Demorest The Heart ofHabersham City of Demorest City Council Regular Session Regular Session Minutes Demorest Municipal Building Thursday, March 7, 2023,7:00P.M.  ATTENDEES  Shawn Allen, Councilman John Hendrix, Councilman Jerry Harkness, Mayor Andrew Ferguson, Councilman  Donnie Bennett, Councilman Mark Musselwhite, Interim City Manager Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney Megan Chastain, City Clerk  The March 7, 2023, Demorest Work Session was held in the Demorest Municipal Building located at: 125  Ivy Street.  AGENDA ITEM: 1: INVOCATION Mayor Harkness opened the meeting by leading in prayer. AGENDA ITEM: 2: CALLTOORDER Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. AGENDA ITEM: 3: APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Harkness requested to strike CONSIDERATION OFI MEMBERS FOR HABERSHAM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, CONSIDERATION OFI PARK TREE(S) REMOVAL and requested that we add FEMA GRANT as agenda item 12. Councilman Allen requested to move consideration of NGMC: SIGN1 to after agenda item 6. Mayor Harkness called for a motion to approve the agenda as amended.. Ar motion to approve the agenda as amended was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Hendrix. ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as amended (striking: CONSIDERATION OFI MEMBERS FOR HABERSHAM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, CONSIDERATION OF PARK TREE(S) REMOVAL and adding: FEMA At the end oft the meeting, it was realized that Georgia Cities Week was not added tot the agenda. Mayor Harkness called for a motion to add Georgia Cities Week to the agenda. Ar motion to amend the agenda adding GEORGIA CITIES WEEK to the agenda was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by ACTION: The motion to amend the agenda adding GEORGIA CITIES WEEK was unanimously approved  GREANTwas unanimously approved (4-0).  Councilman Ferguson.  (4-0).  1Page    AGENDA ITEM 4: APPEARANCE AND PUBLIC COMMENT  Mrs. Chastain presented a message received by Elizabeth Pyron. Mrs. Pyron requested to change the signage to allow entry onto Long Street via Palmer Alley off Demorest Mount Airy Hwy. She asked that the signage at Long Street direct traffic to exit onto Demorest Mount Airy Hwy from Long Street as she feels it would be safer and easier to navigate. Mr.. Jimmy Davis spoke to disagree with the comment made because he understood the purpose of the sign was because traffic was not stopping at the stop Joan Tench: spoke to commend Mr. Musselwhite's, performance as she felt he was doing a good job and that he has turned this town around. She asked council to allow him to remain in the position but as a Councilman Bennett announced that. Jerry! Palmer was voted readers choice for Best Firefighter for AGENDA ITEM! 5: CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 25 & February 7 Minutes were presented for approval from. January 25, 2023 and February 7, 2023. Mayor Harkness asked if there were suggested changes to the minutes as presented. Councilman Allen noted that Assistant Fire Chief should be Assistant Police Chief on the February 7 Work Session minutes under agenda item 18. Ar motion to approve the minutes as amended was made by Councilman Bennett and ACTION: A motion to accept the minutes as amended was unanimously approved (4-0).  sign.  permanent City! Manager.  2023.  was seconded by Councilman Allen.  AGENDAI ITEM 6: Announcement a. City of Civility  Mayor Harkness announced that the city is officially a City of Civility. b. Habersham County Historical Society! 50th Anniversary (March: 11"11:00-4:00) Councilman Allen announced that Habersham County Historical Society's! 50th Anniversaryis Saturday, March 111 from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Piedmont Commons. He welcomed all of Mr. Musselwhite stated that City Hall will close Thursday, March 9 at 3:30 p.m. and will reopen at the new City Hall location (250 Alabama Street) Monday, March 13 at 8:00a.m. Councilman Allen said the next big stepi is moving the meeting location (Municipal Building) tot the auditorium at the  the public to attend.  C. Official moving schedule for City Hall  new location.  AGENDAI ITEM 7: CONSIDERATION OF NGMCSIGN  As discussed in the work session, NGMC is wanting to replace the current signs at the hospital. In the presentation provided, they are. just wanting to make at few minor changes such as some of the signs being replaced could be a little shorter or wider and arel being rebranded. Mayor Harkness called fora motion to accept the signs as they are purposed. AI motion was made by Councilman Ferguson to accept  the changes was seconded by Councilman Hendrix.  ACTION: A motion to accept the accept the changes was unanimously approved (4-0).  2IPage    AGENDA ITEM 8: CONSIDERATION OF DEMOREST SPRINGS PARK ACCOUNT SIGNERS After the discussion made int the work session, Mayor Harkness called fora a motion. A motion to add Shawn Allen, Donnie Bennett and. John Hendrix as signers for the Demorest Spring Park Account was ACTION: A motion to accept the CONSIDERATION OF PIEDMONT: SETTLEMENTI was unanimously AGENDAI ITEM9: CONSIDERATION OF TRADITIONS BANK SEIZURE FUNDS ACCOUNT After the discussion made in the work session, Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion to opena seizure funds account at Tradition's Bank authorizing Donnie Bennett and Shawn Allen as signers was ACTION: A motion to approve open a. seizure. funds account at Tradition's Bank authorizing Donnie AGENDA ITEM 10: CONSIDERATION OF CHANGE OF SIGNERS ON CD ACCOUNT ATI PINNACLE BANK The account we have with Pinnacle Bank has Kim Simonds and Sean Moore as authorized signers. We need to assign new signers to the account. Mayor Harkness called for a motion to change the authorized signers. A motion to add Shawn Allen and. Jerry Harkness as signers to the CD account at Pinnacle Bank and that Kim Simonds and Sean Moore be removed was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded ACTION: A motion to accept add Shawn Allen and. Jerry Harkness as signers to the CD account at Pinnacle Bank and that Kim. Simonds and Sean Moore be removed was unanimously approved (4-0). AGENDAI ITEM 11: CONSIDERATION OF PURCHASE OF SCAG LAWNMOWER  made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  approved (4-0).  made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Allen. Bennett and Shawn Allen as signers was unanimously approved (4-0).  by Councilman Hendrix.  As discussed in the work session, Mayor Harkness said council had discussed accepting the bid for $10,065.66 and asked council to proceed with a motion if they still concur. A motion was made to accept thel bid from Swinehart for $10,065.66 for the purchase of a new SCAG lawnmower by ACTION: A motion to accept the bidj from Swinehart, for $10,065.66) for the purchase of a new: SCAG  Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  lawnmower was unanimously approved (4-0). AGENDAIT ITEM: 12: CONSIDERATION OF FEMA GRANT  Chief Knight stated they were awarded the 2021 AFG Grant for1 the amount $81,196.19. Chief Knight asked for a motion to accept the grant tomorrow. A motion to accept the FEMA Grant, to pay the fee and to authorize the match for the grant was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by ACTION: A motion to accept the FEMA Grant, to pay the fee and to authorize the match for the grant  Councilman Ferguson.  was unanimously approved (4-0).  3Page    AGENDA ITEM: 13: MANAGER'S REPORT & REVIEW OF FINANCIALS Mr. Musselwhite made a report to Mayor and Council thati included thet following: The Police Department, Fire Department and Public Works monthly report.  Areview of the. January financials AGENDA ITEM: 15: GEORGIA CITIES WEEK  Mayor Harkness called for a motion to move forward with Georgia Cities Week from April 123-29, 2023 and accept the resolution. Ar motion to move forward with the resolution for Demorest recognizing Georgia Cities Week from April 23-29, 2023 encourage all residents to support the celebrationa and ACTION: Al motion to move. forward with the resolution for Demorest recognizing Georgia Cities Week from April 23-29, 2023 encourage all residents to support the celebration and correspond with the AGENDA ITEM 31: CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed) Amotion was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Bennett to adjourn and reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of personnel and the acquisition ofr real  correspond with the activities and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  activities was unanimously approved (4-0).  estate. This portion of Regular Session adjourned at 7:49 p.m.  Amotion was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson to come out of Executive Session and reconvene in Regular Session. The motion was unanimously carried, and Regular Amotient to adjourn wasmade by Courcilman Herdrixa and the motion was seconded by Councilman Allen. The motion was undnimously: approved. Thé meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.  Session reconvened at 8:39 p.m.  1  DEMORE SEAL)  Demoreshdity Clerk  A  4IPage