Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING



Meeting

February 25, 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., Evelyn Turner Pugh, Nathan Suber 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: No one was absent.





Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. in the Council

Chambers Conference Room, Plaza Level, Government Center.



Victim Witness Surcharge:

City Manager Cavezza recalled that the crime witness funds have been held in a

pot and the Council would allocate those funds on a case-by-case basis. He

said that we are now being required by the Criminal Justice Coordinating

Council to allocate those funds out; therefore, the Council would no longer

have control over it. He explained the allocation would be through the

District Attorney?s Office and the Solicitor?s Office. He said that there are

some others that have received funds in those categories through allocations

made by the Council, but in the future once these allocations are made, the

others would have to work with the DA?s Office or the Solicitor?s Office. He

pointed out that it has come down to deciding what is the appropriate breakdown

of the allocation, and the staff is recommending 75% to the District Attorney?s

Office and 25% to the Solicitor?s Office. He added this is based on past

performances; also, the DA has several counties and the solicitor has only one

county.



There was some discussion regarding the amount of revenue each attributes to

the fund. At this time, the Solicitor and the District Attorney were given an

opportunity to justify their allocation requests.



Solicitor General Ben Richardson, immediately clarified that this allocation

break down does not mean that the District Attorney attributes 75% to the fund,

at which time, Finance Director Kay Love agreed with this comment by stating

this is regarding expenditures.



Councilor Turner Pugh then requested a report to show a break down of how much

money each one brings into the fund. Finance Director Love then responded to

various questions from the members of Council.



Solicitor General Richardson continued with his comments. In conclusion he

proposed that the break down not be based on expenditures, but on equity,

numbers and the amount of revenues generated. When Councilor Suber asked about

the amount of revenues, Solicitor General Richardson said it was approximately

$129,000. generated in State Court over the past four years.



District Attorney Gray Conger, advised that his office does cover a six county

circuit operation. He pointed out the Solicitor only has jurisdiction in

Muscogee County and only in State Court for misdemeanors; whereas, the District

Attorney?s Office has jurisdiction over felonies and misdemeanors. He said

that he does not believe that where the fine came from should denominate where

the money goes.



There was discussion regarding a concerted effort to combine the two victim

witness programs. Solicitor General Richardson expressed his concerns with

combining the two programs.



City Manager Cavezza advised that this resolution would not be brought to

Council today for a vote, but would be coming before the Council at a later

date.



Meeting adjourned 8:58 a.m.





________________________

Sandra T. Davis

Deputy Clerk of Council

Council of Columbus, Georgia