Columbus, Georgia

Minutes for the Meeting of the

Public Safety Advisory Commission

March 17, 2005



Present members of Advisory Commission: Robert Turner, Charles Kurtz, Robert

Loving, C.A. Hardmon, James Wilson, Keyla Cabret, Harold Bryant (Vice

Chairman), Cheryl Gallatin, Archie Rainey (Chairman), Greg Camp



Absent members: Allen McMullen



Visitors: Fire Chief Roy Waters and the following personnel from his

department; David Arrington, David Starling, Jeff Myers



Recording Secretary: Mrs. Ann Bell, Administrative Specialist, III



Location: Community Room of the Public Safety Building



Meeting began at 4:03 p.m.



CHAIRMAN ARCHIE RAINEY CALLS THE MEETING TO ORDER:



Archie Rainey calls the meeting to order. Roll is taken.



REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING?S MINUTES:



The commission members took a few moments to review the minutes of the previous

meeting. There was a motion to approve minutes and they were then approved.



OLD BUSINESS



COMMUNITY MEETINGS:



There is lengthy group discussion regarding holding three (3) public forum

meetings with the community. The date, time, and location of these three (3)

meetings are discussed. It is concluded that the meetings should probably be

held at a schools in South, North, and Midtown Columbus to reach all citizens.

Ms. Gallatin will handle the logistics of the meetings and Ms. Cabret will

assist her with getting this information out to media outlets. Flyers will

also be made and disseminated to churches and other civic groups through the

mail.



There is a brief discussion regarding the time constraints and logistics of

getting these meetings together before the city budget is voted on by council.

The commission will meet and compile the information gathered from the public

forum meetings the first week of May to have it ready to bring before council

in time for the budget constraints.



NEW BUSINESS



PUBLIC SAFETY ?LOCK IN? CLAUSES



Mr. Turner requested this item placed on the agenda. He asked if there was a

?lock in? clause when hiring Public Safety personnel. It was determined that

there is none. Mr. Turner expressed is opinion that this could be worth

looking into. A brief discussion ensued regarding the pros and cons of having

such a clause along with the possibility of offering bonuses for staying a

certain length of time with Columbus Public Safety instead of contracts. There

is a brief group discussion regarding Public Safety benefits and hiring

packages. Brief mention is made regarding the current pay plan study going on

right now. Mr. Camp suggests meeting with Public Safety employees as well as

the community.



There is a short group discussion regarding other types of revenue for the city

that could go to Public Safety. Mr. Loving suggests looking at the money the

city does have.



Chairman Rainey asks if anyone has any closing remarks. Mr. Wilson distributes

a handout of a flowchart analyzing an example concern regarding service

provided by Public Safety.



Mr. Hardmon asked the commission to make sure the Muscogee County Prison is not

excluded from the budge issues that will be presented to council.



A motion is made to adjourn the meeting at 5:07 p.m. a second motion is made

and the meeting adjourned.





Ann Bell

Administrative Specialist, III

Recording Secretary