Demorest The Hear! ofHabersham Demorest City Council Work Session Tuesday, March 5, 2024.6 6:00P.M.  Demorest Municipal Conference Center . 250. Alabama St Demorest, GA. 30535  ATTENDEES:  Shawn Allen, Councilman Donnie Bennett, Councilman Jerry Harkness, Mayor Jimmy Davis, Councilman  Andrew Ferguson, Councilman Megan Chastain, City Clerk Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney Mark Musselwhite, City Manager  The March 5, 2024 Work. Session was held in the Demorest Municipal Conference Center located at  250 Alabama Street. 1. INVOCATION  Mayor Harkness opened the meeting by leading in prayer.  2. CALLTOORDER  Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  3. PINNING CEREMONY Police Chief.  There was a pinningc ceremony for Casey Chastain as Chief of Police and James Minutello as Assistant  4. CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed)  Amotion was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson to adjourn and reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of personnel. This portion oft the Work  Session adjourned at 6:07 p.m.  Ar motion was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Bennett to come out of Executive Session and reconvene in' Work Session. The motion was unanimously carried, and the Work  Session reconvened at 6:30 p.m.  1IPage    5. CONSIDERATION OF STATEWIDE MUTUAL AID & ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT  Lynn Smith, Habersham 911 Director, presented a presentation explaining the Statewide Mutual Aid and. Assistance Agreement, Local Emergency Operating Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, Emergency Management Preparedness Grant, Disaster Match and' WebEOC/Request for Resources in an effortto make the city aware of what the county as well as our city is involved in. Ms. Smith presented, explained and answered questions regarding the Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement which renews every  four years and asked the city to readopt it.  6. GMA CHIEFS OF POLICE GRANT (added agenda item)  Chief Chastain received a reimbursement grant in the amount of $10,0001 to use towards technology.  Hei is working with IT currently to determine what needs to be replaced.  7. GMA RETIREMENT 15t READING (added agenda item)  Our employee retirement is through GMEBS provided through GMA. Mr. Mitchell explained that GMA updated terminology on the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System Defined Benefit Retirement Plan to reflect recent amendments to comply with changes in federal tax law. To ensure continued tax- qualified status for all GMEBS-member retirement plans, all partidpatingemployers must readopt their  plans using the most recent IRS approved Adoption. Agreement.  8. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ORDINANCE (2hd Mr. Mitchell presented an ordinance to amend its alcoholic beverage ordinance chapter 6. As discussed during the 1str reading on February 6, 2024, council is amending section 6-20(A)(1), Off- Premises Pouring Permit, by deleting the text thereof and inserting in lieu thereoft the following: (1) An off-premises pouring permit may only be issued to licensees who hold in good standing a retail consumption dealer license issued by the City. For a period ending March 31, 2025, ifi it certified to the City Manager that there is no City licensee that can provide the service at the event, an off- premises pouring permit may bei issued to one who holds a license from Habersham County or a city in Habersham County. No such licensee shall be permitted to pour any alcoholic beverage off-  Reading)  premises which cannot be lawfully poured on the licensee's premises.  9. DISCUSSION OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION  Mayor and Council agreed to table this item for another six months. 10.DISCUSSION OF AMENDMENTS TO LAND USE ORDINANCE  Mr. Mitchell discussed modifying Habersham's Unified Development Code to be similar to Demorest needs and not recreating the wheel. Mayor Harkness requested Mr. Mitchell tol look at the City of Cornelia's. Mr. Musselwhite insisted that Mayor and Council schedule a meeting to discuss land use  with the public.  2IPage    11.DISCUSSION OF CITY MANAGER CONTRACT  Mayor Harkness explained that this is a renewal of Mr. Musselwhite's: annual contract.  12. ADJOURN  The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.  Mayor  A  of Demorest -  SEAL)  Demorest City Clerk  3Page