Called Council Meeting

November 15, 2002

6:30pm

 

 

 

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Rozier.

 

Mayor Rozier stated that council needed to decide if the City would be participating in the unified Chatham County Community Greenspace Planning Program.  Councilman Wedincamp pointed out that at their last meeting, the Greenspace Advisory Committee agreed that the most urgent needs for acquisition of greenspace was currently in the City of Savannah, therefore, more funds will initially be distributed for their projects.  However, projects in the other cities will receive funding from future allocations.  Councilman Tyler made a motion to participate in the Chatham County Community Greenspace Planning Program.  Councilman Johnson seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

Council discussed their requests for the 2003 Legislative Session to be presented to the Chatham Legislative Delegation by Mayor Rozier at a meeting scheduled for November 20th.   Councilman Myrick made a motion to present the following requests:

 

1)      Approve annexation by the City of Bloomingdale of the same area submitted to the legislature during the 2002 session.

2)      A request to increase the City’s groundwater withdrawal permit to 2 million gpd.

3)      $75,000 in funds for use in development of our recreation facilities at Taylor Park

 

Councilman Tyler seconded the motion to submit these requests and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

The Mayor advised council that Chatham County had agreed to pay $10,000 toward the replacement/repairs to the Wildcat Dam Road Bridge.  Mayor Rozier stated he would be attending the meeting of the Pooler City Council on Monday night, November 18th to request some funds from them to help with this project since the only resident living across the canal lives in the Pooler city limits.  Councilman Wedincamp reported that he was in the process of obtaining three (3) bids for the removal of the existing bridge and the replacement of the bridge using pre-cast culverts.

 

Council received a copy of the audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 2002 and agreed that they would like have the auditors attend the December 4, 2002 meeting to discuss any questions they may have after their review of said audit.

 

Mayor Rozier stated that there were several personnel matters that needed to be addressed by council.  Councilman Johnson made a motion to adjourn into executive session.  Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. 

 

A copy of the affidavit required by the open meeting law is attached.

 

After the executive session was completed, Councilman Waller made a motion to return to the general session.  Councilman Johnson seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

Mayor Rozier presented the following recommendations for council’s approval:

 

1)      An amendment to the personnel policy to increase the number of vacation and personal leave days that can be carried from one year to the next as follows: 

 

a)      Employees having ten (10) years of service will be allowed to carry up to fifteen (15) days each of vacation and personal leave from one year to the next.

b)      Employees having fifteen (15) or more years of service will be allowed to carry up to twenty (20) days each of vacation and personal leave from one year to the next.

Councilman Johnson made a motion to approve this amendment with an effective date of December 1, 2002.  Councilman Waller seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

2)      Approval for the adoption of a drug policy for the City of Bloomingdale.  Councilman Ray made a motion to approve the adoption of said policy and direct Attorney Gerard to prepare one for council’s review and approval.  Councilman Tyler seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

3)      The elimination of the accrual of compensatory time.  Councilman Johnson made a motion to eliminate the accrual of compensatory time effective the first pay period in December (December 9, 2002) and require compensatory time currently existing to be taken in a timely manner.  Councilman Ray seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

4)      Require employees to pay the full cost of the $100 increase in dependent insurance coverage starting January 1, 2003, but to offer those employees carrying dependent insurance coverage the option to change from a PPO plan to an HMO plan with the cost savings of approximately $80 per month to be applied toward the dependent insurance coverage increase once coverage has been changed.  Councilman Tyler made a motion to take the above action regarding the cost of dependent insurance coverage, Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

Council discussed the annual employees’ Christmas bonuses and salary increases as outlined and approved in the 2002/2003 budget.  Councilman Ray made a motion to approve the payment of the Christmas bonuses at the December 9, 2002 Christmas party and the salary increases as approved in the 2002/2003 budget effective January 6, 2003.  Councilman Tyler seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

Being no further business or discussion, Councilman Waller made a motion to adjourn the called meeting at 9:15pm.  Councilman Ray seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

                                

                                                                 

The Mayor and all council members were present at the called meeting.