Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Minutes for the Meeting of the

Public Safety Advisory Commission

October 5, 2006



Present members of Advisory Commission: Charles Kurtz, Robert Loving, Greg

Camp, (Vice Chairman) C. A. Hardmon, Margaret Shafer, Harold Bryant, Archie

Rainey, (Chairman) Harold Bryant



Absent members: Robert Turner, James Wilson, Alison Dowe



Visitors:



Recording Secretary: Ms. Deborah Gasaway, Administrative Specialist III



Location: Community Room of the Public Safety Building



Meeting began at 4:08 p.m.





MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER:



Chairman Harold Bryant calls the meeting to order. Roll call taken.



REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING?S MINUTES:



The commission members took a few moments to review the minutes of the August

2006 meeting. There was a motion by Mr. Robert Loving, second motion by C. A.

Hardmon. Six members approved the minutes.



CHAIRMAN BRYANT INTRODUCES: ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY JAIMIE DELOACH



The Assistant City Attorney, Ms. Jaimie DeLoach is introduced to the

commission. The commission welcomes her to the meeting.



Chairman Bryant explains to the commission that Ms. DeLoach will be their legal

representative for the group and will attend the meetings.



OLD BUSINESS: COUNCIL WORK SESSION



The Public Safety Committee members had a work session with City Council in

September of 2006. Chairman Bryant thought the work session with the City

Council went good and they seemed to receive a good reception.



Chairman Bryant asked each commission member who attended the City Council

session to give their input of how they saw the session with City Council.



Mr. Charles Kurtz stated Chairman Bryant presented his presentation exactly as

the way the situation existed. He did not hear of anything that was promised

to be done by Council. He explained a few city councilors had a couple of

comments that we should become more involved in events in the community.



Ms. Margaret Shafer stated she was glad that Councilor Mimi Woodson spoke up

for the Public Safety Advisory Committee group, and addressed to the other

council members that they needed to give help and guidance.



Chairman Bryant told the commission members since the council work session he

has had no contact or feedback from City Council concerning the meeting.

Vice Chairman C. A. Hardmon commends Chairman Bryant on his presentation to

City Council. He explained he did not attend the meeting. He expresses to the

committee the great job Chairman Bryant did. He addressed and welcomed Ms.

DeLoach.



Mr. Robert Loving explained he did not attend the City Council session and did

not see it on television.



Archie Rainey had no feedback concerning the City Council meeting.



Chairman Bryant explained to the City Council that citizens do not know that

the Public Safety Advisory Committee exists.



OLD BUSINESS: MR. C. A. HARDMON ? RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL



Chairman Bryant recognized that he did receive Mr. C. A. Hardmon?s

recommendations, and asked Mr. Hardmon?s permission to discuss them with the

committee.



C.A. Hardmon agrees to the request.



Archie Rainey requests copies of the recommendations from Mr. C. A. Hardmon



Chairman Bryant discusses the recommendations. He advises the committee he

will get copies to everyone. He tells the commission that these

recommendations will be discussed at the November 2006, Public Safety Advisory

Committee meeting. He states he will email the recommendations to everybody.



OLD BUSINESS:



There was a lengthy group discussion regarding the frustrations of the

commission.



MS. DELOACH ADDRESSES THE COMMISSION:



Ms. DeLoach addresses the committee and explains she understands their

problems. She understands the difficulties of the committee coming up with

recommendations on policies to do things without information. She explains

that sometimes the commission would not know what they are allowed to do within

the Charter. She understands why the Public Safety Committee would need some

type of legal assistance. Ms. DeLoach asks the committee if they have copies

of the Policies and Procedures as they exist currently.



Chairman Bryant tells Ms. DeLoach the Public Safety Departments has provided

them with copies of their policies



NEW BUSINESS: CHARLES KURTZ -TRAFFIC SIGNS, STOP SIGN



Mr. Charles Kurtz asks the commission members if they have any information as

to whom to contact concerning keeping a traffic sign in his neighborhood.



Group discussion ensues regarding whom to contact, and the ordinances on

keeping and putting up traffic stop signs in a residence area.

NEW BUSINESS ? MR. HARDMON ? COMPLAINT PROCEDURES STATISTICS



Mr. Hardmon suggests that they get statistics concerning the major complaints

that have been taken within Public Safety. He explains that the commission

could address some of the issues, and make recommendations to help alleviate

some of the problems that come from these complaints.



Chairman Bryant suggests getting statistics by categories on complaints.



C. A. Hardmon agrees.



Chairman Bryant thinks its an appropriate response from this group to ask for a

more detailed statistic data be kept of the nature of citizens inquires and

complaints so that it would give the Public Safety Commission some indicator if

there is a general problem that the committee needed to address.



Chairman Bryant will develop this into a resolution form and have the

commission vote on next month. He will bring it back for the November 2006

meeting and put it on the table for the committee.



Group discussion ensues concerning how the public feels intimidated when they

come to a Public Safety Building and make a formal complaint to police

officers. Some commission members felt that this process could be friendlier.



Chairman Bryant suggests that the Agenda for November 2006; to get the Police

Department and Sheriff Department to give a briefing on polices and procedures

on making an inquiry or formal complaint.



NEW BUSINESS: PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN



Chairman Bryant discusses with the commission the need for a publicity campaign

to let the public know there is a Public Safety Advisory Commission. He asks

the committee for any input or comments on this.



A group discussion ensues regarding advertising to the public on the Public

Safety Committee. Several members gave their input on various options, such

as, through the media, newspaper, CCG TV, the government T. V. channel for the

city.



Chairman Bryant asks if anyone has any closing remarks. No closing remarks are

made.



A motion is made to adjourn the meeting at 5:02 p.m. a second motion is made

and the meeting adjourned.









_______________________

Deborah Gasaway

Administrative Assistant

Recording Secretary

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