MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
May 14, 2013
7:00 P.M.
Members Present – Mayor Bryan Standifer, Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Jacobs, Jr., Councilmembers Katherine Alexander, Cornell Williams, and Larry Thurman. Councilmember Strozier was unable to attend.
Staff Present – City Manager Tim Sweezey, City Clerk Peggy Billerman, and Chief Bobby Norris.
Media Present – Hannah Pope of the Monticello News.
Regular Meeting - Mayor Standifer called the meeting to order. Reverend William Gibson offered the invocation. Mayor Standifer led the pledge of allegiance. City Clerk Peggy Billerman called the roll.
Agenda Approval – Motion by Councilmember Thurman, seconded by Councilmember Alexander, to approve the agenda as presented. All in favor.
Citizens Present –David Wease, Bobby Sutton, Martha Pompey, Cynthia Davis, Reverend William Gibson, Doris Tripp, and Roberta Anderson
Zoning Public Hearing – 2013EC03, filed by AAA Signs for owner, Circle K, requests a Certificate of Appropriateness for a Subway Restaurant sign at 1468B West Washington Street. No public comment, no questions. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Thurman, to approve the sign plans as presented.
All in favor.
Citizen Comments I – Roberta Anderson, Director of the Carrera Program at the Get Ahead House, expressed thanks to the City Council for its continued support of the program, which is in its 4th year and a national model for other rural communities. Martha Pompey advised Council that the State had found that County election workers had done wrong and that further sanctions will accrue through the State Attorney General. Ms. Pompey wants proof of citizenship of the Probate Judge if she acts as City Election Superintendent again. Reverend Gibson advised that the City should change the Citywide Yard Sale to a date between the 1st and 3rd of April. Reverend Gibson also presented a “Citizen in Action” plaque to Bobby Sutton of Conner Street.
Department of Family and Children Services – The annual lease of the building to DFACS in the amount of $81,700.08 was approved.
Electric Cities of Georgia – Motion by Councilmember Alexander, seconded by Councilmember Williams to approve the annual agreement in the amount of $71,596. All in favor.
Municipal Competitive Trust – Resolution 2013-04 to complete the last quarterly drawdown for FY13 in the amount of $57,844, including $12,500 for the recently purchased dump truck. Motion by Councilmember Thurman, seconded by Councilmember Williams, to approve the drawdown. Motion carried with Councilmembers Thurman, Williams, and Alexander voting to approve and Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs voting against the drawdown.
Police Chief’s Report – Chief Norris reported on the Vermont Institute for Police that he had recently attended at no cost to the City. He gained access to a grant writer and will be seeking grants for cars, equipment, and personnel. The Police Chief reported 23 citations, 217 requests for service, and $9,573 in fines for April. Chief Norris reported on a Glock pistol exchange that, at $160 per pistol, was less expensive than refurbishing their existing weapons.
City Manager’s Report – City Manager Tim Sweezey reported air quality testing was repeated in the police department, some duct cleaning was scheduled, and that line item numbers would be required on any purchase order request. Mr. Sweezey informed Council that the street department was instructed to work as two separate crews.
2014 Budget and Five-Year History Review – Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs questioned the $49,000 surplus created by purchasing the consolidated shop in FY13 rather than FY14. The surplus was moved to Legislative in the budget and highlighted in gray. He stated that he would like to lower the PCA or fix the roof of the City Complex and suggested that estimates for repairs to the existing buildings could factor into the budget. Mayor Standifer commented that several work sessions had been held to review the budget line item by line item. Councilmember Williams stated that he would like to stick with what they had, as he had made the effort to be at every meeting and work session. Councilmember Alexander agreed that changes to the proposed budget might be necessary, but that the budget was a living document and could be changed at a later date. Motion by Councilmember Thurman, seconded by Councilmember Williams, to approve the proposed budget for public hearing. A public hearing will be held June 4, 2013 for public input on the FY2014 budget, with adoption scheduled at the regular meeting in June. Motion carried with Councilmembers Thurman, Williams, and Alexander voting to approve. Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs voted against. Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs asked the City Clerk to calculate the amount of reduction in the PCA if the $49,000 surplus were used for the reduction.
Consent Agenda –Approval of the minutes was by individual motion. Motion by Councilmember Alexander, seconded by Councilmember Williams, to approve the minutes of the April 9, 2013 meeting. All in favor. Motion by Councilmember Thurman, seconded by Councilmember Williams, to approve the minutes of April 19, 2013. Motion failed, with Councilmembers Thurman and Williams voting to approve and Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs and Councilmember Alexander abstaining due to their absence from the meeting. Unapproved minutes to be placed on the June meeting agenda. Motion by Councilmember Thurman, seconded by Councilmember Williams to approve the minutes of April 23, 2013. Motion carried with Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs and Councilmembers Thurman and Williams voting to approve. Councilmember Alexander abstained due to her absence from the meeting. Motion by Councilmember Alexander, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs, to approve the minutes of April 30, 2013. All in favor. As to the meeting of May 7, 2013, let the minutes reflect that no meeting was called to order as no quorum was present. Motion by Councilmember Alexander, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs to approve the payables in the amount of $314,583.05. All in favor.
Citizen Comments II – Stanley K Davis complained of high utility bills and a lack of recreation opportunities. David Wease commented on tree trimming, police department weapons, and a grant for LED lighting.
Council Comments – Mayor Standifer complimented Randy Parker and the Garden Club for their care of the Square, asking everyone to remember to thank them. It was decided that a Thank You note from Council would be appropriate.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20pm.
______, Mayor ______, City Clerk
City of Monticello
123 West Washington Street
Post Office Box 269
Monticello, GA 31064
706-468-6062