Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

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

Council Members

Pre-Council Briefing

Minutes

September 5, 2006



Present: Mayor Bob Poydasheff and Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rodgers. Councilors Gary

Allen, Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles

E. McDaniel, Jr., Evelyn Turner Pugh, Nathan Suber and Evelyn Woodson were

present. Also present were City Manager Isaiah Hugley, Deputy City Manager

David Arrington, Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin, City Attorney Clifton Fay,

Chief Administrator Liz Turner, and Recording Secretary Tameka J. Colbert.



Others Present: Director of Human Resources Tom Barron



Absent: No one was absent.



Location: Council Chambers Conference Room, on the Plaza level of the

Government Center.



Meeting began at 4:17 p.m.



Parking:

City Manager Hugley reminded the Council that a few weeks ago Linda Pierce,

Clerk of Superior Court came before the Council to express some concerns

related to parking. He said he met with Mrs. Pierce to discuss her specific

concerns regarding parking for her clerks and asked that she would attend the

Council Briefing this morning. He said she could not attend the meeting due to

attendance of a funeral. He also said before meeting with her there were some

questions sent to her in advance. City Manager Hugley said when he met with

Mrs. Pierce she indicated that she has ten or twelve clerks that travel back

and forth to Recorder?s Court and talked about what they transport in terms of

evidence and/or money. He said she requested parking spaces for these

particular clerks. At this time City Manager Hugley distributed handouts,

which reflected the days and times that the clerks travel to and from

Recorder?s Court.



City Manager Hugley said after reviewing all of the material that was presented

and speaking to the Sheriff?s Department and several different individuals, we

have assigned one additional space that the clerks could use going to court and

coming back. He said we have also identified a parking space at Recorder?s

Court. He explained that Superior Court has ten to twelve clerks that travel to

court but they only travel one at a time, therefore there is only one parking

space needed. He said we would invite Mrs. Pierce back to give her an

opportunity speak on what we have provided for her.



Educational Incentive:

City Manager Hugley said the Council requested information regarding the number

of officers that were not compensated for their degrees earned prior to 1996.

At that time he supplied the Councilors with a list of those employees.

Councilor Turner Pugh asked why were these employees not compensated. City

Manager Hugley responded by advising her that the ordinance to pay for

education was not adopted until 1996. Councilor Turner Pugh said that she

thought there was something in place before 1996.



Director of Human Resources Tom Barron explained that there were five basic

Public Safety courses that employees would receive five percent for and if they

obtained an Associate?s Degree in Criminal Justice or a Bachelor?s Degree in

any field they would obtain another five percent.



City Manager Hugley explained to the Council that these individuals had to go

to court regarding this issue. He explained that the Judge ruled in favor of

the government but the employees appealed the ruling, which in turn was

reversed.



Councilor Davis said this whole issue is about those that are actively perusing

their education.



Councilor Anthony posed two questions to the Council:



Do we believe education is important for Public Safety employees?

Why would we not award all Public Safety employees that continue their

education?



After about twenty minutes of discussion on this matter City Manager Hugley

asked the Councilors had they reached a consensus to go back and define what

actively pursuing education means and only if employees are actively perusing

education would they be extended to June 2007 or June 2008.



Councilor Turner Pugh said first of all she would like for the City Attorney to

explain to her why did all of the employees that were not compensated, not fall

under Ordinance 77-6.



City Attorney Fay said they would have fallen under Ordinance 77-6 and said

they would have been entitled to anything prior the 1996 ordinance, what ever

the ordinance allowed. City Attorney Fay requested that he have more time to

research the issue.



City Manager Hugley said the ordinance will be brought back and the ordinance

is going to stay as the budget has been implemented with $1200 for each degree

and will remain ongoing and we will also bring back for approval 2008.



Meeting adjourned at 5:19 P.M.







___________________________

Tameka J. Colbert

Recording Secretary

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