HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting October 17, 2017
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
OCTOBER 17, 2017
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., October 17, 2017, the
Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Jefferson, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, Fennoy, D. Williams,
Hasan and Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Absent: Hon. Guilfoyle, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: So, Father Knight, I don’t know if your standing there has caused everybody
to straighten up and be ready to fly right but ---
Father Knight: Probably.
Mr. Mayor: --- I will, I think I’ll use that will you be prepared to do that for the rest of the
duration?
Father Knight: That wouldn’t be a problem.
Mr. Mayor: You know they’re quieter than a church mouse today, not a bad thing. All
right, we are here to do the people’s business and we’re excited to be prepared to do all that’s
before us. We call this meeting to order. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. I call your attention to the invocation portion of our agenda which will
be delivered by Father Vernon Knight, Associate Pastor of St. Mary’s on the Hill Catholic Church
after which we’ll have our Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Would you please stand.
The invocation was given by Father Vernon Knight, Associate Pastor of St. Mary’s on the
Hill Catholic Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Father Knight, for coming to be our Chaplain of the Day we want
to again thank you for your spiritual guidance. Would you join me in giving him a round of
applause? (APPLAUSE) For those of you who may not know there are two Christmas ornaments
this year. One of them is of St. Mary’s and it is beautiful. I would encourage you to stop by either
St. Mary’s, maybe they have some there, or you can go to the Easter Seals Website and purchase
one. And the second ornament for this year’s holiday season is of First Baptist Church located on
Walton Way celebrating their 200-year anniversary. Two very beautiful Christmas ornaments that
we’re pleased to support and be a part of. And make great Christmas gifts for folks to hang on
their Christmas trees and we have two of them in the Mayor’s office if you’d like to stop by and
take a look at them. All right, Madam Clerk, I think what we’ll want to do is go ahead and take
the additions to the agenda and if there’d be no objections to them with unanimous consent add
these to the agenda.
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Mr. Sias: To the regular agenda?
Mr. Mayor: To the regular agenda.
Mr. Sias: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, without objection, very well.
The Clerk: Do you want to address the Planning Petitions first?
Mr. Mayor: I’m turning it over to you now. I just wanted to make sure we get it added to
the agenda.
The Clerk: Oh, okay. On our ---
Mr. Mayor: You can talk to it, Ms. Bonner. It says right here, Commissioner, that they
want to add it to the consent agenda because it was just a technical error. It was something that
was adopted during the Planning Commission meeting and it was a routine request. And we
certainly can have Rob come and speak to it but it was just a technical omission which is why it
didn’t make it on the agenda.
The Clerk: On the printed agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Printed agenda.
The Clerk: That’s correct, sir, with no objectors. Mr. Paul DeCamp from the Planning and
Development Department is here to answer any questions.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Paul, we don’t need you right now. We just want to add it to the
agenda. All right is there ---
Mr. Sias: I do have some questions on it. I’m not talking about the consent.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay, all right so all right so we’ll add it to the consent agenda and then
you’ll remove it okay? All right, without objection.
The Clerk: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
RECOGNITIONS
Employee of the Month
A. 2017 October Employee of the Month.
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The Clerk: Also under the Recognition portion of the agenda H.R has requested that this
item be deleted at this time and rescheduled to an upcoming meeting.
DELEGATIONS
B. Mr. John Milton regarding World AIDS Day/Week-Angelic is a Non-Profit organization
hosting the Red Gala Annual Event for HIV awareness and education during the week of
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December 1.
The Clerk: Under our Delegation portion of the agenda Mr. John Milton is not able to join
us. However, his business partner, Mr. Ken Bonds, regarding Work AIDS Day/Week-Angelic is
a Non-profit organization hosting a Red Gala Event for the HIV awareness and education during
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the week of December 1. Mr. Bonds.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mr. Barnes, thank you for coming to share with us. You have five
minutes. If you’ll state for the record your name and your address, sir.
Mr. Bonds: Ken Bonds Jr., 1927 Olive Road, Augusta, Georgia 30906. Mr. Mayor,
Commissioners, city officials and the rest of the citizens of Richmond County, thank you for
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having me. As you all know December 1 or if you didn’t know December 1 is World AIDS
Day. Angelic Community Resource Development or ACRD has been the only CBO or
Community Based Organization for a number of years putting on events to educate the community,
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the citizens around the area the CSRA. December 1 is World AIDS Day. We’ll have a program
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at Good Shepard December 2 We’ll have a Red Ribbon Gala at the Legends Club to raise funds
so we can continue to get out here in the community and continue to test and educate and counsel.
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December 9 we’ll also have a World AIDS Day Walk. The reason I’m before you today is
because while we’re doing all these great things and there’s a lot of great causes, a lot of things
that we need to do as a city and things of that nature HIV and AIDS is still prevalent. In the CSRA
we have over 2,000 individuals infected not to include the rising cases and new infections. As I
stated earlier we ACRD was the only CBO based community organization outside of Atlanta that
was doing this work and raising awareness. I’m here for a couple of reasons, one to raise awareness
and let you all know. I know everyone’s schedule is very hectic. I recognize that everyone has
things to do but this is an important matter so we’d love for you to come out and support and on
top of that we always could use a financial donation whether that’s from the city or if you find it
in your heart to give anything for this cause because if you’re not infected, for everyone infected
we all are affected. I know we like to save money and things of that nature so let’s put our
resources into education and being pro-active so we won’t have to be reactive that’s why we’re
doing these events and things of that nature, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Mr. Bonds, thank you for coming to share. Are there any
questions from the members of this body? Okay so I’ll mention a few things that the city is doing.
As you probably are aware for many, many years now this city has been supporting through our
Housing and Community Development efforts housing for people with AIDS. There is an event
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that is going to take place on Thursday, October the 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Beasley
Room. That’s a HOPWA and HUD session. So, again I think it’ll be an opportunity for
organizations like yours to come and be partners and to help champion the issue of what we can
are doing in our community as it relates to AIDS. We also partner with the Ryan White
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Organization through Augusta University Health or AU Health. So we are partners. This is a
conversation that needs to continue and we look forward to continue to be a part of that.
Mr. Bonds: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
DELEGATIONS
C. Ms. Bernice Hughes regarding Captain Robert C. Hughes, Sr. Augusta Fire Dept. “Death
Benefits” from retirement.
The Clerk: Are you in the Chamber, Ms. Hughes? Ms. Hughes is here to address the
Commission regarding death benefits from her husband Captain Robert C. Hughes, Sr. who retired
from the Augusta Fire Department. Do you want to come forward, Ms. Hughes?
Mr. Mayor: As Ms. Hughes is approaching each of you should have received some
information from Ms. Bonner by way of the Administrator’s office that speaks to the matter at
hand. Ms. Hughes, if you’ll speak into the microphone, Jeff is going to assist you, you have five
minutes to speak. Again if you’ll state for the record your name and your address, thank you so
much.
Ms. Hughes: Bernice Hughes, 1737 Jenkins Street in Augusta, Georgia 30904. First of all
I want to thank you all for giving me this opportunity to present my concern. My husband was
Captain Robert Hughes on the Augusta Fire Department. He worked for the Augusta Fire
Department for 30 years. He retired in 1985 and received his pension. After considering other
firemen he realized that he was drawing the whole pension. And so he went down and spoke with
Mr. Buck Corbett which was at the fire department and found out that it was not checked that I
could be his survivor. We have always, we’ve been married since 1953 and everything that he had
I was his survivor and everything I had he was the survivor. And I just want to bring this to your
attention that I have not looked at nor seen his paper where he retired from. I saw everything else
but I have not seen that. I just wanted to say, you know, this is my concern and this was his concern
because he did not want to leave me without surviving pension. And that’s about it and I just want
to thank you all for giving me this consideration of this.
Mr. Mayor: Okay thank you, Ms. Hughes. I think there may be a few questions if you’ll
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pause for a moment. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I did speak with Ms. Hughes, I worked with her
husband years ago on the Augusta Fire Department and I knew him quite well. But Ms. Hughes
was having some issues from finding from H.R. exactly what was the process or what did happen.
Now I’m getting that information here today but I encouraged her to call the Clerk’s Office to
either come before the committee or this Commission to get something finalized as to whether her
husband signed entitling her to receive his benefit upon his passing. And I would like to have
someone from H.R. to explain at least why she had been told and from my understanding I’m not
sure about this was told several times they were working on it and they was going to get back to
her. And she called me really in distress and I really felt sorry for her but not just her but anybody
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that had to go through a situation like that. If it not possible or it wasn’t something that was signed
at least that should’ve been known, it that should’ve been said. And so my issue is why the H.R.
Department I guess or the city itself have taken so long to get back and respond. Can anybody
answer, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: All right so here’s what I’d like to do. I understand your concern, I do and I
think we share the same sentiment where Ms. Hughes is. I’m going to ask Deputy Administrator
Brazzell to approach. Okay you’ve been working on this issue and I want him to speak to this
issue.
Mr. Brazzell: Actually H.R. staff did prepare an analysis, the one that was handed out to
you and I’m going to ask Mike to come up and assist with this discussion in terms of the specifics
of what was done and when and the opportunities for Ms. Hughes to come in and review her
husband’s file and so forth and to see all of the documentation that’s available.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right hold on just a minute, hold on just a minute. Attorney
MacKenzie, everybody just suspend for a moment. Ms. Jackson? Okay all right, here’s our
posture. All right, Ms. Hughes, given, one, the nature of your request today and the nature of the
discussion it is prudent that we have the right folks in the room talking to you. We have them
here, we have our H.R. staff and we have our Deputy Administrator as well and what we’re going
to do is we’re going to stop here because of the sensitive nature of what you have. Our delegation
portion is generally for individuals to come and share information with us. What that portion of
our agenda is not for is for us to sit here and try to adjudicate or handle your issue from an
administrative standpoint. And so what’s going to happen now is that we’re going to again stop
here and we’re going to have Mike Loeser, Mr. Perry and Mr. Brazzell if you will again have a
conversation with Ms. Hughes. You can do that in our committee room over here and again share
with her the information that you have available that you’ve provided us that you were going to
speak to just a moment ago. That is a better setting and a forum to be able to do that. And beyond
that what I’d like for you all to do is to then communicate what the outcome of that is to the
Administrative Services Chairman, Commissioner Marion Williams who is the Administrative
Services Committee Chair and he will in turn then communicate that to the rest of the members of
his committee, okay? I would like for that to happen by Tuesday in terms of a communication by
Tuesday of next week.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, are they are they going to get with her now?
Mr. Mayor: They are, they’re meeting with her now. They’re going to meet with her now.
Mr. Sias: Well, you just sent the ones that need to hear what I need to say out of the room.
Mr. Mayor: I understand.
Mr. Sias: I’ll just put that (inaudible) Administrative Services committee.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, I appreciate that, thank you. Madam Clerk, are we tracking with
what we just did?
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The Clerk: Yes, we have.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I wrote it down.
The Clerk: Yeah but I know you said next Tuesday and we’re not meeting then.
Mr. Mayor: I know we’re not meeting but they can report back ---
The Clerk: Okay, all right.
Mr. Mayor: --- they can report back. All right, I’m not a jokester. I don’t know good jokes
so we’ll just move on, make it a little bit more lighthearted.
The Clerk: I call your attention to the consent portion of our agenda which consists of
Items 1-20 in addition to Items 1 and 2 on our addendum agenda. For the benefit of any objectors
to our Addendum items on our Planning portion of the agenda once the petition is read would you
please signify your objections by raising your hand.
Item 1: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone LI (Light Industry) to a Zone R-
3B (Multiple-family Residential) affecting property known as 1923 Barton Chapel Road.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to this Planning petition requesting a change of zoning
from a Zone LI (Light Industry) to a Zone R-3B (Multiple-family Residential) affecting property
at 1923 Barton Chapel Road? Would you please signify any objections by raising your hand? Our
next Planning item is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone A (Agriculture) to Zone R-1D
(One-family Residential) affecting property known as 3644 Belair Road. That’s for a request of
change of zoning from a Zone A (Agriculture) to a Zone R-1D (One-family Residential) affecting
property known as 3644 Belair Road. Are there any objectors to this Planning petition? Our
consent agenda consists of Items 1-20 with the addition of Items 1 and 2 on our Addendum agenda.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I would like to pull Item 1 from the Addendum agenda. And
also I want to pull Item 5. I just have a couple of questions I need to get answered to get comfortable
with it. I’m not opposing it, just need a couple of questions answered.
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Mr. Mayor: Sure any other, all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, I’d like to pull Item number 9 and also Item 10,
I’m sorry 9 and 17.
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Speaker: Mr. Mayor, on Item 5 I’m here (inaudible).
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Mr. Mayor: Order in the courtroom, no out bursts, he’s my friend. Any other motion to
add or remove from the consent agenda?
Ms. Davis: Move to approve.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
2. Z-17-38 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the conditions listed below a petition by Southern Meadows Development LLC
requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) to Zone R-1D (One-family
Residential) affecting property containing 1.04 acres and known as 3644 Belair Road. Tax
Map 053-0-043-00-0 DISTRICT 3 1. The development shall comply with all applicable
ordinances and regulations in place at the time of approval; 2. The proposal shall be limited
to the six units requested; 3. A materials schedule will include split brick or stone and vinyl
siding. 4. Any cost for road improvements required by the Augusta Engineering Department
shall be paid by the developer.
PUBLIC SERVICES
3. Motion to approve McCarthy Improvement Company Change Order #1 to the Airport
Taxiway A Reconstruction and Extension Project as approved by the Augusta Aviation
Commission at their September 28, 2017 meeting. (Approved by Public Services Committee
October 10, 2017)
4. Motion to approve amendments (Ordinance) to the Augusta, Georgia Code, Title 7,
Chapter 2, Article 1 Nuisances, Section 7-2-2 Nuisances Prohibited so as to clarify the
responsibility of property owners with regard to occupied properties. (Approved by Public
Services Committee October 10, 2017)
5. Motion to approve a contract with Reeves Young LLC for the construction of the Transit
Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility for a fixed price of $14,375,000.00. (Bid Item 17-
250) (Approved by Public Services Committee October 10, 2017)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
6. Motion to approve award for coating of the metal roof at the Fire Department Fleet
Maintenance Facility on Broad Street to Horizon Roofing of Monroe, Georgia in the total
amount of $46,800.00. Bid Item 17-237 (Approved by Administrative Services Committee
October 10, 2017)
PUBLIC SAFETY
8. Motion to approve request for 911 system upgrade. (Approved by Public Safety
Committee October 10, 2017)
FINANCE
9. Motion to approve FY 2018 Metropolitan Transportation Planning Services contract
between Augusta, Georgia and the Georgia Department of Transportation. (Approved by
Finance Committee October 10, 2017)
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10. Motion to approve a Memorandum of Understanding between Augusta and the
Downtown Development Authority of Augusta, Georgia (“DDA”) regarding the use of
SPLOST funds for the renovation and rehabilitation of the Miller Theater. (Approved by
Finance Committee October 10, 2017)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
12. Motion to approve entering into an agreement with Georgia Power stating that the City
of Augusta, GA will pay for the GP Transmission (GPT) Facility Relocation Costs on the
Berckmans Road Widening & Realignment Phase II Project in accordance with the estimate
totaling $318,673.00. Also, approve the Utility Relocation Agreement to be executed by the
Augusta, GA Legal Counsel and the Mayor and approve payment upon completion of the
work as requested by Augusta Engineering Department. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee October 10, 2017)
13. Motion to approve and authorize supplemental reimbursement to Georgia Power
Transmission (GPT) in amount of $186,300 for cost to relocate their transmission facilities
for improving Druid Park Improvements Project. Also approve modifying the Utility
Relocation Agreement between GPT and the City from $849,328.00 to $1,035,628.00 as
requested by Augusta Engineering Department. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee October 10, 2017)
14. Motion to approve and award the Engineering Design Services Consultant Services
Agreement (CSA), to Hussey Gay Bell in the amount of $1,136,478.00 for the Enhance
Operational Efficiency of Various Intersections for Augusta, Georgia Project as requested
by AED/TE. Award is contingent upon receipt of signed Agreement. RF! 17-127 (Approved
by Engineering Services Committee October 10, 2017)
15. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire property in Fee Simple Interests (Parcel
087-4-106-00-0) – 2046 Golden Rod Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee
October 10, 2017)
16. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire property in Fee Simple Interests (Parcel
087-4-107-00-0) – 2048 Golden Rod Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee
October 10, 2017)
17. Motion to approve budget increase for on=call asphalt and concrete repairs for Bid 16-
224. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 13, 2016 and October 10,
2017)
18. Motion to approve the Award of RFP Item #17-167 for the Revenue Enhancement and
Recovery Project to Utility Revenue Management. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee October 10, 2017)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
20. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held October 3, 2017, and Special
Called meeting held October 10, 2017.
APPOINTMENTS
21. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Kelvin Rhodes to the General Aviation
Commission (Daniel Field Airport) to fill the unexpired term of Frank Scharite representing
District 3.
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22. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Gaylon Tootle to the Augusta Public Transit
Citizens Advisory Board representing District 6.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 9-0. \[Items 2-6, 8-10, 12-18, 20-22\]
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Mr. Mayor: Follow the breakdances in the room like Commissioner from the 7 Sean
Frantom that used to be (unintelligible) push the button.
The Clerk: I call your attention to our Addendum Agenda Item 1.
PLANNING
1. Z-17-37 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
APPROVE with the conditions listed below a petition by Johnson Laschober and Associates,
on behalf of CDM Southeast Inc. requesting a change of zoning from Zone LI (Light
Industry) to Zone R-3B (Multiple-family Residential) affecting property containing 9.49
acres and known as 1923 Barton Chapel Road. Tax Map 068-0-003-00-0 DISTRICT 3 1.
This conceptual plan is for the purpose of rezoning the property from LI-Light Industrial to
R-3B – Multiple Family Residential and does not take the place of the final development
drawings required before construction can begin. 2. The final development drawings cannot
have any buildings located in the floodplain and shall meet all applicable requirements of
the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of the City of Augusta, GA and Richmond County
and the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. 3. The sole access road to the site will need to
be moved to within 200 ft. of the north property line to improve the ingress and egress of
residents to Barton Chapel Road. 4. A 175 ft. deceleration lane will be required for ingress
from southbound Barton Chapel Road. 5. The new access road and deceleration lane shall
require the approval of the Georgia Department of Transportation since Barton Chapel
Road is a county road and Gordon Highway is a state road. 6. A sidewalk will be required
along Barton Chapel Road featuring a two-foot wide grass strip and a five-foot wide sidewalk
meeting ADA standards. 7. An inventory of all trees on the site is required with the final
development plan to determine if the proposed project meets the requirements of the Tree
Ordinance and to determine the need for a variance.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If Mr. DeCamp can stand by, I’d also like our Traffic
Engineer if he could come forward if you don’t object.
Mr. Mayor: I don’t.
Mr. Sias: And here’s my concern about this and I’d like for Planning and Development
and Traffic to get together. This is a development that fronts Barton Chapel Road. I’m not sure of
the complete distance but there’s driveway with frontage on both sides. There are no streetlights
there and part of this development should include the streetlights. I know sidewalks are included.
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So, but the street lights are missing so for me it’s imperative that this particular item go back and
get street lights included into that. I just think it’s a tragedy we keep going down the same
streetlight road that we’ve been going down for the last 30 years. And we have a committee
ongoing to change it but there’s not need of continuing to compound it. So if it’s not out of order
I would request that they included streetlights in this particular plan before we approve it.
Mr. DeCamp: Commissioner, just to clarify are you talking about the streetlights along the
Barton Chapel Road frontage?
Mr. Sias: That’s correct. I’m not talking about the private property part of it ---
Mr. DeCamp: Right.
Mr. Sias: --- but along Barton Chapel Road.
Mr. DeCamp: Okay.
Mr. Sias: I move that we, are there any others but that’s my request.
Mr. Mayor: All right so I’m going to pose a question to you. I am, this is to the
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Commissioner from the 4 I’m glad you pointed this out. I believe it may have been maybe about
eight months ago, Commissioner, is it not true that the former Commissioner Reverend Bobby
Hankerson came to this same body and asked for the exact same thing?
Mr. Sias: But I don’t believe it was at this section of Barton Chapel. This is just the section
down near going closer to Wrightsboro Road. This in District 3 area; he was talking about District
4 area on the other side of Gordon Highway but we still have the same problem there no matter
which side of it it’s on.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I’m going to follow up on my question, Commissioner. Is it
not true that on the District 4 side that lights have not been put there either?
Mr. Sias: We have quite a few on the District 4 side ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Sias: --- we have a couple of empty spots but primarily we have lights from Gordon
Highway to Deans Bridge. There’s a couple of small gaps in there.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, very good. I think the Commissioner’s well within his right to want to
see that happen then. All right, Paul, you have a question?
Mr. DeCamp: No, I don’t have any other questions.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
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Mr. Sias: I move that we send this back and they bring it back once the streetlights are
included in the plan.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so all right, we’ve got a motion and a second. All right, the
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7 State your inquiry.
Mr. Frantom: Can we not approve it with streetlights instead of having to send it back?
Mr. Mayor: Well, he’s directed his question to the Chair.
Mr. DeCamp: Mr. Mayor (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: I think it’s prudent for us to do it all at one time because things get lost and
you don’t want it to get lost.
Mr. DeCamp: Mr. Mayor, I was just going to say the petitioner may be present. You might
want to ask ---
Mr. Mayor: Sure ---
Mr. DeCamp: --- the petitioner.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay all right, I’m going to go to the Mayor Pro Tem before I recognize
the petitioner.
Ms. Davis: I’ll defer this. I was going to see if we had a representative in the room who
will speak on behalf of the petitioner.
Mr. Mayor: All right very well.
Mr. Davis: I’m Zack Davis with Johnson Laschober and Associates 2614 Nashua Wood
Drive Augusta, GA 30904. We’re the engineer representing the owner on this project. We went,
when we took the project before the Planning Commission one of the conditions that they did put
on the rezoning was to include sidewalks along the road frontage so that, you know, will be part
of the development as we move forward with the construction documents and the permitting
package. The plans that were submitted for the rezoning, they were conceptual so, you know,
we’re going to have to change some things about the location of the driveway in anticipation of
some work at that intersection, so we’ll be moving the driveway as close to the northern corner of
the property as possible to allow for decel lane that, you know, accessing out of the property. The
project will be designed and permitted per all the county ordinances. Whatever is required per the
ordinance will be done to get the project permitted. At this point we’re just asking for a rezoning
to allow us to move forward, you know, with construction documents and the permitting process.
The streetlights are required by ordinance and the right-of-way that will be part of the package but,
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you know, if they’re not required by ordinance we would like to permit the project per what is
required.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mayor. So, sir, let me just ask you a question. You’re building this
apartment complex, correct?
Mr. Davis: We’re the engineers.
Mr. Sias: You’re the engineer put on. So and here’s what I’m asking, here’s what I’m
hearing from you obviously you already know that the ordinance doesn’t require the streetlights at
this time. You already know that don’t you, sir?
Mr. Davis: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. So that is why I brought that up because we need to have, when
folks are doing developments in this county we hope at least they will have enough respect for
where they’re doing these things to put some normal safety, and that’s not an amenity because
looking at this frontage for this property, you have a decel lane you say you’re going to put in so
you’ll have folks right along that sidewalk, right next to decel lane, that may or may not be walking
back and forth to your complex. And I believe just looking, I just saw a brief glimpse of the map
and the frontage footage is about what 900 feet?
Mr. DeCamp: Thereabouts, yes.
Mr. Sias: 900 feet in a streetlight area of 160 feet that can’t be that many streetlights and
basically that’s two lots per one about R-1A lot in a subdivision. So at least I would think the folks
that move into your complex, the owners’ complex, at least should have the right to have a
streetlight and feel safe as they’re going back and forth to home. So yes, sir, at this point I know
it’s not required by the ordinance but the question is are you all willing to do it?
Mr. Davis: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: Can ya’ll commit to that? And I ain’t trying to be aggressive. I’m just saying
we need you all to do it but I heard you say if it’s not by ordinance you’re not going to do it.
Mr. Davis: I understand, you know, our responsibility ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Davis, suspend for a moment ---
Mr. Davis: Yes sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, I want you to suspend for a moment. Okay all right, goodness
gracious where did our Father (unintelligible) go. All right, everybody just suspend. All right, the
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
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Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Seeing how our ordinances have not been smart enough to put
that in there yet, sir, I’m going to see if ya’ll will be willing to put the streetlights there, we end up
with the bill but I’m going to give that to you all to see if you’ll all do that. Motion to approve
as posted on the agenda.
Mr. M. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, we’ve got a motion and a second for the underlined motion
that’s printed. All those in favor will vote yea and those opposed will vote no.
Mr. Fennoy votes No.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion carries 8-1.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
7. Motion to approve the transfer of $58,340 from 101022110-5224111 (Building Rental) to
101022110-5111110 (Per. Full-Time S&W-Reg) and other necessary Object Codes for the
creation of a new Law Clerk position. (Approved by Administrative Services, Finance and
Public Safety Committees October 10, 2017)
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair of Administrative Services the Commissioner from
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the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: I didn’t pull this item (inaudible).
Mr. Hasan: Commissioner Sias pulled it.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Sias, okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 4.
Mr. M. Williams: Not guilty.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Sias: First off, I want to ask Ms. Jackson a question then I’ll ask the Judge a question
if he doesn’t mind.
Judge Flanagan: I never mind, I’m always available.
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Mr. Sias: Ms. Jackson, the lease for this property that the Juvenile Court system was in or
housed in when does that lease expire?
Ms. Jackson: They moved out in December of 2017, excuse me, 2016.
Mr. Sias: Okay, has the lease expired?
Ms. Jackson: Our legal staff was able to negotiate a release from that lease so we’re no
longer paying those monies.
Mr. Sias: And with no objection of the transfer of the remaining funds that way in the lease
balance I guess I can call it that to create these positions. And, Judge, I asked this question during
committee but I didn’t get an answer that I was comfortable with so I’m simply asking. In 2018
and 2019 has these positions I believe it’s two of them, correct, or one, it’s two, right? Have they
been included in your presented budget for the administrative present or recommended to the
Commission?
Judge Flanagan: We put in to ask for more money for these positions as we go down the
road, yes.
Mr. Sias: For ’18?
Judge Flanagan: (inaudible)
Mr. Sias: Okay, that is what I need to know, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Move to approve.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second. Voting.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Judge Flanagan: Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
11. Motion to approve and adopt Ordinance changes to the Augusta, Georgia code section 3-
5-95.11 to create a Residential Parking Permit Program. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee October 10, 2017
Mr. Mayor: Recognize the Chairman of Administrative Services, the Dean of the
Commission.
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Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just wanted to have this item pulled because
I don’t think we have looked at this closely enough and maybe we have but I don’t see how this is
going to resolve the problem we have especially in that one particular area. I heard about the
permitting giving passes or permit parking but that’s not going to leave the residents in that area
like I stated in committee about the garbage being picked up on certain days when the garbage
man comes by with the arm that reaches out we don’t have people walking them pulling them to
the curb anymore. But with those arms is this going solve our problem or is it just going to put,
like my grandpa used to say salt to the injury. Is this going to help us or is this going to do anything
or it’s not I mean we might as well leave it like it is if it’s not going to help now. So my point is
what would this do to help those residents in that area to be able to park? I had two conversations
this morning I talked with a young man who thinks that in front of his door belong to him. If it’s
not a yellow curb the city’s right of way means anybody can park there so how do we do this now?
Mr. Ussery: This program will allow us to regulate parking along these streets for
residents. It should eliminate what is termed nuisance parking by the nearby students from
Augusta University. How this will help the residents is that right now according to in all the
meetings we’ve had the majority of the people parking on the street do not live on the street and
this program should eliminate that. If you live in the neighborhood you will be given a pass,
several passes actually, and you can park where the signs designate that you’re required to have a
parking pass. So the residents and the people who own property on that street will be able to park
there but if you do not have a pass if you’re not issued a parking pass then you will be ticketed and
you know you need to park other places. So as we discussed before I cannot guarantee that
somebody who has a pass will be able to park right in front of their home, that I cannot do, but
what I can do is I can say the residents or people who own property on this street are the only
people that can park somewhere on that street. That I can do.
Mr. M. Williams: Well and that’s why I pulled this item. They can park on Laney Walker
and walk around to their residence if that’s the case because that’s what’s happening now. There
are so many people there they have to park somewhere and what I’m hearing from you now they’re
going to be able to park somewhere but you can’t guarantee they’re going to be either get in their
driveway or park on the same street that they live on.
Mr. Ussery: Well ---
Mr. M. Williams: And that’s no knock on you now I mean that’s a growth problem. I
understand that. I tell people they’ve got to manage the growth. If we didn’t have it there we’ll
be saying well why don’t we have none here and now we’ve got something here and it’s causing
a problem. And we need to figure out the best solution and I think you’ll come up with something
so don’t think I don’t see that I do. But I’m trying to figure out how’s that going to help the seniors
who are still trying to drive, who’s still trying to park and got to park two or three blocks away
because the other people are going to have passes to be able to park there and they’re going to have
one as well. If they leave home and somebody comes back for lunch or somebody just gets to
work late for whatever reason I just can’t see how it’s going to help us and that’s what I wanted to
know how is it going to help relieve the tension or the pressure that’s on those houses. In fact,
they’re on both sides of the street if you go down Augusta Avenue they’re on both sides of the
street and only one car can get through. I’m very fortunate that we ain’t had several accidents
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sideswiping and all that kind of stuff because the cars are close. My driving skills are still okay
but they’ll not always be like that and somebody’s going to come down the street that’s and they
ain’t got to be Mr. Magoo but they’re going to drive like him. So they just need to understand,
they just need to understand that we’ve got a situation here and we’ve got to address it. And I
think you and Mr. Ladson ya’ll have been working on it and trying to do it but I wanted to pull it
because I didn’t want to vote for this thinking we done solved the problem. We have not solved
the problem. We haven’t.
Ms. Davis: (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: Well, it’s going to come back Mayor Pro Tem but I’m not opposed to
this but I don’t want to think this is going to do it because at our next committee meeting probably.
We’re going to have somebody that’s still complaining about what we thought we had done and
got it right.
Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve.
Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Mr. M. Williams votes No.
Motion Passes 8-1.
Mr. Fennoy: Point of Personal Privilege, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commission from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Mayor, would it be okay if I asked the residents that will be impacted
by this ordinance to stand if any are in the audience, in the Chamber?
Mr. Mayor: It’s certainly within your right.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, those of you who will be impacted by this ordinance would you mind
standing? All right, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
19. Motion to approve the installation of Twenty Streetlights on Covington Court, Burlington
Drive, and Marble Court at a cost of $124.80 per year. This is also to approve a new lighting
tax district for the 51 lots associated with the above roads. Funding is available in the Street
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Lighting budget account #2760416105312310. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee October 10, 2017)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I am in support and I will vote in the affirmative
on this one but what I wanted to do was to explain. We are paying streetlights for residents where
the trees have grown so bad so far into the lights that the lights are on but they’re not covering.
And when I saw this about the twenty streetlights I thought about the residents who have called
me. And I went to look at trees who have grown up in the middle of the road it’s covering the
lights that you can’t even I mean you’ve got to walk up under the light to know there’s a light
there. So we need to get Engineering or whoever it is, and I think I spoke to Mr. Ladson about
this is that right, sir?
Mr. Ladson: That’s right.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay I put it before it got here, Mr. Mayor. But it’s something that’s
very serious about how the overgrowth has grown with the stormwater fee and others I don’t know
if that will cover it but we need to do something to address those issues where folks, we’re paying
for lights that’s not being effective and not giving the people the coverage they need, the light they
need at night. But my motion is to approve this ---
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. M. Williams: --- but I wanted to make sure that I brought it.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a motion and a proper second just hold on a minute. All
right, so Mr. Ussery, Mr. Ladson given the Commissioner’s continued interest and concern about
this what are we doing proactively to address this long-standing issue?
Mr. Ladson: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, there are other Commissioners that
had actually expressed those concerns and we have been currently meeting on that and we’ll
address those issues. We’re actually speaking within the house of having approve to actually just
handle those types of issues of cutting the trees that’s blocking the lights, the streetlights and also
the signal lights. So we are working on those.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ll stop there. Voting.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
23. Approve Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2017 supplemental bond resolution
and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign all necessary documents to refund the Augusta
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Georgia Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2007, currently outstanding in the
aggregate principal amount of $123,775,000.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Administrator Jackson.
Ms. Jackson: Thank you very much, sir, We have excellent news to report in regards to
this item. Courtney Rogers from Davenport and Company is our Financial Advisor. He traveled
here today to oversee this sale for us and he’ll give us a brief overview of the good news.
Mr. Rogers: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission good to see you again as Ms. Jackson
said we’ve have got some great news today. We sold refunding bond, refinanced utility bonds in
the amount of $123,755,000 issuing $94.895 million of new bonds. What this did is saved money
but we also freed up a little bit of reserve fund. Essentially, we saved $37,300,000 dollars and
change that will be basically reinvested into the system over the next four years. What will happen
is those savings will be taken over the next four years and reinvested in the system into capital
needs. That way we don’t have to issue additional debt for the utilities system so with that what
we need is approval from you all. We sold these on a competitive basis. We had eleven bids from
national firms throughout the country. Bank of America, Merrill Lynch was the winning bid. The
cover bid was three bases points lower. We sold the all-in true interest costs at a 2.30%. There’s
only 13 years remaining on these bonds. We did not extend the maturities simply taking the
savings over the first four years. Mr. Mayor, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic. The Chair recognizes the Engineering Services Chairman
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the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: How are you doing?
Mr. Rogers: Good, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: I guess one of my concerns is that every year our water bill goes up about
three percent. Will at this time or later on down the road will this have an impact on the three
percent or will the three percent ever come to an end?
Mr. Rogers: My experience with utilities systems and I’ve been doing this for over 25
years and utilities is one of my expertise areas is it’s hard to actually cut utility rates and here’s the
reason why. You have chemical expenses, you have your expenses of your operators and just
capital expenses that continue to go up on utility systems and that’s throughout the country. On
average we usually see increases in the seven or eight percent range. At three percent it’s actually
on the lower side. I know that your director is working with the utility rate consultant. He’s going
to be coming back to the Commission I believe maybe in the next several months with a rate study
which will come back with some more firm figures so I can’t answer directly but my guess is
probably not. If we use these savings to reduce your rates we’re going to have to go issue new
debt which in turn you’d have to pay more debt services which in turn means in some way or
another you’re going to end up having to pay more for that debt service. So the short answer is
probably not.
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Mr. Fennoy: Thank you.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I have a question.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir. Along that line of what you just said that three percent
is low you’re saying.
Mr. Rogers: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: So are you saying that the seven percent you suggest that may be in
other places happens every year?
Mr. Rogers: Around the country yes, sir. We’re seeing the cost between new regulations
that the federal government brings down as well as just the cost of keeping water clean and
cleaning up the water before we put it back into our streams. That cost continues to grow, chemical
costs continue to increase, pipe costs you’re having to replace infrastructure that sometimes has
been in the ground for over 50 years. That cost, it’s just a national issue more than just a local
Augusta issue.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, I understand the national I mean everybody has to have water but
have we considered the sewage rate that comes in also the money comes in the water because we
don’t just pay the water bill. When people say I pay a water bill they also pay a sewage bill as
well so would that money and the three percent interest I mean three percent increase for the last
25 years or so, Mr. Mayor, that’s something that really bothers me a lot.
Mr. Rogers: I understand yes, sir and I’m not the expert on it. The rate consultants who
will be coming will have more detail on that. We’re going to be playing a part of that presentation
to bring to you all the credit side and how we just went through the rating process with the rating
agencies. One of our goals is to see that rating increase and we’ll be bringing back some policy
guidelines. But they will be the ones that actually running the numbers. I’m sure they’re using the
sewer side as well. But hopefully I think, Mr. Mayor, the intention is to bring it back to you in a
work session ---
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
Mr. Rogers: --- so that we can you are able to ask lots of detailed questions about the
numbers.
Mr. M. Williams: I done told Tom Wiedmeier he’s had so much money so long he now
believes it himself so.
Mr. Rogers: And part of what I’m going to do is bring back to you and show you some
comparisons on the credit side where those, where your fund balance needs to be if you want to be
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in certain rating categories. And at the end of the day it’s your call but we want to give you that
information so you can make the right decisions.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Courtney and team, thank you. We’ve enjoyed working with you
and your firm over the last several years and this is good news for the City of Augusta and we look
forward to that workshop here in the latter half of the year here in the next couple of weeks. Thank
you.
Mr. Hasan: (unintelligible) Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: We’ll receive it as information.
Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve.
Ms. Jackson: You have to approve the item.
Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATOR
24. Presentation of the 2018 FY Proposed Budget.
Mr. Hasan: You going to take a break, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: That sounds like an excellent idea. Do you want to take a five-minute recess?
Mr. Hasan: I’m just talking, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: I’m planning on getting out of here in record time.
The Clerk: That’s right.
Mr. Mayor: That’s right so we’re going to keep on rocking and rolling. All right, Ms.
Jackson, can you do it in 15 minutes?
Ms. Jackson: I’m going to try real hard, sir.
Mr. Mayor: I’m just kidding, I’m just kidding.
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Ms. Jackson: No, I really do want to get out in 15 minutes.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the floor is yours.
Ms. Jackson: All right, thank you very much, sir, for the opportunity to present the
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recommended budget. This is 4 budget process that I have been a part of. If you may recall I
came in at the tail end of 2014 as you all were deliberating the 2015 budget. Of those four budgets
I think this is first time I’m presenting you with one that I’m not sure I like myself so let’s please
take this as a starting point for our discussion. As we go through with subsequent budget meetings
as I have outlined at the back of the presentation that will present additional opportunities for us
to dialogue about you all’s tolerance for spending cuts as well as additional resources in order to
meet the goals of the organization. To get started I want to set out some themes for you to give
you some insight into the thought process that I used as I put this document together. The first
thought process relates to our investing in ourselves. As of the previous years we’ve done some
things such as SPLOST, such as the Stormwater Program to invest in community and infrastructure
and all those were very worthy efforts. Our community certainly needed to see that we were
making those types of investments to grow and build Richmond County. In this particular situation
my goal is to invest in ourselves particularly our own workforce. As you know I asked for a
Compensation Study which you all graciously funded and my first charge with this budget is to
implement that Compensation Study to the greatest extent possible. Next we’ve also had a good
deal of discussion about the health status of our workforce and the cost of providing the healthcare
benefits that we do. We’ve offered a very generous benefit package to our employees but still our
expenses have continued to rise to the tune of almost $30 million dollars per year in terms of health
claims. So part of the motivation here is to reduce those costs but I think a greater motivation for
me is what we do to make our employees, help our employees become healthier so that they don’t
have to expend that much for the care for themselves and their families. C, I made that real simple.
People. Place people before operations and in previous budget years we funded the increases to
the operation at the expense of our employees as in operational budgets increase at, whereas our
salaries largely did not. So I want to flip that in this year’s process and as we get through we’ll go
through what that means and how I hope to get there. Next one of the themes for this budget is
Refining Practices and Procedures within the Organization. Some of those were realized, made
an immediate cost savings. Some of them realized cost savings that may not be so immediate but
I still think that they can provide, we’ll go a long ways towards refining our organization in how
we do business. First is abolishing some long-terms vacant positions in the organization. I think
at various times each one of you has had some discussion about that. We’ve taken a closer look
and we do believe that there are a number of positions that we are able to abolish that have been
vacant for some time period. That’s the good news. The unfortunate news with that is because of
the way we have accounted for lapsed salaries meaning we account basically for a savings of about
10% on the General Fund side, about 8% on the Law Enforcement side. There will not be as much
immediate cost savings associated with the abolition of those vacant positions as I’d like, but just
in terms of cleaning up the process and getting some of those things off the books, if they have not
been filled over some period of years and we do not look to fill those in the foreseeable future, we
need to go ahead and get rid of them so I’m suggesting that this year. At minimum I believe there
are 25 or more such positions. We’re continuing to look for additional ones so that is day one in
terms of refining our practices. Next there are several topics that we have brought back to you
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each year related to funding for Transit, streetlights and now Probation Services. We want to
institute some responsible budgeting measures with those things by realistically funding those
financial liabilities. In particular in the case with Transit year after year we fund the budget I think
of about 2.9% subsidy. We also know that the need for subsidy far exceeds the 2.9 million that
we’ve been putting forth so we would like to actually budget that as opposed to leaving it out there
as a “receivable” that we know that we’ll never receive to our General Fund fund balance. Last
looking at various administrative procedures could result in some indirect cost savings there are a
number of in-house measures I think we can take to better improve our coordination and refine
those administrative practices. Third, thank you, third in terms of adjusting the new budget
realities it hit me and as I made the comment about me realizing there was some things I didn’t
even like about it, it hit me as I went through our revenue sources in particular that we’re going
through a period of change and we’ve got to adjust to what we would call a new normal first
looking at electric franchise fees is just one good example. Due to several issues with our I
mentioned in parentheses there the loss of industry, change in weather patterns and additional
conservation within our community our electric franchise fees have decreased pretty significantly.
We were two years ago I think about two-million more than what we were expecting to get now
and that’s probably something we should, we’re going to have to get used to, that used to be a very
reliable source of revenue and it’s not going to be again apparently, it’s going to decrease for us
on a regular basis. Next we documented the changes the state went through with the tax ad
valorem, tag ad valorem taxes that also continues to decrease; that change has not worked in our
favor. And third just uncertainty in regard to other large revenue sources such as our Local Option
Sales Tax. Last year we experienced at $1.4 million-dollar decrease in that revenue source. This
year looking a little bit more favorable but it’s not something that we can expect to grow every
year as we had in previous years. As we get past the themes hopefully that gives you some
understanding of the underlying principles that I was working with as I tried to put together
something for your consideration. First a Compensation Study update. Our consultant Chip King
from Archer met with you all a few weeks ago, a couple of weeks ago. He will be presenting his
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final recommendations on November 7 At that point we’ll have a written document that shows
us exactly what we should be what the exact results of the study and his recommendations for that.
Of course his financial recommendations can be modified based upon the amount of money that
we have available and that gets back to the core comment I made earlier about not necessarily at
this point being happy with the dollar amount that’s available. As presented this budget provides
$2.3 million dollars for salary increases. Ideally that number would be $3-4 million dollars.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Jackson, I think you may have some questions as you go along.
I generally try to wait until we have the presentation, but we’ll take a few questions. The Chair
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recognizes the Commissioner from the 7.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This $2.3, is that the Salary Study or does that
include Law Enforcement as well?
Ms. Jackson: Law Enforcement was included in the Salary Study. They were part of the
study.
Mr. Frantom: (Unintelligible).
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Ms. Jackson: So the $2.3 is what is available as of what I’m presenting to you today for
everybody in the organization.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Ms. Jackson: In insight I prefer for that to be $3 to 4-million dollars to cover everybody in
the organization, excuse me, everybody that’s funded under General Fund. The Enterprise Funds
can support themselves we need about $4 million-dollars really to do what we need to do on the
General Fund side. We did of course explore ways to introduce some savings. We looked
obviously on the revenue side as well as the expenditure side. One of the major areas of savings
we identified is with our healthcare; we’ve had ongoing discussions about that. The projected
savings after reviewing our claims for 2016 and ’17 we believe we can project savings of roughly
$400,000 dollars for 2018. In order to do that however we’d have to impose some things that are
new to our plan. As I referenced earlier we have a very generous plan. Right now we’re one of
the few plans that our healthcare consultant tells us does not offer any does not require any
deductibles on behalf of plan participants. If we were to add in deductibles at the 300, 600 and
900-hundred levels depending on the type of plan that employee or retiree has that would save a
good deal of money. Next also looking at increasing copays right now it’s $30.00 for a General
Practitioner $50.00 for a Specialist. If we increase those by $10.00 each as well as we increase
emergency room copay from the current $300.00 dollars to $400.00 dollars that could get us to the
point of a $400,000 dollars savings. We would also in this case have to increase premiums for the
first time since 2012. This organization has not in deference to the fact that you’ve not increased
employee compensation in a meaningful way has not increased premiums for employees. This
would represent a 5% increase. To show you how a 5% increase looks we could take a look at our
current plans. Most of our employees are in the HMO Plan which you see at the very top of those
charts. For an employee on the wellness rate, what that is those who participated with our Health
Risk Assessment or HRA Process, monthly premium would be $48.96. On the HMO Plan that
would change excuse me that’s the current rate that would change to $51.41 so we’re looking at a
change of a little over $4.00 dollars a month per employee at that 5% level. For employees with
two dependents they would go from $146.00 to $154.00. So those numbers are obviously more
than folks are paying now but would still be significantly less than what you get in some other
markets.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Jackson. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from
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the 1 for a question.
Mr. Fennoy: Ms. Jackson, what you are presenting is different from what I’m seeing. It
says from $146.00 to $161.00.
Ms. Jackson: No, I’m sorry, Wellness and Standard, let me define the difference for you,
sir. The Wellness Rate is for those employees who participated in our Health Risk Assessment
Process the HRA Process where folks go in get a blood test and get screened. The Standard Rate
is for those who have not participated in that process ---
Mr. Fennoy: All right ---
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Ms. Jackson: --- that’s the difference.
Mr. Fennoy: --- so the rates are not the increase.
Ms. Jackson: Right, if you look from current rate the heading Current Rate to the heading
5% Increase effective 1-1-18 that’s the comparison.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, thank you.
Ms. Jackson: All right, sorry about that. And excuse me I see per paycheck rates on here.
It’s not per month, it’s per pay period, that is per pay period excuse me not per month. Okay, next
page as we talk about prescription costs you know last year we made some pretty significant
changes. We essentially eliminated the middle man and we went to a mail order program on
prescriptions. That has generated a pretty substantial cost savings for us. We’re looking at over
$900,000 dollars in saving from last year with this which is pretty exciting to see any cost decrease
in the healthcare business. With mandatory mail order we would see $700 to $800,000 dollars
savings. Without mandatory it’s still a $500 to 600,000-dollar savings so again we feel good about
those changes that they work to the benefit of our workforce as well as everybody’s pocketbook.
Last looking at savings in terms of investing in employees we have started investing in ourselves
making an effort to make sure everybody can be as healthy as they can be under our plan. You
know now we have a Wellness center located across from May Park; they’re a small facility. We
have on practitioner over there and one medical assistant. We would like to expand that, essentially
double the size of the Wellness Center for those employees who do not want to or cannot afford
the copays that we talked about earlier. They could go over to the Wellness Center and also and
get almost free coverage over there for the most part. If it’s a routine drug the bonus is an offer of
those drugs right there in the center such that the employee or his family member does not have to
go the pharmacy and it is of a tremendous benefit to be able to go there essentially for free so we’d
like to expand that effort and that expansion can be funded by the savings in prescription costs.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, we have more questions. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, Ms. Jackson, what you just said about expanding the Wellness
Center are you talking about also bringing in a couple of physicians there as opposed to one
physician that you just mentioned?
Ms. Jackson: Yeah, we have one nurse practitioner now. We can expand to a second nurse
practitioner, so they’ll essentially be able to double their capacity to see patients.
Mr. Hasan: So have you talked with them about what you just mentioned in terms of
expanding the service they provide as well as compensation?
Ms. Jackson: We have. We have put that out for bid and we’ve gotten a proposal back.
We’d like to stay with the same provider that we have now and on a future agenda we’ll have the
specifics of that for your consideration.
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Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Jackson, since you raised it I’ll raise it again. To the degree that
we’re expanding that not just from a you know a facility size standpoint but also more people is
that included in this budget presentation, the cost associated with that?
Ms. Jackson: We can, in terms of the budget we’re presenting we can handle the cost
associated with that expansion because of the savings that we realize from the prescription drug
program.
Mr. Mayor: Then my follow up question is do we have we identified what that number is
just for that alone?
Ms. Jackson: Do we have a specific number?
Mr. Brazzell: No, (inaudible).
Ms. Jackson: Okay, okay, I’m sure we can account for it when we bring the bids back
we’ll have that specific number for you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right but will we have that before we try to adopt the budget on the 21?
Ms. Jackson: Yes.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5 for a
question.
Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Jackson, recently we had a meeting had a
discussion about the mail order prescriptions and I see you’ve got mandatory and non-mandatory.
So, how does that play into what we recently went through I guess mid-summer?
Ms. Jackson: What we did earlier was that we did not force the mandatory mail order issue.
People can still participate and many of our employees are still participating. At this point I think
it is a decision we’ll have to make as to whether or not we want to go mandatory or not. My
thinking is that if we promote the positive aspects of the program people will choose to sign up for
the mail order program without it being mandatory because the benefits are such that if you by buy
medication for three months for one quarter one month of the three months is free so there’s a
financial incentive to participate in the mail order program.
Mr. Jefferson: Yeah, but I thought that one of the reasons we got away from it was because
some of the sensitive drugs were left after the parcel people delivered it and the drugs were missing
and people tampering with them and so forth, I thought it was from a safety standpoint.
Ms. Jackson: And yeah, but that reason some people don’t want to participate. Actually
employees expressed a number of different reasons they didn’t want to do it. Some of them didn’t
trust the process with ordering on line and putting in your credit card information on line so there
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were a number of reasons that people were against it. And again that’s why my emphasis should
be on helping people see the benefits and making a positive choice for them, a less costly choice
for themselves as opposed ---
Mr. Jefferson: So really the cost is going to kind of hold them hostage to choose the
mandatory?
Ms. Jackson: --- I meant it’s your choice. I mean I think a lot of people who didn’t want
to do it actually tried it and figured out they liked it after they gave it a try. But I really would like
it to be the employee’s choice as to whether he or she wants to do that.
Mr. Jefferson: Thank you.
Ms. Jackson: Okay.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Any other questions right now? Okay go on please.
Ms. Jackson: All right, overview of our budget. I just want to show you where we are for
the current year 2017. Total authorized positions was 2842 as of the budget since you approved
last year. Adopted budget for all funds $789 billion, General Fund $153.8 million-dollar budget.
By comparison for 2018 again I’m looking at a reduction in our overall headcount down to at least
2817. That’s a minimum for me; we may be able to get it down lower than that as we explore
further into the organization. Adopted budget for all funds would rise to $821, $821 million and
General Fund Budget would be $155 billion. 2018 Budget Assumptions and Highlights we’re
assuming a 1% growth rate in property tax. Again, not what we’d like it to be in terms of some of
those refinements and practices and so forth. Our Tax Assessors Office is working with us in any
way possible they can to try to get that number to where it needs to be. I still believe there’s some
uncaptured sources out there that he can address and he’s prepared now, we’ve added some staff
to his office over the years, he’s brought in some people with commercial expertise and believe he
can make some progress with number. But we cannot at this point depend on seeing that right
away and maybe as the digest comes in later on we’ll be able to see a higher more positive growth
number there adjusted our current millage rate.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Ms. Jackson, Commissioner Williams has a question.
Mr. M. Williams: Ms. Jackson, I was concerned when I heard about the 1% growth rate.
With all of the infrastructure we’ve been doing and all of the apartment buildings there are a lot of
growth around. I see people building in places I didn’t even know existed until they started to
build. Are you saying only 1% and how do we get ---
Ms. Jackson: That is the best projection that I have from the Tax Office right now. As I
said hopefully that number improves as they move forward but that is the safe number and we did
try to budget conservatively with this.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, that helps me to understand a little better, go ahead.
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Ms. Jackson: Okay, also on the Local Option Sales Tax side we’re looking at a 1% growth
rate there as well. Last year as I acknowledged earlier we actually had a decrease in that number.
Over the last few months we’re in a bit of positive trend. We hope to come back before November
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21 and reevaluate where we are by that point. We would’ve gotten our revenue as of September
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30 and that will give us a better idea where we are and if there is any room for us to safely increase
that number if any at all. Also reference the decrease in the electric franchise fee we’re estimated
to be down over 8% or $1.1 million-dollar. This budget also assumes a level funding for our non-
governmental organizations. Obviously the boards are having a great deal of discussion about that
issue without resolve at this point so we felt like we would leave everything in as it currently is
the budget you all can discuss from there. In terms of how we place priority of people over
operations basically we made the decision to hold operations completely flat for every department
with the exception of things that absolutely positively have to happen. Things like the election.
We can’t tell the Board of Elections you can’t have that $330,000 because they’ve got to run
elections this year. Other things we’ve got to make out too are the $50,000 dollar payment on the
Cyber parking deck. Next Probation and Transit as I referenced earlier our responsible budgeting
tactic instead of allowing ourselves to go into the hole. When we know we’re going in the hole
we want to go ahead and budget for those shortfalls because we know they’re going to happen.
Also we’ve shown here an increase to Contingency of $250,000 dollars. That is really just to get
us almost back to where we started last year. We started off around a million, we pulled some
things out as the funding decisions were made and we’d just like to get us up to about $750,000
which we think is a reasonable level. Also have to make a slight increase to cover Pension Health
Benefits $100,000 dollars. Last we are looking at an increase to the Fire Services Millage Rate.
We’ve got a couple of new stations that are going to be coming on board. We also have the
possibility of us needing us to get prepared to provide additional EMS Services as a result of the
vote you all took last week so this to make some part-time personnel available as well as to prepare
ourselves to be able to open those two new stations. Franchise Fees. I’ve talked a little bit about
that I just want to make sure you all understand what our limitations are and what our potential for
growth is on this particular line item. The limitations based upon the Public Services Commission
are 5% for cable, 4% for electric, 3% for telephone and 3% for gas. Right now in 2018 we’re
estimating to receive $17 million dollars from those combined sources being Knology, Comcast,
Georgia Power, Jefferson Electric and Atlanta Gas and Light. As I mentioned earlier the electric
and gas rate, thank you Andrew. The electrical rate by itself was $15 million dollars a short time
ago.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Ms. Jackson, are these numbers pretty standard for countywide
municipalities?
Ms. Jackson: Those are state ---
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: (unintelligible)
Ms. Jackson: --- that’s Public Services Commission.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
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Ms. Jackson: I understand there has been some discussion that perhaps the rates are not
adequate. What they’re designed to cover is for use and maintenance of the right-of-ways that
they are, they essential invade as they provide those services. There’s been some discussion but
no movement basically on that topic some discussions statewide but no movement. Internally our
Utilities Department, Environmental Services and our Stormwater Utility are currently at 5% each.
I am proposing to increase that to 5.5% which will give us an increase of $647,000 dollars for the
year. One of the issues with that I was asked what well why wouldn’t we go a little bit higher than
that. We should be trying to keep ourselves reasonably in line with what the other external utilities
pay. It begins to look suspicious and unreasonable if your internal folks are paying a lot more than
your external folks so that’s why I kept that number at 5.5 rather than going any higher than that.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 for a question.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Madam Administrator, I heard your rationale for the
5.5 but I would like for us to consider a four-percentage as opposed to that. I know you said it
looks suspicious but that is the government asset as opposed to the others that is set by the state.
And as you can see they have different ranges from 3% up to 5%. I know you’re talking about
5.5% but I but just you know to consider you know another half of a percent to make that 6% just
for consideration there because that is one of our assets there (unintelligible).
Ms. Jackson: It’s certainly something that we can discuss as we move forward.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Ms. Jackson: Also of course I looked at what other options there are to generate additional
funding for the pay adjustments which is our primary goal, well, my primary goal. Hopefully it’s
yours too looking at eliminating the transfers to the Fund Balance. Last several years we’ve
contributed 1.125 million dollars per year to replenish our reserves as they were used during the
ice storm of 2014. You’ve also in previous years considered the idea of imposing an Energy Excise
Tax. That proposal was considered in 2014 and rejected at that time. It is an option available to
us. I know that it is an controversial one but I felt like I needed to put that out there for consideration
again. Basically I’ve tried to list the pros and cons for you ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, you’ve got a couple of questions and if you would be prepared to go
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back to slides 10 and 11. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Ms. Jackson, I’m glad you put the pros and cons
referencing the Energy Excise Tax. And before I flip that last slide that (unintelligible). But the
question that I have on the Energy Excise Tax other than former, what is that it used to be
International Paper I’m trying to think, Forest Resolute. Forest Resolute is basically the only real
for lack of a better way of saying it Energy Excise Tax participant in my view you know with the
amount of money collected. So and they have already now running because of paper products
reduction they’ve closed one of their lines so they’re running at 50%. And so I would also just
make sure that we are aware that in doing that we may lose the rest of them because that’s not the
only company. So as you said we’re very controversial but for me personally I don’t see, I think
the risk is greater than the reward.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, I couldn’t agree with you more with that last statement that you
made Commissioner, let me weigh in on that. The company you’re referring to is Resolute Forest
Products. We know that the paper industry particularly in terms of newspapers is not what is used
to be. But might I suggest to everyone in this room how important manufacturing is to the City of
Augusta and Richmond County. Augusta has the second largest manufacturing base in the State
of Georgia second only to Atlanta, okay second only to Atlanta. All right and I’ll stop there.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, yes the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 for a question.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, I’d like for our Ms. Donna Williams to speak to the other
companies because Commissioner Sias eluded that he thinks there’s only the one and I think
there’s several. I’d like her to speak to other potential companies that may be out there.
Mr. Mayor: I think he recognizes that that’s not the case now, I think he does.
Mr. Sias: That’s not what I said (inaudible) ---
Mr. Hasan: That’s pretty much ---
Mr. Sias: --- disagree with that I didn’t say it was the only one.
Mr. Hasan: --- I’d like to hear what those other companies was, Mr. Mayor, if you don’t
mind just the same.
Mr. Mayor: Well I think, let me also qualify his statement with the following,
Commissioner. Resolute Forest Products was the largest power user in the state of Georgia. They
have now since gone to a single line and their power usage is not what it used to be, I think that’s
what he meant to say.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir, but I’d still like to know what other companies, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Ms. Jackson, will you keep going I know you’ll ---
Mr. Hasan: Hold, hold, hold the phone ---
Mr. Mayor: --- all right ---
Mr. Hasan: --- don’t do that because, let me say why it’s important for me, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay.
Mr. Hasan: Because that may be true. Commissioner Sias and I have had this conversation
about Resolute Forest and some of the things there but you may have several ones that may be
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doing okay. And so it’s kind of like Commissioner Sias who had some conversations around
streetlight issues and so do we let the lower end dictate to the ones who are able to pay. And so I
want to have a full comprehensive view of who all’s involved in this ballgame. Resolute Forest I
clearly understand the position that they’re in but everybody may not be in the position that they’re
in. And that’s all just for some information purposes not to start a debate about it I just want to
hear who all the players are.
Mr. Mayor: All right, very good. All right, Ms. Williams, if you’ll approach.
Ms. Williams: Good afternoon. I do not have a comprehensive list of the companies that
were exempted from the Energy Excise Tax because that information is held by the State of
Georgia and not shared with the companies. What House Bill 386 says is that that exemption was
allowed to any company that used energy in the manufacturing of their product ---
Mr. Mayor: That is correct.
Ms. Williams: --- that’s the statement that is in the bill so you can infer from that that if
you have manufacturing facility that is producing a product in Richmond County that it would be
exempt from the sales tax on the energy bill that is.
Mr. Hasan: Well, Ms. Williams, is it possible with that in mind that you would have a list
probably in your office or something like that that you would know who those companies are or
you have no way of knowing?
Ms. Williams: No, sir I don’t. I mean I assume that from the License and Inspection
Division we could probably get a lot of information about what companies actually manufacture
products but I do not know who has filed for that exemption because they have to actively file for
the exemption with the State of Georgia.
Ms. Hasan: So let me ask you this then. Say for the purpose of answering the question
here what if today we put it back in play how do you send the bills out? Who do you find out who
you send the bill to?
Ms. Williams: That is an interaction between the State of Georgia and the Power Company.
The energy, the Power Company, the Gas Company, they communicate. Augusta is completely
outside of that process other than to say you have it or you do not have the Energy Excise Tax.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Bonner ---
Mr. Hasan: All right thank you, thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- they’re going to have to ---
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Ms. Williams.
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Mr. Mayor: --- give a little more credit than this. I mean I was there when we wrote the
bill, Commissioner, and I was trying to help us get along real quick there but you have to ---
Mr. Hasan: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: --- I do, well I was trying to.
Mr. Hasan: But who are the companies, Mr. Mayor, that’s what I’m trying to find out.
Mr. Mayor: I’ll have a sidebar with you. Ms. Jackson?
Ms. Jackson: All right, obviously a strong opposition from probusiness groups with this
one so we know it’s an uphill battle.
Mr. Mayor: And probusiness (unintelligible).
Ms. Jackson: And that’s right it makes it an uphill battle but we felt like again we had to
introduce that to you. Next equally unfavorable in some respect with elimination of the Transfer
to Fund Balance. The pro the only pro I could think of for it was it doesn’t impose a new tax. The
cons is it leaves us in a weaker financial position which could affect future bond transactions.
We’ve not yet replenished the reserve for extraordinary losses and even if we did this provides
some money to put into our compensation this year but it doesn’t do anything for us next year
whereas the excise tax would double in 2019. In terms of our budget calendar these are the days
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that we have outlined workshops being held at I think one of those actually, 10:00 a.m. on the 23
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and November 11 on the, November 7 I believe that’s actually supposed to noon because that’s
a Commission meeting day. So that’s actually supposed to be noon to two and then if needed on
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November 13 and obviously you all can make adjustments to this schedule as you deem
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appropriate. By code our budget approval date would be November 21. As I indicated at the
very outset this is a preliminary plan. We do hope that revenue will be tweaked as we get additional
sales tax information. I would love to have additional property tax information. I don’t think we’ll
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have it necessarily before November 21 but going into next year as the Tax Assessors Office does
what they do hopefully we’ll be able to tweak those numbers. We also obviously expect that you
all have additional priorities that you want to address various things that we’ve heard you all
discuss over the past several months and several years in some cases. So as you all want to bring
those ideas in and as we consider those I think that’s all a part of the process as we have these next
series of discussions over the next few weeks. Okay, finally I’d like to thank my office staff the
Finance Department as well as all of our departments and agencies for participating in the process.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Jackson, if you’ll go back to Slides 10 and 11 I’d greatly appreciate it.
The second bullet point indicates that the Total Authorized Positions for 2017 are effectively 2,842
positions. Of those 2,842 positions how many of those positions are on the books fully funded but
vacant?
Ms. Jackson: At any given time there are 300 to 400 vacancies in the organization.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay. All right, I’m going to come back to you. I’m going to keep going for
a minute ---
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- if I don’t ask it I know you all will. All right, on Slide 11 the Total Proposed
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Positions is 2,817 which if my math is correct, Commissioner from the 4 because I am reading
it right today that’s about 25 positions but yet I’ve still got 300 to 400 that are fully funded, vacant
and on the books which effectively is your 10% of your organization if you were to take the whole
organization. In an earlier slide you said that effectively there are 10% that are attached to the
General Fund and 8% Law Enforcement. Of that 300 to 400 how many of those are law
enforcement positions?
Ms. Jackson: Roughly 90 ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Ms. Jackson: --- and that number of course moves.
Mr. Mayor: I understand. All right, of that remaining 210 or 310 how many of them are
Public Safety?
Ms. Jackson: I don’t have that number off the top of my head.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7 then the
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6 then the 5.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I have two questions. Going back to the $2.3 million
that you talked about for the Salary Study what portion of that is the Sheriff’s Department?
Ms. Jackson: I do not have that number because Mr. King has not completed his review.
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As I indicated he’ll be complete on November 7 and at that point we’ll know where those monies
will be allocated.
Mr. Frantom: Okay, my next is kind of a statement. Mr. Mayor, I would like to see that
our first budget session be nothing but personnel, of every department in the City of Augusta
broken down with positions, open positions and figures and let’s really do a deep dive into this
personnel position because I agree with you 400 positions that we’re balancing a budget on. I
understand lapsed salaries and I understand that but there’s also positions that have been there
three to five plus years and it’s time that we really do a deeper dive in this budget process on the
personnel side. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the, thank you. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 6.
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Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Madam Administrator, in terms of the lapsed salaries
and the vacancies explain the difference between those two for me if you don’t mind.
Ms. Jackson: In our budget document each year there’s a minus essentially for lapsed
salaries assuming there’s going to be a 10% vacancy rate which is fairly common. Over the last
few years, that number has ranged from $4 million to $4.7 million dollars which is to say that since
you’re already assuming some vacancies that means that just because you eliminate a position that
may pay $25,000 dollars that means you’re going to have a $25,000 dollars savings because it’s
already in many cases been accounted for in that $4 million dollar to $4.7 million dollar savings
number. As we talked about elimination of long-term vacancies just, we’re doing just what
Commissioner Frantom had eluded to just now I’ve had HR and Finance dig through their list to
call out those long-term vacant positions. That first reduction of 25 is based upon what I see right
now that I know can go automatically. There probably are some others but I think what everybody
needs to keep in mind as part of this discussion is that some of these vacancies are open just
because the jobs don’t pay enough. I mean if we look at Animal Control right now and the number
of vacancies that they have there, they can’t keep anybody because you can’t keep everybody for
$21,000 dollars to catch dogs. If by the study those positions would be upgraded so hopefully you
can keep them filled. So there are lots of reasons that positions have not been filled.
Mr. Hasan: So, Ms. Jackson, and I’m trying to get my mind wrapped around this. So most
of the time we hear about when you say lapsed salaries we also hear the term that we balance the
budget with our lapsed salaries. So when I hear you say 300 or 400 vacancies is it safe for me to
assume that those 300 or 400 vacancies also have money that’s tied to them currently?
Ms. Jackson: There’s money that is tied to the positions but again it’s offset by that $4 to
$4.7 million dollars that’s been budgeted so you’re not counting 100% of that I mean is what, am
I making, is that, okay.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, let me because that’s not my real what I want to get too. What I would
like to see, Ms. Jackson, and I don’t know whether this is possible for that but in looking at those
400 positions let’s take out 125 of them for Public Safety on some level and so that leaves us about
275. And if we can find a way to have with department heads, if we can find a way to have the
employees in Augusta-Richmond County about those positions and their particular work load, I
believe many of our staff throughout this organization will buy into picking up some of the
workload and increase their salary because it doesn’t seem that we are getting any new money so
we could do these things with monies that we have in hand. Now it does take a buy in, I mean I
don’t think a decision in fairness to take five persons who’s currently doing a job when a person
walks out the door because I’m not talking about eliminating anybody. As much as I’d like to
when a person walks out the door they be evaluated and we try to see what that looks like next
year at this time you know one way, that’s one way to do it there might be several ways and my
colleagues might have a way to get there faster and I’m open to that. But and then we look at that
but we have an opportunity to also let the organization, let the persons who are on the ground every
day buy into this to know that when we cut this position where it’s currently five of you all working
as a team it may be four it may be as less as three but they buy in to understand there’s going to
impact going to increase their salary to carry to workload. So that means everybody has some buy
in as opposed to us attempting to force it down their throat. And I don’t think we need to have
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that kind of conversation maybe making a decision but a budget session is probably not a great
time but I think we need to kind of look at those things. When you’ve got 300 or 400 positions
there year and year out that we need to find a way and increase those salaries because of that money
we, that money’s in our hand. We have to find a way to spread the love and create buy in and I
just believe we need to find a way to do that.
Ms. Jackson: And ---
Mr. Hasan: I’m sorry, go ahead.
Ms. Jackson: --- one of the keys to creating that buy in is for the employees to know that
there’s something in it for them ---
Mr. Hasan: Exactly.
Ms. Jackson: --- so to speak. So, hopefully with that carrot being out there that does give
folks the incentive to do that. But and also make sure as we talk about this in the next session
we’ll bring in some illustrations about the rolling nature of those vacancies that in many times it’s
not the exact same position that’s vacant week after week after week month after month it’s a
rolling nature of things. You’ve got one day you look up and you’ve got five grounds keepers the
next day you’ve got three but you keep advertising it. It rolls, it a rolling process just wanted to
make sure about what I’m saying.
Mr. Hasan: (Unintelligible), Mr. Mayor, because Ms. Jackson at the end of the day if we
take, just say those positions you take and I think we all understand that that we’re losing people
or we can’t fill those positions because the money’s not there. So if we attempted to fill all those
positions today we still don’t have enough money to get them to where they need to be. So in
essence it’s boiled down to where we can’t afford them, you know, because as they’re working
here every day for the most time you’re trying to get a lunch break, they’re trying to get a break,
they’re on the phone calling and checking up on their applications somewhere else.
Ms. Jackson: Right.
Mr. Hasan: So we have to be mindful of that and have to be smarter to try to find a way
can we downsize the employee status and create buy in and try and do what we need to do at the
end of the day.
Ms. Jackson: And I don’t disagree with you. I just wanted to illustrate some of the
challenges associated with that.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, ma’am.
Ms. Jackson: Thank you, any other questions?
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Mr. Mayor: Yes, there are plenty. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
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Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Some of my questions have already been stepped
on and asked and so forth but that’s neither here nor there. But with the vacant jobs and the salary
lapse what, well who’s going to be in charge of prioritizing what’s needed and what’s not because
everyone’s going to become territorial as far as positions in their department.
Ms. Jackson: It would be helpful for us if we hear some priorities from the Commission.
It would be helpful for us if we know what’s important to you all that helps us make those
decisions.
Mr. Jefferson: And also with the Compensation Study of our lack of competitiveness in
the state with salaries you’ve got to have some increases put in there as well for some of the jobs.
Well, how are we going to do both? I mean if we got lapsed salaries we’ve got to do the
Compensation Study and increase some salaries and we’re going to use the savings to find some
of the shortfalls it seems like we’re playing spin the bottle with the money.
Ms. Jackson: That would illustrate why I’m not happy with I just presented to you, sir,
you’re absolutely right that is what the game is.
Mr. Jefferson: Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Ms. Jackson, are there any departments where we have vacancies that have
gone unfilled over a long period of time?
Ms. Jackson: Yes and that 25 I threw out there to begin with those are the ones I know off
the top of my head can go because they’ve been vacant for a very long period of time. There were
not as, I won’t try to quote exactly because I’ve looked at an awful lot of figures over the last week
or so. There are a number of long-term vacancies but it’s not hundreds of them. I just wanted to
make sure that’s clear there’s not hundreds of long-term vacancies out there.
Mr. Fennoy: And if the reason those positions have gone vacant for a long time, once we
upgrade those positions and increase the starting salary for those positions I mean is there a
possibility that we will be able to fill those positions?
Ms. Jackson: Yes, I think there’s a very strong possibility.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Ms. Jackson: I mean one of the reasons, there are various reasons why positions go vacant.
Sometimes it’s just a lousy job you can’t keep anybody there and sometimes it’s because there’s
just not enough money there. As I look at this I really want ya’ll to understand one of the key
indicators for me is has the department director advertised the position. If they haven’t advertised
the position, that sort of indicates that they may not need it so I think that’s where we start in terms
of what to cut. And the first 25 I made reference to those are situations like that where the jobs
haven’t even been advertised.
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Mr. Fennoy: And with the Sheriff’s Department I think you mentioned 90 vacancies.
Ms. Jackson: I think that’s the current number. It has dropped as low as 30 or 40,
sometimes it’s at 90. It can be anywhere in that range.
Mr. Fennoy: And if it’s anywhere from 30 or 40 to 90 I mean besides maybe salaries, can
we account for why the vacancies, that many number of vacancies exist?
Ms. Jackson: That, that would be a better question probably better posed to the Sheriff’s
Office. I’m not sure I’m prepared to entirely respond to that. But I do know that in Law
Enforcement it’s not unusual to have that type of vacancy rate.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay I’ll ask the Sheriff then Ms. Jackson, thank you.
th
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Ms. Jackson, this will be my last piece of barstool advice, but
you did ask for our priorities. One of the things that I think we should consider when we talk about
this lapsed salary quagmire instead of eliminating some of these positions because for some reason
we thought we were supposed to have them we can eliminate some but also think we should
consider defunding some. You can still keep the position on the books and if the mission ever
requires that these positions become critical, they can be reactivated maybe not in the same
physical year but, it doesn’t require you to go back and modify your structure so, I just think that
should be one piece of that. If you want, if we want to say some say 25 you say may be eliminated
and as we reach higher than that for me I think the idea would be to carry an unfunded position.
You can’t put anybody in it but if it became absolutely necessary critical to your mission you could
quickly ramp that back up with the financial but you don’t have to go back in and then lack of a
better word redo your document. So that was just my two cents in that as we deal with the lapsed
salary issue is not to strip the organization of those positions but to either voluntarily or
involuntarily defund those positions and so that if some of them because absolutely necessary or
critical for future work then it’s not that much of a problem for put that organization to get back
on line reference that. Thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right. All right, Ms. Jackson, to the Finance Department, Ms.
Jackson and her team, thank you all for the information that you shared with us. I want to draw
everybody’s attention back to one of the last slides. We have a schedule that we’re going to track
towards in terms of our meetings we’re going to want to start on time. These meetings will take
place in the Commission Chamber unless otherwise indicated. Our first meeting will again be on
rd
the 23 which is next Monday. We know that there’s not a Commission meeting on next Monday
so we’ll have all of the necessary information to get after it on next week. So again, Ms. Jackson,
thank you. All right, Ms. Bonner, is there any additional business before to say?
The Clerk: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, this meeting is adjourned.
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\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
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
October 17, 2017.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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