Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting October 2, 2018 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER OCTOBER 2, 2018 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., October 2, 2018, the Hon. Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Jefferson, Guilfoyle, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, Fennoy, D. Williams, Hasan and Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. The Mayor called the meeting to order. The Clerk: --- agenda which will be delivered Reverend David Vosseller, Senior Pastor of the Lakemont Presbyterian Church after which we’d ask Mr. Tom Corbin, Augusta Chronicle Reporter to please lead us in our Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Reverend Dave Vosseller, Senior Pastor, Lakemont Presbyterian Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. The Clerk: Office of Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. by the present be it known that Reverend David Vosseller, Senior Pastor, Lakemont Presbyterian Church is Chaplain of the Day his spiritual guidance and civic leadership, serves as an example for all citizens of Augusta. Given under my nd hand this 2 Day of October 2018, Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor. (APPLAUSE) RECOGNITIONS(S) Congratulations! A. 2018 Years of Service recipients. The Clerk: At this time I call your attention to the Recognition portion of our agenda. We would like to offer our congratulations to the 2018 Years of Service recipients who will be acknowledged by our H.R. Director Dr. Gwendolyn Conner. Dr. Conner: Good afternoon Mayor Davis, Commissioner, special quests, Directors and citizens of Augusta, Georgia. My name is Dr. Gwendolyn Conner. I’m the Human Resources Director for Augusta, Georgia and today it gives me great pleasure to recognize our September Years of Service recipients. For the Month of September there are 24 employees who are celebrating 5 to 20 Years of Service here with Augusta, Georgia however today we would recognize our employees who are celebrating 25 to 50 Years of Service. And when I call your name if you will please ma’am and please sir please come forward. First we have Ms. Tanya Mason, Parks and Rec who is celebrating 25 Years of Service. (APPLAUSE) Next we have Chief Shar Williams with our Fire Department and he is celebrating 30 Years of Service. (APPLAUSE) Next, we have Mr. John Major with Parks and Rec and Mr. Major’s celebrating 30 Years of Service. (APPLAUSE) Next, we have Captain Paul Johnson with the Fire Department and Captain is celebrating 35 Years of Service. (APPLAUSE) And last but certainly not least this afternoon we will be recognizing Mr. Donald Williams with the Utilities Department and Mr. 1 Williams will be celebrating 40 Years of Service. (APPLAUSE) Please join me again in congratulating our honorees. (APPLAUSE) Thank you. Mr. Mayor: I do want to take a minute and mention a few things. I think I saw him in the audience just a moment ago but he may have stepped out again. We’ve got some exciting things that are going on the City of Augusta. I do want to make mention of a few of them as we’re moving forward in our agenda. Today there was an announcement that went out at 10:00 a.m. from our Airport Director Director Judon and his team. They’ve been doing a fantastic job there at the Augusta Regional Airport and we’re pleased, is he back there I didn’t see him, okay all right, Mr. Judon. Pleased to announce that there will be daily, direct non-stop service to Dallas, Fort Worth rd International Airport beginning on March the 3 2019. That’s exciting. (APPLAUSE) The th community can begin booking these flights as early as October the 8. That’s next Monday 2018 in advance of the next Dallas Cowboys versus Atlanta Falcons, let’s follow the dirty birds in here. All right, all right just pray for me, just pray for me. I also want to remind everyone in the audience st as well that effective on Monday October the 1 the airport began enforcement of stopped and unattended vehicles on the curbside. Curbside stopping will be permitted only for the immediate loading and unloading of family members, loved ones, friends etc. If you have airport business you can either park in the paid parking lots. The first 30 minutes are free and they can validate your parking or you can park at the north end of the terminal. What I’m also aware of is that we now have a cellphone lot that you can park in and talk on your phone for a few minutes. So these are all additional enhancements that are being made at the Augusta Regional Airport. Once again just fabulous news. Augusta is a place of choice, it is a destination. It’s a city that you can all be very proud of with the things that are going on right now. And once again let’s give Mr. Judon and his team a hand. (APPLAUSE) We’re also celebrating National Customer Service Week. Our Central Services Department with the Division 311 who is your first line of constituent services in the City of Augusta. If you have a problem call 311 not 911 an non-emergency problem call 311. They began this week of celebration on Monday and will continue through Friday and so we want to just recognize the great work that our staff is doing in the 311 Department. Whether the call is a pleasant one or not so pleasant one they do an amazing job of not only taking that call but routing that call to the appropriate departments so that your answers can be provided in as timely a manner as possible. So once again to Ms. Douse and her team thank you for the great work that you’re doing here in the City of Augusta. It does not go unnoticed and we’re equally proud and quite frankly becomes the first line of defense for elected officials when they have constituents who call and we’re very excited about that. October is also Domestic Violence Month. We want to make sure that we are in concert with our Solicitor General’s Office to help bring awareness to the issue of domestic violence. It’s not a female issue, it’s not a male issue, it’s a people issue and we want to encourage all of you who are here and certainly all of our citizens to be involved in this effort of raising awareness for the month of October. Safe Homes, one of our local partners, they’re taking donations at their Domestic Violence Center and so I encourage you in fact I think one of our own has an interest in that as well and so Domestic Violence Month. October is also Cyber Security Month. That’s exciting for the City of Augusta as we are one of seven cities vying to be the world’s cyber security hub and capital. We tend to think in Augusta we’re winning that but in the month of October we want to encourage adults as well as your children to be cyber security aware. Use strong passwords. Don’t just use your last name as your password, make sure that you’re taking the necessary steps. And then here are two other announcements our final things that we want to share with you. Augusta has the fastest growing 2 economy outside of the City of Atlanta and the State of Georgia. Received a report from our Labor Commissioner Mark Butler that Augusta continues to add jobs. Unemployment in 2015 when we first came onboard was 6% but now unemployment in Augusta is at 4.2%. That’s exciting; people are being employed, people are going to work they’re being able to take care of their families and this is good news for us. Augusta has seen 5,400 jobs this year in 2018 and we are just in the th stepping in to the 4 quarter of the year, just all exciting things that are going on in the community so if you’re thinking about what’s happening you don’t have to choose Charlotte, Atlanta, Savannah or anywhere else. To those young folks that are here, those to my left smiling, Augusta is the place to be. Madam Clerk. The Clerk: RECOGNITION(S) Seeds of Life B. Presentation Seeds of Life. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) Mr. Welcher: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, good afternoon. So Housing and Community Development Department we’re excited to stand before you today and it’s because of your Seed for Life Initiative approval that we’re able to partner with existing area small businesses who continue to grow and positively impact Augusta Richmond County via their chosen field and human endeavor. So today we want to highlight our pilots all of whom have met the required compliance measures and are eager to continue making a difference. However today also we’re not only here to highlight our four pilots but we also want to make an announcement that we’re also opening our application to all Augusta-Richmond County small businesses to allow for five additional applications to Citizen Community Awards and one Community Selection Award by popularity vote. So if you will let’s just move to meet our four pilots four pilot Augusta- Richmond County businesses. Once you are called I’ll ask you to make your way to the front in front of the dais to take a picture with the Mayor as well as Commissioner Marion Williams who’s Chair of Administrative Services. Mr. Edwards: First, if I can have Ms. Angela Dumas Reid owner of Salon 4119 excuse me 419, my apologies she’s renowned for providing professional haircare and scalp services since 2014. Her businesses is committed to and in the process of relocating from Martinez to Barton Chapel here in Richmond County providing more accessibility to our ever-growing clientele. If we can give her a round of applause. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Alonzo Feldon with Feldon Brothers Barbeque. Feldon Brothers is a second-generation food truck service providing some of the best barbeque in the CSRA. Their following continues to grow through the use of social media and their presence will increase with the opening of their first brick and mortar location in the Armstrong Galleria Center on Laney Walker Boulevard. A round of applause please. (APPLAUSE) Ms. Yetta Knight with Universal Childcare Learning Center, Director and owner. Universal Childcare has been in business since 1999 providing quality early childhood education her company is one of only two three-star quality rated childcare facilities in our area. So, Ms. Knight? (APPLAUSE) And Ms. Jennifer Kendrick with Sister Sister Soul Food, owner. Sister Sister Soul Food has been serving residents of Richmond County since 2017. They have consistently ranked among the best soul food establishments in the area and plan to continue to 3 proudly serve South Augusta well into the future, so Ms. Kendrick. (APPLAUSE) If we could have one more round of applause (APPLAUSE) and congratulations. Mr. M. Williams: I just want to say to Mr. Welcher we thank him for his work in what he’s doing in Housing and Community Development. We recognize these businesses, small business. You know it’s different when you care about people and you have compassion. When you care you say oh that’s bad and we just try to just look at it but when you have compassion you really do something, Mr. Mayor, so that’s a big difference. I do want Mr. Welcher and his staff to know that we appreciate all he do and will do for the City of Augusta for the small businesses that’s trying to make it, trying to get up on their feet we are here to try to assist them in any way we can. So thank you Mr. Mayor and all the Commissioners for supporting this effort that you’re doing. Thank you so much. (APPLAUSE) The Clerk: DELEGATIONS C. Mr. Tony Kennelly regarding the city’s recent 9/11 Celebration. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Kennelly, you have five minutes. Mr. Kennelly: Yes sir, thank you. Mr. Mayor: If you’ll give us your name and address. Mr. Kennelly: My name is Tony Kennelly. My address is 313 St. Andrews Drive, Augusta, Georgia 30909. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Mr. Kennelly: Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mayor Davis and members of the Commission for allowing me to speak today. My name’s Tony Kennelly, my brother-in-law Paul Tagmeyer thth was killed in a terrorist attack on September 11 2001. On December 7 2001 I appeared before the Augusta Commission and requested and by unanimous vote by the sitting Commission received permission to have a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. My wife and I served on a 9/11 Remembrance Committee to plan the event. We served at the pleasure of the committee until the present Fire Chief assumed office. This year I read about the upcoming 9/11 events in the area. My wife and I were extremely surprised and distressed to learn of the change in Augusta’s ceremony. Every other local and all other nationally held ceremonies remained unchanged. I understand change is inevitable; the world has changed a lot in 17-years but we made a promise to never forget and as my brother Paul would be the first to say it’s not about the people who are gone or were lost that day. It’s about recognizing the people who still serve us here today. This brings me to a point I need to make. I took time off out of my schedule to go to our 9/11 ceremony this year. It was held at Station 8 on Highland Avenue. It was published to start at 8:30 a.m. and finally started at 8:46 a.m. I spoke with a member of the fire department before the service started and asked them about the change in the ceremony. He told me that Chief James said and I’d like to quote, “He was tired of it, it was just the fire department and the homeless”. Folks, that’s a 4 pretty harsh statement and also untrue. I was at the ceremony this year. We had eight high-ranking members of the fire department along with Chief James. Four of the individuals were out of uniform either no hats or long patches on their uniform. You’re really supposed to take pride when you put your uniforms on. So, what I’ll ask of this Commission. I ask that we be able to hold our yearly remembrance ceremony as was previously approved. I do not believe the fire chief as a department head has the authority to go against the Commission and to make the changes that he has. I also believe that our fire chief should be just that, be a fire chief. You’re looking at possibly the most powerful man in Augusta Richmond County right now Fire Chief, EMA Director, Chief of Ambulances. It might be okay in a small little rural town but folks this is Augusta, Georgia and we certainly deserve better. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today and I hope and pray for a good outcome. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor? th. Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9State your inquiry. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. To Mr. Kennelly for coming and bringing those, that information I certainly appreciate it myself. People may not realize this but I served on the Augusta Fire Department many, many years ago and there’s a lot of information, a lot of things that happened in the fire department I agree and I disagree with but I think you ought to take pride in the job whatever you’re doing whether it’s a fireman or whatever. People often compare an officer of the law with a fireman and I said there’s no comparison. You can find a man on the street, Mr. Mayor, and give him a gun and say there’s a man around the corner with a gun go around and get him and he’ll probably take his gun and sneak around the corner and try to get him but if you give him a firehose and tell him to go into a house that’s burning, he’s going to look at you and run. So it takes a really special person to be a fireman and I take pride in knowing that I lasted nine years before I moved on to make more money because at that point the firemen didn’t make an awful lot. But I do have compassion and I do think the 9/11 event was something we should always remember. We should never take that lightly. Before the 9/11 this country didn’t realize that we could be attacked like that but I think we understand that better now. I think we know that that could happen at any day and at any time. I say all the time when you sign up for a job whether it be an officer or a fireman or whatever job you sign up for that’s the job you’re expected to do. Mr. Kennelly, I want to say to you that you’re words didn’t fall on deaf ears. I’ve got a couple more years of life left up here and I plan to make sure that the 9/11 event be as good as if we can possibly have it here in Augusta not just for your brother but for this country for people who realize that we are we live in the land of the free but it ain’t, even free costs. So free in the sense of the word is not free but I did want to let you know that I appreciate your coming and sharing with us. A lot of things that I would change if I had the authority as one person but one man can’t do it but I appreciate you again, thank you so much. The Clerk: DELEGATIONS D. Mr. D. Lamb, First Baptist Church of Keysville, Inc., regarding an issue with Ambulatory/Gold Cross the church had to recently deal with. 5 Mr. Mayor: Mr. Lamb, if you’ll likewise state for the record your name and your address and you have five minutes. Mr. Lamb: Donald Lamb, 2971 Galahad Way, Augusta, Georgia 30909. Good afternoon Mayor, Commissioners it’s a privilege to be here today however my issue today is with the way the way our issue was handled during our 911 call. During the time that I was at church on the rd 23 of September around 10:00 a.m. I called 911 three times. The first responders got there around 10:45 minutes later then the ambulance didn’t get there until after 11:00 because our 11:00 o’clock service had already started. When Gold Cross got there they came from Appling, GA. What saddens me is this. We’re in Richmond County. Why do we have to call, why does someone have to come all the way from Appling, GA that far when we do have an ambulance service closer by? Nonetheless when your Gold Cross people they do get there, they get out with no urgency at all. My only issue, my issue is this way if that was someone our own people if they were their relatives how would they feel if someone took prolonging the issues like that? Mr. Speaker: That young man he was on the floor for over an hour and --- Mr. Mayor: Sir, Pastor? Mr. Garry: --- I’m Pastor Kerr Garry, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Keysville 3948 Deans Bridge Road. Thank you, Mayor and Commissioners. I find it kind of difficult to apprehend when someone is on the floor shaking, eyes going back in his head and no response come. I want to thank the responders, the fire department for coming out of town but at that time we needed the ambulance service and they did not show so we want to make ensure this doesn’t happen to anyone else in our area and this is why we brought this to your attention. So thank you so much for listening to us and we appreciate it. Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. Don’t go anywhere you’re going to have some questions th I suspect. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Pastor Kerr, how are you doing today, sir? Pastor Garry: (Unintelligible). Mr. M. Williams: I’m good, man, it ain’t good but let me try to share some light on a couple of things. I know Mr. Lamb and I’m grateful he’s doing well and I apologize if there is such a thing for the delay. But what we’re not being told is that we were paying Gold Cross a subsidy and gave them a time limit they had to respond. But since we’re not paying them anything now and whether it’s Gold Cross or anybody else that’s doing that business, they’re going to have to be subsidized for the work they do. The Fire Department it’s stations that is 19 different locations we’ve got 19 maybe 20 now I’d have to ask the Fire Chief how many stations we’ve got. So when there’s a call the fire department normally responds first or gets there first with the fire truck. We’re fortunate in that respect. But what people are not telling you and the taxpayers of Richmond County that a business that was being paid at one point are not being paid now and when they was being paid they had a time set to respond to wherever the call they had to be at. Now it’s unfortunate they had to come anyway but since they had to come from Grovetown had 6 they got there the next day it wouldn’t have been nothing this government can do because we’re not paying them. And there’s been a lot of conversation about it and we’re going to talk about it today too and I hope you’re around to hear all the conversation. The people are being fooled, I say tricked is a good word. People don’t like the old folks talking like that when I fooled Preacher but people are being bamboozled. Now we’ve been told all kinds of things and we’re pointing fingers we’re saying that you know oh that’s the bad guy, that’s the bad guy. Whoever do this job is going to have to get paid to do it and if we’re not paying them, we can’t demand them to be there at any time if they don’t show up. Now if they show up and carry you for a ride came to the hospital and use them then they’re going to turn around and bill you. So all I’m saying is that this body needs to be honest with the taxpayers and let the people know that the service that the ambulance provides that has to be paid for and if we go into the business ourselves as buying equipment, it’s going to cost three times more so we ended up raising your taxes. Then if we go into business ourselves and buy equipment to run ambulances and manpower and house them and maintenance work and all of that stuff. So I’m glad Mr. Lamb is doing good I’m glad that you know it wasn’t anything serious than what it was but I didn’t want you to think that we sit here and would allow a company to come in and just show up when they get ready to show up. I mean if we was paying them and they didn’t show up we would have a leg to stand on so to speak but because we don’t pay them anything at all, they turn around and bill our taxpayers because they gave them a ride. Just like if you call the old Radio Cab. You ride down on Broad Street or ride in the Radio Cab you’ve got to pay them when you get out of the cab because it’s their cab and you got the ride, you called for the ride. So I didn’t want you to think that we sit here and not recognize and not know that the service is not the best service. They’re not as speedy as they used to be. They don’t get there as fast as they could there probably and so it’s kind of out of our hands as elected officials unless we were paying them. Now your fire department gets there because we pay the monies to have them build a station close to you. Your fire department gets there because we buy their fire machines and maintain the fire machines so they can travel to get to you and we’ve got a time limit that they ought to be able to respond to where you live and process them to that fire station. So that makes a bid difference so I want you to be clear. I didn’t want you to leave here thinking that this body just has someone to come pick us up or pick up an injured person and we don’t and we could make them do better and we don’t. It’s kind of out of our hands, that’s all, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, sir. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the st 1. Mr. Fennoy: Deacon Lamb, did you all call 911 or 311? Mr. Lamb: We called 911 three times, sir. Mr. Fennoy: Okay. When a person makes a 911 call, that means that there’s an emergency and to respond to a 911 call regardless of whether the ambulance service is being paid or not is totally unacceptable. When Gold Cross accepted the zone, that went with a certain responsibility and that responsibility is to provide emergency services to all the citizens of Richmond County in a timely manner. I was at the Brigham Center about three months ago and when I walked into the center there was a lady that had been on the floor for 15 minutes and she asked me to someone in the center asked me to call the find out what’s the delay. I made several calls, talked to the 7 dispatcher. They told me that an ambulance was on the way but they could not tell me when that ambulance would arrive. I called Chief James. Chief James sent a fire truck around to the center to address that lady’s issue. And the ironic thing about that whole situation because the Brigham Center’s on Golden Camp Road, on Wheeler Road there’s another ambulance service but that ambulance service could not respond to that call unless Gold Cross had dispatched them to that call. I don’t have a preference. I don’t have a preference as to who provides ambulance services to the citizens of Richmond County but I do support an ambulance service that’s going to provide emergency services to the residents of Richmond County when an emergency takes place. An hour later is totally for me totally unacceptable. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: I’m going to hold my statement. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, is there any other questions or comments? Okay, thank you - -- Pastor Garry: May I ask something real quick? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- sure. Pastor Garry: I understand the business aspects of things but I think life is a little bit more important than just a business transaction and if someone is having an issue with an emergency dilemma, I believe that whether it’s Gold Cross or any cross they need to be responding because they’re, it’s just a responsibility I think that they should just do. So with all this other stuff we’re talking about I don’t know about that but I do know that if I all the ambulance service my insurance will take up whatever they have to do and it’s the same thing what’s going on with for the man that was at the church. So thank ya’ll for hearing us and I don’t know what to say now but thank you so much. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: All right thank you, Mayor Pro Tem, thank you. All right, Madam Clerk, we’re ready to proceed. The Clerk: I call your attention to our Consent Agenda which consists of Items 1-6, Items 1-6. For the benefit of any objectors to our alcohol petition once the petition is read would you please signify your objections by raising your hand. I call your attention to: Item 1: Is for a request for a retail package Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Augusta Beverage Center located at 3441 Wrightsboro Road. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to our alcohol petition? Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, our Consent Agenda Items 1-6 with no objection to our alcohol petition? Mr. Hasan: Move to approve. 8 Mr. Hasan: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PUBLIC SERVICES 1. Motion to approve New Ownership: A.N. 18-33: request by Pranav Patel for a retail package Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Augusta Beverage Center located at 3441 Wrightsboro Road. District 5. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee September 25, 2018) 2. Motion to approve the selection of Daniel Field Airport consultant Goodwin Mills (RFQ Item 18-256). (Approved by Public Services Committee September 25, 2018) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 3. Motion to approve request from Fleet Management to purchase of six inmate/prisoner transport vans to be used for various departments. Allan Vigil Ford – Bid Item 18-225. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee September 25, 2018) 4. Motion to approve bid award the contract for furnishing and installation of the furnishings for the Augusta Wellness Center to Augusta Office Solutions of Augusta, GA in the amount of $30,574.75. Bid Item 18-252 (Approved by Administrative Services Committee September 25, 2018) ENGINEERING SERVICES 5. Motion to approve the purchase of Water Network Optimization Implementation and Training Services. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee September 25, 2018) PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 6. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Augusta Commission held September 18, 2018 and Special Called Meeting held September 25, 2018) APPOINTMENTS 12. Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Jacquelyn H. Dixon to the Augusta Library Board of Trustees representing District 1. Mr. Mayor: Just hold on that. I want to add Item number 12 to the Consent Agenda, without objection, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: That item’s added? Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am. The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Mayor: All right, voting. Mr. Fennoy out. Motion Passes 10-0. \[Items 1-6, 12\] 9 Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, we’re going to take Item 10 and 11 together. The Clerk: PUBLIC SAFETY 10. Discuss the award RFP 19-350 Emergency Ambulance Services and to authorize the Mayor to execute the contract(s) pursuant to the RFP. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) 11. Discuss update of RFP 19-350 Emergency (911) Ambulance Services and approve Emergency Ambulance Service Fees. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 --- Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: --- the Chair of Administrative Services. Mr. M. Williams: --- Mr. Mayor, since we’ve taken both of these together I think a lot of the questions are going to be similar. But I’d like to know where are we now, what will we with this RFP from the Fire Chief, the Administrator, whoever can bring us up to speed as to what we’re doing and where are we now with it. Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Madam Administrator. Ms. Jackson: Yes, thank you, sir. Per the last two written communications I provided to the Commission one was to let you know that the, unfortunately none of the respondents were, we thought were bringing forward to you for a couple of different reasons some of those proposals were noncompliant, others were nonresponsive so we issued another RFP and I described that in th. a second communication. I believe that the proposals for the second RFP are due on October 5 th In that same written communication to you I recommended that on Tuesday October 9 we have a discussion about those vendors. We will provide our recommended vendors to you with the notion hopefully that we could get approval in a Special Called Meeting on that date. As you may nd be aware the zone application is due no later than October 22 so if we can get decisions on those th vendors by the 9 that would enable us to continue with completing the application and getting it submitted in a timely fashion. Mr. M. Williams: Can I --- Mr. Mayor: Continue. Mr. M. Williams: --- thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Jackson, since the zone has not been awarded I guess is the word can you tell me why we are at this junction now to do an RFP and we don’t know in which direction we’re going or do somebody know the direction and hadn’t said yet? 10 Ms. Jackson: I can certainly explain that during our workshop I believe two Fridays ago we actually provided a copy of the zone application. That application requires us to list the exact ambulances that would be providing services if we were the zone provider. Hence, it was necessary that we identify those vendors and which equipment they would use for this, our application so that was necessary as a part of the requirements to complete the zone application. Mr. M. Williams: What’s the difference in the first RFP and the second one that you? Ms. Jackson: That we also sent out a specific explanation of that and I don’t have it with me but in general terms what we attempted to do was to explain or clear up any misunderstandings. When we received the first five proposals, it was obvious that some of the vendors didn’t have a clear understanding of what was expected under the contract so we attempted to clarify those issues and I can get a written copy of that communication to you today or tomorrow if you did not receive it the first time. Mr. M. Williams: Ms. Jackson, are you saying the vendors didn’t have a clear understanding but it sounds like we did not have a clear understanding as to what we wanted or what we was doing. I mean that’s what the confusion sounds like and that’s just my opinion now that’s, that didn’t come from Legal, that didn’t come from this body, it came from me. Knowing how this thing has been going around in a circle for quite some time, how we’ve been putting the horse behind the cart and telling him to pull it and it don’t work like that. With all of the other stuff we’re doing I’m really disappointed as to where we are now but it sounds like we didn’t do our work and put it out the way it needed to be put out. We got a response but we didn’t get the response we wanted and I think that changes some things. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Can I speak with the Madam Administrator? Madam Administrator, as far as this RFP I know that there was three that actually had met and complied with the conditions of the RFP. And I believe there was an email sent out one they only had one ambulance, the other one wanted a subsidy then there was another reason for somebody else not to partake in it. Are you familiar with that? Ms. Jackson: I think that was at the responder indicated they were providing ambulances but no personnel to operate the ambulances. Mr. Guilfoyle: All right, is there any conditions in the RFP that has a requirement on the age of the ambulance, what equipment it has etc.? Ms. Jackson: I will have to defer to Ms. Sams on that issue. I’m not quite sure she’s in the Chamber. Mr. Guilfoyle: No, that’s fine. Ms. Sams can continue to sit where she’s at --- Ms. Jackson: Okay. 11 Mr. Guilfoyle: --- it’s just you and I discussing this. Ms. Jackson: Okay. Mr. Guilfoyle: You know one thing that I have a concern there’s a, this RFP there’s a lot of concerns in it due to a lot of open doors in this RFP. You know the money in the ambulance business I think Chief James could agree with this the money is made through the transport, through the hospitals. That’s where the gold is. You’ve got silver and you’ve got pewter on the outside as far as carrying people to and from an incident to the hospital but the gold is where the money’s at is in the transport. But you know this RFP was devised by I know that Ms. Sams had sent out an email or a letter about a month ago in regards to any hint when it comes, it was dealing with the pension that we cannot participate or cannot get involved in any kind of hint or collusion or whatever you need to stay away from it. Well, there’s a lot of collusion around this RFP in regards to the Grady Ambulance. As far as this other ambulance that we’re paying to teach our EMT’s, whatever, you know it comes to a point I don’t know what the direction this body, this government is going but if you’re going to do it let’s do it right to where there’s nobody involved in our government. There’s actually a company called Fitch and Associates. I think Chief James is familiar with that and Fitch and Associates is what they do is actually look out for the municipalities, look out for the welfare of the city itself, the citizens. It would have no involvement from our government whatsoever. They’re a standalone company but they have one of the best reputations but they do know how to write an RFP correctly to where there’s no open back doors to it. And anybody who comes before them would have to follow the due process versus what we haven’t seen or having to read about or what’s in the media or being emailed to us etc. You know our first naturally it’s the welfare of the citizens. The second department what we have to do is make sure that our employees are taken care of, the first responders or any employee in this Richmond-Richmond County government. We’re only as good as the employees, I’ve always said that for the past seven years. I’ve been saying that in my personal life for over thirty. But if ya’ll really want to continue with this RFP be careful the road you go down because there’s already collusion involved and whoever votes for this is going to be under the watchful eye of other people not only Augusta-Richmond County government. But if you want to do it right hire Fitch and Associates and one of the Commissioners at the end and myself was speaking about that. You might want to look that up because I don’t know what the grade it has a deadline of a couple of weeks I don’t know what the rush is probably for the zone. It matters what happens I think in a couple of days before the judge to even see if we if there’s an injunction on the zone, don’t have a clue. But if we do it let’s do it right, let’s do it right the first time. Let’s not be involved, let’s not show favoritism in this thing. And quick you know we’ve got one of the best Procurement Department’s in the State of Georgia. Let it follow its due process correctly without being involved from the outside. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7 Chairman of Finance. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. 12 Mr. Frantom: At the workshop, you know, I kind of got upset about the price issue on, I was told that we’re going to reach out and look at other companies and then some person said they did it, some person said they sent it, didn’t get it. I was wondering if the prices in the new RFP changed or were amended at all. Ms. Jackson: There are no prices specified in the RFP. Mr. Frantom: So Company X can charge whatever they want to charge and Company Y can charge whatever they want to charge? Ms. Jackson: The companies will be expected to follow the billing guidelines that the th Commission approves which would also be on the agenda on October 9. Mr. Frantom: Which is the $1,150 and 200? Ms. Jackson: The recommended rates were $1,150 for all transports, $16.50 per mile and $200 dollars for no transport. Mr. Frantom: And those rates are in the RFP? Ms. Jackson: I don’t believe they are. They are, excuse me, I stand corrected. Those rates are in the RFP, however, we will make it known in terms of negotiation that they will have to follow whatever rates there are that are approved by the Commission which again will be on the th agenda on October 9. th Mr. Frantom: And will we see the documentation of the other companies on October 9 - -- Ms. Jackson: When you say the documentation --- Mr. Frantom: --- rates, the rates that were requested, done, provided but not provided up here? Ms. Jackson: --- I don’t, we’re not asking them for rates if I’m --- Mr. Frantom: What other companies charge, do we know that number? Ms. Jackson: --- I think what other companies charge would be subject to those municipalities. They may be different in each municipality based upon what’s been approved by those municipalities. Mr. Frantom: But did we not look at what Grady, South Star and Gold Cross charge? Did we not look up that information and was sent to yourself and Chief James? 13 Mr. Jackson: What I received from staff is what was charged and what was approved by various other cities and counties which is to say I received the information by governmental entity. I did not receive it by company. Mr. Frantom: Okay, is there any local suppliers required, local calls answered, tags registered in Richmond County, is that in the RFP at all? Ms. Jackson: Somebody else would have to respond to that question. Mr. Mayor: All right, let’s suspend for just a second. All right, Ms. Smitherman, would you please approach? All right, I want you to come to this side over here if you don’t mind. I’m going to give you the opportunity to answer the questions that Ms. Jackson can’t answer. All right, th Commissioner from the 7? Mr. Frantom: So my question was were any local requirements put in the RFP, tags registered in Richmond County, local suppliers or low cost staying local as opposed to going to Atlanta if someone calls in? Ms. Smitherman: The RFP does require that all calls be dispatched out of the local 911 Center so they are required to come, to not be sent to another location so will all be dispatched locally. There is no local participation requirement in this particular RFP. It does not fit within the legal requirements to have a local participation requirement. Mr. Frantom: Okay and when we, what’s different when we controlled the zone before, did we do the exact same protocol, the exact same RFP, the exact like the rate structure and all that is it the same format as before? Ms. Smitherman: Can you clarify your question? Previously when we were never the sole zone provider Augusta Georgia was the co-zone provider. When that original item went out for RFP, my understanding back in that time was the Review Committee at that time awarded or recommended the award to one company but the Commission decided to go in a completely different direction and award the contract the RFP to Gold Cross at which time there was also a request that Gold Cross become the co-zone provider. So at that time this is not the same RFP that was done at that time. This is different. Mr. Frantom: Okay if the and I don’t know when it’s happening but the lawsuit or whatever happens and there’s a decision next Thursday, will this body discuss different options next Tuesday before we vote on this RFP? Mr. Mayor: All right, so hold on just one second. Attorney Smitherman, when you answer that question please draw the distinction that Augusta-Richmond County is not in the lawsuit, okay? Ms. Smitherman: If I could provide some brief clarity. My understanding is that there’s actually a hearing on this matter tomorrow at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon. Obviously, depending on what the judge does or does not do at that hearing will have an implication as to how this 14 Commission may or may not want to act. I have no idea what will be happening with regard to that. Mr. Frantom: Okay all right thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right, you may stay there please. All right, the Chair recognizes the th. Commissioner from the 9 I don’t know who you questioned before but just in case. Mr. M. Williams: I want to ask Ms. Sams a couple of questions if I can. Mr. Mayor: Sure, Ms. Sams, if you’ll approach. Ms. Sams: Good afternoon Commissioners, Mayor, Administrator may I help you, Mr. Commissioner? Mr. M. Williams: I hope you can, Ms. Sams. I really hope you can because I need some help right now. I remember, Ms. Sams, and you need to help me remember but I remember when I stated that I could contact the other providers and ask them about their rates or their pricing and you said that I couldn’t do it, nobody could do it, but you could. So my question is did you or anybody on your staff contact the other providers and find out what the difference is in the rates? Did that happen? Ms. Sams: Yes, sir, it did. Mr. M. Williams: Okay and what, who told you different? Mr. Mayor: Okay, hold on, let’s keep directing our questions (inaudible). Mr. M. Williams: Well, I mean it ain’t hard to confuse me now. Don’t ya’ll think ya’ll getting anybody to try to confuse me because that ain’t hard to do. I want to be straight if somebody done answered that because I’m asking the same questions because I stated that I could get them myself, Ms. Sams sitting where Georgia’s sitting there said no, you can’t do it as an elected body but she could do it and we asked them to do that and bring the information back to us and that was done? Ms. Sams: Yes, sir, the Procurement Department did in fact send out a notice to what we call Georgia Procurement Association and they did respond with some prices that their particular their particular city had established coming from various municipalities in the state. The information that we received was forwarded to both the Administration Office and the Fire Department. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I want to interject now, Commissioner, I’m going to give it back to you. Mr. M. Williams: I need to tell my Clerk (unintelligible). 15 Mr. Mayor: I know, I know. On this matter this body asked on multiple occasions for that information to be provided at the work session and prior to the work session. Madam Clerk, have we received any of that that you transferred or transmitted to this body? The Clerk: No, sir. Mr. Mayor: Continue. Mr. M. Williams: I don’t need to continue now you done put it out there, Mr. Mayor. I want to know if that was the case and we asked for that and I remember specifically asking for it and nobody could get it. And I said well I can get it and Ms. Sams said no, you can’t but it’s been asked for and you turn it into the Fire Chief and the Administrator and we still don’t have it. Ms. Sams: Sir, I don’t know --- Mr. M. Williams: Okay --- Ms. Sams: --- if you have it but the Procurement Department went by the protocol for the department and we followed your directives. Mr. M. Williams: --- okay, who put this RFP together? Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner, can you suspend for just one second? I think the Administrator has some information that may hopefully help us. Ms. Jackson: In the presentation that we provided at the workshop we provided costs for at least three different communities. We provided the fees in Columbus, Muskogee County, Dougherty County, Georgia as well as Richmond County and South Carolina --- Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Administrator --- Ms. Jackson: --- so we did provide information as a basis for comparison. Mr. Mayor: --- all right, okay, Madam Administrator, that’s not what this body asked for. th, I hate to do that but on multiple occasions the Commissioner from the 7 the Commissioner from thth the 8 and I know specifically the Commissioner from the 9 as well asked for rates from the providers themselves, not the municipalities, i.e. the carriers. That was what was asked for on multiple occasions so I just want to caution you on how you respond to that. Ms. Jackson: I just wanted to make clear there was some effort made to provide rates. As I understood it, it was a much it would be best to get that information from the municipalities as compared to the actual companies themselves given the fact that we put out an RFP. Mr. M. Williams: Can I have it back now? Okay, Ms. Sams, is those is that information that you provided to the Administrator and the Fire Chief she called out that same information? 16 Ms. Sams: I haven’t seen --- Mr. M. Williams: You heard it --- Ms. Sams: --- I heard it but, Mr. Commissioner, I’d like to go on record as being kind of clear. The information, the reason I stopped you from getting the information from anyone was because one, as a Commissioner to receive that information it causes you a conflict but the Procurement Department to receive that information, we are just simply gathering information to reach out to put together or assist a department to put together an RFP. So we’re talking about two different things. If your question still remains that we received the information then the answer to your question is yes, sir, we did receive the information. Mr. M. Williams: --- is that the same information that Ms. Jackson just read from Columbus and the other areas that she just pointed out a few minutes ago is the same that you sent to her and to Chief James? Ms. Sams: On two municipalities, they came back and said that they had already furnished the information to those departments and one of those municipalities was Columbus, Georgia. Mr. M. Williams: So the answer is no, that’s not the information what I asked you for. Now I’ve been around Andrew enough to know that when you ask a question you want answers to that question not the one you ask tomorrow but the one you ask today. So the answer’s no --- Ms. Sams: No. Mr. M. Williams: --- okay well I mean and we could’ve saved a lot of that just by just saying that. The other thing is how can we send out an RFP and get a response back with no manpower, I guess certain equipment or no equipment? I mean how can we even ask somebody to give us something back to help us reach our goal and we don’t have those things to work with if they’re taken out of the loop? Ms. Sams: In the initial RFP let me stop you, sir, right here. Mr. M. Williams: Let me back further because I asked you who put this RFP together. That’s the first question I asked earlier. Ms. Sams: Okay RFP’s are put together by user departments with the assistance of the Procurement Department. Technical specs come from the user department and you’re asking a technical question. Mr. M. Williams: Okay so that’s how we did that then. You answered my question. You went around it but you answered my question. It came from the user department who put the specs in place, there were no specs to go in place. Yes or no, that’s an easy one. Ms. Sams: There were specs to put in place, sir, and that was under the initial RFP #19- 350. Corrections to the RFP was just to address questions that we received from vendors who 17 participated in the process. And by law Procurement has to answer those questions and if we rebid we address those questions. Mr. M. Williams: And that was is that the difference between the old RFP and the new one? Ms. Sams: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: I don’t know what to say, Mr. Mayor. I don’t know which way to go with that. I’ll tell you what, I’m tired of the sham that’s been going and acting like we you know the buck ought to stop up here. We need to make a decision ourselves as to the direction we’re supposed to be going in. We had not been leading this charge at all. We’re being led by somebody else. st Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make a motion to approve the Emergency Ambulance Service fees. Mr. Mayor: All right, so just suspend. Your motion would be improper, okay, would be improper at this time. All right, the gentleman yields. All right, the Chair recognizes the th Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Move that we accept this as information. Mr. Speaker: Second. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Mr. M. Williams: (unintelligible) Point or Order? Mr. Mayor: State your inquiry. Mr. M. Williams: If we accept as information, where do we go from here? Now we’ve got a mess on our hands and now we act like it’s going to disappear in thin air. So if we just accept this as information if it’s on --- Mr. Mayor: All right so --- Mr. M. Williams: --- Mayor Pro Tem (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: --- I’m going to reiterate what Madam Administrator just said, all right and our posture is the following we’re going to receive this as information. We’re not in the position to be taking action on either 10 or 11 because you have an open RFP. That information will be presented to us on next Tuesday at which point in time this body will have all of the facts as it 18 relates to billing, as it relates to potential ambulance carriers and then this body can make a decision about what direction it wants to go in on Tuesday but that is not the day today. Mr. M. Williams: Point of Order again, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: State your inquiry. Mr. M. Williams: We pay people to put us in a box and then we got to end up backing out because they done messed some stuff up. I mean I’ve got some issues with that now. When all of this stuff’s been going, all of this behind the scenes stuff has been happening. Now we’re going receive as information to give them time to try to get out of this box they done put us in. Mr. Mayor: All right, so let me mention a few things on last Friday, no not last Friday, two Fridays ago at the request of this body because there was much consternation, because there was still a lot of uncertainty, questions, indecision. On Tuesday prior to Friday we said we would have the workshop where all of the facts will be put on the table and everyone had an opportunity to come on two Fridays ago. No books were put together. They had substantially every piece of information to include information related to the RFP, to include information related as to why the previous RFP was deemed for lack of another word thrown out. I do have another word, rescinded and billing information to include a copy of the application. All of that was included. Unfortunately not everybody showed up but it was extremely important information. It was an extremely important workshop so much so that I even came. Not that that’s supernatural but again because there were questions that this body needed answered. I said we will have a work session to put it all on the table and again unfortunately everybody chose not to show up so now it brings us to where we are today. We have two items that were placed on the agenda to discuss and to approve. Now these items were put on the agenda at your request. I don’t know much but if we were to even attempt to do what you put on the agenda and that is to award RFP 19-350 and then update 19-350 as it relates to services I will tell you that we’re not ready to do that yet. So it’s the right thing to receive as information. We move on to the next agenda item and then everybody come back to the table. And if you did not get a copy of the big notebook, Fire Chief, Mr. Meyers, before they walk off this dais let’s make sure you put those in their hands so that everybody has this common set of facts, same information and then we can make a decision after we hear what Procurement and the Administrator will share with us on Tuesday. And even on that day if you choose not to move forward and support it then I will tell you the reality of it is to the th Commissioner from the 9 you are constructing the box and if you don’t like the size of it, you can make another box but no one’s putting you in the box because at the end of the day this body’s going to make a decision. Mr. M. Williams: (Inaudible). Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a proper second to receive as information not that we need to vote on it we can just receive it as information and move to the next agenda item. Mr. Sias: Point of Personal Privilege real quick, Mr. Mayor? 19 Mr. Mayor: Hold on just a second. I’m going to give Madam Clerk time just take your th time, just take you time. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4, state your inquiry. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I have a question for Ms. Sams not right now but later I just want to make for my personal privilege it’s not about this RFP so I won’t be driving no backwards train. I want to, I have a question for Ms. Sams at the end, thank you. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. All right, we’re going to go top to bottom, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 7. Motion to authorize staff to draft amendments to the Augusta, GA Code to re-define and broaden the scope of the Citizen’s Small business Advisory Board (CSBAB) so that the board provides guidance regarding the elimination of discrimination and improving diversity and inclusion in City procurements as well as in City employment practices. Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, Ms. Irving, if you’ll approach. Ms. Irving: Greetings, Mayor and members of the Commission. Mr. Mayor: If you’ll give us an update and bring us up to speed with this request. Ms. Irving: Yes, sir, thank you so much for this opportunity. I would like to ask for permission to draft an amendment to expand the actual responsibilities of our current Citizens Small Business Advisory Board to include also matters regarding employment practices. If you recall in June of 2018 the Commission signed a Resolution of Support to expand the EEO Policy content to include four additional characteristics that are representative of gender, gender-equity, gender identification sexual orientation. With that being said the city is progressing in a very positive manner and this particular expansion of our current Small Business Advisory Board as is supported in our Consolidation Act Section 1-40 Section D states that the Commission will establish a Citizens Advisory Council to address a minority employment and small business opportunities. At this time we currently are addressing small business opportunities and I would like to ask for the Commission to give permission to expand that board to also be inclusive of employment practices as we begin to move our wonderful city into a more inclusive environment i.e., dealing with employment practices and this would be your permission allowing staff to do so. Mr. Mayor: All right fantastic, Ms. Irving, thank you. All right, the chair recognizes the nd Commissioner from the 2. Mr. D. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I was thinking about holding or asking that this go around to the second committee session because I really haven’t been brought up to date since I was out last month. Mr. Mayor: All right and I encourage --- 20 Mr. D. Williams: (inaudible) back before the body. Mr. Mayor: --- absolutely and I would encourage if you would take a moment to engage Ms. Irving and come fully up to speed with that. All right, outstanding. Mr. D. Williams: And I’ll get with Ms. Irving. Ms. Irving: Thank you, Thank you very much. Mr. Mayor: And I believe that’s in the form of a motion? Mr. D. Williams: I would entertain a motion. Mr. Jefferson: Second. Mr. Mayor: I’ll entertain the motion. The Clerk: For clarification are you the second committee cycle in October? Mr. D. Williams: Not next Tuesday. The Clerk: The second, yes, sir, I’ve got that, thank you. Mr. Mayor: All right, voting. Ms. Davis and Mr. Sias out. Motion Passes 8-0. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 8. Update of the replacement dedication plaque at the Henry Brigham Community Center Walking Track. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: I asked to have this brought back and I received a, received some information this afternoon showing I guess the plaque is what it’s going to look like. My question I guess to whoever’s going to address this, Ms. Jackson, are you going to address this? Ms. Jackson: I can. 21 Mr. M. Williams: Okay what did the other plaque state and I understand the Commissioners’ names aren’t on it but is it the same wording, is it the same? Ms. Jackson: I believe this wording is the same with the exception of the Commissioners’ names. I believe everything else is the same but I’ll have to ask Mr. Crawford if that’s correct. Mr. M. Williams: Okay, do we know how we got to this junction though? Who made the left turn to go, made a left turn to go right? Ms. Jackson: Yes, as you look at this memo that’s, the cover for that document that you have. Basically as I discussed last week there was some confusion as to whether the policy that you all approved related to buildings also related to a facility of this nature and unfortunately at that time the decision was made that that policy did not apply to this particular facility and that was where the misunderstanding took place. Mr. M. Williams: Well, Ms. Jackson, I noted that and I underlined it here but if the policy, if it wasn’t a building then who made the decision to put the plaque at the park at the walking track? If you say the policy wasn’t related to a building and this wasn’t a building then somebody made the conscious decision to put it at the walking track but the policy didn’t state that either. Ms. Jackson: In this particular instance it was a dedication on or of former Commissioner Lockett it would’ve been difficult to recognize that there had been any dedication without some type of marker at the location. Mr. M. Williams: I agree with that but it should’ve came to this body and it should’ve been approved and I want to know because I mean I did underline that and I know what the policy said. I know we just talked about it, just approved the policy. And I’m just I mean it’s easy to ask, Mr. Mayor, for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. That’s what they do all the time --- Mr. Guilfoyle: (Unintelligible). Mr. M. Williams: --- I understand, that’s why I ain’t got no wife, Mr. Guilfoyle. But my point is that we keep asking for forgiveness and people do things and in a position to do things right then it looks bad on us that we ain’t doing our job because everybody can say oh I’m sorry, I made a mistake. Well, somebody ought to pay for that mistake if there’s any monetary costs associated with this then whoever. Mr. Mayor: Well, let me just say this. I know I’ve got another Commissioner who wants to speak to this matter but I will hope that after I say what I say he will yield. You know, I’ve sat here for four years now --- Mr. M. Williams: You’ve got a long time ago, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: --- I know and I’m looking forward to it, I am. When we create a culture in this local government of where you can’t make mistakes and the assumption is that there was 22 malicious intent, I’m not suggesting because you certainly have more historical knowledge than I do and I have deep respect for that. But if we are going to continue to perpetuate this culture of where individuals can’t make mistakes and then be given an opportunity to correct those mistakes without fear and without retribution then we’re doing a disservice to the 2,700 employees who make up this great organization. It’s hard when you work for government in general but when you work for government where for 20 years you’ve worked in a post and you don’t get an increase and then you do make a decision to finally give folks a modicum of a raise only to be afraid that at the moment that I screw up, somebody’s going to chop my head off or there’s going to be a headhunting list toted around. I just don’t think that that’s where we want to be. And I understand, I understand to the Dean of the Commission my friend, my good friend your concern and frustration that this ain’t the first time --- Mr. M. Williams: Nor the second. Mr. Mayor: --- nor the second and certainly probably not the third because you’ve got more history than we do. But at the end of the day it happened, there’s a resolution for it, it will cost some amount of money and we will move on, we will move on. But for us to continue to perpetuate from this dais that we are going to get you, I just don’t think that’s the culture we want to perpetuate and create and I would ask that one, we recognize the fact that there’s a resolution. There’s a long lengthy conversation about how this happened and what needs to be done moving forward. It certainly sounds reasonable to me that in the policy that was adopted you know one could reasonably ascertain that it was focused on buildings, structures, not necessarily landmarks. But again this is just my two-cents worth and again with the deepest respect let’s just go ahead and accept this. It happened, it was not within what we all were thinking. But this body as your colleagues and my colleagues to my right have said, we did vote on this. We absolutely did vote on it. We voted to put a landmark out there in the name of one Commissioner Bill Lockett so let’s just move on. It happened and there’s a resolution for it and I think it can easily be implemented. Do we have a timetable on when this can be switched out, Ms. Jackson? Ms. Jackson: As soon as I would like to get ya’ll’s approval on this, we’ll go ahead and place the order immediately thereafter. Mr. Guilfoyle: So moved. Mr. Mayor: Okay, can we get a motion to do that? Mr. Guilfoyle: So moved. Mr. Frantom: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second to do --- Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’ve got a question. Mr. Mayor: --- I know you do. You want to direct it to me? 23 Mr. Hasan: No, sir, Ms. Jackson. Mr. Mayor: All right, so we have a motion and a second. All right, the Chair recognizes th the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Ms. Jackson, you adopted a policy around this. Do you have your policy before you? Ms. Jackson: It is part of the attachment. Mr. Hasan: Can you read it to me read it for us, please? Ms. Jackson: The entire policy? Mr. Hasan: No not the, the policy in terms of what you adopted by coming back before the Commission and what before the Commission or not, just that part of the procedure then the procedure. Ms. Jackson: In the procedure itself unless that’s one of the issues the procedure does not specifically say it comes back before the Commission. The procedure itself says the final format and wording will be submitted to the Central Services Director before approval by the Administrator and would normally include the following. However the agenda item that went with it has specifically said that it would be approved by the Commission and that’s the reason I recommend that we update the policy to match the agenda item. Mr. Hasan: So you didn’t draft the right procedure, that’s the point. Ms. Jackson: Yeah, I’m saying the procedure and the agenda item did not match --- Mr. Hasan: Okay so --- Ms. Jackson: --- and they should. Mr. Hasan: --- okay so you answered that part of it. My problem with it, Mr. Mayor, I think Mr. Jackson answered that because in adopting a procedure she didn’t adopt the policy that was passed because it came back to us. And I do kind of disagree with you, Mr. Mayor, even though you may call it a landmark this was never really about feelings as much as it was about plaques in my mind about what names should be on the plaques and things of that nature. Mr. Mayor: I concur 100%. Mr. Hasan: And the other thing about it is just the fact that when you look at what Ms. Jackson sent out today as opposed to just saying we made a mistake she seems to be, Ms. Jackson, you seem to be doubling down on your position as though you feel as though you know this was not the intent. We could’ve just said okay we’ll let it go. A mistake was made, you make a mistake (unintelligible) let it go but you keep doubling down on your position. And clearly you did not 24 adopt the right procedure based on what was passed and then this was more about plaques then it was about buildings. Ms. Jackson: And we do, I understand that but I think the question has been well how did this happen so I felt like we needed to explain that. But if you look at the last paragraph, sir, it says we apologize for the misinterpretation that led to the incorrect plaque and we’ll cop to that policy revisions as described above will endure that this oversight does not happen again --- Mr. Hasan: Well probably --- Ms. Jackson: --- so we certainly understand that that was a mistake. Mr. Hasan: --- and that was all we had to do and say (inaudible) mistake. Ms. Jackson: We certainly understand that there was a mistake. That’s what I think we tried to say all along but if you asked specifically how it happened I felt like we needed to respond to the question --- Mr. Hasan: Okay --- Ms. Jackson: --- so that’s how it happened. Mr. Guilfoyle: Call for the question. Mr. Sias: Can we move on? Mr. Mayor: Okay well, we have a motion and a second to adopt what’s proposed as the th replacement plaque. But I do want to take note of what the Commissioner from the 6 just said that the policy should reflect the same thing as the procedure. And I believe what the th Commissioner from the 6 has said is that you wanted it to come back to this body. Mr. Hasan: That’s what the motion was when we made the motion I think Ms. Jackson has agreed --- Ms. Jackson: And that was my recommendation that we bring a revised policy. I’d like to revise it along the lines there’s two or three things I think that need to be updated so we’ll come back to you with a recommended policy if you all would like to see that. Ms. Sias: Please do. Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second, voting. And you’re voting on the proposed plaque as updated. The Clerk: Mr. Williams, are you voting? Mr. M. Williams: I’m just present, I ain’t voting. 25 The Clerk: Okay, thank you. Ms. Davis out. Mr. M. Williams votes Present. Motion Passes 8-0-1. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 9. Ratify an Emergency Purchase Order #358754 in the amount of $81,900.00 to RFP Inc. to replace the upper roof on the Central Services Administration Building. (No recommendation from Public Services Committee September 25, 2018) Mr. Sias: Move to approve. Mr. Guilfoyle: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. M. Williams: I guess my hand don’t mean nothing, Mr. Mayor, since you don’t have a light but I got a comment and I’ve got a couple of questions. Mr. Mayor: I don’t have a problem with you asking questions or comments either. All th right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 and I did not see your hand. Mr. M. Williams: Okay, Ms. Douse, I just I had some heartburn when this came into committee but we did some renovations to the roof already so the $81,000 dollars is redoing the whole roof? Ms. Douse: We have not done any renovation work to the roof. We have however the contractor that did our renovation to the entire structure when the leak was detected, he offered a patch job which he stated at the time he did the patchwork that is was a short term patch and that, yes, the roof needed to be replaced so this work is to replace the roof. Mr. M. Williams: So we knew about this because the contractor pointed out that it was a short term patch that should’ve been brought in. And now we have an emergency what was the item an emergency repairs that should’ve been done. Now we created your department just for this kind of scenario. We created that whole department to catch stuff like this. And I brought Tom Wiedmeier up last committee meeting because I had been there knowing that there had been some issues with the tile with the air conditioning and the tile there. And when we went in there and did all of the nice work when you ride by it looks so pretty over there you know the colors look good, the scheme looks good and we turn around and say emergency repairs really give me heartburn, Mr. Mayor. But you know people make mistakes like you said all the time -- Mr. Mayor: They do. 26 Mr. M. Williams: --- we’re supposed to just turn our heads and look the other way. We ain’t supposed to question nothing, we ain’t supposed to talk about it. We’re supposed to just you know let people know that we are so loving and so forgiving that we’re just going to sing Kumbaya and we’re all going to get along. Mr. Mayor: Well you know, I think there’s a good book that you and I teach from on Wednesdays, on Sundays and days in between. Mr. M. Williams: Yeah. Mr. Mayor: Yeah, we love our neighbors as ourselves which is the first and great commandment. That’s what we’re going to do. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the th 5. Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. On this issue I think it was Mr. Rick Acree who spoke last week? Ms. Jackson: That’s who it was. Mr. Jefferson: He stated that half the roof was new on a portion of the building if I’m not mistaken but when you said the roof hadn’t been repaired I was kind of confused with that. Was that not the case because I thought he would be here to address this. Ms. Douse: My apologies. He was here only because I was on vacation last week --- Mr. Jefferson: Right. Ms. Douse: --- but no, sir, we have not had any roofing work, any extensive roofing work done to that facility under this renovation project. The only roofing work that was done was the patch that was discovered towards the end of the construction process. It was brought to my attention when we were about three to four weeks into completion. Mr. Jefferson: Okay now on the patch he tried to patch it a couple of times you said, the contractor. Was there a cost related to that or was that out of the goodness of his heart? Ms. Douse: I don’t know if it was out of the goodness of his heart but there was not a cost for the patch that was performed. Mr. Jefferson: Okay and the last thing, Mr. Mayor, is to your statement because I was sitting here I was playing a little tiny violin like this while you were saying that. Now I want to stress what I stressed last week is accountability. I mentioned to Ms. Douse that, you know, we pay some consultants some good money to go out there and make assessments and like I said for what good they did we could’ve sent, I repeat what I said last week Ms. Jackson and Ms. Bonner out there because they did provide a professional assessment that would not cost us $82,000 dollars. And as far as the totem pole goes as far as the pecking order of people’s paygrade and 27 their status, I’ve seen people get fired for leaving car keys in a truck overnight. I’ve seen people get fired for or get money taken out of the paychecks for swearing in the office place but, which didn’t cost anybody anything. But when somebody makes a $250,000 mistake or $82,000 mistake they come up with my bad and because they’re at a certain paygrade there’s no accountability. I don’t even think it’s reflected in an evaluation. And Commissioner Williams said it jokingly but I was dead serious when I said a few weeks ago that I felt like it should’ve been a monetary sanction because of some of these oh oh’s and my bads. Mr. M. Williams: I wasn’t joking either. Mr. Jefferson: But it seems that once people reach a certain paygrade and I know this is being streamed out live throughout the county, it seems like the lower they are on the paygrade the least tolerant this body is toward their livelihood. And once people reach a certain plateau they can say my bad, go home two counties over, one state over not paying a single dime in Richmond County in taxes but they could make a $250,000 dollar mistake that’s not in their wheelhouse. And I just I was trying not to say anything but you know the more we talked about it and you started talking I started playing that little violin, the music started aggravating me. So I think what we should do is have that same compassion to people on the low end of the totem pole when it comes to suspensions and firing and so forth we have that same tone of forgiveness that we do with people making a $100,000 dollars plus. th Mr. Mayor: Well, I couldn’t agree with the gentleman more from the 5. And the --- Mr. Jefferson: No, don’t say that. Mr. Mayor: --- yeah no, the you know the music that’s playing it closes out with this. Whatever we do be consistent, be consistent. Mr. Jefferson: I mean that sound good up here now but (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: And not only be consistent, not only be consistent but if there is a policy follow policy. But much of what happens here is all about practice. Alan Iverson, here we go again we’re talking about practice. And unfortunately there’s a policy around how we handle the engagement with employees, staff etc. as opposed to common practices. I’m going to yield, we have a motion and a second, you say you had your hand up? Mr. Guilfoyle: I did. Mr. Mayor: Okay that’s where the light comes in. It’s important. The Chair recognizes th the Commissioner from the 8, state your inquiry. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, you know I’m sitting, I actually came back from the back of the room and you know your discussion was on how we treat people on your previous agenda item. You know I look at it like this, this $81,900.00 dollars if that would’ve been added to the original bid this is no different than a change order, gentleman and ladies if she’s still here. It would’ve had to be spent either six months ago when we actually procured this the original project which I 28 was harping on or we either pay for it now or later. It was an oversight but you don’t know if a roof is leaking until it starts leaking especially a rubber roof. She had a general contractor try to patch it. We ought to commend her for at least trying to get that accomplished instead of ruining the money that we had spent on the inside of the building being renovated. Like when these directors come before us, no different than when we get off this floor, I’ve got to come before this body. I’m going to show ya’ll respect and in turn I would expect respect in return. But they’re trying to do everything they can every director in here and this here money would’ve been spent six months ago or spent now. th Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second, we’re voting. Commissioner from the 9? Mr. M. Williams: Present. Mr. Mayor: Okay. The Clerk: You’re not voting, okay. Ms. Davis out. Mr. M. Williams votes Present. Motion Passes 8-0-1. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I don’t think there’s any other business before us. The Clerk: No, sir, that’s it. Mr. Mayor: This meeting is adjourned. \[MEETING ADJOURNED\] Lena Bonner Clerk of Commission CERTIFICATION: I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular meeting of The Augusta Richmond County Commission held on October 2, 2018. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 29