AN ORDINANCE
NO.__________
An ordinance adopting a new Chapter 15A so as to regulate burglar and fire
alarm sales and installation in Columbus, Georgia; and for other purposes.
___________________________
THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1.
The Columbus Code is hereby amended by adding a new Chapter 15A to read
as follows:
Section 15A-1. Applicability.
This Chapter shall apply to all businesses engaged in burglar and fire alarm
sales and installation in Columbus, Georgia and is adopted pursuant to O.C.G.A.
Section 48-13-9.
Section 15A-2. Definitions.
?Owner? shall mean any person, salesperson, partner, stockholder or any entity
owning 25 percent or more of a business engaged in burglar and fire alarm sales
and installation.
?Salesperson? shall mean any individual employed or authorized by a company or
business to engage in burglar and fire alarm sales and installation.
Section 15A-3. Regulatory fee.
All businesses involving burglar and fire alarm sales and installation shall
pay an annual regulatory fee of $300.00, plus an occupational tax as provided
by law. Such regulatory fee shall not be pro-rated.
Section 15A-4. Revocation of License.
(a) License issued under this Chapter may be revoked upon a conviction
of the owner, licensee or any salesperson of the owner or licensee or plea of
guilty or nolo contendere by the owner, licensee or any salesperson of the
owner or licensee in the Recorder?s Court or any other court of a violation of
any of this Chapter?s provisions or upon a conviction, plea of guilty or nolo
contendere of the owner, licensee or any salesperson of the owner or licensee
in any state of any felony involving any offense or any misdemeanor involving
theft-related offenses.
(b) The following procedures shall be followed in the revocation of
license under this Chapter:
(1) Notice shall be given to the holder of the license at least two
weeks in advance that the Council of Columbus, Georgia will hear a
recommendation by the Chief of Police or Finance Director that the license be
revoked, in this notice shall include the specific grounds on which this
recommendation to Council will be made.
(2) The Clerk of Council shall notify the licensee, the Director of
Finance, and the Chief of Police as to the time that a recommendation for
revocation will be heard by the Columbus Council.
(3) The Columbus Council, shall hear a recommendation for revocation at
one of its regular meetings, at which time the licensee and any other
interested parties will be heard.
(4) No license shall be revoked until a majority of the Columbus Council
so decides at the time of or subsequent to the hearing on the recommendation
for revocation.
Section 15A-5. Application and Issuance of License.
(a) All applicants for license under this Chapter shall fill out and
sign a notarized application form prescribed by the Director of Finance which
shall contain all necessary information for a determination of the
qualifications of the owner, licensee and all salespersons of an owner or
licensee.
(b) All applicants for license, owners and all salespersons of an owner
or licensee shall submit to examination by the Director of Finance and Chief of
Police, including an appropriate background check, as to any disqualifying
offenses contained in Section 15A-4 above.
(c) No license shall be issued to or renewed for any person, owner, or any
salesperson of an owner or licensee who has, within five years of issuance or
renewal, been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felony
involving any offense or any misdemeanor involving theft-related offenses, in
any state.
(d) All licensees shall submit the identity of all owners and
salespersons to the Director of Finance on a continuing basis as changes occur
for the purpose of allowing a complete check in order that these requirements
be fulfilled.
(e) All salespersons of licensees or owners shall carry a picture
identification card supplied by the licensee or owner. Such identification
card shall conform to all rules prescribed by the Director of Finance.
(f) No license shall be issued or renewed if it is determined that a
person falsified, concealed, or misrepresented any material fact by any device,
trick, or scheme while making application for the initial business license or
any application for renewal.
Section 15A-6. Bonding Requirements.
All owners, licensees and salespersons of any owner or licensee shall be
covered by a surety bond in the amount of $5,000 in favor of Columbus, Georgia,
conditioned upon faithful compliance with the laws of Columbus, Georgia and the
State of Georgia. Said surety shall be issued by a bonding, surety, or
insurance company licensed to do business in the State of Georgia. The term of
the bond shall be for one year and shall correspond to the period of any
license issued under this chapter. The Director of Finance shall have the
right to recover on the bond for the breach of its conditions whenever an
owner, licensee or salesperson of an owner or licensee violates any provisions
of this chapter or any laws or regulations of the State of Georgia governing
burglar and fire alarm sales and installation.
Section 15A-7. Location of business.
All businesses regulated by this chapter shall be located at an identifiable
street address in Columbus, Georgia, specifically excluding any hotel or
extended stay lodging facility, which shall be provided to the Director of
Finance on a license or renewal application. No licensee shall change the
address for any business without giving thirty (30) days advance written notice
to the Director of Finance and the Chief of Police. All business locations
shall meet all requirements of the Unified Development Ordinance of Columbus,
Georgia.
Section 15A-8. Penalty.
Any person who violates any provision of this Chapter shall, upon conviction,
be punished as provided in Section 1-8 of this Code.
SECTION 2.
This Chapter shall apply to any application for burglar and fire alarm
sales and installation licensing filed after April 1, 2014.
SECTION 3.
All ordinances and 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
11th day of February, 2014, introduced a second time at a regular meeting of
said Council held on the ______ day of ________, 2014, 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__________.
______________________________ ______________________________
TINY B. WASHINGTON TERESA PIKE TOMLINSON
CLERK MAYOR
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