Demorest The Hearl ofHabersham Demorest City Council Regular Session Tuesday, March 5, 2024 7:00P.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 Regular Session was held int 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 7:05 p.m.  3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Harkness requested to modify the agenda adding GMA CHIEFS OF POLICE GRANT as new number 9 and GMA RETIREMENT FIRST READING as new number 10. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to accept the agenda as amended and was seconded by Councilman Davis. ACTION:The motion to approve the agenda as amended was unanimously approved (4-0). 4. APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT (please limit your comment to 2n minutes)  There were no comments.  5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: February 6 & February 15 as presented and was seconded by Councilman Allen.  Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to accept the minutes ACTION: The motion to approve the minutes as presented was unanimously approved (4-0). 6. CONSIDERATION OF STATEWIDE MUTUAL AID & ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT  After the PowerPoint presentation Lynn Smith, Director of Habersham 911, gave during the Work Session, Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to allow Mr. Musselwhite to sign the Statewide Mutual Aid & Assistance Agreement and was seconded by Davis.  1/Page    ACTION: The motion to allow Mr. Musselwhite to sign the. Statewide Mutual, Aid & Assistance  Agreement was unanimously approved (4-0).  7. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ORDINANCE (2nd Mr. Mitchell presented an ordinance to amend its alcoholic beverage ordinance chapter 6. As discussed during the 1st, 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 thereofthe 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 be issued to one who holds a license from Habersham County ora city in Habersham County. No such licensee shall be permitted to pour any alcoholic beverage off- premises which cannot be lawfully poured on the licensee's premises. Mayor Harkness called for a motion. AI motion was made by Councilman Allen to accept the amendment to the alcohol ACTION: The motion to accept the amendment to the alcohol ordinance was unanimously approved  Reading)  ordinance and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  (4-0).  8. DISCUSSION OF CITY MANAGER CONTRACT  Mayor Harkness explained that this is a renewal of Mr. Musselwhite's annual contract which is effective January 1. Mr. Mitchell made the changes that were discussed during executive session and emailed the new contract to Mayor Harkness, Mrs. Chastain and Mr. Musselwhite. Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion was made by Councilman Davis to accept the contract as amended by ACTION: The motion to accept the contract as amended by Thomas was unanimously approved (4-0). Chief Chastain received a reimbursement grant in the amount of $10,000 to use towards technology and is requesting Mayor and Council allow him to spend those funds on computers, laptops, printers or anything technology related. Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to accept the grant and allow Chief to spend the $10,000 through the city manager and was ACTION: The motion to accept the grant and allow Chief to spend the $10,000 through the city  Thomas and was: seconded by councilman Ferguson.  9. GMA CHIEFS OF POLICE GRANT  seconded by Councilman Davis. manager was unanimously approved (4-0). 10. GMA RETIREMENT 1st READING  Mr. Mitchell explained that the city's retirement plan ist through GMEBS which is through GMA. GMA has 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 participating employers  2/Page    must readopt their plans using the most recent IRS approved Adoption Agreement. Mayor Harkness  announced this as our first reading.  11.MANAGERS REPORT & REVIEW OF FINANCIALS  Piedmont and they city prepared two grants to replace sirens  Georgia Cities Week is April 21-27 Update of Hazel Creek Project Toccoa water rate increase Areview ofthe. January financials  City Retreat is planned for March 23 at EMI Habersham Office from 9-5 Ther monthly' Water Department, WWTP and Police Department report  12.APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT (please limit your comment to 2 minutes) 13.CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed)  There were no comments. No executive session. 14.MOTION TO ADJOURN  A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Davis and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. The  motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.  Mayor of  A   fity  Demorest Clerk    3Page