Official Minutes Council Meeting – April 7, 2011
Approved by council April 21, 2011
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Tipton with Councilwoman Griffin leading in prayer. The Mayor presented the draft copy of the March 3, 2011 meeting for action by council. Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the minutes, Councilman Kerby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve the agenda of the April 7, 2011 meeting with the removal of Item #6 Changes to the “Appeals Procedure (Disciplinary)” section of the City’s Personnel Policy. Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Administrative & Committee reports:
City Administrator Akridge reported the financial standings with 2½ months remaining in the fiscal year with the average being 80%; the General Fund expenditures were at 69.7% with revenues at 65.8% and the water/sewer fund expenditures were at 66.8% with revenues at 66.16%. Mr. Akridge advised council that Chatham County Government Fair Day and Open House will be on April 15, 2011 from 12:00 to 2:00 at the Old Courthouse on Bull Street, the Hardin Canal is scheduled to be cleaned around June or July and the resurfacing projects for portions of Cregor, Cypress and Hickory streets are complete. CEMA has advised the Elected Officials Hurricane Conference will be held on May 24, 2011 at Hutcheson Island. The Coastal Regional Commission has released the 2010 census numbers and the City of Bloomingdale’s count came in at 2713.
General Services - Councilman Kerby reported Stagecoach Road repairs have been complete but there is a concern relating to a dip in the road which will be addressed next week. He reported the maintenance crews have begun the grass cutting season. Councilman Kerby expressed his appreciation to Citizen Billy Strozier for an idea he brought forth regarding the drainage plan that would save the city a substantial amount of money and would be a lesser impact on the citizen’s property and a meeting was held prior to council meeting tonight in which all citizens in attendance were pleased with idea. Mayor Tipton expressed his appreciation to Councilman Kerby and Public Works Superintendent Grizzard for the assistance and involvement in the drainage issues.
Public Safety - Councilman Baxter reported the fire station is moving along and the outside paving is in progress and there are still some concerns regarding the inside floor of the station but this matter will be addressed and resolved.
Water & Sewerage and Seniors & Special Events - Councilman Rawlings reported the bio-filter media at the lift station has been replaced and encouraged citizens to let the City know if any problems occur at the lift station. He reported there would be a work day if anyone would like to volunteer at the museum property located at #205 E. Hwy 80 on April 16, 2011 starting at 9:00am with lunch being served. On Saturday, April 23, 2011 the History Society, Garden Club, Lions Club and the City of Bloomingdale will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for children under the age of 12 at the Community Building/Pavilion from 11:00am to 2:00pm with Peter Cotton Tail being available for pictures.
Recreation - Councilwoman Griffin reported that the boy’s baseball teams were involved in the Rama at Pooler last Saturday and the girl’s teams will kick off the season at Hendrix Park this coming Saturday with the regular season beginning Monday. She encouraged everyone to go to the park to see the progress that has taken place and also encouraged volunteer participation in all areas of the recreation department.
History Society member Barbara Aldridge gave a brief report and a special thank you to the citizens who have been so willing to allow the History Society to document their memories of the City to become a part of the History Museum.
The public hearing was opened by Mayor Tipton. The purpose of the public hearing was to receive citizen input on the proposed location of the Veterans’ Memorial. Mayor Tipton recognized Margel Winn, Chair of the Veteran’s Memorial Committee. Mrs. Winn reported there are two (2) locations being considered for the memorial site which are, the corner of Hwy 80 & Cherry Street and the other behind the proposed History Museum at #205 E. Hwy 80. She advised the committee members came to a consensus in favor of placing it on the corner of Hwy 80 & Cherry Street. Councilman Myrick expressed his desire to place it at Hwy 80 & Cherry Street and also expressed he would like to see the memorial honor not only the deceased veterans but also the living veterans. Barbara Rawlings, a History Society member stated she would like to see it at #205 E. Hwy 80 in conjunction with the History Museum. Joe Garcia, volunteer and member of the American Legion reported that he had done research on Veterans’ Memorials all of the United States and reported he has found that memorials should be placed in open, highly visible areas. Citizens Myra Crosby, Sue Hargroves and Michael Hargroves expressed their preference for it to be placed at the History Museum reiterating at this location there is existing lights, parking and restroom facilities. Veterans’ committee member Billy Strozier stated that the committee had taken the information provided by Mr. Garcia and considered the visibility of each location and all favored the memorial being placed at Hwy 80 & Cherry Street. He further stated that he had talked with several citizens in the city and had with him a list signed by military veterans who reside in the city who have expressed their desire that the memorial be located in a highly visible area and their preference was for it to be placed at Hwy 80 & Cherry Street. Several concerns were mentioned regarding gas tanks underground at both locations. Mayor Tipton stated that this matter would be taken into consideration by city council. The Mayor closed the public hearing.
OLD BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS:
The Mayor presented a request from Citizen Tom Crosby requesting city council to sign, for recording purposes only, a recombination plat to combine portions of a 70’ x 85’ landlocked parcel, owned by Mr. Crosby, into parcels currently owned by Mr. Crosby and Hoyle E. Townsend. Mr. Crosby’s property (PIN #8-0010F-04-007) will increase by .69 acres and Mr. Townsend’s property (PIN #8-0010F-04-005) will now include an additional .25 acres. Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve signing the recombination plat for recording purposes. Councilman Kerby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Council reviewed a recommendation submitted by Kern-Coleman & Co., LLC on behalf of Marchese Construction, LLC for payment of Pay Request #8 in the amount of $23,142.92 for work performed on the fire station. Councilman Baxter made a motion to pay the contractor pay request #8 in the amount of $23,142.92 and reported there is enough funds in the remaining balance owed the contractor in which to address the issues with the crack in the floor prior to releasing the final payment. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Mayor Tipton presented a request from Fire Chief Ferman Tyler for the purchase of office equipment, cabinets, shelving, an ice machine, lockers, fire alarm, wiring, etc. as needed for the new fire station. The total cost of the items is $17,250.00 with funds to be expended from the SPLOST 03-08 monies on hand designated for fire equipment. Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve the purchase of the items for the new station at cost of $17,250.00 with the expenditures coming from SPLOST 03-08. Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
The Council reviewed a recommendation from the Planning & Licensing Committee and the Public Safety Committee to appoint Fire Chief Ferman Tyler as Code Enforcement Officer for the City. Councilman Baxter made a motion to appoint Fire Chief Ferman Tyler as the Fire Chief/Code Enforcement Officer with the required classes to be completed within 24 months. (Council was advised that this position was for the purpose of enforcement of city ordinances and was not to be associated with duties of the Building Inspector) Councilman Kerby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
The Mayor presented a recommendation from the Public Safety Committee to make changes to Chapter 46 “Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions”, Article IV. False Alarms, of the City’s Code of Ordinances. The changes to the ordinance includes wording to address the responding of the fire department to false alarms; the appeal of an assessment of a false alarm service fee to be directed to the City Administrator rather than the chief of police; and to amend the Fee Schedule Policy to add false alarm service fees for buildings over 39,999 sq.ft. ranging in cost from $150 per call to $225 per call with no charge for the first three false alarms within a calendar year. Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve the first reading, of the change to Chapter 46 as presented, to dispense with the second reading and approve the change to Chapter 46 “Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions”, Article IV. False Alarms as presented. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
City Administrator Akridge presented recommendation to make an amendment to the FY 2010-2011 budget to transfer $5,000 from miscellaneous equipment in the Legislative & Administrative budget to miscellaneous equipment in the general maintenance department and to transfer $4,775 from SPLOST to cover the expenses of approximately $14,775, noting that the City was able to save the cost of an additional generator by transferring the generator from Well #2 to the maintenance department and installing a generator at the new fire station that would service both the fire building and the well. Councilman Myrick made a motion make the budget amendment as stated. Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
The Mayor advised an executive session had been requested for discussion of potential litigation and personnel issues and directed the City Attorney to advise council if the executive session request has met the criteria of the open meetings act. The Attorney reported that based on the information submitted it met the criteria of the open meetings act. Councilwoman Griffin made a motion to adjourn into executive session for discussion of potential litigation and personnel issues. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. Prior to adjourning to the executive session Citizen Billy Strozier questioned if the Veterans’ Memorial would be brought for a vote. Mayor Tipton obtained a consensus from councilmembers regarding placing this matter on the next agenda; the consensus of Councilmembers Kerby, Myrick and Baxter were affirmative for placing it on the next council agenda and Councilmembers Crosby, Rawlings and Griffin were negative for placing it on the next agenda. Mayor Tipton broke the tie with an affirmative vote to place it on the next agenda for April 21, 2011.
At the conclusion of the executive session, Councilman Crosby made a motion to return to the general session and to execute the signed affidavit as required by the Open Meetings Act. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes. Note: Councilman Rawlings did not return to the general session.
Mayor Tipton reported that this concluded the items presented for consideration for inclusion on the council agenda prior to the deadline of Wednesday, March 30, 2011.
The accounts payable were presented with Councilman Myrick making a motion to pay the bills. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
There being not further business, Councilman Kerby made a motion to adjourn at 8:40pm, Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
Respectfully submitted, Diane Proudfoot, Asst. City Clerk
Mayor Tipton and all councilmembers were present for the meeting, Councilman Rawlings left after the executive session.
Note: Section § 50-14-1 of the Official Code of the State of Georgia Annotated requires that the minutes shall, as a minimum, include a description of each motion or other proposal made, and a record of all votes. These minutes meet the minimum requirements. However, in an attempt to provide as much information as possible to the citizens, the recording clerk has included additional background data and discussion on the subjects presented to council. The statements of individuals are not verbatim and may be summary in nature.