Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING



Meeting

March 4, 2003



Members Present: Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers and Councilors R. Gary Allen,

Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles E.

McDaniel, Jr., Nathan Suber (arrived at 5:14 p.m.) and Evelyn Woodson. Also

present were Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff, City Manager Carmen Cavezza, City

Attorney Clifton Fay and Finance Director Kay Love.



Members Absent: Councilor Evelyn Turner Pugh was absent.





Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. in the Council

Chambers Conference Room, Plaza Level, Government Center.



Inspections & Code Enforcement Career Ladder:

City Manager Cavezza said that in the FY-05 budget, we have included an

Inspections & Code Enforcement Career Ladder. He explained this is when the

Inspectors and Code Enforcement employees obtain a certain credential, they

would move incrementally up this ladder from a six level to a ten level. He

advised we are getting ready to implement this proposal. He said he wanted to

make sure that the Council was aware of it, before it was implemented. He

continued to expound on the process. He estimated that it would cost

approximately $2,790.00 to implement this program.



In response to a question of Councilor Allen, City Manager Cavezza replied the

cost is for the three people that would be moving up a step, which means an

increase in salary, but the employee has to pay the cost associated with

obtaining their certification. He advised the cost for FY-04 is about

$7,000.00.



There was continued discussion on this matter with City Manager Cavezza

responding to various questions from the members of Council.



Tour De Georgia

City Manager Cavezza reminded everyone the Tour De Georgia would be coming

through Columbus, Georgia on April 24, 2003. He stated that the Council would

be provided with a map of the route. He said that it would start in Savannah

and move through Macon, Columbus, back up to Rome and then Atlanta. He pointed

out this is the first time that it would be happening here. He briefly

explained the route bicyclers would take through Columbus. (A map was provided

for the record.)



LOST (Local Option Sales Tax)

Mayor Poydasheff advised that the LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) has passed the

Senate and House, and he believes that we are going to receive that. He said

the biggest problem that the legislators are going to have is with the

predatory lending laws.



Executive Session

City Manager Cavezza advised that he would be requesting a brief executive

session to discuss a matter of litigation.



Meeting adjourned 5:20 p.m.





________________________

Sandra T. Davis

Deputy Clerk of Council

Council of Columbus, Georgia