Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting June 30, 2016 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER JUNE 30, 2016 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., June 30, 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. th Mr. Mayor: Well, good afternoon, everybody. The 4 of July weekend and everybody’s looking forward to getting out. We do hereby call this meeting to order. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Yes, sir, at this time we will have our invocation delivered by Pastor George Robertson, First Presbyterian Church after which we’ll have our Pledge of Allegiance. Would you please stand. The invocation was given by Pastor George Robertson, First Presbyterian Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Pastor Robertson, for your spiritual guidance your leadership in this community and for First Presbyterian. Thank you. Madam Clerk. RECOGNITION(S) Certified County Commissioner A. Congratulations! Commissioner Mary Davis on the occasion of completing all required course work for your certificate of recognition as a Certified County Commissioner from the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government and the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). The Clerk: At this time we’d like to ask Commissioner Mary Davis would you please come forward with the Mayor please? Yes, again. We did it in her absence last time now we’ll do it in her presence, how about that? Mr. Mayor, okay --- Ms. Davis: (inaudible). The Clerk: --- yeah, we wanted you to be here this time. As the Mayor makes his way down we would like to offer our hearty congratulations again in her presence to Commissioner Mary Davis on the occasion of completing all required course work for her certification of recognition of a Certified County Commissioner from the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government as the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia. (APPLAUSE) Congratulations. 1 Ms. Davis: Thank you very much. I feel very special two weeks in a row. Sorry I was on vacation last week. You know I would’ve gotten certified earlier but these Commissioners keep cutting our travel budget --- Mr. Lockett: Thank you, thank you. Ms. Davis: --- but anyway of course we know these classes are important and you know I tell a lot of people that it’s almost like going back to getting another degree in five different areas. So I enjoyed learning all about every aspect of our city government and look forward to learning more. So thanks again. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Davis wanted me to say Go Dawgs. The Clerk: RECOGNITION(S) B. Introduction of ARC Director of Central Services. (Requested by Administrator Janice Jackson) Ms. Jackson: Yes, I, it was brought to my attention that not everyone had had an opportunity to meet Ms. Takiyah Douse. She is our new Director of Central Services having joined us from working in the Tax Commissioners Office for a number of years. She was instrumental in reforming that office and as well as improving customer service in that office. She also comes to us with the background in banking having worked a couple of years in a local branch. So I just wanted to make sure everybody knows who Ms. Douse is and give her an opportunity to say a couple of words to you. Ms. Douse: Good afternoon. I would first like to give each and every one of you a hearty thank you I appreciate this opportunity for advancement in a well continued city of improvement. So I look forward to what Central Services will become and everything that it has to offer to the citizens as well as to the Commission. So thank you and I’m extremely excited. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: Outstanding, excellent. Mr. Sias: Thank you. Mr. Kendrick. Your loss, our gain. The Clerk: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Waiting on you. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 3. 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. (Deferred from the Commission’s June 21, 2016 meeting) 2 ENGINEERING SERVICES 7. Motion to approve entering into a Transportation Enhancement (TE) Agreement, a Mowing and Maintenance Agreement and an Indemnity Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation in conjunction with the Augusta Entryway and Corridor Master Design Project as requested by AED The Clerk: I call your attention to our addendum agenda. Item number one is a request to delete item number three. Item number two is a request to defer item number seven to our July th 12 2016 Engineering Services Committee. Mr. Lockett: So moved. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. M. Williams: Wait, wait, wait. I thought you were going to ask the question, Mr. Mayor. You don’t have unanimous consent to move Item 3. I’d like to it’s on the agenda I’d like to go ahead and at least get some clarity to this. Mr. Mayor: Well, you know the best way to do it is this my original approach was just to pull it from the agenda. I think as the original author of it I think I have the prerogative to do that. Mr. M. Williams: I will let my Legal Counsel speak to me on that. I think it belongs to the body at this point, is that right? Mr. Mayor: Our posture has been we pull items from the agenda all the time but pursuant to yesterday’s meeting realizing that there’s still more work to be done by the consultant, I think that’s where we left off and you were a part of those conversations. It’s the best thing for us to do is pull it and let their work continue. Does that satisfy you, Commissioner? Mr. M. Williams: No, I’m just going to let this, I’m going to if it’s going to be pulled, Mr. Mayor, but I didn’t hear it from my Attorney as yet. When we’re in Legal session, will we have a legal session today? Mr. Mayor: We will. Mr. M. Williams: If we’re going to have a legal session I’m going to let this be pulled --- Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. M. Williams: --- if my colleagues don’t have any other issues with it but I do have a personnel issue we need to talk about that in legal. Mr. Mayor: Sure, that’s certainly appropriate. All right voting. 3 Motion Passes 10-0. Mr. Mayor: Very good, thank you. Madam Clerk? The Clerk: I call your attention to the consent portion of our agenda which consists of items 1 and 2. Mr. Mayor: All right. Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve. Mr. Lockett: Second. CONSENT AGENDA ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 1. Motion to deny the Protest of Public Financial Management Group (PFM) regarding RFP Item 16-128 Financial Advisory Services for Debt Issuance and Economic Development Project and to lift the stay of procurement in accordance with Augusta, GA. Code. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee June 21, 2016) PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 2. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held June 21, 2016 and Special Called Meeting June 21, 2016. FINANCE 4. Motion to approve the purchase of one (1) pickup truck for a new position (Lead Locator) in the Augusta Utilities Department Construction & Maintenance Division through the GMA lease program using enterprise funds. Ordering cutoff for this type vehicle is 1 July 2016. ENGINEERING SERVICES 8. Motion to approve award of Bid #16-169 for the Construction of Glass Factory Low Pressure Sewer Relief CIP Bond Project to Legacy Water Group. 9. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of property for right-of-way/detention (Parcel 087-4-007-00-0) 2057 Walnut Street. 10. Motion to appropriate the necessary funds and approve award of Construction Contract to E.R. Snell Contractors in the amount of up to $4,948,423.95 for the Old Savannah Road at Twiggs Street Improvement-Phase II Project, contingent on Value Engineering and upon receipt of signed contracts and proper bonds for the AED. th 11. Motion to approve award of Bid #16-168 for the Construction of 15 Street and Wrightsboro Road Storm and Sanitary Sewer Improvement CIP Project to Blair Construction, Inc. 12. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a property for right-of- way/detention (Parcel 087-4-057-00-0) 2034 Willow Street. 13. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for right-of- way (Parcel 087-4-122-00-0) 196 Dan Bowles Road. 4 Mr. Mayor: Okay all right we’ve got a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda as it is. Any further discussion? All right the Chair recognizes the distinguished Lady from the rd 3 our Certified Commissioner, Commissioner Davis. Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor, I didn’t know if we had any agenda items that could be consented through Engineer Chair, Commissioner Fennoy. Mr. Mayor: Well, I’ll chime in, Commissioner Davis, since you raised it. Item 11, 12, 13 they certainly are worthy candidates of that. 10 --- Mr. Sias: Items 4 and 5 (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: --- I couldn’t agree with you more. The Clerk: Well, number 5 we don’t have --- Mr. Mayor: Number 5, yeah, we don’t have, we’ll have a discussion about five. Four, six, seven --- Mr. Hasan: Not six, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right 4, 7, --- Mr. Hasan: Not 7, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: That’s right. The Clerk: Seven was deferred. Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right 8 --- Mr. Sias: 4, 8, 9, 10 --- Mr. Mayor: 11, 12, 13. Thank you for your leadership, Commissioner Davis. Ms. Davis: I just wanted to make sure Commissioner Fennoy with Engineering was good with that. Mr. Fennoy: We consented it in committee. The Clerk: No, sir. Mr. Mayor: No, we didn’t. Mr. Fennoy: That’s right, it was last time. 5 The Clerk: They’re running together for us, right? Mr. Fennoy: They are. th Mr. Mayor: You’re looking forward to July 4. The Clerk: Right, our consent agenda will consist of items 1 and 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Mr. Hasan: So moved. Mr. Lockett: Second. The Clerk: We have a motion, Mr. Hasan and Mr. Lockett. Mr. Sias: Mr. Lockett, do you have any problems with the changes? Mr. Lockett: No, you didn’t hear me, did you? Mr. Sias: I remember something else you didn’t have no problem with it. Mr. Mayor: All right we’ve got a motion and a second on the items added to the consent agenda. There be no further discussion voting. Motion Passes 10-0. [Items 1, 2, 4, 8-13] Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: FINANCE 5. Present the 2017 budget calendar for approval. Ms. Jackson: I can start off the discussion on that one. The, as usual we have a budget calendar that we always ask you all to approve. It is attached in the booklet with obviously you all’s approval today. We would distribute budget calendar and instructions during our Department st Head Meeting for July 21 and we’d go from there but it’s all in the booklet with the idea of th approving a budget on November 15 which is statutorily our responsibility to have it approved by that date. st Mr. Mayor: Madam Administrator, July 21 what is that date again? Ms. Jackson: That would be the date that we distribute the budget calendar and instructions during our upcoming Department Director meeting. That’s our next Department Director meeting 6 so we could kick off with the departments at that time with the idea that we present a proposed th budget to the Commission on October the 18. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Ms. Jackson: And you all have approximately a month to review, have work sessions to approve the budget. Mr. Mayor: I want to draw everybody’s attention to Tab 5 so that you’re taking a look at th it and then I’ll take any questions. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7 Commissioner Frantom. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Help me understand is this saying that the Commission’s not going to have discussions on different departments about the budget before th October 18? Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Finance Director Williams. Ms. Williams: No, sir, not at all. The work sessions that you see listed there September stth 1 through 16 those would typically be open to Commissioners if they would like to attend. Those are work sessions with the departments. Mr. Frantom: Okay, thank you, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I just want to get a little clarification. Ms. Jackson and Ms. Williams where in the calendar, I don’t see them but where in the calendar would the Commission work sessions, what slot/timeframe would they fit in there or where would we be intending to have any Commission work sessions? thth Ms. Jackson: Those would be between the October 18 date and the November 15 date. Mr. Sias: So anywhere in there we could schedule some Commission work sessions. Ms. Jackson: Yes, as we get closer to that time we will lay out opportunities for work sessions. I think last year we had at least three --- Ms. Williams: We did. Ms. Jackson: --- if I’m not mistaken so we’ll be able to build in those dates as we go but we have not indentified those dates as of yet. Mr. Sias: Okay and one other additional question, Mr. Mayor. In your arrangement of the budget process and when ya’ll lay it out for us to review it, I would request that anything that is 7 not a government agency be separated, that no non-governmental agencies be mixed in with the governmental agencies meaning --- Ms. Williams: Okay. Mr. Sias: --- meaning we have say for example we have a lot of entities that do functions that may be supportive of a government agent of this city but they’re not government agencies. I’m not talking about the Department of Public Health. I’m talking about any other entities that are not that are non-governmental that we would because I’ve seen in the past they’re mixed in so I want to definitely see all of those are separated. Ms. Williams: There is typically a separate schedule of what we call outside agencies that is furnished to you guys. And I believe we had one entire work session on those agencies during the (unintelligible) process. Mr. Sias: Yeah, but right now I’m talking about the format of the actual layout of it. Ms. Williams: Sir, I have to put on in the slots that the State of Georgia, a Uniform Chart of Accounts, tells us to put those functions in. I can’t peel out those and put them in a separate little set of numbers in our general ledger. Now I can show them to you on a separate schedule and we can talk about them separately but I have to put them in the prescribed function that they fall in per the Uniform Chart of Accounts for the State of Georgia. Mr. Sias: Continue for a moment, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Continue. Mr. Sias: Not a problem with that then as long as I don’t care if this format your Georgia format is twisted sideways as long as we have a plain list of who’s who on the outside. Ms. Williams: Yes, sir. Mr. Sias: Okay. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Sias, are you completed, sir? Mr. Sias: Thank you. th Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, can we put this up on the screen so the general public could see what we are looking at speaking of please? Ms. Williams: The last date down there is just the start of the fiscal year. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Donna. 8 Ms. Williams: You bet. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle? Mr. Guilfoyle: No, sir, that’s what I wanted --- Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Guilfoyle: --- just wanted to show what I was, this is the normal procedure as far as schedule that we’ve always done in the past. And as far as the budgeting system what the staff presents to us it is broken out in the different departments, different expenditures. And as far as the NPO’s they are under a separate item. th Mr. Mayor: Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to emphasize the fact that my colleague just mentioned that he wanted this breakout. That’s not necessarily a request from the governing body, that’s a request from an individual Commissioner. If he wants you to do that I think the governing body needs to make a decision on that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and thank you, Ms. Williams. Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Administrator, you’re not looking for an action you’re just wanted to present and receive as information, is that correct? Ms. Jackson: Well actually traditionally the Commission has approved the calendar that’s why we added it to the agenda today. Mr. Mayor: All right. Mr. Lockett: So moved. Mr. Hasan: Second. st Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: The motion’s been made. Mr. Mayor: Thank you very much. Voting. Motion Passes 10-0. The Clerk: ENGINEERING SERVICES 9 6. Motion to approve entering into a Mowing and Maintenance Agreement as well as Indemnity Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation in conjunction with Sandbar Ferry Beauty Spot Project as requested by AED. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have some questions. Mr. Mayor: All right so this came through this would’ve come through Engineering th Services. The question that’s being raised is from the Commissioner from the 6. The Chair th. recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 State your inquiry. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. What my concern was I was trying to get some sense of cost here because it’s saying that we are obligated, okay I prefer to do that. Let me just go ahead and say I that I’ll actually do that. My concern, Mr. Mayor, is that it’s like an open ended contract. It does give an impression it’s something we have to enter into. But I would like to know what that would look like from a financial perspective. And per the information that’s given to me, as well to the next committee cycle and I’d what you shared with me just now and ask to defer it like to make that motion. Mr. Lockett: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Director Ladson is here I think he could certainly answer it if you’d like to try to dispose of this today. All right, Director Ladson, if you’ll approach. The question is with regards to item number six and that’s the Mowing and Maintenance Agreement and the Indemnity Agreement with the GDOT for Sand Bar Ferry Spot Project. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to say something. Mr. Mayor: All right okay, I’ve got multiple people talking. All right, do you want to continue or do you want to defer --- Mr. Hasan: No, sir, I’d like to defer it still, make a motion to stand to defer it. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so he wants to defer. All right, is that a motion? The Clerk: Yes, sir, we have a second --- Mr. Mayor: All right --- The Clerk: --- Mr. Lockett. Mr. Mayor: --- okay, very well. We have a motion and a second to defer. Any further discussion? Voting. Motion Passes 10-0. The Clerk: I believe that concludes our regular agenda, Mr. Mayor. 10 Mr. Mayor: This is the way it ought to be every Tuesday. Yes, this is the way it ought to be. All right, the Chair’s going to entertain a motion to go into closed session. All right, the Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie. ADDENDUM 14. Motion to go into an Executive Session to discuss personnel. Mr. MacKenzie: I would entertain a motion to go into an Executive Session to discuss personnel. Mr. M. Williams: So moved. Mr. Hasan: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting. Motion Passes 10-0. [EXECUTIVE SESSION] Mr. Mayor: All right we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting. Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias and Mr. Lockett out. Motion passes 6-0. th Mr. Guilfoyle: You all have a great and safe 4 of July. The Clerk: You too. [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 30, 2016. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 11