Columbus, Georgia

COUNCIL BRIEFING



December 17, 2002





A Council Briefing was held on Tuesday, December 17, 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, Julius Hunter , Richard Smith,

Nathan Suber, and Evelyn Woodson (arrived at 8:45a.m.) Also present were City

Manager Carmen Cavezza; City Attorney Clifton Fay; Director of Finance Kay

Love; Director of Human Resources, Tom Barron, and Deputy City Manager Richard

Bishop.



ABSENT: Councilor Evelyn Turner Pugh.



This meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m.





INFORMATION:



City Manager Cavezza opened the meeting and advised the Council that since

this is the last day for Mayor Peters and Councilor Richard Smith, Mayor Pro

Tem Rodgers would be officiating today?s Council Meeting .



LIABILITY CLAIM:



City Manager Cavezza proceeded to report that last week, Mr. Sean Pritchett

appeared on the Public Agenda regarding an accident which occurred in 1999

involving an off ? duty deputy sheriff, who while driving his private vehicle,

fell asleep at the wheel, crossed the highway resulting in an head-on

accident. Mr. Pritchett contends that since the officer was in uniform and

because deputies are on duty for 24 - hours a day; then, the City is also

liable for this accident. City Manager Cavezza pointed out this case was

sent to Superior Court; but Mr. Cavezza said that this is a closed case due to

the Superior Court?s ruling against Mr. Pritchett?s claim.



CHANGE ORDER:



City Manager Cavezza justifying the change order reported that the City was

allocated a fixed amount of money for pools, as a result, an austere pool was

selected, but the bids came in under the amount which was allocated, and on

that basis, we added a second slide which used all of the ten percent (10 %).

He continued to explain since that time, there have been problems with the

Backwash at Shirley Winston Recreation Center. He said that in order to put a

pool in place at Rigdon Park, we had to move and replace a basketball court

which was not allocated in the budget. He indicated that this is not a routine

change order as he pointed out that we are still below the allocated amount.



Responding to Councilor Henderson?s question, could the funds left over be

used for other purposes, to which City Manager Cavezza replied the funds can be

used for other SPLOST projects, but only at the end of the SPLOST,at such

time , the old debt can be paid off which is what we are doing with the 1993

SPLOST.



City Manager Cavezza then pointed out to the Council that in the future, to

avoid these types of change orders, he requested that the Council allow him

the authority to approve these types of changes; however he pointed out he is

not asking for this authority at this time.



INFORMATION:



? Standing Boy Road - A wooden bridge will be replaced within the next

several months, until such time, a temporary bridge would be built.



? Lake Bottom Park ? There is a parking problem at the park . The intent

is to route the traffic one ? way, northbound on 18th Street from 13th

Street to the end of the park, which would allow for angle parking and to add

50 additional parking spaces.





As the Council members expressed varying concerns regarding the park, as

Deputy City Manager Richard Bishop pointed out that while in doubt as to

whether to introduce a resolution on this matter, he said that an ordinance

would be required to make those changes to the parking, as we are ready to move

forward with this item with the intent to have it in place before the start

of the baseball season.



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

a.m.







______________________

Gloria Carey, Secretary