ADD-ON
Agenda Item # 8
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
May 23, 2017
Agenda Report # 136
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 one full time Senior Recorder?s Court Judge and three
(3) part time Recorder?s Court Pro Tem Judges.
Background: Recorder?s Court?s mission is to accept pleas of guilty or nolo
contendere and impose 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 current judgeship of Recorder?s Court is four (4) part time judges
including one (1) Senior Recorder?s Court Judge and three (3) Recorder?s Court
Pro Tem Judges. The Pro Tem judges conduct Environmental Court, Weekend Court,
and fill in for the Senior Recorder?s Court judge as requested.
A full time Senior Recorder?s Court Judge and three (3) part time Judge Pro
Tems will enable the court to operate more effectively and efficiently, and the
citizens of Columbus will be better served.
Analysis: The current position is part time with an annual salary of $43,846.
A full time Senior Recorder?s Court Judge is not budgeted. A salary range for
this recommended position is $85,386 to $153,697 annually. Having a full time
Senior Judge is in keeping with other similar size cities in the southeast
region. It is recommended that the restructure become effective July 1, 2017.
Financial Considerations: The cost impact to the City is dependent on the
annual salary Council agrees upon for a full time Judge. The estimated annual
impact will be $75,000 annually.
Legal Considerations: The Council must authorize hiring a full time Chief
Recorder?s Court Judge.
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 ONE FULL
TIME SENIOR RECORDER?S COURT JUDGE AND THREE PART TIME RECORDER?S COURT PRO TEM
JUDGES.
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 current judgeship make up of Recorder?s Court is four (4) part
time judges including one (1) Senior Recorder?s Court Judge and three (3)
Recorder?s Court Pro Tem Judges; and,
WHEREAS, a full time Senior Recorder?s Court Judge will enable the court to
operate more effectively and efficiently, and the citizens of Columbus will be
better served; and,
WHEREAS, three (3) part time Judge Pro Tems will enable the court to operate
more effectively and efficiently and will serve Environmental Court, Weekend
Court and fill in as needed for the full time Senior Judge.
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 Senior Recorder?s Court Judge 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
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