportunity we can put a committee together to look at this, it’s a simple as that. And if we’ve got to have that kind of angst about that that’s fine let’s vote it up or down. Mr. Mayor: Well, you’ve had a call for the question all right you can vote up or down. All right so we’ve got a motion before us we’ve got a motion before us all right --- Mr. Fennoy: Do you need a roll call, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: --- everybody suspend. All right the machine’s been unlocked everybody voting. Jeff, have we corrected the issue with the screen we’re only seeing three names. The Clerk: Let me for the record the two voting No, Commissioner Lockett and Commissioner Marion Williams. Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Lockett vote No. Motion Passes 8-2. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, I think I want to go to Item 26. The Clerk: 16 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 26. Motion to adopt a Fair Chance Hiring Initiative otherwise referred to as “Ban the Box” policy for Augusta-Richmond County, and direct staff to put together any required changes to Augusta’s Personnel Policies and Procedure Manual to effectuate the Fair Chance Hiring Initiative by the next Commission meeting. (Requested by Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.) Mr. Smith: We might as well start with the Mayor would you like to say a few words down at the podium? Mr. Mayor: Just a few words, Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Smith: Okay, I want to get it rolling before they throw the darts. Mr. Mayor: I want to draw everybody’s attention to your screens. Over the last several months I had a series of conversations with many of you as it relates to a critical issue facing not only our community but communities all across the State of Georgia and that’s been lively conversation. But today I want to take a step forward. A moment ago the Commissioner from the th 4 indicated as we were debating this previous measure at a time for us not to just talk the talk but th walk the walk. In the same conversation the Commissioner from the 6 indicated to us that we need to something and we need to do it now. People have waited long enough and that same holds true in our community. Folks have waited long enough who are returning citizens who need that opportunity for a share chance and a fresh start. And so research continues to tell us that individuals who return to the community after having been incarcerated have been on the wrong side of the law that when they have a job it provides them with an opportunity to take care of their families, provide them with an opportunity not only to take care of their families but it provides financial incentives so that they do not engage in illegals behaviors moving forward. So the question becomes why should we do this? The reason we should do this for a variety of reasons, employers are not hiring people with records. I think that when you look at the fact that in America there are 2.2 million people who are behind bars in America. Nearly 600 individuals return to Augusta annually; in fact, 600 returned last year from Georgia’s Correctional Facilities. Employers not hiring individuals with records studies continue to demonstrate to us and tell us that those individuals often times go through the chilling effect of being stigmatized and not given opportunities to be contributing citizens to our community. As we look at that, employment reduces reoffending. Here in the State of Georgia our Governor has led nationally with Criminal Justice Reform and now we as a city Augusta, Georgia has an opportunity to do the same in leading in this area in this region by providing folks with a fresh start with a fair chance. We also know that we should look at doing this because removing job barriers helps the economy and quite frankly it’s good for business. When we hire people with records it’s better for public safety; employment drives down reoffending. And so today we have an opportunity to move beyond just talking to actually doing something. As your agenda item it’s a very simple one and I want to draw attention to that here in just a moment. It’s good for business adopting a fair chance policy it offers us a proven solution. I want you to look at this from this perspective. Austin, Texas is the number one place in the country to start a small business. Interestingly enough Mayor Steve Adler and the good folks in Austin, Texas have endorsed their band the box policy and here’s what they say. We don’t hire people because they have records; we hire people because they’re the most qualified. As a social responsibility for government to help enable the people that benefit the community they’re extremely talented and qualified people who happen to have records. They’re 17 just a productive as people who do not have criminal records. Even the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota has adopted a Fair Chance Policy and it’s time for us to do the same thing here in Augusta. Over the last several months we’ve opened up a number of coffee houses and brew pubs in our city and Joey Turner owner of Brew Coffee Houses in Fort Worth Texas here’s what he said. Employees with criminal records who we’ve hired many of them it’s not just a job for them. It’s their life, it’s the on ramp for them to get back into society and they’ve inspired our staff because they’re serious. What are the consequences of not doing something? We can see it all across Augusta but without question for those of you that are on the Commission I want you to look at the consequences of a record as it relates to job callbacks are reduced by 50% for people with records and it’s more despair for African Americans. I submit to all of us in this audience today that every one of us knows someone who has been on the wrong side of the law. In fact, statistics tell us that one in four Americans have at some point in time been on the wrong side of the law. Disproportionally African Americans are affected and often times they are affected more greatly when it comes to reemployment opportunities. So we’ve got an opportunity gap to be able to close here. Today we have in the audience someone some one that many of you may very well know. Michael Harvey he served on my Criminal Justice Reform Advisory Committee. Michael has a family he has grandchildren and he has parents who are well respected in our community and quite frankly he’s respected as well. To the proud alumni of Lucy Craft Laney High School Michael Harvey is a Laney Alumni Association Member as well. Would you please stand, Michael? He serves in his church, he mentors young men to encourage them to make wise choices and 15 years ago Michael was convicted of a crime. He was at the wrong place at the right time. He served his time paid his debt to society and I’ve heard that often today, people just need to pay that debt to society. Well, on the other side of being released from my time of incarceration I’ve now paid that debt to society and I’m looking for society to give me a fair chance at making a better life for myself, for my family, my children and my children’s children, Michael has done that. He had a hard time finding a job. Three years after he returned Michael was excited because he got a chance he made it to the 5%. He got a call to an interview. He went through a background screening, he took a drug test an ultimately an offer to be a man again, an opportunity to put his boots to work every day a second chance to provide for his family and to help his aging mother. Michael worked 8 years for a chemical company here that gave him that chance and has worked for his current employer which provided him a better opportunity for the last three years. Michael had a hard time getting a call back because he could never get past the weeding out process from checking a box on the application and he couldn’t get an opportunity to tell the story that I’m better than I was and better than what I did when I was younger. We have an opportunity to give folks that fresh start. This is not a new thing to the State of Georgia, thank you, Michael. In fact, in the State of Georgia there are other cities, cities that we often times look at what they’ve done and pursuit, Albany. Our current Administrator, former city manager of the City of Albany, Georgia. They enacted a Fair Chance Policy under the leadership of Mayor Dorothy Hubbard. Atlanta, Georgia, Columbus Muskogee another consolidated government, Fulton County, Macon-Bibb County, the latest city to consolidate. And for those of you who refer back to your packages that we provided you Governor Deal through executive order in 2014 banned the boxed for all state agencies. Interestingly enough our illustrious Augusta University they now are providing opportunities to individuals across this community. But it doesn’t stop there we’ve also got companies that have adopted Fair Chance Policies. American Airlines, Georgia’s own Coco Cola Company, Google, Starbucks, Starbucks facility that we’re all very proud of $172-million-dollar investment here in the City of Augusta right down the road in Commissioner Guilfoyle’s district, 18 Target, Wal-Mart and even the Koch Brothers have seen how important this issue is to American and they too have joined the call for by-partisan legislation for the federal government to ban the box as well. By not doing this it leads to reduced output for goods and services where people with prior records estimated at $57 to 65 billion dollars in losses to our nation’s economy. So what is this? What are we really talking about? What are we talking about? The chilling effect is real to Michael and to the network of people who find themselves back at home trying to make a mortgage payment or car payment who simply can’t get an opportunity. Ban the Box simply refers to removing the conviction history from job applications. We’ve had this conversation with our new H.R. Director. He comes from a city who has in fact done this as well and knows that it’s very simple for us to do that. It gives us an opportunity to consider and expand a pool of talented people. Ban the Box provisions allow us to do that. What are the Fair Chance Hiring Policies? So currently 23 states 100 cities and counties around the country have adopted a Ban the Box for Fair Chance Policies. These include delayed conviction history inquires. The question that many of you have is well do me just summarily throw out all background checks? No, we still have an opportunity to do that. The process regarding reverse decisions. You have a process in place whereby which you’re able to ask the questions. Why is that important? It’s important because the current practices are often times discriminatory to people of all types, shapes, sizes and persuasions. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission even has provided guidelines of how we should in fact look at arrest and conviction record guidelines and it provides accuracy and transparency to protect other workers. I want to mention a couple of other things here as it relates to Augusta’s Fair Chance Policy. These are all things that we can do. It’s my understanding that there’s been some discussion as it relates to the P3PM and that there’s been some conversation that we can if fact do this through talking with the consultant. We can’t wait until July; we shouldn’t wait until July. We’ve got almost 600 people who are returning to our community on th an annual basis. The time is now as I’ve heard from the Commissioner from the 4 and from the th; 6 our time is now as a city to do something. And so we find ourselves at this place. Ban the Box, limited background checks for finalists for positions without question all law enforcements positions. In fact, our Sheriff’s Department already has a policy and a program in place to be able to handle and address these types of issues. And without question anyone who works in and around children there are still things that must be done from a policy and procedures standpoint. And then we adopt the EEOC guidelines that look at job relatedness as opposed to just summarily throwing people out. And so I want to mention in my closing Augusta’s had a very interesting history in the short time we’ve been here in office. Several weeks ago a gentleman by the name of Bob Boysworth. He’s a graduate of Westside High School; he’s another one of Augusta’s sons. Bob applied to join our team as a groundskeeper. Ms. Cooper in the full time position of groundskeeper he would only earn $20,500 dollars per year. Bob and his family were so excited about his offer th that was contingent with a letter dated April the 12 2016. He was expected to start on April the th. 25They gave him just enough time to do what was expected to do the right thing by his current employer and give a two-week notice. Bob checked the box that was on our application today and in his interview Bob told the staff that he interviewed with about his criminal history yet he was clearly the best qualified candidate for the job, in fact he was over qualified. You see Bob wanted this opportunity because he was sure that with his experience he could contribute to doing a great job of beautifying the City of Augusta and advance our landscaping and professional maintenance operations here. Why did he know that? Because Bob had performed the same duties at the Governor’s Mansion in Atlanta. Bob came with stellar recommendation letters from the Executive Director in Grounds Management of the Governor’s Mansion and the Director of the Georgia 19 Grounds Authority. Bob gave his employer a two-week notice, was ready to report to the City of thnd Augusta on Monday April the 25. But on Friday April the 22 he got a call that his offer was rescinded because he didn’t pass a criminal background check. Can you imagine that? The information he disclosed throughout the process and thought he was already cleared, Bob didn’t get an opportunity to come in or respond because of the laws we have on our books and since Bob was released home within the last five years which is what our P3M says. You see Bob went from being told yes to being told no. He had already paid his debt to society. The window of opportunity for a second chance a fresh start while open he was reminded of the iron door that closed behind him when he went into the penal institution. So my fellow Augustans and Commission members it’s a simple process, it’s a simple policy. Michael Harvey, Diane Gibbons, her son James, Bob Boysworth there are many others. We have an opportunity today through a very simple action and that is a motion to adopt the Fair Chance Hiring Initiative otherwise referred to as Banning the st Box and direct our staff to put together a proposal and come back to us on June the 21, that’s all. You’ve got Augustans who need your help; you’ve got citizens who are prepared. You’ve seen the cities that have already done this and so I ask my Commissioners let’s do the right thing right now and help somebody. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Mayor, we’ve got a few questions from up here. First of all, I’d like to say you know I’ve run a business for 40 years. There again you know I guess the comment was made earlier if you going to talk the talk, walk the walk. I’m in construction so one of the first places a lot of these folks come is out toward our edge of the industry. The thing is I would like to see something in order to help these guys and gals whoever they are but I also think we need a set of rules because I also have had personal friends, acquaintances and everything. One several years ago a lady worked at DFACS been there for a while worked late one evening a newly hired janitor that they didn’t check on had a bad background. And you’re going to have those bad apples but the thing about it is what happened to her you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. And then they found her parts all over out at the landfill about a week later. But you know I would like to have some discussion about it. I don’t want blindly come into something this evening but I’d like to set up some guidelines that suits Richmond County and who are we getting, what’s the statistics on returns and what to look for by other areas. Not just blanket and say come on in the door we’ll hire you. I had a guy that was working for me that was born in Atlanta you know a child molester and then we do service work going in people’s houses. Once I found that out and Sheriff Strength called me up and he said we’re going to send a car out to get him. The next thing I know they found him at the bus line somebody my secretary tipped him off. Okay but I’m just saying let’s set my guidelines --- Mr. Mayor: Mayor Pro Tem, Mayor Pro Tem --- Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- I want to hire people too but I don’t want to open the door and let everybody in the coliseum. Mr. Mayor: --- Mayor Pro Tem, if I could here’s what I would like for you to do. I want to draw your attention to Tab 26 in your notebook, I draw your attention to Tab 26 in your notebook. And for those that you’re on the screen I’m going to draw your attention to Slide 8. All right to your concern notice two things number one the caption reads, Motion to Adopt, okay? What it says is we’re going to direct staff to go and put those specifics into it. Today our P3M which every one of you has acknowledged in this setting and many other settings has a number of 20 challenges as it relates to clarity, ambiguity with how we handle individuals who are potential employees and quite frankly those who are current employees. And to that end, to that end what we have before us today is an opportunity to take a step forward for those individuals who are returning citizens who are your neighbors, your church members, your family members and the like that provides them with an opportunity to be given a fair chance at being employed in this government. It does not completely do away with background checks. It provides an opportunity at a point in which background checks can be conducted. So I want to dispel, you know, the fears around just opening the door and you just hire people because make no mistake about it, Mayor Pro Tem, this body this body here just in the last several months has taken occasion to hire individuals because of the role that they serve in who have been on the wrong side of the law. Make no mistake about it but we can’t do that on a case by case basis. We need consistency, we need clarity, we need equality, we need opportunity. I’ll take some more questions. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ll bypass my comments on that but anyway go ahead Commissioner. I mean I’m for helping everybody but dog gone how would like your wife to be working in an office down the hall and there was a serial killer or rapist down there I mean would you, I’m just, never mind. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Go ahead. Mr. Frantom: Mr. Mayor, how many applicants have been declined by our process in H.R., do you have that number, do you even know the percentage? Mr. Mayor: I’ve given you some specific examples. I gave you James Gibbons I’ve given not only James Gibbons but Bob Boysworth. Let me say this beyond those specific examples I’ve not tried to get you a data point but what I do know is this we have individuals who are returning to our community who are good Augustans. I also know that we have an inconsistency in our P3M as it relates to how those individuals are adjudicated and are processed --- Mr. Frantom: Well and I --- Mr. Mayor: --- that’s what I do. Mr. Frantom: --- asked that question to say you know we sit up here as a body and said this was going to go through the PPPM Subcommittee. Mr. Loeser said he had to hire a consultant via email and now let’s do it right as opposed to go ahead and pushing it through like we’re wanting to do right now based on this adoption because I come from a staffing background when I was in staffing they did check the box. I talked to the staffing company today. They’ve taken the box off and they kind of walked me through kind of what their process and thought process is. But my concern is because I was in staffing and they told me they have about four employees where you had this ideal candidate and you need the job filled. You’ve gone through all the process and the background comes back, I mean who’s going to hold that person accountable to make sure that they don’t have a pedophile in Parks and Rec? I mean that’s where my concern is of this is you know we have a social responsibility to the citizens of Richmond County as well in making sure that we do it right like Mayor Pro Tem said all of the things are laid out to where there’s true 21 understanding and we’re not grabbing here and grabbing there. And so that’s why for me today I just can’t support it from the standpoint I think we need more discussion and do it right. Mr. Mayor: All right, so I couldn’t agree with you more. You’ve articulated some very key points one, you’ve established a subcommittee. That’s good. But I submit to you as you said you have a responsibility to be concerned about the social welfare of the public. These individuals are part of that social fabric; not only are they part of that social fabric but this is not a piecemeal effort or an attempt to just do something haphazardly. If you go back to the caption and it’s the same debate that happened just moments ago as it relates to the issue of the South Augusta Development Authority. The caption is very clear; it says Motion to Adopt with the express purpose of directing staff that includes Mr. Loeser of going back and taking those model pieces of legislation and public policy which we’ve already talked about and discussed with him as well and putting that together and coming back to this body not waiting until August or September as it relates to the consultant and the P3M. We’ve done that before you know we established a rules committee at our last retreat and we’re still waiting to get the final outcome of that. This is a civil rights imperative this is a moral imperative that I think we need to do something about and do something now. We have the tools we have the metrics to be able to do that and the reality of it is as we’ve talked about many, many times in this government Ban the Box does not require us to hire somebody because of a record. We maintain the discretion to hire the most qualified candidates and so let us not confuse the emotional constructs of this issue with what we perceive as carte blanch to just hire people who are former offenders. I would not advocate that nor would I support that in anywise but I do believe no different than any other community. You’ve seen several on the screen have done this, states have done this, our own Governor has said we’re banning the box and implementing fair chance hiring policies across this entire state agency. 33,000 employees. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Lockett, go ahead. Mr. Lockett: --- thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Had I been in opposition to this with the sermon you preached during your five minutes I would be very supportive of it which I am. But I do have, you eluded to this. We have a consultant that is working as I speak on the policy portion of the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual. During a meeting with the consultant I specifically indicated that I wanted them to pay attention to Ban the Box. Now you indicated this needed to be expedited because I understand that people are coming out and I agree with that wholeheartedly. But from the time that we are supposed to get a report from the consultant if you look at the time the Administrator’s given to put something together which is a duplicated effort I have a problem with that. Why can’t we wait just the three or four weeks or whatever until the consultant comes back. I mean this is the people with the necessary expertise because I’m quite sure if the Administrator assumes this task she’s going to probably get in contact with the consultant I would imagine. Mr. Mayor: Certainly a fair question, Commissioner, but I wouldn’t task the Administrator with this. We have an H.R. Director who has come from a government that has already done this. Mr. Lockett: But you said --- 22 Mr. Mayor: To go a step further and indicate we have model policy right now that could be incorporated and any of these things included in whatever the consultant’s doing. It’s simply a different approach but it achieves the same outcome. Mr. Lockett: --- but your agenda item said direct staff. How can we direct staff and circumvent the Administrator? Mr. Mayor: We can do it a variety of ways. Mr. Lockett: Yeah, I know but the Administrator’s got to be involved. Mr. Mayor: I don’t dispute that. Mr. Lockett: So we’re already paying somebody big dollars to do this, to do the policy portion of it. Mr. Mayor: So as I understand it again I was not engaged in those conversations. We’re paying somebody to take the 284-page document that we refer to as the P3M and possibly make that a 40-page document and take that out of code which we should not have codified it way back when --- Mr. Lockett: I agree with you. Mr. Mayor: --- that’s what I understand. Mr. Lockett: Yeah but --- Mr. Mayor: That end to that end I understand that there have been conversations with him about look at what we should be doing from a Ban the Box perspective as well. Mr. Lockett: Yeah the only problem --- Mr. Mayor: I believe that those things can work in tandem. Mr. Lockett: --- yeah only for a policy perspective all the other stuff he’s not even touching right now. Mr. Mayor: I understand. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Mayor, I appreciate this speech you had given to us. For the record for the people to have a clear understanding I did meet with the Mayor last Wednesday from 3:00 o’clock to 4:30 when his Chief of Staff had reached out to me over two months ago. She had a couple of people that was wanting to Ban the Box and I started doing my research on it. And I will let my colleagues know that other cities that implemented this, it’s a considerable amount of cities not only in Georgia but other states as well and it’s been I 23 would say successful because I can’t find too much evidence of it being bad. Anytime you take somebody off the street I’d rather it’s a minor thing, I know I would not want a pedophile in the Rec Department nor would we want a thief in the Tax Assessors Office. We have to be careful and cautious and what you said it’s a limited background check. I would need some clarification what you mean by that because if somebody goes through the process of the applicant the interview process and then they like you said the gentleman that gotten a job and quit his other job and he quit his last day was on Friday he was supposed to start with the county on Monday. How would the process work if we look at moving forward with this how would the applicant be treated? Would there be a background check whatsoever? Mr. Mayor: So again in the example that we presented here still on the screen what we’re suggesting is limited background checks. And this is always the danger zone that when we present items here on the floor and even in committee is that we often times even with the caption reading as it is we try to solve it here. What I don’t want to do, Mr. Chairman, is necessarily try to solve it but without question tell you that limited background checks will continue even with banning the box. That’s what this right here tells us and that is the approach we’re wanting to adopt by also following the EEOC guidelines for job relatedness. You’re not going to have someone who was fraudulent, committed white collar crimes, embezzlement et cetera leading your accounting department. It’s not going to happen like wise you’re not going to have someone who was convicted and summarily incarcerated of sex crimes by leading your Recreation and Parks Department. Mr. Guilfoyle: Do you know the process to make sure this does not happen? st Mr. Mayor: That is what staff will be working on in bringing back to us on the 21. Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay, so if we look at another city that implemented Ban the Box we’ll follow those footsteps actually numerous cities --- Mr. Mayor: Sure. Mr. Guilfoyle: --- follow their footsteps their changes that they have done, their interview process, their background checks limited to, I don’t that terms scares me but anyway. Mr. Mayor: So, Commissioner, to your point I gave you examples of those cities and I’ll put that back up on the screen. Mr. Guilfoyle: Albany, Macon --- Mr. Mayor: Albany, Macon what I will tell you is that we have copies of all of their ordinances so we know the process that they’ve adopted and it works. I also have available as a result of our relationships with the U.S. Conference of Mayors we have the same information for Austin, Texas. Again the number one place to start a business and a stellar city that there are many things that we can glean or learn from. And then there’s NELP, National Employment Law Project that has led on this issue across the country to include helping San Francisco establish their Fair Chance Policy which extended all the way to housing so yes, we have some models that provide us with how we can and probably should do it. 24 Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, I told you Wednesday at the end of that meeting that I was neutral I didn’t have a problem with this. Thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir, I appreciate that too. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Are you finished Commissioner Guilfoyle? Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, sir thank you, Mr. Pro Tem. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Mayor, I would have no problem taking the box itself off the application so you won’t have to check that box. I’ve got no problem with that. But I think that what I’m hearing is that the background and the research is still going to have to be done. Now if taking the box off for the application is no problem I mean I can take the box off but I think we would expect anybody whether they had been on the other side of the law or not to pass and go through certain things. And if there’s a flag or if there’s something that happens I think each case should be dealt with accordingly. But if you’ve got a history or there is if that flag does come up I think that individual would have to be looked differently from anything else. So if just taking the box off I mean I can support just taking the box off the application you know from Joe Q. Citizen. You know and probably half the people in this room know that people who have been incarcerated have been programmed to think that they not as good once they come back as everybody else. Whether we’ve got a box on there or not that’s the mentality that people, I talk to people all the time who had been incarcerated and not on parole or not having their fine but they hadn’t registered because they’ve been told some things. They’ve been told they was you know they wouldn’t be able to vote again and you don’t get a life sentence but I’m just saying there’s a lot of scenarios that goes on with that type of situation when it happens and it happens you know a lot of times. But I just don’t know how we could just not ask no questions or not do any research and not do any background checks if it was to be Recreation or not. So just taking the box of I’ve got no problem with that part of the application being eliminated but if you’re still going to have to ask those questions and go through the same scenario I think all we’re doing is taking the box off the application. What would be different if you didn’t just take the box off you’re still going to ask those questions and you’re still going to have to go through those background and you’re still going to have to do the same thing that you’re doing now with the box on there. So can you tell me what’s the difference if you didn’t have I mean you’ve got to go through the background. Mr. Mayor: So that’s so let’s go back to this slide right here, Commissioners, as it relates to Fair Chance Policy. So by doing this there are several things that must occur, banning the box taking it off our applications so that immediate stigma of have you been convicted of a felony offense which prohibits many individuals from even applying though they may be qualified for a position, so we remove that stigma. In addition to that banning the box on the job application and delaying inquiries until the conditional offer what it allows us to do is conclude that after having gone through this process there are some background checks that quite frankly are just unnecessary, okay? There’s required individualized assessment. What we do not do today is provide candidates with an opportunity to dispute or appeal the process for both accuracy of the records and the employee’s rationale. Bob Boysworth was very clear; he said this is what I’ve 25 done he checked the box okay? And there was no secrets but on the other side of that post the background check which reveals information he’s already communicated --- Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: --- he summarily said you’re not going to be able to work here now. So I think that provides us with an opportunity from a policy perspective to do these things that are listed right here. Mr. M. Williams: And you brought the next question to my mind where one man one person may be honest and do that. What about the person who’s not going to be that honest who’s not going to do that and we have said okay we trust Joe Q. whoever he is or she is but that, I’m trying to be supportive but at the same time I’ve got to be real too now. I understand that things happen and in a lot of cases folks who have made a mistake does a lot better and in a lot of cases folks who made a mistake do a lot worse. I can’t judge them I can’t say they’re good, bad or indifferent but I just think what you just brought up made me realize that when someone is open and honest and fair up front then there’s somebody else won’t be as open and honest and as fair up front will end up in a worse situation because of that. Mr. Mayor: Right so as I’ve indicated, Commissioner, I think your concern is well you know if they don’t check the box you know what do we do? Well you still have the limited background checks and you’re doing that for finalists for positions. You’re doing that for finalists for the positions but you also then are willing to provide them with an opportunity based on the EEOC guidelines for job relatedness of where you’re giving leverage to that as well during the conversation and post interview process. So you have a systematic way upon which you are dealing with each of these cases processing them. Right now that doesn’t exist. Mr. M. Williams: My last question I guess the Director of Human Resources might be able to help me with this. Does the federal law say anything that we have to do as far as the federal law is concerned about? Mr. Loeser: We have to do? Mr. M. Williams: --- yes, I’m asking a question. Mr. Loeser: (Inaudible). Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’m coming right down the line. Commissioner Fennoy, Commissioner Williams and Commissioner Hasan. Mr. Fennoy: I retired as a health educator with the Richmond County Health Department and one of things that I did is I taught classes to the incarcerated population. Twice a week I would conduct class that the State Transitional Center on Taylor Street. And there are some guys that were in the Transitional Center that got a job that are still working on that same job. On July the st 1 the federal government is going to open another transitional center of Taylor Street right across from the state and they expect to have 21 I mean 35 men and women that will be coming out of federal prison and they’re going to be looking for work, they’re going to be looking for jobs. And the bottom line is that they are coming back to our community. I don’t know, I know my neighbors 26 but I don’t know their history I don’t know if they were every convicted of a crime or if they did what the crime was but I would much rather see those people working as opposed to out hustling trying to make a living. Many of the residents that I saw in the Transitional Center those that were repeat offenders the reason they repeated was because they had probation fines to pay, they had child support payments to pay but because they were convicted felons they were never given an opportunity to apply for a job. And it was a question of well what do I do in order to keep from going back to jail so I won’t be paid for non-support charges so they, I’m not justifying what they did but we have got to give them an opportunity. And if we don’t give them an opportunity then they’re going to be at night they’re going to be in your house, they’re going to be in your car, they’re going to be in your yard trying to do something in order to get the necessary monies to pay their fines or pay their support payments. I think that because other cities in the State of Georgia has adopted this program I think that our H.R. Department can look at what’s been done in other cities what’s worked in other cities and come up with a program or policy that will make it work for Augusta. So I support Ban the Box 100% and I hope my colleagues will do the same. Mr. Mayor: I appreciate that Commissioner. Mayor Pro Tem, if I may there are a couple of questions asked as it relates to what the federal law is as it relates to background checks. If I may I want to defer to Attorney Enoch to speak to that who was our president of the local SHRMP The Society of Human Resource Managers and Professionals. Attorney. Mr. Enoch: Ladies and gentlemen and Commission, I did want to address a couple of those points. EEOC guidance and one of the things that’s driving this movement to remove the box is there is no mandate for background checks but what they say is if you’re going to consider someone’s arrest, you can’t consider an arrest record anyway but if you’re going to consider convictions records what you’ve got to do is apply the conviction to the job and see is there a relationship between you know this offense in time and/or offense to the job. And we had a couple of people we’ll talk about pedophiles in the Rec Department or a janitor who might have access to people, that’s exactly the analysis that that the EEOC is saying mandated by the law which is we can’t just throw away an application because somebody checked the box. That’s primarily the first step of what this rule is about is to avoid that inherent prejudice that the person looking at an application has when you check that box. And you know as well as I do how many of those are going to go into the circular file simply because of that. And that’s the rule, that’s what the EEOC says is illegal because it’s inherently biased against a minority particularly minority men. All right so that’s the first step just to take the box off because what that does is it gives the applicant the chance to make their case before you run their background check. For one thing it’s going to save you some money because you’re not running a background check on every Tom, Dick and Harry that shows up. You’re only going to run a background check and I think this was an unfortunate choice of words to say limited. It’s not limited in scope; it’s limited in who you do the background check to. You only do the background check when they’ve gotten past that initial interview stage and they’ve convinced you that they’re the person for the job. Now you do the background check you compare if they do have a hit to what is the job and you know somebody who’s had a marijuana conviction 15 years ago and is applying to you know to cut grass or to work in maintenance I mean what’s the relationship. Obviously that’s where you draw that line. Mr. Frantom: One quick question, have you seen companies that say you know have you had a felony in the last 7 years and put more of a time specific to it in companies? 27 Mr. Enoch: Well, I have but what I would say is that you know there’s no law that says you can’t ask the question. But what the EEOC’s guidance says is it’s not whether you ask the question it’s how you apply the answer that you got. And you cannot summarily reject applications just because someone had a felony offense that they say is an inherently biased process. So what I tell employers is don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answers to right? I mean if that leads to the possibility that a manager in Finance of a manager in Parks and Rec whatever inherently adopts policy that hey, I got 50 or 60 or 100 applications to look I’m going to make this easy I’m going to take everybody that’s says they have a felony I’m going to put them in this stack. I’m not even going to look at them because hey I’ve got to cull this herd somehow. That’s what’s taking off the box does for people it gives them a chance to make their case. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Ed --- Mr. Enoch: Yes. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- also I know when you fill out these forms and everything most of them I filled out for being on a board or being like the state level or whatever is you know they say what you filled out should be honest and true. What if they just leave it off? I know we have that happen all the time on the board I’m on and they said well I answered it correctly what you said what’s wrong I just left it off. I’m saying I want to help as many as I can yeah, we put them back on the street working black, white, yellow, red like I say I’ve hired all kinds you’d be surprised. But not being fair and check the box say yes I have been incarcerated it’s like checking are you a male or are you a female? I normally check male. Lately the way things have been going in the paper is I’m just scared about rest room (unintelligible) don’t count me out. Okay Commissioner Dennis Williams and then Commissioner Hasan and then Commissioner Lockett. Mr. D. Williams: Thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor, your agenda item has passed as written would it come back the final product come back to the Commission for final approval? st Mr. Mayor: One June the 21 it absolutely would. Mr. D. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay Commissioner Hasan. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor, you look good in the well. Mr. Mayor: I’ve had a lot of practice. Mr. Hasan: A couple of things that was brought to attention. I’m glad Attorney Enoch he didn’t clarify for us for me it was the background check was going to be a little bit broader when we say a limited background check. Also I had my niece to who’s looking by way of internet what about the position working with money I text back that if they have a theft offense they won’t be hired handling money to his point as well. The problem for me is a couple of things not so much needed to be done a whole lot agree to ban the box I wholeheartedly agree about it. I think we’ve some soft conversation around this but also like Commissioner Lockett started out saying that we th have a subcommittee in place, we’ve hired a consultant. The end of June the 29 which is a couple of weeks from now that this is one of the issues that was put on the table I’m a part of that 28 committee. This issue was put on the table to discuss for us to position ourselves to embrace it I think, Mr. Mayor, and so to stop our Director who we gave the authority to hire this consultant that’s putting together a comprehensive policy for us to adopt this whole government is like someone said earlier the duplication of services for us you know. And so I don’t think you’ll find in my comments I don’t hear anybody against this, I think the timing factor and knowing that st we’ve already hired a consultant we’re talking about a week out. The 21 we’re talking about eight days later that’s going to be before us and two weeks later the whole thing will be approved one way of the other. Also the problem, Mr. Mayor, is when we met per your request we met with Commissioner Fennoy, Commissioner Dennis Williams myself and yourself and we spoke about this issue. When you brought to our attention was one of the issues that you wanted to address we made mention to you that the subcommittee was looking at this issue and shared with you that it th would be back with us on the 29. Your response to that was that you was not aware of that and so I gave you some of the details because I’m a member of that committee. And I think Commissioner Fennoy said at that particular time, Mr. Mayor, you need to probably get with someone on that committee or get with that committee something to that effect. And you assured that you would you would do that around this issue. And so in this regard, Mr. Mayor, I don’t know I don’t who you might have spoke with on the committee about it I know it wasn’t me on that committee around the issue. And so I think in many ways, Mr. Mayor, I think you could’ve waited a couple more weeks for us to do this and do it correctly for all of us to get our minds wrapped around it because we think it’s a good thing, it’s not a problem about it. It’s not really a problem about it but it’s an issue we want to look at and look at it in a comprehensive way that we should look at it. We don’t want to stop the, our H.R. Director for something that he’s already paying someone to do. He just got in here; they’re behind trying to catch up on a lot of things because that H.R. Department has not been staffed probably in the last 10 or 15 years fully staffed if it’s fully staffed. I’m hearing that lately so maybe it is but for another week, Mr. Mayor, it’s not a three weeks it’s not a make or break for most people even the people that’s going to have a comprehensive to do it right and to keep us in unison around the issue. There’s no reason for us to break ranks around this issue and I think we universally agree it’s just the point here that you kind of contaminated this process in terms of actions that you’ve taken because you stepped away from what you say you was going to do and that was get back with us and address this issue further. You stepped outside of that, Mr. Mayor, and now brought it with us. Mr. Mayor: And so are you going to let me address that, sir? Mr. Hasan: Well I don’t have a problem with that the Chair has to do that the Chair has to do that one. Mr. Mayor: Absolutely. Mr. Hasan: If the Chair is willing you may respond. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: You may address that issue. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’m not going to tell you no. 29 Mr. Mayor: All right thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. So in that meeting and you remember who those individuals were in the meeting. In that same meeting to your point and you’ve noted a number of those points of interest one being that there was a subcommittee which I was not a part of. Number two you indicated that you had some linkages to that. One of the things that I did is I’ve had a series of conversations with the five of ten Commissioners who were available. Not only did I have that meeting but I was very clear about what we wanted to accomplish. And I went back to my original meeting with you and others and we said at that time and there was universal support to include from yourself and I said independent of the subcommittee I wanted us to implement this on June the 15th okay that was the date that I gave. All right I not only gave that date but then we went a step further and the conversation around the meeting with the subcommittee and the ongoing work there. What I believe Mayor Pro Tem to the Commissioner’s question is that these really are linked issues but they can be handled in st parallel paths. For example, June the 21 is as most of know and understand our last meeting until th the other side of July 4 holiday. Why? Because we’re going to go to GMA and while at GMA you’re going to be coming back and as I understand it I don’t believe that we’re going to meet on that Monday or that Tuesday. But to the degree that we do meet it is my understanding that it wouldn’t be a full Commission meeting and I may be wrong in that. But I defer to the distinguished lady, Ms. Bonner, for clarification on that. So on the other side of that upon a consultant coming back to us as we all know especially those of you who are here once the consultant brings back their findings from our P3M which I heard on numerous occasions from many of you as well as our department directors that there are substantial challenges with the document. And as such I do not believe it is in the citizens of Augusta’s best interest for this singular issue to get mired in what will clearly be the on-going discussion and debate about the merits of the P3M and its totality. That’s what I would offer to this body that I don’t want it to get mired in that in terms of working with the consultant and the committee that they can actually take parallel paths. We have an H.R. Director who is fairly versed on this issue, banning the box simply requires our action and it’s something that can be done today, it can be done today. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Chairman, can I respond? Mr. Mayor: It can be done today. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Chairman, I wasn’t through, can I respond? Mr. Mayor, I think the comments you made with the meeting all those comments are valid but they’re just out of order. Your first comments in terms of how you wanted to do it you gave us the date initially and as a result of that that initiated my response as to what the committee was doing and those kinds of things. And from there you were supposed to, Commissioner Fennoy suggested that you get with someone or get with the committee around the issue. So you did say your timeline those were your opening statements around this. After you made your opening statements that’s when the additional conversation from myself came about and Commissioner Lockett’s I’m sorry Commissioner Fennoy saying about get with someone on the committee or get with the committee and then you assured that you would do that. So that’s how that went so you didn’t, everything that you said was said I’m just putting it in a chronological order in terms of how it was said. Also for the viewers however the vote goes today if it does not pass this is not the end of this because thth this issue will be back to us on the 29 you know the 29 probably about the middle of July and we’ll make a decision around that issue if it does not pass. So it’s well it may pass you know it may pass I don’t know. But anyway around that issue around this issue, Mr. Mayor, it is not the 30 end of all because I think you have support for it, it is with hope that you respect the process which you agreed to and you seem to have violated that. Mr. Mayor: Well, I appreciate the gentleman for his concerns around timing. The only thing I can respond to that, Mayor Pro Tem, is that Bob Boresworth and his family had we had a policy in place he’d be working for the City of Augusta. Carl Stevens who was written about I believe in the newspaper in the fall of last year would be working for the City of Augusta. IT Department the gentleman would be working for the City of Augusta. We have an opportunity to ban the box to do that today by simply adopting the caption, it’s simple one. As the Commissioner nd from the 2 has asked, Mr. Mayor, does this come back to us for final approval and the answer is st still absolutely yes, absolutely yes. And between now and then June the 21 if there’s additional discussion then we can have that it can be lively it can be robust we can make sure that we dot ‘I’s’ cross ‘T’s’. But to the degree of that there are members of the subcommittee, I’ve spoken with five of the members of this Commission, several of who are on the subcommittee to include the H.R. Director who has met not only with myself but our Chief of Staff to address this issue. It is not a new argument, this is not a new conversation and as such I would hope that it’d be handled favorably and that we provide a beacon of hope to good Augustans who are looking, who are watching, who are saying it’s time for their government to do something to help them and not hurt them (unintelligible). Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Mr. Mayor, one comment I’ve got before I turn it over to Mr. Commissioner Lockett I just remembered I’ve got a meeting tomorrow at lunch with a guy who just got out of Jackson Diagnostic Center up there in what Gordon, Georgia and because he told me the truth. You know I said you know where’ve you been the last two or three years and he said well I could tell you I left town but I’ve been incarcerated because my brother and I were making meth. And that’s the reason why I said I’ll meet with you because he told me the truth. You can check all the boxes you want but that doesn’t explain what you did. I would rather have them do a little brief free line thing and I said I committed this. I had a guy work for me that I found out he killed three people but then once I called Atlanta and found why they got killed one of them was in the prison riots what now in 1971 in Reidsville he was just trying to save his life. And so it depends on what the circumstances are. I don’t believe in putting a ‘T’ on a man just because he’s a thief but you know you’d at least like to know that before you put him in a position of trust. And then the next thing you know he’s like a lot of my friends when you recommend somebody you’re putting your name on the stamp. And I’ve had calls back saying hey you sent a guy over here that tore down half my wall. Well, he told me he knew about construction come to find out he didn’t know what he was doing but I got the blame. Anyway go ahead, Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There are 70 million people in the United States of American that have criminal history. And I would hope that all 70 million aren’t unemployed because of having to put their arrest or their incarceration on an employment application. As I indicated earlier I support everything that the Mayor has said in regards to this particular matter however, however my concern is number one, we circumvented the committee process. We had all this debate today in full Commission where most of it should have been done in committee. And, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, I would like to ask the Administrator whether or not she is prepared to put this together in the timeframe given and if so how will she dialogue with the consultant that we paying right now to do this. 31 Ms. Jackson: I definitely wouldn’t want to involve the consultant on it because as we indicated earlier he’s already been advised that this is one of the tasks or one of the policy issues that we’d like him to look into. One of my other considerations would be where this fits within the revised PPPM as we have asked him to do. He has a pretty substantial challenge in terms of completely updating and streamlining the document so I’d want to know how we would fit this in. I also want to get some research to answer some of the questions like those posed by Commissioner Frantom. I also would like to get a handle on our current policies. I mean I certainly know that we have people within our workforce now who have criminal histories so I’m not sure if there’s something in our policy statement that’s not clear or it’s not been consistently implemented because I do know that we have people here who do have criminal histories already so I’m not quite sure how those folks got through so to speak or what the policy guidance was for those positions for which those individuals were hired. So I say that to say there are a number of things that we would like to research in order to implement this properly. In terms of timeframe I’m sorry I can’t give you that off the top of my head I’d like to speak to the H.R. Director as well as our consultant Mr. Boxer to make sure that to see how much time he believes it would take to fill those responsibilities. Mr. Lockett: You know, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, I think we all agree and support the item but I think where our problem with many of us exists is because of the methodology that’s being used. And whether or not just the matter of a few days it will be few days’ difference in the Administrator had to do what this agenda item’s asking and us getting the results for the consultant that’s currently working on this. And as the Administrator indicated if the staff is tasked to do this it’s a good possibility we’re going to incur additional expense from the consultant because he’s already setting this thing up. So I wish I would not be reluctant. I will support it 100% if we just wait another couple of weeks until we get the policy manual draft from the consultant and then move on it at that point. Thank you, Madam Administrator and Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, all right I appreciate that, Commissioner. I’m going to stand firm on my position from the standpoint of the timeline. What I don’t want to do is I don’t want this to “be perceived as an adversarial posture” but rather what I’m consistently hearing is we have a consultant who is working on an overhaul of the P3M. As part of the conversation and might I submit that the reason why it was suggested to talk about banning the box in those discussions was because of the conversation that started in the Mayor’s office with the Administrator with the H.R. Director Loeser and others. And so to that end to that end we’ve been tracking this since last year that’s part of the reason why we formed the advisory committee to look at this issue th wholeheartedly. I do not believe that waiting what will not be until June the 29 it’s clear. All right I’m going to pause Commissioner and I’m going to ask Madam Clerk based on our schedule, th are we meeting on June the 29? th The Clerk: No, sir, we’ll be meeting on June 30. Mr. Mayor: Okay that’s two days after we come back from GMA. Is that a full Commission meeting or a committee meeting? th The Clerk: Full Commission meeting and will take the place of our July 5 meeting. 32 th Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right because there will not be a meeting on July 5 is that not true? The Clerk: Right. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Administrator, based on what has happened thus far the P3M th which you indicate is going through an extensive overhaul and I keep hearing the June 29 date if we receive the findings back from the consultant are we going to take that document and then carte blanch vote on it and approve it as document as such or will you and your staff be reviewing it? Ms. Jackson: I think that would be in large part up to the subcommittee. We’ll be getting a draft document back. The idea was that we’ll present that to the subcommittee the subcommittee would determine if they wanted to move it forward to the full Commission. Mr. Mayor: That’s what I understood as well. Again today’s action the caption’s very simple and that is to Ban the Box removing that from our application process and working, I’ll come down to you, Commissioner, I do see you. All right I’m going to stop I’m going to recognize th the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, there’s been a lot of conversation on this from either people in support well actually most everybody’s in support of it it’s just the timing. But what you’re asking st for is Mr. Loeser over at the H.R. Department to come back on June 21 with his part of the Ban the Box which would be compiled from other counties other municipalities which to me I look at this as opportunity because if we’ve got a consultant it’ll save us I imagine we’re paying him by the hour, by the day whatever. But if we could present him the information for him to overlook that the other cities have implemented and how he could digest it into our P3M I think this is a great opportunity for this body to look at. It’s up to this body but my motion is to approve this. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right. Mr. Hasan: I’d like to make a substitute motion, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: Okay hold on just a moment. Okay all right the Commissioner from the 7 he waives. All right I’ve got a motion to adopt and the proper second. All right the Chair th recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, in light of the great conversation and dialogue and your presentation in the well around this issue I’d like to make a substitute motion that as a result th of the 29 it’s going to be a meeting with the consultant then the consultant be put on notice, this is probably not the motion this is a conversation here around it put on notice if we have a full th Commission meeting on the 30 as I understood our Clerk to say then we would be prepared to My motion is make the position adopt this at that particular time if our consultant weighs in on it. th to get the adequate information and adopt it on the 30 after the consultant weighs in on it. Mr. Lockett: Second. nd Mr. Mayor: Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2. 33 Mr. D. Williams: I withdraw, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right I will tell you that I believe that the original motion which we have a motion and proper second is a superior motion, it is the preferred motion but I’m going to give you an opportunity and we’re going to vote on it. There’s a substitute and a second, voting. Mr. Hasan: We’re voting on the substitute, correct? Mr. Mayor: Correct, you’re voting on the substitute not the original motion that’s in your book, my preferred is the original motion. Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Guilfoyle vote No. Mr. M. Williams out. Motion Passes 7-2. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right so, Madam Clerk, as I understand it the substitute motion was th to adopt this on June the 30 is that not true. The Clerk: Yes, sir, to have it on the agenda. th Mr. Mayor: Okay all right that was what we heard adopt this on June the 30. All right th now as a point of clarification I’m going to direct this to the Commissioner from the 6. In the event that the P3M document does not show up I fully expect to take action. Mr. Hasan: Absolutely Mr. Mayor that was reasoning that he was focusing in on this among the many things but we would definitely have enough information, we come back the next day and we will adopt this I expect it as well. Mr. Mayor: Fantastic the audience has heard that and we will hold him accountable. All right we do, we do, we’ve got two more items. Madam Clerk. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 25. Consider award of RFP 16-123 Consulting Services for Classification & Compensation Study. (No recommendation from Administrative Services Committee May 31, 2016) Ms. Jackson: Yes, we have a presentation, Mr. Mayor, can we tee that up? Mr. Mayor: You may. Mr. Brazzell. Mr. Brazzell: Yes, sir, thank you. As the Clerk has read the purpose of our presentation here this afternoon is to again request your concurrence and approval of a contract that is pending so that we can commence a Classification and Compensation Study for the organization. If we look at and I’m going to tag team this with Michael. Just to start off I wanted to remind the body of what our commitment and our philosophy is and it ties in with a lot of the discussions that have been going on thus far. It takes all of these good policies to have an effective organization. So the goal of an effective compensation philosophy and the role that it plays is to help us attract and 34 retain and motivate the highly qualified individuals once we get them on board and create this competent workforce. We also are very concerned about increasing productivity and having the staff being as efficient as possible in delivery of their jobs and services to the community. And it is important albeit sometimes expense but very important to maintain market competitiveness in terms of the Classification and Compensation structure. We actually have words in our PPPM thus far that speak to this philosophy. These words have been submitted to ordinance several years ago and have continued to survive various versions of the booklet. It speaks about providing opportunities for our employees to grow, ensuring individual and organizational accountability, communicating openly with them about what we’re doing and able to do on their behalf and of course providing a competitive package for them in that not only it speaks to exact salary but benefits as well. Last I would say before turning it over to Michael is that employees represent our largest the largest part of our payroll our expenses and of course our budget. They are by far our greatest asset. If you listen to some of the scientists they say we’re all going to be replaced by computers soon but at this point the walking, breathing employees are our greatest asset so we’re back today to ask you to do what’s a good thing and that is consider the contract that is up for award. Michael will cover his slides and then I’ll come back and close it out. Mr. Loeser: Thank you oh good I figured out how to do that. All right last Comprehensive class and comp study we all know was in ’99 prior to our recent 2016 adjustment. The last across the board was eight years ago. Well, what does that mean to us what have we brought what have we brought to us? Well we are sitting on with almost a quarter of our workforce is paid less than $30,000. 60 employees have worked for us over 15 years and are still earning under $30,000 dollars. Voluntary turnover is currently at 8% in 2015 and 8.4 in 2014 and some particular departments are much higher 46%, 40%, 36, 30 27, 25 all of which are hugely high turnover. A study was made by the General Accounting Office for the federal government on federal employees just to give you a comparison. In voluntary turnover from the period of 2004 to 2012 was 5.9 so that gives you a point of reference. Overall we’re not doing that bad three points but if you look at these individual departments 46, 40% is a horrendous turnover. Now here’s something that’s very enlightening the first year turnover that’s something that H.R. always looks at because that tells you really who’s taking your job offer seriously. 19.5% of the total turnover rate in 2015 people left in the first quarter, 38% of them left in the first quarter. What that tells you is that what they’re doing is using a bridge increase they’re just taking a job basically to pay their bills and as soon as they can they’re taking an offer that’s much higher. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Loeser --- Mr. Loeser: Yes. Mr. Mayor: --- if you’ll suspend for just a moment. All right the Chair recognizes you have a question you have a series of questions already. All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the oh okay. All right if you’ll suspend. Mr. Loeser: Shall I go on? Mr. Mayor: No, just suspend. Mr. Loeser: Yes, sir. 35 th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 for a motion. Mr. Sias: Move to approve. Mr. Hasan: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right okay all right well hot dog. All right, Mr. Loeser, you’re going to have some questions in just a minute. All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner the proud th papa from the 7. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So a couple things is we I’ve heard people say you know we don’t have to do we don’t have the money to do all the positions we’re going to have to do this in incremental stages anyway. Why will we not try to do this in-house? We have the expertise we have, we’ve got a lot more obviously staff people in our org chart in the last 18 months and you know it seems like to me you’re basically gathering information from like cities. You can possibly hire a temp service or people to get the information together because a lot of this information we know that when we do these consultant things we don’t use half of it anyway because it’s pictures, it’s pie in the sky, it’s things that you know when I look at you put the turnover rates and some of those I mean there not going to know the ins and outs. I mean that to me that’s department heads I mean that’s internal information that you’re going to give us. And you’re not going to get that from a guy that saying this city did this so why are we not focusing on you know doing it in house doing the areas. We, I’ve heard you say that you know some of the problem areas you have you did one of them and said 75% was low. So I mean why not use the expertise within as opposed to going out and spending $100,000 and then you might spend you know five, ten-thousand in-house to where that’s $90 more thousand dollars to go back to the low end of the pay scale. So I’m just trying to understand why is that not being considered in this. Mr. Loeser: Well, most a lot of organizations face that exact question and the reason you get a consultant is because you have in this case 2,800 positions 2,800 people and you have over 500 job titles. That’s a huge job task for a current workforce. And so one of the things is you want to have this done in a timely manner. You can’t suspend the normal H.R. functions while you’re doing this project. A consultant can come in and flip this over in a reasonable amount of time and what we’re trying to do is get this accomplished before the next budget year starts before we start working the budget year. Also you have the experience of consultants that do this exactly every single day in year and out of year. The particular consultant we’re considering has done 1,500 of these things in the last 30 years so they’re very highly efficient and they can bring to the table a solution quickly. One of the things I mentioned at the last meeting that this came up was objectivity. You don’t have a bias. Their only concern is to turnkey this project and get it done. There’s always when you start making recommendations for salary adjustments this kind of implied bias, well that guy works for the city so or the county so he’s trying to favor this group versus this other. The consultant doesn’t have that. They walk in and all they want to do is get the job done and done right. The other thing is a Cost Benefit Risk Analysis and this is something that always scares me. Yeah we could do it but how well will we do it compared to a consultant who does this every single day. I can change my oil but do I really want to do that? The point is that the downside to this is extremely bad. Not only can the failure be costly in lost opportunity wasted management time and training time and damage credibility with employees. You don’t want to take this lightly this is a critical thing. This organization has waited a long time to do this 36 and we need to do it once and properly. Oh and I also have only two thank you and of the two I must add one is extremely a competent compensation person but I’m not sure how many of these studies that she has accomplished. The other staff member is a brand new trainee who might say she’s really a generalist and really kind of picking up, she’s very bright but she’s picking it up. And let me just add the last element. We’re not just buying a consultant we’re buying a system. The consultant has a proprietary software system to evaluate positions that uses 30 elements and has been legally proven to be non-discriminatory and been validated. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Loeser. All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner st from the 1 and then we’re going to go back to the motion that’s before us. Mr. Fennoy: Yes, sir, did you anticipate that question? Mr. Loeser: Actually Commissioner Lockett brought up that question at the last meeting so yes I have a two-page analysis. th Mr. Mayor: Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Loeser, I understand where you’re coming from with this. You said the last across the board pay increase was eight years ago. Mr. Loeser: Yes. Mr. Lockett: At that time we already had existing pay disparities. There have been pay disparities on steroids since then. My concern, I can understand that you don’t have the staff to do an excellent job with this because of the number of positions but my concern is twofold. Number one, we get the results from the consultant. Are we going to accept those as face value after reviewing? And secondly, Madam Administrator, are we going to, if the results aren’t back prior to this next budgetary cycle, are we going to go on and include money in that budget to compensate the people within this government properly because I’ve seen so many studies in my last 6 ½ years on this Commission that are completed and all they do is collect dust? Now I understand the Administrator said that she wanted to use a tiered plan. But that’s all good and well but I would like to see something done a little faster than that because using the tiered many of the people that’s on the payroll now will have retired and some will have died so I want to see us do something. I’m supportive of this okay and I said previously I remember when H.R. was nothing but a skeleton crew and they wanted to outsource it. But I can understand your position because of the magnitude of this work that has to be done. So I’m going to support that but I also don’t want to be let down when the results come back and we don’t follow the lead of the consultant and we don’t come up with the same excuse we’ve used for many years now well I know that they deserve it but we just don’t have the resources. I want us to make sure that the resources are in place to give our employees, our most precious resource, the monies they deserve. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: All right, I’d like for you to do that, now’s the time. Mr. Sias: Call for the question. Mr. Mayor: All right I have a motion. 37 The Clerk: We have one. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I’ve got a motion and a second. All right voting. There’s one more item that’s on the agenda. Ms. Davis and Mr. Frantom vote No. Motion Passes 8-2. The Clerk: FINANCE 27. Consider a request from COFO Properties LLC regarding the waiving of penalty, interest and other fees from property taxes for COFO Properties LLC located at 2205 Southgate Drive, Augusta, GA. (No recommendation from Finance Committee May 31, 2016) Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve. Mr. Fennoy: Second. th Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ve got no problem supporting it I just have a question. I think there’s some taxes that’s supposed to have been paid. Is this the same property? If it is, I’d like to find information out prior to voting for this. So if this has been paid I’d like to. Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Mr. Johnson Deputy Tax Commissioner. Mr. Johnson: Commissioner Williams, yes, the taxes were paid. After the committee meeting last week a little over $76,000 the full taxes were paid. The only thing left is the penalties and interest. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Johnson, penalties and interest in the amount of? Mr. Johnson: $13,383.43. th Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, this item came up before us last Tuesday and one of my colleagues had mentioned something we did back in March. But you know we keep opening up doors we ain’t going to be able to shut. This company actually purchased this property in July of last year. At the closing they had prorated seven months’ worth of taxes come out at the closing and this gentleman here now five months in to this year wants us to waive the penalties and interest. I have a problem with that as a matter of fact we need to find out if they’re going to waive the penalties when the residents is late on their payments and the answer will probably be no. And but we have waiving penalties and interest which we are that this body and I don’t know what this body feels. My colleague made the motion but I’m not in favor of it because of that reason. It’s just opening doors we can’t shut, Mr. Mayor. 38 th Mr. Mayor: I understand. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, following my colleague Commissioner Guilfoyle. You know in March we did give back money to a company that employs people and I think this guy would be looked at a little bit different. And in my mind we need to set a precedent here where we never give back interest because if we don’t have the money we’ve got to borrow it. So we should never give back interest and I won’t be supporting this today. Thank you. Mr. Lockett: Call for the question, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: All right okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: We just had all this discussion about businesses and bringing in and helping and changing things in one side of Augusta. And when someone who has made that significant amount of payment in to try to catch up in arrears or do what they can I think we ought to be at least willing to help. Now I don’t want to open up a door to create nothing different but I’ve got more history up here than a lot of folks and I’ve seen some things done that I never thought we’ve done in a government. But when you’re talking about trying to renew and bill and change and help because I wasn’t here last week and I kind of missed it so I had to catch up and I had to do some inquiring and finding out. But from my understanding if we can get this business up and going it’s going to be an addition to Augusta not nothing that’s going to continue now or do we just want to shut them down and wait and see what else is going to take the chance in that same spot. I’m hearing both sides up here, I need to know how we’re going to do it. I mean it’s like Ban the Box deal. You’ve got folks in a situation and you’ve got folks not in a situation. Folks who’s not in a situation we ain’t got to worry about but just those in a situation now. So let’s be real, let’s be honest, let’s be straight, let’s make sure we dot the ‘I’s’ and cross the ‘T’s’. If there’s a problem, we need to know about let’s put it out on the table and we’re going to support and try to maintain the strength of this community by helping businesses and growing we need to do that as well. But I don’t want to sit up here and then start picking and choosing because I done seen some stuff up here that a lot of ya’ll have seen too but ya’ll don’t want to talk about it so we’ll let that go, Mr. Mayor. But that’s my comment I want to try to support I want to try to help. Mr. Sias: Call for the question. Mr. Lockett: I’ve already done that. Mr. Mayor: All right hold on just a moment the horse has not left the barn yet. The Chair th recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. Guilfoyle: --- I would like to make a substitute motion that we remove the penalty of $7,677.32. Mr. Mayor: Okay, sounds good. 39 Mr. M. Williams: What was that, Mr. Mayor. I missed something. Mr. Guilfoyle: The penalty, sir. Mr. Mayor: Will the Finance Chairman restate his substitute motion? Would you restate your motion, Commissioner Guilfoyle? Mr. Guilfoyle: To abate the penalty of, I’ve got to get back to my agenda page, the $7,677.32. Mr. Johnson: The interest is $5,374.11. Mr. Guilfoyle: Can I get a second.? Mr. G. Smith: Second. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I stick with my original motion. Mr. Mayor: Okay hold on, hold on, hold on, let me, let’s follow protocol. All right I’ve got a substitute motion yeah, yeah really all right let’s follow protocol. All right so we’ve got a substitute we’re going to do the same thing that Commissioner Hasan did a moment ago and that is vote on the substitute first. All right voting. Mr. M. Williams: The substitute we’re voting on (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: To abate --- The Clerk: The penalty only --- Mr. Mayor: --- the penalty only. The Clerk: --- not the interest just the penalty. Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. Lockett, Mr. Hasan and Mr. M. Williams vote No. Mr. Frantom, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. G. Smith vote Yes. Motion Fails 3-7. Mr. Mayor: All right the main motion is before us. Mr. Johnson: Mr. Mayor, may I make a comment? Mr. Mayor: I don’t think you should --- Mr. Johnson: Okay. Mr. Mayor: --- I really don’t think you should. All right the main motion is before us at this time. All right voting. 40 Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Lockett, Mr. Hasan and Mr. M. Williams vote Yes. Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. G. Smith vote No. Motion Passes 6-4. Mr. Mayor: Let me have everybody’s attention before you go. I want to remind everyone that on Thursday beginning at 8:30 we are conducting interviews beginning at 8:30 on Thursday so make sure you plan accordingly. Mr. Speaker: (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: 8:30, yes, sir, for Compliance Director. [MEETING ADJOURNED] Lena Bonner Clerk of Commission CERTIFICATION: I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission held on June 7, 2016. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 41