AN ORDINANCE
NO. _______
An Ordinance adopting changes to the Columbus Consolidated Government
Classification and Pay Plan by adding the position of Official Court Reporter
at a Pay Grade 21 for Court Reporters on the effective date of this ordinance;
authorizing up to $10,000.00 in transcript page charges per fiscal year when
authorized by a Superior Court Judge; adopting Policies and Procedures for
Court Reporters; and for other purposes.
____________________
THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1.
(a) That the Human Resources Department is authorized to make changes to the
Columbus Consolidated Government Classification and Pay Plan by adding the
title Official Court Reporter (Pay Grade 21) on the effective date of this
ordinance. Said salary shall only be increased when the pay plan is adjusted or
a cost of living adjustment is made for all City employees. This salary shall
be in lieu of appearance fees and per page charges mandated by the state for
contract court reporters. After the effective date of this ordinance,
appearance fees and per page charges, if any, shall not be calculated in or
included as salary for any purpose. Authorized staffing is set at seven (7)
Official Court Reporters.
(b) Court Reporters may receive up to $10,000.00, in addition to the
salary set forth in subsection (a), in transcript page charges per fiscal year.
Such payments shall be made in 12 equal monthly installments during each fiscal
year as approved by the appointing Superior Court Judge.
SECTION 2.
The attached Policies and Procedures for Court Reporters are hereby adopted and
incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 3.
This ordinance shall become effective on January 1, 2014.
SECTION 4.
All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are
hereby repealed.
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Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held on
the 26th day of November, 2013; introduced a second time at a regular meeting
of said Council held on the ______ day of _____________, 2013, 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 Henderson voting________.
Councilor Huff voting_____________.
Councilor McDaniel voting_________.
Councilor Pugh voting_____________.
Councilor Thomas voting___________.
Councilor Woodson voting__________.
____________________________ ______________________________
SANDRA T. DAVIS, CLERK TERESA PIKE TOMLINSON, MAYOR
SUPERIOR COURT - COURT REPORTERS
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Annual Salary, G21, subject to the following conditions:
New employees will be G21 and justification will be provided and
approved by the appropriate authority to exceed Step A.
Basis for pension calculation, no transcript or per diems included.
Included as part of the pay plan and will receive pay increases the
same as other City employees.
Not included in the merit system
Fiscal year shall be from July 1st to June 30th.
Include all City benefits to include pension, health insurance, life
insurance, except that there shall be no sick and vacation time accrual.
Payment up to $10,000 in transcript page charges per fiscal year per Court
Reporter shall be permitted (in 12 equal monthly installments if total amount
utilized) subject to the following conditions:
All transcripts and invoices must be checked and stamped by the Clerk
of Superior Court or her representative, then signed by the authorized Superior
Court Judge.
Paid out of Accounts Payable (does not include FICA).
Shall be reported on 1099.
A business license and compliance with the Occupation Tax ordinance
(Chapter 19, Article IV) may be required if work is performed outside the scope
of employment with the Columbus Consolidated Government.
Not included in pension calculation.
Excludes capital cases where notice of intent to seek the death penalty
has been given by the District Attorney or other capital cases as specified by
the Chief Superior Court Judge.
All transcripts over $10,000 for each Court Reporter will be completed
at no cost to the City (included in the base salary).
Copies of transcripts for City or State departments or agencies (i.e.
District Attorney, Public Defender) will be furnished at no additional cost to
the City.
The primary duty of Court Reporters paid by the City shall be to service the
Muscogee County Superior Court. Court Reporters shall be individually
responsible for providing and, if necessary, paying from allocated transcript
funds, a replacement Court Reporter approved by an appointing Judge when they
cannot report for court in Muscogee County. Court Reporters shall be required
to work for senior and other non-Chattahoochee Circuit Judges handling Muscogee
County matters unless previously engaged in criminal court.
Expenses to include City standardized equipment, maintenance agreements on City
equipment and supplies for City work, license renewal, and training as included
in the Superior Court judges? budgets annually procured through City
bid/RFP/purchasing process and within city guidelines (only for City of
Columbus/Muscogee County Superior Court criminal work)
All expenses must be justified and approved by the Superior Court Judge
hiring said reporter. Expenses must be in the adopted budget.
City of Columbus equipment shall not be used outside of Muscogee County
or for private use, including civil cases.
City equipment may be leased by the Court Reporters on a daily basis
for private work, including civil cases as well as work performed outside of
Muscogee County, at a rate of $50.00 per day.
Equipment remains property of the City.
Other City equipment not being used for a city purpose may be used by
other court reporters if their assigned equipment is in need of repair
Any jobs utilizing the City print shop must be for City business only,
initiated through a print shop work order and approved by a Superior Court
Judge.
Attachments
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