Minutes for the Meeting of the
Public Safety Advisory Commission
August 3, 2006
Present members of Advisory Commission: Robert Turner, Robert Loving, C. A.
Hardmon (Vice-Chairman), Alison Dowe, Archie Rainey, Greg Camp, Harold Bryant
(Chairman)
Absent members: Charles Kurtz, James Wilson, Margaret Shafer
Visitors: Albany Georgia Advisory Committee: Jane Austin-Taylor, Kay Hind,
Bettye Williams, Washington Long, Charles Ochuensu, Stacie Mote, Nathan Davis,
Stephen Collier, Kenneth Johnson
Recording Secretary: Ms. Deborah Gasaway, Administrative Assistant
Location: Community Room of the Public Safety Building
Meeting began at 4:03 p.m.
CHAIRMAN BRYANT CALLS THE MEETING TO ORDER:
Chairman Harold Bryant calls the meeting to order. Roll is taken.
REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING?S MINUTES:
The commission members take a few moments to review the minutes of the July
2006 meeting. There was a motion by Mr. Archie Rainey, and a second motion by
Greg Camp to approve minutes. The minutes are approved.
OLD BUSINESS: TRAFFIC ACCIDENT FORM
The committee decided to address the issue of the Traffic Accident Form at the
September Public Safety Advisory Meeting on September 7, 2006.
NEW BUSINESS: ALBANY GEORGIA CIVILIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Chairman Bryant and commission member?s welcomes the Albany Georgia Public
Safety Advisory Committee.
Each commission members introduces themselves to the Albany committee.
Chairman Bryant explained how the group was formed and the reason it was
created. Chairman Bryant tells the Albany commission the purpose of the group.
Chairman Bryant explained the pros and cons of the committee. Chairman Bryant
explained how the commission set up public forums to let the public aware of
the committee. Chairman Bryant explained the frustrations of the committee; he
explained the committee was only advisory in nature and had no investigation
powers. These charges have given the committee problems when it comes to
helping the community.
One commission member explained that half the time the committee fights amongst
themselves on what they can do or what they cannot do.
The commission members explain that the group is struggling in what their role
is within the advisory committee.
The City Attorney from Albany, Georgia explains what the Albany Georgia
Commission does; what the committee is looking at to help their community. He
stated they do not get involved in legal issues of Public Safety. He explained
they let Public Safety officials handle these issues.
Both commission groups discussed the role they can play within the commission
and how they can help the public.
The Albany Georgia Advisory members state that since they have legal
representation from the City Attorney?s Office attending every meeting, they
know what issues they can pursue and what they cannot look into.
Chairman Bryant and Vice Chairman C. A. Hardmon agree that some type of legal
aid should be present during the Columbus Georgia Public Safety Advisory
Committee Meetings to help them in their meetings.
The Columbus Georgia Advisory Commission agreed that they need legal
representation at each of the committee meetings each month. The commission
agreed that they have a difficult time on what they can or cannot do within the
commission group.
Both groups discussed the different ideas to get the public more aware that a
Public Safety Advisory Commission is within the community to help the citizens.
The Columbus Georgia and Albany Georgia Commissions thank one another for their
ideas.
Chairman Bryant and committee members thanked the Albany Public Safety Advisory
Committee for coming and visiting.
Chairman Bryant asks if any commission members have any closing remarks.
No closing remarks are made from the commission members.
The meeting adjourned at 5:08 p.m.
_______________________
Deborah Gasaway
Administrative Assistant
Recording Secretary
Attachments
No attachments for this document.