HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting September 5, 2017
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
SEPTEMBER 5, 2017
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., September 5, 2017, the
Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Jefferson, Guilfoyle, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, Fennoy, D.
Williams, Hasan and Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: All right, good afternoon, we are here to do the people’s business. I hope
everybody has had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend, safe, family friendly and all of that other
good stuff and now we’re back to get after it. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: At this time we will have our invocation delivered by the Reverend Larry
Carter, Pastor of the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church after which we’ll have our Pledge of
Allegiance led by former Commissioner Bill Lockett.
The invocation was given by Reverend Larry Carter, Pastor, Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist
Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: I want to draw everybody’s attention, let me draw everybody’s attention to
the additional information that you have before you. It’s information that was discussed on last
Tuesday. It just has the supporting documents in both cases. So again, it’s not new, it’s just the
supporting documentation just for our clarity okay, not new information, just supporting
information that was there last week. All right, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: At this time we will have recognition of our Employees Years of Service.
Mr. Mayor: I want to acknowledge the Pastor.
The Clerk: Okay, hold on just a minute, Mr. Loeser.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we want to take an opportunity to recognize again Rev. Larry Carter
for coming to be our Chaplain of the Day. Thank you so much for taking time. We want to again
salute you for your spiritual guidance and your civic leadership throughout this community not
just as Pastor at Mt. Sinai and we have a proclamation for you, thank you. Would you join me in
thanking him? (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: Mr. Mike Loeser, our Human Resources Director, will acknowledge our
Employees for their Years of Service.
Mr. Loeser: Good afternoon Mayor Davis, Commissioners, special quests, Directors and
citizens of Augusta Richmond County. My name is Mike Loeser, Human Resources Director for
Augusta Richmond County. Today it’s my pleasure to recognize our August Years of Service
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Recipients. For the Month of August 2017, we have 43 employees celebrating five to twenty years
of service with Augusta Richmond County. This afternoon we would like to recognize our 25-50
Years of Service recipients, when I call your name please come forward. Bobby Battle,
Engineering, 25 Years of Service. (APPLAUSE) Russell Helmly, Environmental Services, 25
Years of Service. (APPLAUSE) JoAnn Courtney, Augusta Library, 30 Years of Service.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. Speaker: Good afternoon, everybody. I just want to show my appreciation also for
serving Augusta Richmond County citizens for 25 years. It was a great pleasure and I hope I can
do a few more. Thank you all very much. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: At this time we would like to recognize a former employee of the Augusta
Judicial Circuit. We’ll ask Ms. Gracie Freeman Leverett along with her husband Mr. Robert
Leverett and the Chief Judge of Superior Court the Honorable Carl C. Brown, Jr., would you please
come forward. Office of the Mayor. Certificate of Retirement presented to Gracie Freeman
Leverett, Judicial Assistant, Augusta Judicial Circuit. Whereas Gracie F. Leverette retired from
the Augusta Judicial Circuit on July 31th 2017 after 31 years of dedicated and loyal service. And
whereas Ms. Leverette’s career stated in 1965 when she began to work with the young lawyer John
H. Ruffin, Jr. as Legal Secretary. When Judge Ruffin was appointed to the Superior Court in July
of 1986 she became the first African-American to hold the position of Judicial Assistant in the
Augusta Judicial Circuit. And whereas Judge Ruffin was appointed to the Georgia Court of
Appeals in August of 1994 she continued working with the Superior Court until Judge Carl C.
Brown, Jr. was appointed to fill the judgeship vacated by Judge Ruffin. And whereas Ms. Leverett
has been married to Robert Leverett for 48 years and they have two daughters, one godson and
four grandchildren. And whereas colleagues, family and friends of Gracie Leverett honored her
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with a retirement celebration luncheon on Friday, July 28 2017 her hard work and dedication
demonstrated her commitment to providing crucial assistance to countless citizens in the CSRA
and serves as an example and inspiration for us all. The City of Augusta congratulates you on this
milestone achievement of retirement and extend to you our deepest appreciation for your devoted
service to the citizens of the CSRA and best wishes for an enjoyable retirement. Congratulations.
(APPLAUSE)
Ms. Leverett: I would like to thank you all for this wonderful dedication. It’s really
overwhelming and thank you so very much. And I’m really enjoying my retirement.
Judge Brown: Let me just say this she’s much like my wife, a woman of few words except
around the office. Thank you very much for bestowing this great honor upon this great servant.
Truly she’s missed already and let’s just hope that she continues to enjoy a blessed and successful
retirement. Thank you very much. (APPLAUSE)
RECOGNITIONS
Augusta Age-Friendly Initiative
A. Mr. Bill Lockett regarding Age-Friendly Augusta Health Education Summit on
Thursday, September 7, 2017 and related initiatives.
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The Clerk: At this time we will do an acknowledgement for the Augusta Age-Friendly
Initiative, Mr. Bill Lockett. Do you have some other folks you want to join you?
Mr. Lockett: (Unintelligible).
The Clerk: If that’s what you want.
Mr. Lockett: All the age friendly AARP please come up please. All right, let’s go, we
don’t want to make them late because they will blame me.
The Clerk: Office of the Mayor, City of Augusta, Georgia Proclamation in recognition of
Grandparents Day. Whereas it is the responsibilities of the Mayor of the City of Augusta, Georgia
to recognize occasions of outstanding significance. Whereas throughout our history American
families have been guided and strengthen by the support of devoted Grandparents. These mentors
have a special place in our homes and communities insuring the stories and tradition of our heritage
passed down through generations. On National Grandparents Day, we honor those who have
helped shape the character of our nation and we thank these role models for their immeasurable
acts of love, caring and understanding. Whereas grandparents witness great milestones in the lives
of their children and grandchildren whether with us when we learn to read or ride a bicycle they
celebrate every triumph, console us when we’re distressed and cultivate our dreams. Through
decades of hard work and sacrifice our forbearers have also enabled many of the rights and
opportunities now accessible to all Americans. As a country and a people our grandparents have
made us who we are today. Whereas the National Grandparents Day represents a chance to show
our profound appreciation and respect for the central roles that family elders play in our lives. The
legacy of these selfless caregivers is not only reflected in the principals and the sense of purpose
they inspire in their loved ones but also in their unique ability to reach across ages and enrich the
lives of generations of Americans. In witness thereof I have unto set my hand and cause the Seal
of Augusta, Georgia to be affixed this day September 2017. Congratulations Now therefore I
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Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor of the City of Augusta to hereby proclaim Sunday, September 10, 2017
as Grandparents Day in Augusta, Georgia and urge all citizens of Augusta to recognize this
observance by honoring the lifelong contributions of our grandparents and recognizing the vital
resources, love and history all our grandparents provide. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Would all the grandparents in the room please stand. If you’re a grandparent
would you please stand? (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioners, those of you in
attendance and especially the Age-Friendly Augusta Volunteers. We have just a few of them here
today because many of them have jobs and could not be here. But let me tell you something. I’m
not the only one that loves and supports Age-Friendly Augusta. These people work hard, they use
their own money to do the work it’s because they enjoy helping others. I was told in 2009 I
invocated to a Minister that I was supposed to become a minister but I joined the Marines and that
kind of shot that but he told me that you don’t have to be behind a pulpit to minister. So, Age-
Friendly working to making Augusta Richmond County a better place is my calling and I love to
do it and I thank all of you all so very much gentlemen, Lady, thank you, Mr. Mayor.
(APPLAUSE)
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, congratulations for your work and for all of our grandparents here,
thank you so much. Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: 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 objection by raising your hand. I call your attention to:
Item 3: Is a request for an premise consumption Beer & Wine License to be used in
connection with Metro Diner located at 2820 Washington Road.
Item 4: Is a request for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be
used in connection Miyako located at 2801 Washington Road.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to either of those alcohol petitions? Our consent agenda
consists of Items 1-24 with no objections to our alcohol petitions.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Ms. Bonner. At this time the Chair will entertain any
motions to add or remove from the consent agenda. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from
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the 4.
Mr. Sias: I’d like to pull Item 22.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: I need a Point of Personal Privilege, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ll come back to you. All right if you will yield, I’ll come back to
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you. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8 Okay all right, the Chair recognizes
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the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to pull Item 19.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, Mr. Mayor, I’d like to pull number eight, Item number 8 and Item number
9.
Mr. Mayor: Item number 8 and Item number 9?
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Are you sure you want to pull number nine?
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Are there any other motions to add or remove from the consent agenda?
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Mr. M. Williams: Move to approve.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLUBLIC SERVICES
1. Motion to approve the 2018 Cooperative Agreement with the CSRA Regional Commission
for Senior Nutrition Services for Augusta, GA. (Approved by Public Services Committee
August 29, 2017.
2. Motion to approve the Contribution Agreement between The Georgia Association of
Conservation Districts and the Augusta-Richmond County Board of Commissioners.
(Approved by Public Services Committee August 29, 2017)
3. Motion to approve New Application: A.N. 17-24: request by Carl W. Sahlsten for an on
premise consumption Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Metro Diner
located at 2820 Washington Rd. There will be Sunday Sales. District 7. Super District 10.
(Approved by Public Services Committee August 29, 2017)
4. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 17-25: request by Wei Lin for an
on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Miyako
located at 2801 Washington Rd. There will be Sunday Sales. District 7. Super District 10.
(Approved by Public Services Committee August 28, 2017)
5. Motion to approve Ordinance amendments to the Augusta, Georgia Code, Title 4,
Chapter 2, Article 2, Litter Control, Section 4-2-9 Littering Streets and Sidewalks Prohibited
so as to provide regulations prohibiting the placing of posters, signs or advertisements on
any public property. (Approved by Commission August 15, 2017 – second reading)
6. Motion to approve ITB #17-208, Runway 17/35 Marking Rehabilitation be awarded to
and enter into a contract with Hi-Lite Airfield Services, LLC at a cost not to exceed $158,025.
(Approved by Public Services Committee August 29, 2017)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
7. Motion to approve the purchase of one non-CDL required dump truck for the Recreation
Department. (Bid Item 17-188) (Approved by Administrative Services Committee August
29, 2017.
PUBLIC SAFETY
10. Motion to approve Contract with Microsoft for the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement.
(Approved by Public Safety Committee August 29, 2017)
11. Motion to approve Professional Services Contract with True North Consulting Group in
the amount of $46,000 for phase 2 of the Marshal’s Operation Center project. (Approved by
Public Safety Committee August 29, 2017)
FINANCE
12. Motion to approve funding request from the Greater Augusta Arts Council in the amount
of $25,000 to support the 2017 Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival. (Approved by Finance
Committee August 29, 2017)
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13. Motion to accept the award of an additional $4,000 grant from the Georgia Department
of Natural Resources (DNR) for the Meadow Garden Rehabilitation Project and amend the
budget resolution for the project. (Approved by Finance Committee August 29, 2017)
14. Motion to approve Water and Sewer Revenue Bond, Series 2017 bond resolution and
authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign all necessary documents to refund the Augusta,
Georgia Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2007, currently outstanding in the
aggregate principal amount of $123,755,000. (Approved by Finance Committee August 29,
2017)
15. Motion to approve scheduling a budget workshop in September to discuss the 2018
budget needs. (Approved by Finance Committee August 29, 2017)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
16. Motion to approve and authorize execution of an agreement between Augusta and the
University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
(SREL) for the continuation of research and data collection related to bird activity around
the constructed wetland treatment system. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee
August 29, 2017)
17. Motion to approve proceeding with drafting edits to the Augusta, Georgia code 3-5-95.11
to create a Residential Parking Permit Program. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee August 29, 2017)
18. Motion to approve the Award of Bid Item 17-147A – Deans Bridge Road MSW Landfill
Phase 3, Stage 1, Cell 3 Earthwork Package for the Environmental Services Department to
Gearig Brothers Civilworks. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee August 29,
2017)
20. Motion to approve award of Bid #17-215 to Blair Construction, Inc. for services
associated with construction of the Fort Gordon New Water and Sewage Connections under
the Task Order Program for Infrastructure RFQ #16-178 in the amount of $799,843.00.
(Approved by Engineering Services Committee August 29, 2107)
21. Motion to approve the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Georgia
Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Augusta Richmond County for the replacement
of 118 roadway lights along Gordon Highway between Skyview Drive and the Georgia
county line for AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee August 29, 2017)
23. Motion to approve funding of encumbrance carryover from the 2016 Stormwater Budget
for the AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee August 29, 2017)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
24. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular and Special Called meetings of the Augusta
Commission held August 15 and August 29, 2017.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Motion Passes 10-0. \[Items 1-7, 10-18, 20, 21, 23, 24\]
Mr. Mayor: All right, top to bottom.
The Clerk: Top to bottom, Item number 8.
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Mr. Mayor: Oh I’m sorry, Madam Clerk, if you will yield. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 1 State your inquiry.
Mr. Fennoy: It’s not really an inquiry, Mr. Mayor, but just to remind everybody about
Friday we’re going to have a barbeque and chicken dinner to raise money for the hurricane victims
in Houston. Chief James asked me to remind everybody to come out and enjoy the second-best
barbeque in the State of Georgia. And I asked Chief James who had the first best barbeque in the
State of Georgia and he said that he hadn’t run across that person yet. So, and also would like to
let everybody know that around between 11:00 and 11:30 of this morning about 25 Paine College
students got on the bus going to Houston to help remove debris from approximately 100 houses
and this was sponsored by the Christian Methodist Episcopal Churches of Houston and Georgia
and they will be in the Houston area for approximately three days. So, please keep these students
in your prayers and wish them safe travel there and safe travel back. That’s it, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, I appreciate that. Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
8. Motion to approve Award Eye Med (Combined Insurance) contract renewal and
authorize the Mayor to execute the contract. (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee August 29, 2017)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, the other day at the committee level I had
some questions about and I’m still not quite clear around it based on the information we’ve got on
the first page in our agenda book where it says background. It says we entered into a contract with
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Combined Services Company of America on January the 1 2010 with automatic renewal each
January. The other day when I was inquiring about this I thought first that Mr. Loeser to his credit,
Mr. Loeser, I apologize in advance to possibly attributing something to you that you may not have
said so forgive me on that and you can correct me and don’t feel intimidated at all. But I thought
initially you did say it was an annual renewal and then the representative from the insurance
company said you know it was a four-year contract as I understood it but we could cancel it at any
time within a year, or something like that.
Mr. Lozier: Yes, and I don’t want to speak for Eye Med’s rep. Mr. Reed is here but I think
he was referring to a commitment that they were making to not change the rate of or change the
plan for four years. And it’s up to us to renew automatically every year unless we specifically in
writing reject the renewal.
Mr. Hasan: Okay and that was my concern. I think you did come back and said he had not
raised the rates in a span of four years but also I thought you made a comment around the terms
that gives us the ability to terminate.
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Mr. Loeser: That’s correct. You have the ability to terminate.
Mr. Hasan: And what is that timeline?
Mr. Loeser: That’s every, Reed, it’s every year in January but I’m not quite sure if it’s 30-
days or 60-days prior.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, okay well I was looking at the termination of it. It says on any date or
on after the fourth policy anniversary date the fourth policy for me would be four years. It could
be my misunderstanding on this my misinterpretation of it. And that’s the only time we had a
position to terminate it as opposed to on an annual basis unless we can make some amendments to
it. So two things, it’s not a single thing for me. It is the ability that we automatically renewing so
now we’re talking about going into the ninth year with no deadline in sight other than the
Commission making a decision to do that. And so I just think it’s an open ended contract. It has
all the appearances for me as being an evergreen contract which is illegal in the State of Georgia
because there is no termination date here. I mean there is no deadline here with this contract from
here to here it tells us when we can terminate it. It does tell us that but that’s even after four years.
So if we renew it today, so let me ask this question too. I know I’ve got a lot of questions I’m
putting on the table here. If we renew it today does that go to another four years that we can
terminate at that particular time or are we talking about when we started in 2010 we could terminate
it end of ’14 because we’re constantly renewing it you’re saying in a four-year timeframe but the
background it said its annual contract. So, a lot of questions there and I’m not quite clear on them.
Mr. Loeser: Well, I would prefer that Legal take a look at that but my understanding is
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that it clearly states in the actual contract that it could be canceled it’s renewed every January 1
as an annual basis. And my interpretation is that we and I believe Eye Med’s representative agrees
that we can cancel any January ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Loeser: --- with no written notice.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, Mr. Loeser, here’s what we’re going to do. Mr. Reed, if you’ll
approach.
Mr. Reed: I apologize for the misunderstanding but you’re correct we can, we are making
a financial commitment to guarantee the rates for four years and it’s made an amendment to the
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contract but you have the right to cancel the contract in every calendar year January 1. So you
give us 30-days’ notice and it’s your right to ---
Mr. Hasan: Is that in this contract? I mean I have the whole contract, Mr. Reed, is that
what it is?
Mr. Reed: --- yes.
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Mr. Hasan: Mr. Reed, but all I’m just saying because this is an automatic renewal and
that’s what concerns me, I think that’s what got Mr. Loeser’s attention to approach the Attorney
as well because there’s no end in sight.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I think from a legal standpoint again, I’m being a junior attorney today,
Mr. MacKenzie, that it is a four-year contract that is self-renewing with the clause that allows you
to cancel it in January of each year.
Mr. Reed: That’s correct ---
Mr. Hasan: Where is that at?
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Mr. Reed: --- after the 1, it’s on Termination of Policy. It says on any date after the 4
policy anniversary which we’ve already passed that point you give us 30-day written notice prior
to that then you can cancel the policy. We’re just we make a four-year, 48-month commitment to
the rates. But during that timeframe if next January you want to go out to bid, shop it or cancel
the contract you have the right to do that.
Mr. Hasan: So you’re saying so our first four years we go back, let’s go back to 2010 for
a moment. So you’re saying if that’s the case we couldn’t have cancelled until the contract expired
then.
Mr. Reed: Well, after that fourth year ---
Mr. Hasan: Which would’ve been four years before your contract.
Mr. Reed: --- that’s correct.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Reed: Now we’re on an annual renewable basis that with a 30-day notice you can
cancel (inaudible).
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, we need a better contract than this. This is you know, well I can’t
support it. My colleagues can do what they want to, Mr. Mayor, it doesn’t quite say what you
suggested either, it’s a little different than that. I hear what you’re saying but it’s not there ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Hasan: --- but you have to do what you need to do.
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, okay all right, Mr. Reed.
Mr. Reed: If you look at the policy anniversary date on the contract you should have it as
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an attachment to your agenda item. It says on January 1 of 2011 and each January 1 thereafter
is when you can cancel the contract with a 30-day notice.
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Mr. Hasan: So when is, so as soon as the four-year contract where do you see the four-
year contract at?
Mr. Reed: When we first initially wrote the contract back in January of 2011.
Mr. Hasan: What is the four-year, you said four-years, there’s four-year contract or another
four years for termination.
Mr. Mayor: Okay everybody just suspend, you can continue to take a look at that, Mr.
Reed. I want to draw everybody’s attention to Tab 8 in your notebooks. Mr. Reed, I’m going to
give you a moment to take a look at your material, everybody suspend. Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right I think he’s asked a series of questions and I think the heart of the
question is one, evergreen contract that renews in perpetuity and two, in the event that it is self-
renewing in perpetuity, at what point and where is there a legal clause that gives us an opportunity
to cancel i.e., terminate the contract. That is the question that is before us, okay?
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, the terms ---
Mr. Mayor: Continue.
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Mr. MacKenzie: --- the terms of the policy on Page 2 indicate that after the 4 Policy
Anniversary Date which is already passed then the policy holder which is the city can terminate
the contract with at least 31-days of notice prior to termination so it’s ---
Mr. Hasan: (unintelligible).
Mr. MacKenzie: --- and evergreen, it is has the option to renew but you can terminate it at
any point in time.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Attorney MacKenzie, if you’ll draw everyone to that clause, Page 2
all right?
Mr. MacKenzie: Yes, so you’re looking at the heading that says Termination of Policy,
the policy holder or the company may terminate or cancel the policy on the earliest of the following
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and it’s on any date on or after the 4 Policy Anniversary Date. Written notice must be provided
to the other party at least 31 days prior to termination and there are other conditions that can trigger
termination as well as listed in two through four.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, is everyone tracking?
Mr. Hasan: Yeah.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Mr. Reed.
Mr. Reed: That’s correct ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Reed: --- I agree with that.
Mr. Hasan: That’s all I’m saying, Mr. Mayor. I think there’s a difference between
termination and contract expiring, that’s all, that’s my point. Now if they want to, if we want to
use the same language for terminating the contract with someone they’re saying this contract
expires and is subject for renewal if that’s what we want to use that kind of language and let it be
all inclusive that’s fine but that doesn’t say that for me.
Mr. Mayor: I understand. All right, so let’s do this right here, we’re going to give everyone
each and every one an opportunity to determine for themselves what the course of action is and
vote on it, does that sound fair?
Mr. Hasan: That’s fine with me, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, okay, we’re prepared. All right, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 8I’m ready to vote; I think everybody’s ready as well.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, first let me start by saying I’ve seen
this issue come up a couple of years ago when we were looking at cancelling out Blue Cross and
Blue Shield. We had had 24/2500 employees that was going to lose the Primary Care Doctor and
that was a big issue for us. You know we ain’t looking at the benefit of any company that’s given
to our employees and our employees actually pays for this contract. There’s no private taxpayer
dollars that’s affiliated with this. They could’ve went up on their price which is passed on to the
employees but it was not. My motion is to approve. I think this is a good thing for our employees
so let’s move forward.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a proper second. All those in favor will vote yea and
those opposed will vote no.
Mr. Hasan votes No.
Motion Passes 9-1.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
9. Motion to adopt resolution affirming Augusta as a What Works City and establishment
of Open Data Policy in support of What Works City Initiative. (Approved by Administrative
Services August 29, 2017)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, it’s not as bad as it seems. My only concern here, Mr. Mayor,
I’m going to support this but I would suggest to you I would like to suggest as part of a motion
that I’d like to make is that because on the resolution that we have before us Section 3 says,
authorize the Office of the Mayor to work with the Law Department to develop a new Open Data
Policy Ordinance for the City of Augusta. That you, when that ordinance comes back that you do
a workshop exactly to say exactly what we could expect from City Works so we’ll know how this
is going operate. I see you have three persons that you’re suggesting with it. We obviously know
Mike Blanchard won’t be here, excuse me Ms. Tonya Gibbons and Mr. Maurice McDowell so we
can know what we can expect from this here. So that’s my thing. Motion to approve with the
Mayor doing a workshop once the ordinance and everything comes back and we can do that
simultaneously, Mr. Mayor, and I’d appreciate that and have my support.
Mr. Mayor: I don’t have a problem with that at all. I think that’s certainly fine.
Mr. Hasan: I have a motion on the floor, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a motion ---
Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor: --- and a proper second.
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Mr. Fennoy: For clarity, Mr. Mayor, can I ask the Commissioner from the 6 to repeat his
motion please?
Mr. Hasan: My motion was to motion to approve but because the Mayor is going to begin
to work with this, just kind of walk it through, Mr. Mayor, the Mayor’s going to be working with
our Law Department to come up with an ordinance to identify what he expects the government to
do. But at the time that that happens that they just like we done today he would do a workshop
about what that standup entity is going to look like, what we can expect from that that we can vote
on it on the Commission that day or either at committee level they can do it, whatever.
Mr. Fennoy: Is that the motion?
Mr. Hasan: That’s the motion.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting. Okay, the Chair
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recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
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Mr. Sias: I just wanted to ask my colleague from the 6 did it have to be an ordinance?
Mr. Hasan: The ordinance is what’s on here. I didn’t do that, the Mayor put ---
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Mr. Sias: I’m talking about ---
Mr. Hasan: --- resolution is.
Mr. Sias: --- when the Mayor to come back (unintelligible) does that have to be an
ordinance because that’d just be part of the motion.
Mr. Hasan: It is part of the motion. I might have used the wrong thing but that’s part of
the motion because he’s doing an ordinance. He’s working with the Attorney to bring back an
ordinance.
Mr. Sias: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second. Voting. I’m going to follow the Mayor
Pro Tem’s lead on this one.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re running the clock.
The Clerk:
ENGNEERING SERVICES
19. Motion to approve Change Order No. 1 for WR Toole Engineers, Inc. to provide
Engineering Services for Utilities Department on Fort Gordon. (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee August 29, 2017)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I had this pulled because a change order is as
much as the bid was initially. And I understand how we’re at Fort Gordon. I understand how a
company may be already in there but when it doubles like this it really bothers me, Tom. We
should’ve bid this out again had it been $50,000 or maybe even a hundred but it’s up to $500,000
dollars, that to me something’s wrong with that. I certainly don’t agree. I certainly can’t support
it not whether they’re doing a good job or not that’s not the question. The question is when you
bid a bid then come back with a change order that’s going to be more than the bid was initially
we’ve got to stop that. Now whoever’s working for us ought to understand that we used to do that.
I think them days are gone. Them days are over with and we need to have people who are bidding
the job and bid it honestly the first time. There’s no way you can explain to me how the bid can
double with a change order because if I went in there to do it I certainly should have the expertise
enough to know that this more than what it looks like. But this is the way people get in and then
they kind of stay in there. I learned that from Grady Smith if I ain’t learned nothing else how to
get it and once I get in I know how to move around. So, I’ve got a problem with that and I really
think this body ought to have a problem with that when the bid doubles, start off with $200,000
and then it hits $500,000 dollars so there’s something wrong with that and I don’t, I totally
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disagree. And if you can explain it I’d like to hear it, Mr. Mayor. I don’t whether he’s got an
explanation or not but ---
Mr. Smith: Who’s going to pay for my Cadillac?
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Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I think the Commissioner from the 10 will have something to say about
that.
Mr. Wiedmeier: Okay, Toole was selected to provide our engineering services at Fort
Gordon without bidding on the work. They were selected based on qualifications. When the initial
contract was entered into, there was no scope of work. This is a task order, an on-call type contract,
as tasks come up we negotiate each individual task. This is essentially increasing the budget the
initial budget which was a guess. We had no way of knowing the amount of work that was going
to be coming out from the Army. We established the $300,000. We’re nearing the end of the
$300,000 so we’re asking for an increase in budget for $200,000. So they did not bid on a defined
scope of work and our coming back and asking more for that amount of work.
Mr. M. Williams: Can I respond,. Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: You may.
Mr. M. Williams: Tom, that makes it, I mean that doesn’t change anything in my mind.
You’ve got a professional service going in there they know what they’re doing. They’re supposed
to know what they’re doing. They, you may not have known it and I certainly wouldn’t have
known it but they should’ve shared that with somebody. I mean when you come back and this
ain’t the first one now. I told you in the hallway we need to talk. I planned to talk about Utilities
and all the money we’re raising in Utilities but everything is being spent out, it’s being spent out.
Our water bill goes up 3% every year but we’re not putting any money back into the city. We
study building more water and I know we need that but we are study spending money out of the
Utilities Department but we ain’t bringing nothing back in. And 3% our water bill goes up every
year and we’ve got more money, I kid you about it a lot about how much money you’ve got over
there and I’m really not kidding. I’m telling the truth about it. I say it in a joking way but there’s
plenty of money over there. And I’ve got a problem when we’re trying to find money but we study
we can spend money like dropping it out of a basket anything we want to do in water. I had never
heard you come in and say you know what, I need to do it but I don’t have the funds to do it.
You’ve always got the funds because the money’s there. But there’s something wrong with that.
We keep spending it and spending it and spending it when, when are we going to close the flood
gates? The water’s got to stop running somewhere, Tom, so, Mr. Mayor, I can’t support this. Now
my colleagues can do what they want to. I cannot support a change order of that magnitude and
act like it’s nothing and it hadn’t been there. There’s been several of those, not just this year but
in the 15 years I’ve been down here. How long have I been down here, Ms. Bonner?
Ms. Bonner: A long time.
Mr. M. Williams: A long time but it has not stopped. It has not stopped and we talk about
these change orders, there’s something wrong. I’m not going to take the taxpayer’s money and do
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that regardless of the enterprise or not, Mr. Mayor, that’s what we did we (unintelligible) the
enterprise but our hands off of it. But the general public is the one that’s suffering because they’re
paying it. I think Grady’s got a comment.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Smith: I don’t have anything thing to say about it, Marion, but, Tom, how well does
this engineering firm know the layout out at Fort Gordon and get along with the folks in charge?
Mr. Wiedmeier: They’re probably the most familiar with the infrastructure out there.
Continuity is important and we have to react quickly when the Army comes with a new building
project. We have to come up with a design to serve that quickly which is the reason for the on-
call engineering services.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: All right hold on, hold on, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the
st
1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Wiedmeier, from what I understand we originally signed a $300,000
dollar contract with Toole to provide services and we don’t really know what’s going to come up.
Mr. Wiedmeier: That’s correct.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and based on what has come up, we are close to spending that $300,000
dollars?
Mr. Wiedmeier: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: So to take up through the rest of the year you want an additional $200,000
dollars in case something else comes up.
Mr. Wiedmeier: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: So if nothing else comes up even though say if my colleagues agree to amend
this contract and give them $200,000 more dollars for services that may come up if nothing else
comes up what happens to the $200,000 dollars that we have approved?
Mr. Wiedmeier: It, we keep it, it does not get spent.
Mr. Fennoy: It does not get spent.
Mr. Wiedmeier: Right.
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Mr. Fennoy: Okay and suppose we don’t approve it and there’s a situation that comes up
that requires $50,000 dollars and we have spent the $300,000 dollars what needs to happen at that
time, you will come back to us or what?
Mr. Wiedmeier: I would have to get a proposal from an engineering firm, bring it back
through the committee/Commission system and hope that I could get the work done by the time
the Army needs it.
Mr. Fennoy: And because this is an on-call contract, we will only use this money in case
there’s an emergency?
Mr. Wiedmeier: If, as the Army requires infrastructures is when we use it. And it’s almost
always an emergency at Fort Gordon because they don’t know when they’re going to get funding.
When they do they have a short fuse and we have to react to what they come up with.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make a motion to approve.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. All right, there’s more discussion.
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The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I don’t want us to get confused about when we
say Fort Gordon the water still runs downhill at Fort Gordon like it runs anywhere else. I don’t
want us to think because it’s Fort Gordon there’s a totally different water system, maybe not the
wrong word, need for water, need for infrastructure. It’s the same difference but because we say
Fort Gordon and the need is for Fort Gordon and that’s supposed to change but the water still runs
the same way. We’ve been doing this for a long time in the City of Augusta but we partnership
with Fort Gordon before we started doing work out there. In fact, we were so good that’s why
they wanted us out there because we were good at what we were doing when Max Hicks was here.
So, Tom, the same thing took place. You’ve been around this water a long time. I just got a
problem when the change orders that we get in, not just this one but this one is the one that caught
my attention today. It’s been happening like this many, many times. I ain’t never heard you come
back and say you know what we didn’t need that money. We got money over here you know I
thought we might have needed it. But every time we approved it, it got spent. I don’t know where,
I’m assuming that you followed whatever we voted it for. But I can’t support this because it’s Fort
Gordon, nothing against that but Fort Gordon the water still runs the same way. I’ve got some
issues when we can sit here and let that happen and don’t even question it. Don’t even ask no
questions just act as if hey, everything is fine. I get enough calls about the water bill, I get enough,
I called you enough I’ve got your number of speed dial because the problem we have with water
and other folks dealing with it. They’re paying their money; we did the sewer line. We had the
sewer connections for ten dollars and people get on that and they’re paying the water the sewer.
There’s plenty of money over there but it ain’t coming back to this government. It ain’t being used
for one source and that’s to continue to build more and more water and the more water we build,
Mr. Mayor, the more money we’ve got coming in. So, that’s a smart move and I guess we ought
to be looking at something similar ourselves but I can’t support it.
16
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, we’re going to give everybody an opportunity to determine
for themselves. We’ve got a motion and a second. Voting.
Mr. M. Williams votes No.
Motion Passes 9-1.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
22. Motion to approve the recommendations as presented herein on behalf of the
Environmental Services Department. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee
August 29, 2017)
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Videtto, if you will come on up. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I guess my question would be more to the Administrator
and Ms. Videtto is welcome but really and I knew information that was additional information that
was presented there is some changes in that. I would like to hear from either Ms. Videtto or the
Administrator on the background of this proposal and what was changed.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Jackson.
Ms. Jackson: Thank you, sir. Yes as you indicate we have reduced the budget amount.
Initially we started in the neighborhood of $200,000 dollars. We’ve been able to bring that down
by at least $50,000 dollars by two means one is increasing the number of staff proposed, initially
we had proposed three staff we want to bring that down to two. Also there is substantial potential
to cross-charge services to other enterprise funds such as the Stormwater Fund and/or the Utilities
Fund based upon services provided so that would decrease the burden on Environmental Services.
Another thing I want to make clear in addition to reducing the staff as a potential cost I also want
to make clear that part, what the full scope of services that Keep Augusta Beautiful would provide.
This, if we approve this, if you approve it today, we would be one of over 620 communities in the
United States of America that have a Keep America Beautiful affiliate. That is a national
organization that’s been around for many, many years. There was at once a local affiliate here in
Augusta. I think there was some financial mismanagement issues that led to the demise of that
office and we’re proposing to bring that back obviously with better and stricter management and
controls. But if we are a part of Keep America Beautiful organization as an affiliate we have, can
take advantage of resources that are not available to us right now. Those resources relate to
community education but they also relate to elimination of slum and blight, reduction of graffiti,
vacant lots, strategies for management of vacant lots, litter control, recycling and more importantly
for us engagement of volunteerism in our community. As we’ve often said, we do not have enough
government to take care of every problem we’ve got in this community. The involvement of
volunteers is key and this would be one way to corral the strength of those volunteers throughout
our Richmond County area to bring those to bear to address some of the serious problems we have
related to beautification and the appearance of our community. We also would depend upon this
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office to engage with various other departments in our government, those being Planning and
Development, the Marshall’s Office, Housing and Community Development, Probation Services,
Engineering, Environmental Services and Utilities so we see this as one of several departments
that would be working together to address our issues. One of the other very key things here is that
the office would pursue great grants to bring in other funding non-governmental resources to bear
in our beautification efforts. Finally I also want to point out I was contacted by the School
Superintendent Dr. Pringle earlier this week to let me know that she has had substantial experience
working with school based chapters of Keep America Beautiful’s organization engaging kids as
volunteers and if we are successful in getting this proposed today she would propose to the school
system that they also do likewise so that we could all join together and develop a community wide
partnership for beautification efforts in our community.
Mr. Mayor: Continue.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So Ms. Jackson when we talk about, I know part of this
Keep America Beautiful also kind of ties into Keep Georgia Beautiful and that is through the
Department of Community Affairs, is that correct?
Ms. Jackson: Correct.
Mr. Sias: And then if we are paying and this the national membership is $4,000 dollars, is
that annual?
Ms. Jackson: I believe that’s a one-time fee.
Mr. Sias: And that opens the door for us to request grants and things through both the
national organization and the Department of Community Affairs, being a question.
Ms. Jackson: And others I believe. We could pursue funding from various organizations.
Mr. Sias: Okay and you know I’m a proponent of enforcement so as we do the education
where are we looking at for the part for enforcement and I mean that in the fact that we’ve presented
the Marshal’s Office with one additional deputy and we have so many individuals in areas in this
city where people simply disregard the rules and they may need additional education but give me
one more idea on the enforcement piece. And you and I have had a couple of I will say strong
discussions on this and I appreciate that and so but enforcement is my key. So I can live with this
if we have a strong number one enforcement piece and number two we have a sunset rule on this
that we have to review it after either two or three years to see the benefit of it because I keep
remembering what I consider how the Perks Program did not function that well. So, I will
definitely look for a sunset clause on this particular membership.
Ms. Jackson: Sir, if you were to propose a sunset clause at the three-year period where we
come back and evaluate I think staff is comfortable with that. One of the duties of this office
would be to monitor our progress with statistics and so forth so we would have the data available
to Keep America Beautiful organization. I actually have an index that we could use to measure
our progress in beautifying the community so we would love to come back to you with that data.
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In terms of additional enforcement, you’re correct, we’ve added an additional person to the
Marshal’s office. We’ve also added someone to the Code Enforcement Unit of Planning and
Development Services so I think you’ve already made strides in the area of improving enforcement
and developing partnerships in volunteerism as well as grant funding is the next step to complete
our approach to beautifying our community.
Mr. Sias: And my last comment, Mr. Mayor, not to stop the discussion but just to put some
perspective on it I move that we approve this with the two staff persons and the other things and
the additional information as far as this agenda items goes. So my motion is to approve it with the
changes presented by the Administrator with the 3-year sunset clause.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ll second it.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a motion and a second. All right, I’m going to go in this
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order. All right, I’m going to the Commissioner from the 6 then the 8.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Madam Administrator, the employees are these new
employees or are these employees that you’re going to move around inside the government?
Ms. Jackson: We propose creating two new positions. There is the possibility that people
who are already on staff could fill those roles. At this point we don’t know until we go through
that HR process.
Mr. Hasan: That’s what concerns me about it. The second thing is location of it. It seems
like you’re going to put it in Environmental Services based on some of the comments we’ve heard
as of late even in presentation form it was allow Environmental Services to do what it does best
pretty much. And they insinuated trash, garbage or what have you in many ways impacts the same
thing. But if you’re saying that those persons who’s the in head of this that you hire or be hired to
do the spokesperson or what have you it’s going to be interactive with other departments. So do
you see any challenges there if say for instance we leave it in Environmental Services obvious that
department director won’t be that person it would be somebody who works for them. I don’t know
whether it would be two levels, three levels deep. But if that person is going to talk to the
department heads, what leverage would they have to do that as opposed to, I’m just using an
example, I’m not recommending this, I’m just asking, as opposed to coming out of the Mayor’s
office or the Administrator’s office and having a conversation with respective persons as opposed
to being three or four levels deep on the totem pole.
Ms. Jackson: The first response to that question I know that Ms. Videtto is just the Interim
Director at this time but we’ve had pretty detailed discussions about this and I do not believe she
has any concern with the person managing this particular function having those conversations with
other department directors, correct?
Mr. Hasan: No, ma’am, that’s not the question, Ms. Jackson, that’s not my question. My
question’s not so much her having a problem to whomever that, my problem is the department
director’s how would they receive the person ---
19
Ms. Jackson: (unintelligible) respond to that ---
Mr. Hasan: --- how would they receive the person.
Ms. Jackson: --- I’m sorry, I was looking in the opposite direction. You know all of several
of the departments that I mentioned who have been involved in this process of making this
recommendation. You’ll recall earlier during the year I believe it was in February or March we
made a comprehensive presentation that included representatives of about five departments and
they were all involved in the decision to make this as a recommendation to the body. So, I think
they’re all well aware of the fact that this would be here and they welcomed the opportunity to
interact with whoever it is because they believe this would improve their services and how we
work together in partnership to make those things happen. Now having said that if it appears as if
it’s a problem and the suggestion is to bring that into the Administrator’s office I mean that’s
something that we can look at later on. I’m open to that, I just want the function to be effective.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have some good questions if ain’t going to just
be one for the Administrator. Madam Administrator, I know that you are trying to in your budget
to hire a manager and Administration II person. You mentioned that there was five different
departments that’s going to be a part of this collaborative effort in order to do this Keep Augusta
Clean Program. Now at the tune of $118,000 dollars that’s including the $4,000 dollars for the
membership dues with the five different departments that you had mentioned wouldn’t it be,
because what you have is chiefs and no Indians to do the work. Would it be better to utilize one
of the five departments, increase their job duties and give them a bump in pay because it’s required
as far as more duties. I don’t know if it’s possible. It’s just an idea out there on ways of saving
money because if you think about it we had the Sheriff come up here six weeks ago and asked for
$2.7 million dollars. And if we don’t find ways now to start planning for our future we’re going
to lose more than we have. Another thing is as far as you releasing the RFP for a consultant, what
is the cost of that RFP that you put out? That’s one of the questions.
Ms. Jackson: Okay, yeah, it seems like I heard two things one is could we add it to the
duties of other existing ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Right.
Ms. Jackson: --- staff people. My recommendation is no. You could try it but my
recommendation is it would not be as effective if it is because those folks have their core duties
and responsibilities. This most closely matches Environmental Services which is why Ms. Videtto
has made the request that she has. Number two related to the cost of the study we have no idea.
We don’t have the proposals in yet so I cannot tell you how much that’s going to cost.
Mr. Guilfoyle: All right, as far as the proposal underneath your agenda item you have it
broken out as programmatic operational and financial review. All right, as far as financial review
20
every department in Augusta Richmond County gets audited every year through an outside
company. I think it would be probably better just to delete that under the RFP. As far as the
programmatic review that’s just useless all together. I’m not being derogatory whatsoever it’s just
what are you going to do with a review that we already have paid all these directors, assistant
directors and high-end employees to run their operations within our department? Now we did hire
a consultant here a little while back that’s currently working for the county, is that correct?
Ms. Jackson: Just to be clear this recommendation you approved that back in July about
that’s not one of the recommendations that’s to be considered today. If you’re asking about the
programmatic and financial review that was approved at the end of July I believe, sir. That’s not
one of the recommendations that’s before you today for approval. If you go look at the analysis
on the first page of the agenda item the first bullet is under number one, establish Keep America
Keep Augusta Beautiful Program effective January 2018. That one two, allowing the Recycling
Perks Program to sunset, three, the privatized street sweeping contract effective March 18, and
four put Consolidated Mosquito Control’s budget under Engineering. Those are the
recommendations that are before you today.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Right but I was looking at the front page under Analysis.
Ms. Jackson: That has already been approved by you if you’re talking about the hiring of
a consultant for a programmatic review.
Mr. Gilfoyle: Okay, thank you, Madam Administrator.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. A couple of questions as well. Ms. Jackson,
probably Lori as well, how can this program work and I’m support and I think we need something
but I think we have all recognized that in one part I counted that there’s a greater need than the
other part with litter and the other stuff that we “don’t enforce” or maybe that’s not the right word
but because of the one day pick up service that we’ve got more debris on the ground now than we
always had because of the one day service. So how are we going, how is this program going to
work then if the one-day program is not good for us if there’s more debris on the ground and the
wind and the rain and stuff I get into that trash even more. So can somebody share with me how
would that work how would that, how would the dog ever catch his tail going around and around
and around. So can somebody help me?
Ms. Jackson: I’ll start on that one and I’ll ask Ms. Videtto to chime in if necessary. With
the programmatic and operational review that you all already approved back in July we’re asking
our consultant to look at our entire solid waste management program. If they look at that and
determine that we need to do something different in terms of collections, it’ll be at that point we’ll
get that recommendation back from them and we can deal with that.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay ---
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Ms. Jackson: So I wanted to look at everything about how we’re doing solid waste
basically to include collections schedules.
Mr. M. Williams: --- now that bothers me a little bit, Ms. Jackson, and let me tell you why
because we were picking up twice a week now we’re picking up once a week and we’re charging
the same price. And if we’ve got to do something different is that going to be another price for
the taxpayers? I mean that’s something we’re going to have to face because we were doing it twice
a week now we went to once a week with the same price or maybe a little more or lower I don’t
know but I’m going to say the same price. So if our consultant comes back and tells us you know
you all need to be picking up more, are we going to increase the price to the constituency out there
if we have to do that because we were doing it twice a week and for whatever reason we went to
once a week. “I used to think it was better”. I say think I know it’s not better now because I see
the difference on one side of town than the other side. The other thing is and my question is why
don’t we or why aren’t the employees not just the Marshal’s Department but the Utilities trucks
riding around with tinted window with a radio in their hand, how come they don’t report, how
come there’s something not in place to get them along with the meter readers that ride through our
neighborhood that see abandoned houses that’s been tires dumped on or trash in the yard. We
don’t have a report mechanism coming from the other employees that we have. Now we expect
the landfill employees to do that. That’s not enough but I report so much stuff they think I work
for the landfill because when I call in because when I ride I’m concerned about our neighborhoods
and I see something. License and Inspection, I’ve been on them about people just putting up signs
and open up stuff on the weekends when they know there ain’t nobody working but then our
neighborhoods are getting flooded with stuff because people say well ain’t nobody looking I can
do it on the weekend. We got construction, we got a lot of stuff that happens during the weekend
time when the License and Inspection is home barbequing on the grill. So my point is I’m in
support and I want to help but those are some real things that are happening out there on one side
of town that’s really causing us a lot of problems and we keep saying I don’t know what’s going
on. I see it every day and it’s common sense to me. So I’m thinking we need to get something in
place where the employees who are riding through this city every day who’s passing by stuff who
ought to be reporting it either to the Marshal’s or somebody to help us clean up because this talking
about cleaning ain’t getting it. I mean and we’ve been talking about it for a long, long time but
still in the same position.
Ms. Videtto: One of the easiest mechanisms that the public has as well as our own
employees is 311 Operation. That’s one of the easiest ways to notify us of any issues that you
have.
Mr. M. Williams: But, Lori, let me interrupt. The 311 have gotten so overwhelmed with
calls but nothing is being done. Now I grant 311 is busier than 411. I guarantee you they’re taking
those calls in but then you’ve got so many calls and so little being done. If that was a solution, if
that was even a help to a solution we could say you know what, we’re knocking the piles down the
trash is coming down but it’s getting higher, it’s not coming down. It’s getting more and more
and more. So, Commissioner Sias talked about enforcement I agree with that. Ms. Jackson talked
about education I agree with that too. You’ve got people thinking it’s normal just to leave your
trash can out on the street don’t even bring it in. So, and maybe certain people don’t see it but if
you ride through the city not just through certain areas now if you go down Broad Street you’re
22
going to be all right but if you leave off of Broad Street you’re going to be in trouble. So we need
to look at this thing seriously and try to find a way to not just have somebody call it in because
you can call it in. My problem is as a Commissioner I can call License and Inspection, I don’t get
nobody but I get moved from phone to phone so I know how Joe Q. Citizen does. So, if we’re
going to attack this we need to do it and do it so it’ll be effective and know people know,
Commissioner Sias brought enforcement that we’re not playing with them. It’s time to at least be
clean. Now you can be poor but you ain’t got to be nasty.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, we’ve got a lot of questions. The board is lit up here. The
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: You know this is my fifth year on the Commission and every year beginning
in April and May I get the same calls about the lots. The only changes that take place is when the
city takes down a house and then there’s another lot that needs to be taken care of. I guess my
question will what you all are proposing decrease the number of phone calls that I get every year
because I get overwhelmed? And the people have a legitimate complaint we have property owners
that have been in their community for 40, 50, 60-years and they have a vacant lot that’s overgrown
or an abandoned house that should’ve been torn down and they want something done. They want
their communities clean. But they call 311 and even after calling 311 it may be four months before
somebody actually gets around to cutting that lot and because the grass has grown so tall you can’t
cut it with a lawnmower. And a lot of times the lot looks worse after it’s been cut than it does so
they want to see something done about it and I want to see something done about it. So that’s the
first part of my question. The second part, Lori, I think in working with Environmental Services
you could probably identify areas where people are going to be dumping because they dump the
same areas over and over and over and over again. Is there any way we could put some cameras
up at those areas that the people have targeted to dump stuff in order to what Commissioner Sias
said would go towards enforcement, but something has to be done. When we take down a house
we don’t really have any plans for that property and I think, Ms. Jackson, you all said that you all
are working on something where we could maybe let the property owner next to it get it a
reasonable but we need something in place that’s going to really clean up this city. And the
response that I get more than anything else is that if this community was off of Washington Road
we wouldn’t be having these problems. So, I think that it’s time that the city come up with a
comprehensive plan that’s going to address vacant lots, that’s going address dilapidated houses,
that’s going address dumping sites so that we could eradicate these items that don’t make our city
look so attractive.
Ms. Jackson: I can start by responding to that. Sir, when we brought the strategies to you
back in February/March of this year that was the beginning of our process to developing such a
strategy. I’ll be honest with you, your phone and my phone are not going to stop ringing just
because you put this in place. Hopefully we will be able to cut down over a time period but we
have to understand that Augusta didn’t get this way overnight and unfortunately it’s not going to
get fixed overnight. There are a few things that we’ve talked about today and in plenty of other
conversations related to enforcement, related to education, related to Keep America Beautiful.
They’ve got strategies as part of their organization that other communities have used to reduce the
number of blighted properties. So, we would have access to that information to capitalize on what
those other communities are doing so that will help us strategically in terms of how we address
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that. We also you know we challenged our Land Bank Authority to get more active and get more
aggressive in terms of redeveloping properties. I think they’re in the process of getting themselves
on a more solid footing in terms of building their own financing so that they can truly help the
community and not rely on just the $150,000 dollars that we put in every year. But that’s a part
of the piece, part of the puzzle. Our Housing and Community Development that department and
all the redevelopment they are doing that’s part of the puzzle. But the final part of the puzzle you
mentioned Washington Road. Honestly properties in areas that are deemed valuable you don’t
have that problem because people keep up that property it is worth their investment to make an
investment in those properties so that it gets taken care of. Until we’re at a point where we can
improve property values in specifically in Districts 1 and 2 where we see the bulk of the problems,
we’re going to have this problem so Economic Development is the key. And I’ve talked about
some of the other cities where I’ve lived and worked. There’s probably not a vacant lot within 30
minutes of uptown Charlotte right now that’s not being maintained because it’s valuable. You
know people want to be there because it’s worth their investment so ultimately that’s our challenge
for Augusta. We can do enforcement, education we can address illegal dumping like the Marshal
is doing through the cameras and so forth but ultimately, we’ve got to find a way to make
Augusta’s property valuable and people invest in it. And you won’t see you know grass is five-
feet tall within five minutes of downtown Augusta.
Mr. Fennoy: I’ve got three years left.
Ms. Jackson: So, but it’s going to take a multifaceted comprehensive strategy to make a
huge difference. It can be done but it’s not easy.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Smith: Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I noticed that when we come up sometimes with
good ideas amongst ourselves here it’s fine but also we can look around at our neighbors and see
especially across the river over there which I’ve been a licensed subcontractor. They have people
that work for the city over there trash men, service guys, policemen, firemen and they report certain
things. And buddy I guarantee you, you step out of line over there, you hate to be a tattletale or
whatever but they’ve got one of the cleanest communities. You want to ride over there and take a
look and I think if we use some of their methods on this side of the river we could clean it up. And
it takes everybody working together because it’s I mean it’s happened and it’s a shame but ride
down the street. Somebody the other day up on Walton Way set a whole dinner out of the thing
by the red light, a Styrofoam lunch think, cups looked like they ended up at the stoplight opened
the door and threw it out. But somebody behind that car or beside that car should’ve said hey, call
so and so and so and so and pull them over, give them a ticket and I’ll volunteer my time to write
the ticket. But it takes people reacting and doing what’s right, that’s all.
Mr. Fennoy: Motion to approve, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Our Mayor Pro Tem is requesting the floor. The Chair recognizes the Mayor
Pro Tem.
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Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just looking at it, so we basically have four
recommendations that are under this one motion, is that correct?
Ms. Jackson: That’s correct.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay ---
Ms. Jackson: Five, excuse me if you go on the second page there’s also one related to
consolidating Stormwater functions so, yes, it’s five recommendations.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- and I hear what you’re saying as far as consolidating this you
know keep everything under this Keep Augusta Beautiful I just don’t know if I can support right
now adding two more positions. I know you’re having some savings in this department which is
good and I think that’s a good move forward. So my, I mean if I could make a substitute motion
we’ll see where we go with that because I do agree with all the other recommendations so we’ll
see where the consensus of the Commission but I’d like to make a substitute motion to approve
the recommendations from Environmental Services for the, all items except for the Keep Augusta
Beautiful Program.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I ask a question around that motion please?
Mr. Mayor: I think that’s proper. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from
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the 6.
Mr. Guilfoyle: I’ll second that motion.
Mr. Hasan: Commissioner Davis, if those two persons were in-house could you support
it?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hasan ---
Mr. Hasan: I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right so we’ve got a substitute motion with a proper second, Madam
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Clerk, from the Commissioner from the 8. Okay all right now the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, Madam Pro Tem, could you support if those two person where in-house?
Ms. Davis: Right now I think with our consultant coming in and looking at the entire
department I think it might be I would like to look at that maybe later with more detail to see what
especially the recommendations when we have this consultant look throughout the whole
department. So right now I think it might be a good thing down the road but right I just want in
my motion just keep it to what I said which is those other items.
Mr. Hasan: Okay thank you, ma’am. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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Ms. Davis: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so we’ve got a substitute motion that adopts items one ---
The Clerk: All the recommendations ---
Ms. Jackson: All but one, two through five.
The Clerk: --- except keep Augusta Beautiful.
Mr. Mayor: Okay so again Tab 22 Items 2, 3, 4 and 5, all right, that’s our substitute motion
with a proper second. Okay all right, voting.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. Smith vote Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom and Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Motion Fails 4-6.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re back to the underlined motion, I think we’ve got a motion and
a second.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, to approve ---
Mr. Mayor: All right.
Mr. Sias: With the conditions.
The Clerk: --- with the conditions of a three-year sunset clause and the supplemental
information presented by the Administrator.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom and Mr. M.
Williams vote Yes.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. Smith vote No.
Motion Passes 7-3.
Mr. Mayor: I know we’ve got one more item, Madam Clerk, but I do want to take an
opportunity to, I see we’ve got a number of folks in the audience. I won’t get this opportunity later
but I’m happy to see Ms. Brenda Durant and Ms. Mary Jones here. I think they’ve come bearing
gifts with regards to the International Arts in the Hearts of Augusta Festival and I do preface that,
International so happy to have them here. I also see Ms. Nancy Glazer in the audience and happy
to have her here as well thank you all for what you do in the community. And I think we’ll move
to our final item.
Mr. M. Williams: Point of Personal Privilege, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, one moment. One more item, is that correct, Ms. Bonner?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, very good. All right, Attorney MacKenzie, Ms. Allen, Ms.
Bonner, moving forward we’re going to make a change to the agenda. And at the top of the agenda
we will put Points of Personal Privilege. We’re going to give everybody three minutes. Whatever
they want to talk about we’re going to give them three minutes so in advance of our next
Commission meeting let’s make sure we make that change. We’ll give everybody three minutes
for a Point of Personal Privilege that gives you an opportunity, I’m going to recognize you now
but ---
Mr. M. Williams: Okay ---
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah.
Mr. M. Williams: --- but you might not know when my Point of Personal Privilege is
(unintelligible) ---
Mr. Mayor: I don’t, I don’t.
Mr. M. Williams: --- so I don’t how that’ll work for you but I wanted to tell Brenda and
her staff that Ms. Jackson mentioned about cleanup and about Economic Development and what
you do with Arts in the Heart and all of the hard work ya’ll put in. Those are the type things that
we need to do to make properties valuable and have people to come into this area. We need
economic development and I want to take my hat off to you all and thank you so much for what
you’re doing and we certainly appreciate it whether you feel that all the time or not. My mother
used to tell me when she spanked me she always said she loves me but I didn’t believe it but I
realize it now and hope that ya’ll realize that we love you and we want to support all we can, thank
you very much.
Ms. Durant: Thank you all (inaudible).
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 1 wants a Point of Personal Privilege
as well.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’ve just got a question if you could help me. If one of my
colleagues decides not to utilize their Point of Personal Privilege, can they extend that to one of
their colleagues?
Mr. Mayor: No, because we’ll have a time limit of Points of Personal Privilege and that’s
how we’ll structure that ---
The Clerk: No yielding?
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Mr. Mayor: --- we’ll have a total of ten minutes for that to be used. Whoever wants to
utilize two minutes during that ten-minute period of time that’s how that generally works.
Mr. Fennoy: One other question, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: If I have three minutes and only use one minute the first time, do I have two
minutes left?
Mr. Mayor: Once you yield you don’t get the floor back.
Mr. Fennoy: All right thank you, Mr. Mayor.
The Clerk: So this is going to be done by consensus, right, so we can have it for the record?
Mr. Sias: (Inaudible) vote on that sooner or later (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Mr. M. Williams: That’s just a suggestion, that don’t go nowhere.
Mr. Mayor: --- the code does say that the Mayor and the Clerk are the ones who put the
book together. All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to move forward.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
25. Consider the following changes for no profit organizations that request funds from the
General Fund: 1. A cap of $25K for all General Fund requests. 2. Consider an accounting
review process that is not detrimental to the smaller non-profits. The following non-profits
would be considered exempt up to the amount of $120K: The ARC Museum of History, The
Lucy Craft Laney Museum, and The Arts Council. We must find opportunities to reduce
discretionary spending. I consider this a first step with additional options to follow. (No
recommendation from Finance Committee August 29, 2017)
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, this is coming from the Finance Committee. All right, the
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. When we talked about this at the Finance Committee
we sent it forward without a recommendation. And one of the considerations that the Finance
Chair had requested was sort of like an impact. But let me say this first. As a government it’s not
our duty to completely sponsor and pay for all the non-profits that we have here. I find it a great
responsibility for our local government to help support our non-profits. We support our non-profits
from the General Fund. We support non-profits from through several other methods as well to
include Community Housing and Development Department and other areas. So I’m not against
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non-profits receiving some assistance but what I do find problematic is when we have non-profits
that exist annually off of our General Fund. And when we started this discussion about SPLOST
VII, the Mayor at the time made a very profound presentation concerning the number of years that
we supported the non-profits and most of them are the same ones that come back to the table.
Rarely do we see any new ones. So my suggestion is that we cap the amount that we can present
that the non-profits can apply for. And if you take out two or three big ones we have, the average,
we average about $30,000 dollars per organization on the average, not everyone is getting that but
if you look at the average it comes out to about $30,800 dollars and by capping it we put a $25,000-
dollar cap. And one of the organizations that we sponsored last year in the General Fund this year
I should say in our 2017 General Fund was the Alliance for Fort Gordon and they are continuing
to work and are very happy with the amount that they receive from us. We have other non-profits
that receive money and they are doing what they do but I don’t consider it the responsibility of the
General Fund to completely finance these non-profits. And we did put in a thing to have two, three
exceptions that was for the Arts Council, the two museums that we have here at a cap at $120K
and that gives everybody an opportunity to continue their mission but not to depend completely
on our General Fund for this. Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m trying to figure how we can cap, how we
can exempt. If we’re going to do something it’s got to be across the board I would think with
everybody. I don’t think we can sit here and say you know this entity or that entity can you do but
the other one you can’t. They’re not part of this government but it is something that we’ve been
doing but I don’t see and I guess Andrew could speak to that. If you open up that door, I think
you’re going to have that to open and the process is going to have to work itself out. But I don’t
see how we can do this the way it’s structured here. So legally, Mr. MacKenzie, my question
would be to you I guess, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay state your question again, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Can we do it like this is structured here, is that?
Mr. Mayor: All right, Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: The short answer is, yes, you could do that. There’s no limitation on the
amount that you can give to the non-profits as long as you comply with the state law limitations
on what you do. Looking historically through the amounts there are different amounts that are
approved for different non-profits. Each one would stand on its own basis so you could create
some conditions whereby you would allow for a cap on one group and you can draw some
exceptions for a certain specific few. Another way to do it would be just to allocate different
amounts for this year and every year you could decide what you want to do for each one which is
how you’ve historically done it without having a guideline like this.
Mr. M. Williams: So with no guideline, Andrew, you’re saying with no guideline we can
do what we’ve got here and if we put a guideline in place it’s got to be specified.
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Mr. MacKenzie: And you can do either one.
Mr. M. Williams: You can take a dog hunting but he ain’t in the woods yet so we’ll find
out.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. Mayor: That motion has failed without a proper second, okay? Madam Clerk, is there
any other business before us today?
The Clerk: No, sir, that’s it.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we stand adjourned.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
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
September 5, 2017.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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