Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING



Meeting

May 6, 2003



Members Present: Councilors R. Gary Allen, Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry

Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., and Nathan Suber.

Councilor Evelyn Turner Pugh arrived at 8:38 a.m. Also present were Mayor

Robert S. Poydasheff, City Manager Carmen Cavezza, City Attorney Clifton Fay

and Finance Director Kay Love.



Members Absent: Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers and Councilor Evelyn Woodson

were absent.

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City Manager Cavezza advised that we have a quorum, but Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers

would not be present today. He then called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.

in the Council Chambers Conference Room, Plaza Level, Government Center.



Mr. Williams? Riverboat:

City Manager Cavezza stated that there have been some discussions regarding the

riverboat. He explained when the riverboat was anchored down by the Trade

Center, but when the City was close to beginning construction on the Trade

Center, Mr. Williams was told that he would have to relocate his riverboat. He

stated that Mr. Williams wants to tie it up at Rotary Park. He advised that

Rotary Park is a public park and we are receiving complaints from fisherman out

there, because they cannot get to the dock because of the riverboat. He

explained that Deputy City Manager Hugley made arrangements for Mr. Williams to

put his boat in ST Services, which would cost him about $300.00 per month and a

one million dollar bond. He pointed out since October 2002, Mr. Williams has

opted not to do that; therefore, we sent him a letter, which stated that he has

15 days to take care of this, or the City would deal with the situation.



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Financial Audits:

City Manager Cavezza advised that we are working with the Georgia Municipal

Association to do an audit of hotel/motel tax and alcohol excise tax. He said

this is to make sure that the books are correct and that they are complying

with the law. He pointed out that we cannot do it internally; therefore, we

have contracted with the Georgia Municipal Association and the cost is less

than $10,000., which he has the authority to approve. He said that we are also

going to be doing a random sampling of alcohol excise tax.



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Telephone System:

City Manager Cavezza recall that last week listed on the Council?s Agenda was

the purchase of a new telephone system. He said that the new system provides

digital technology, voice mail, call forwarding, directory of missed calls,

multi-party conference, etc. City Manager Cavezza explained we have a lot of

fax machines in the City departments, but we would not need those anymore. He

said the new system would be only in the Government Center; until, we could

transition the new system into the other buildings. He said the total cost

over five years is going to be $120,000. He pointed out that right now, we pay

$30,000. a month for our phone system and would go to $32,000. over the next

five years. He continued to explain the associated cost for the current system

versus the cost for the new system.



There was continued discussion on this matter with various councilors

expressing their views.



Columbus Fire & EMS Department:

City Manager Cavezza explained there is a Logistic Sergeant?s position in the

Fire & EMS Department, which was originally an EMS position and usually filled

by someone who could not perform his or her duties as a Fire Sergeant because

of injury or something like that. He said that position is appointed, and if

an employee from EMS goes into that position; then, the employee would loose

their specialty pay, because they can no longer perform as an EMS. He

explained when we converted it to the ordinance for promotion; this position

was picked up as a promotional position. He briefly explained the affect of

this Logistic Sergeant?s position remaining as a promotional position. He then

recommended that a change be brought to the Council in the promotional

ordinance to take that position off of the competitive position for promotion,

and authorizing the Fire and EMS Chief to appoint that position.



Budget Review Committee Meeting:

City Manager Cavezza announced that there would be a Budget Review Committee

Meeting directly after the regularly scheduled Council Meeting.



Meeting adjourned 8:52 a.m.







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Sandra T. Davis, Deputy Clerk of Council