ADD-ON
Agenda Item # 9
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
May 23, 2017
Agenda Report # 137
TO: Mayor and Councilors
SUBJECT: Recorder?s Court
INITIATED BY: City Manager?s Office, Human Resources Department
Recommendation: Approval is requested authorizing the restructure of
Recorder?s Court to hire a full time Chief Clerk of Recorder?s Court and
eliminate the Court Coordinator position.
Background: Recorder?s Court?s mission is to accept pleas of guilty or nolo
contendere and imposes certain punishments and penalties provided by laws of
the State of Georgia, and to provide for the trial of all offenders against the
laws and ordinances of the City. Recorder?s Court also hears traffic cases
presented by public safety agencies.
The Chief Recorder?s Court Clerk prepares the court dockets, maintains all
court records and serves as the chief administrative officer of Recorder?s
Court.
The Court Coordinator position serves in a similar capacity as the Chief Clerk,
and it is funded in the budget. The Chief Recorder?s Court Clerk position is
unfunded; however, this position is established in the City Charter (Part 1,
Article V ? Judicial Branch, Chapter 6 Recorder?s Court Sect. 5-605, Rules;
Procedures; Personnel) and its appointment is governed by Columbus Code Section
2-11.
Analysis: A full time Chief Recorder?s Court Clerk, with the elimination of
the Court Coordinator position, will enable the court to operate more
effectively, efficiently and better serve the citizens of Columbus.
The Chief Recorder?s Court Clerk position was previously paid for from the
Sheriff?s Office budget; the funding for this position has returned to the
Sheriff?s Office. Should the Court Coordinator position be eliminated, funds
for this position will be transferred to the Chief Recorder?s Court Clerk
position. The current annual salary for the Court Coordinator position is
$41,968. The salary for the Chief Recorder?s Court Clerk position is
recommended to be the same as the Court Coordinator position. It is
recommended that the restructure become effective July 1, 2017.
Financial Considerations: The recommended changes are budget neutral.
Legal Considerations: The Council must authorize elimination of the Court
Coordinator position and provide funding for the Chief Recorder?s Court Clerk
position.
Recommendations/Actions: The City Manager?s Office, Human Resources
Department, and the Internal Auditor recommend adoption of the proposed
resolution.
A RESOLUTION
NO._____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE RESTRUCTURE OF RECORDER?S COURT TO HIRE A FULL
TIME CHIEF CLERK OF RECORDER?S COURT AND ELIMINATE THE COURT COORDINATOR
POSITION.
WHEREAS, Recorder?s Court accepts pleas of guilty or nolo contendere and
imposes certain punishments and penalties provided by laws of the State of
Georgia, provides for the trial of all offenders against the laws and
ordinances of the City, and hears traffic cases presented by public safety
agencies; and,
WHEREAS, the Court Coordinator position serves in a similar capacity as the
Chief Clerk and it is funded in the budget. The Chief Recorder?s Court Clerk
position is unfunded; however, this position is established in the City Charter
(Part 1, Article V ? Judicial Branch, Chapter 6 Recorder?s Court Sect. 5-605,
Rules; Procedures; Personnel) and its appointment is governed by Columbus Code
Section 2-11; and,
WHEREAS, a full time Chief Recorder?s Court Clerk, with the elimination of the
Court Coordinator position, will enable the court to operate more effectively,
efficiently, and better serve the citizens of Columbus; and,
WHEREAS, The Chief Recorder?s Court Clerk position was previously funded by the
Sheriff?s Office budget; the funding for this position has returned to the
Sheriff?s Office. With the elimination of the Court Coordinator position,
funds for this position will be transferred to the Chief Recorder?s Court Clerk
position.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager and/or his designee are hereby authorized to advertise
for the Chief Recorder?s Court Clerk position on a full time bases with
associated health and other benefits, subject to salary approval and
appointment by City Council. The position will receive any COLAs or other
salary increases as other City Government employees.
______________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the
23rd day of May, 2017 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of
______ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Garrett voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
______________________________ _________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
Attachments
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