MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
March 1, 2012
The Mayor and Council of the City of Franklin, Georgia, met in regular session Thursday, March 1, 2012 at city hall at 6:00 p.m.
Mayor Chapman began the meeting by asking each of the council members to state their name for the public. She told the public Chief Hannah works at the leisure of the Mayor. He is very competent and prepared to take care of business. She welcomed everyone in attendance and asked City Attorney David Mecklin to give the invocation followed by Councilman Almond leading in the pledge to the flag.
MINUTES OF January 5th & February 2nd
January 5th - Councilman Rogers made a motion, seconded by Councilman Almond, to accept the minutes as written. The vote was unanimous.
February 2nd - Councilman Rogers had one correction. Under the street department, the motion to repair the trash truck was made by Councilman Manders and seconded by Councilman Rogers. Pending this correction, Councilman Rogers made a motion, seconded by Councilman Almond to approve the minutes as written. The vote was unanimous.
ORDER OF THE AGENDA
Councilman Almond made a motion, seconded by Councilman Rogers, to approve the agenda as presented. The vote was unanimous.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Police Department - Chief Hannah presented a written report of monthly activities.
Street Department - Street Department Supervisor Alan Holcomb spoke on the following:
1. The trash truck has been repaired and is back in operation. It has made their job much easier.
2. They have planted azaleas along the current walking trail.
3. They are currently working on clearing another walking trail behind Cecil=s house. Councilman Almond said he noticed a large pine tree leaning toward the house. He recommended having it cut down. He and Mr. Holcomb will work to get bids on this.
City Attorney David Mecklin - Mr. Mecklin spoke on the following:
- The council, at the regular meeting in February, voted to issue a sixty-ninety day moratorium on new beer and wine licenses for on premises consumption. He prepared draft copies for review by the council and public. He told the council there will need to be a public hearing on this. The ordinance was based on ordinances from LaGrange, Newnan and Carrollton and adapted to meet the needs of Franklin.
Councilman Hamil arrived at the meeting.
- Chief Hannah had called him about overtime for the police department. The clerk emailed him a copy of the personnel policy. There are some inconsistencies relating to police and overtime that needs to be corrected.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Rental Application - Mayor Chapman told the council they still had only one application to rent the old fire department. The clerk told the council the only inquiries she had received were from people wanting to use the building as a residence.
Councilman Almond said he would like to help people. He didn=t see a problem with $300.00 since the building had been empty for two years. He made a motion to let the applicant have it.
Councilman Hamil stated the council can=t agree on anything and cited the location of a new city hall. He asked the attorney if the city can give the money set aside for city hall to the water authority. Mr. Mecklin said, in his opinion, they can=t. Councilman Hamil said the water authority is building a new water tank for $600,000.00 and only has a grant for $300,000.00. He thinks the city should use the bond money to pay the balance due on the water tank. He also said the city needs to take bids on the beauty shop and sell it. The city does not need to be in the rental business. They are running businesses off by renting cheaper.
Councilman Rogers suggested allowing the ad to run one more month.
Councilman Manders said he would go along with the majority. There was no second to the motion.
2. Ellis Smith, Atty. - Mr. Mecklin told the council Mr. Smith had called and he would not be attending the meeting tonight.
NEW BUSINESS:
- Beer & Wine Application - The owner of Franklin Petro wants to sell the business. The buyer has applied for a license to sell retail packaged beer and wine. The clerk said she brought this to the council because she thought the moratorium only applied to pouring licenses. After some discussion, Councilman Manders made a motion to table the application until after the moratorium had passed. Councilman Almond seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
- Paxen Learning Center - Melanie Banks spoke to the council about the summer work program. She told the council it had gone very well and they would soon begin speaking to employers about the upcoming summer. They would like to expand the current program to serve more youth. She is asking for a letter of support from the council to help Paxen get into the school system. Councilman Manders made a motion, seconded by Councilman Almond, to provide a letter of support. The vote was unanimous.
- Zoning Board Appointments - Mayor Chapman told the council Jim Kuchenbaker=s appointment has expired. He has indicated he would like to be reappointed to serve another term. Councilman Rogers made a motion, seconded by Councilman Manders, to reappoint Jim Kuchenbaker. The vote was unanimous.
Mayor Chapman said she also had a letter of interest from Pam Rogers to replace Mrs. Raughton. Councilman Almond made a motion, seconded by Councilman Manders, to appoint Pam Rogers. Councilmen Almond, Hamil and Manders voted in favor of the motion. Councilman Rogers abstained due to a conflict of interest. The motion passed by a majority vote.
4. City Hall - Mayor Chapman told the council she would like to go into an executive session to discuss land purchase.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Councilman Manders made a motion to go into an executive session to discuss pending litigation and land purchase. Councilman Almond seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
Councilman Rogers made a motion, seconded by Councilman Almond, to re-enter the regular session. The vote was unanimous. Mr. Mecklin told the public no action was taken on real estate and on pending legal matters.
Councilman Hamil made a motion, seconded by Councilman Manders, to into executive session to discuss personnel. The vote was unanimous.
Councilman Manders made a motion, seconded by Councilman Hamil, to re-enter the regular session. No action was taken on personnel.
There was no further business to conduct and Councilman Rogers made a motion, seconded by Councilman Hamil, to adjourn. The vote was unanimous.
______
Teresa Chapman, Mayor
Members Present: Clerks Present:
Shane Manders, Post #1 Myra Braswell
Willie Almond, Jr., Post #2
Joel Rogers, Post #3
Jimmy Hamil, Post #5