Columbus, Georgia

COUNCIL BRIEFING



June 11, 2002





A Council Briefing was held on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 in the Council Chamber

Conference Room, on the Plaza Level of the Government Center, Columbus,

Georgia. Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rodgers, presiding.



PRESENT: Present other than Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers were Mayor Bobby G. Peters,

Councilors R. Gary Allen, Berry Henderson, Councilor Julius Hunter, Jr.

Robert Poydasheff, Richard Smith, Nathan Suber, Evelyn Turner Pugh and Evelyn

Woodson Also present were City Manager Carmen Cavezza; City Attorney Clifton

Fay; Director of Finance Kay Love and Director of Human Resources, Tom Barron.



ABSENT: Councilor Charles McDaniel.





This meeting was called to order at 8:37a.m.





AMBULANCE SERVICE FEE:



Responding to Councilor Turner question?s of the ambulance service fee per

year, City Manager Cavezza advised her that initially, this fee was $5,000

per year, but was increased an additional $12,000 per year by the State . He

said in effect, we will get more money through Medicaid and maintained that

for the past nine months, we have been getting about $50 more on emergency

calls and about $30 more on non-emergency calls. He pointed out that although

we are paying $12, 000 more per year, we will come out ahead as he reminded

the Council Members that next year we will be coming back with another $17,000

fee. Concluding, City Manager Cavezza said this issue would be brought up in

the Regular Council Meeting.



SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOLS:



City Manager Cavezza advised the members that ?Red? supports the purchase of

the

Glock pistols. He pointed out they are $80.00 cheaper and being used by these

agencies: (1) the Georgia State Patrol (2) most of GA Sheriff Departments

and (3) and the Georgia State Patrol. He said the, currently, Police Chief

Dozier reported that the Columbus Police Department is using the using the

Smith and Wesson Automatic pistols and did not express an interest in changing

them right now. City Manager Cavezza pointed out that the Sheriff Department

plans to purchase Glocks, as the officers keep their pistols when they

retire which he said appears to be a good thing economically.



MASTERBUILT:



He then updated the members on Masterbuilt, a company located in the

Enterprise Zone. He reported that they purchased land - next to their

location - with plans to expand their business, but after discovering that the

land had been previously used as a dump, it was established that the soil was

unstable. He further reported the company invested $27,000 for the expansion

and, now they are requesting the City to reimburse them for the cost that they

put into this expansion process; and to include a little piece of land

adjacent to the building in the cost. He informed the members that

Masterbuilt is now relocating to Corporate Ridge. City Manager Cavezza

recommended that the land is purchased by the City , reimbursed about $27,000

in cost; and market the property including the land adjacent to the building.

There was continued discussion on this issue with City Manager Cavezza advising

that this matter will be voted on in the Council Chamber.





PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE



At this time, City Manager Cavezza informed the members that he met with Ralph

King and Rick McKnight to discuss a way to discipline the process of the 5

minute rule at the Planning Advisory Meetings. He reported that they will not

pursue the outline they ,which is not denying anyone the opportunity to speak,

but to hold their speaking to five minute time frame. He said that ?Nathan?

brought up a point about unethical procedures, whereas if you talk to someone

outside the proceeding, this is unethical; however, he said this is not true.

He explained they are in a similar position as Councilors, if someone wants

to talk to you about issues, and if there is a conflict of interest, then

(you) could excuse yourself from the meetings. He said he believes there is

an understanding on their part, now.





HIRING AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC DEFENDER:



City Manager Cavezza, then pointed out there is $45,000 listed in the budget

for an additional Public Defender. He said there is a need to hire an

additional Public Defender for State Court. He said there is enough money to

hire one, but there is a need to hire the second one and rather than do a mid

- year adjustment, we will add that now and bring on two Public Defenders.

He said this was mandated by the Supreme Court as anybody who desires would

have representation by a lawyer.



EXECUTIVE SESSION:



There will be a brief Executive Session on a real estate matter.



DR. JACK TIDWELL:



At this point, Mayor Peters announced that Dr. Tidwell , who is not listed on

the agenda, is heard on the matter regarding the Certificate of Need.



ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCMENTS:



? The Certification Team for the Fire Department will be in Columbus on

the June 22, 2002.



? The Accreditation Luncheon with the four inspector will be on June

23, 2002.

.

? The Fire Department?s evaluation will be completed on June 27,

2002.





MARSHAL?S DEPARTMENT:



Councilor Suber asked if the matter regarding the Marshal?s Department would

be brought up in today?s meeting., Mayor Peters updated the Council Members by

explaining that the Marshal wanted the same opportunity to hire employees at

a grade of Grade 9. He said an individual was transferred from the Sheriff?s

Department as a Step 9 and now the employee is subject to either termination

or return to the Sheriff?s Department. He pointed out that Marshal?s Office

is requesting an ordinance to be sponsored by a Councilor.



After a brief discussion on this subject, City Manager Cavezza advised that

this was an issue that should be addressed in Executive Session.





There being no other business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 8:55

a.m.









Gloria A. Carey, Secretary