Demorest The Heart ofHabersham  Demorest City Council Special Called Public Hearing & Regular Session Demorest Municipal Building . Thursday, July 6, 2023 . 7:00P.M.  ATTENDEES  Shawn Allen, Mayor Pro Tem Donnie Bennett, Councilman John Hendrix, Councilman Andrew Ferguson, Councilman  Megan Chastain, City Clerk Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney Mark Musselwhite, City! Manager  The July 6, 2023, Demorest Special Called Public Hearing & Regular Session was held in the Demorest  Municipal Building located at 125 Ivy Street.  1. INVOCATION 2. CALL TO ORDER  Councilman Hendrix opened the meeting byl leading in prayer. Mayor Pro Tem Allen called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.  3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Pro Tem Allen requested to replace number 12 with Georgia EPD and to strike 5. A motion to amend the agenda as requested was made by Councilman Ferguson and was seconded by Councilman ACTION: The motion to amend the agenda as requested was unanimously approved (3-0). Gail Moore spoke about a parking issue with the handicap parking at City Hall. Ms. Moore recommends parallel handicap parking VS square handicap parking. She feels like there isn't enough room to back out without backing into another vehicle if there was another vehicle ini the other handicap space. Ms. Moore spoke on a hazardous situation from Florida Street going into Oak Avenue. She stated that you cannot see a car at the top of the hill when turning left. She is requesting a 3 way stop. Mr. Musselwhite stated he would discuss with PD and Bryan Popham. Assistant Police Chief Chastain gave on option of as speed table. Ms. Moore motioned she was concern about relocating the post office. Mayor Pro Tem stated that there had not been any decisions made and that DDAI handles leasing the Post Office and welcomed Ms. Moore to express her opinion to DDA at the next scheduled  Bennett.  4. APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT  meeting.  5. CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENT TO 2022 BUDGET  Mayor Pro Tem Allen announced this item was removed but will be discussed on. July 13 &. July 20.  1Page    6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 6 &. June 13  Mayor Pro Tem Allen called for a motion. A motion to approve the minutes as presented was made by ACTION: The motion to approve the minutes as presented was unanimously approved (3-0). As discussed ini the work session, this is a leak protection update to our current plan. A motion to approve the proposal as presented was made by Councilman Hendrix and was seconded by ACTION: The motion to approve the proposal as presented was unanimously approved (3-0).  Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Hendrix.  7. CONSIDERATION OF SERVLINE PROPOSAL  Councilman Bennett.  8. DISCUSSION OF DIVERSITY RECRUITMENT AND DEIB CERTIFICATION  The Certified City of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging was created to recognize cities that adopt policies and practices promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within their municipal government and community. Councilman Hendrix stated the majority of council has to take a virtual course and two ordinances need to be passed. There are seven different categories but at this time, Councilman Hendrix: stated the first step is we as the city make the commitment to move forward and as they receive more information, they can make thet then make the determination of which category they want to start with. Mr. Mitchell stated he thought it was too premature to adopt the resolution presented tonight based off the resolution requirements. Mr. Mitchell recommended council discuss who all is going toi identify as stakeholders or whether council is going to provide projections to Mr. Musselwhite on how they want to go about doing that. Mayor Pro Tem. Allen recommended this  discussion be brought back next month. 9. CONSIDERATION OF DDA SIGNERS  After the discussion made in the work session, a motion was made to assign Rebecca Godwin as a signer to the DDA account was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by ACTION: The motion to assign Rebecca Godwin as a signer toi the DDA account was unanimously  Councilman Ferguson. approved (3-0).  10.CONSIDERATION OF PANHANDLING ORDINANCE  Mr. Musselwhite stated the presented ordinance is an ordinance to be proactive. Mr. Mitchell made changes to the ordinance to reflect our city. Mayor Pro Tem Allen announced this is a first reading and called for a motion. A motion to wave the first reading oft the panhandling ordinance tol help our Police Department was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded ACTION: The motion to wave the first reading of the panhandling ordinance to help our Police  by Councilman Hendrix.  Department was unanimously approved (3-0).  11.CONSIDERATION OF GLOBE LIFE INSURANCE (Life & Supplemental)  As discussed ini the Work Session, Mr. Musselwhite stated this is an additional benefit for our employees and family. A motion to accept the Globe Life insurance benefit was made by Councilman ACTION: The motion to accept the Globe Life insurance benefit was unanimously approved  Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  (3-0).  2IPage    12.CONSIDERATION OF EPD FINDING  Mr. Musselwhite presented al letter from EPD. Our sewer department determined we had a sewer overflow in October of 2022. The sewer department self-reported the overflow. We have been given a fee of $3,488. A motion to allow the Mayor to execute the document was made by Councilman ACTION: The motion to allow the Mayor to execute the document was unanimously approved (3-0). Councilman Hendrix stated we received a noise complaint that disturbed our citizens. At that point, he realized that we do not have any specificity or anything for our police department to work with. He is recommending we update our ordinance to possibly have a quite time. He questioned if we want to have a quite time for our community as many municipalities have. If council choses to have such an ordinance, Mr. Mitchell recommended one that has distance requirements and time. In reference to the complaint received, Assistant Police Chief Chastain recommend a no loitering sign or unauthorize sign at the gym. Mr. Mitchell will draft something up and share it with Mr. Musselwhite and Ms. Chastain to discuss with Chief Krockum and Assistant Chief Chastain and then pass it to council to  Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  13. DISCUSSION OF NOISE COMPLAINT  discuss at a later meeting.  14. MANAGER'S REPORT & REVIEW OF FINANCIALS  Mr. Musselwhite made a report to Mayor and Council that included the following:  Announced. July 4th event was glorious City Hall and Park progress update  Councilman Allen, Mrs. Chastain & Mr. Musselwhite attended the GMA conference in Savannah. Allen presented the City of Civility plaque received at GMA.  Announced there was vandalism ini the gym Community Yard Sale from is Saturday, July 81 from 8-2  The Fire Department, Police Department, Water Department and WWTP monthly report.  Areview of the May financials  Council agreed to allow Mr. Musselwhite to move forward with the $6500 McAllister Tree Service  proposal before the LMIG project begins 15. APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT  Mayor Pro Tem Allen announced the Grand opening for new hospital is July 15 from 6-9pm  16. CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION  No executive session. 17. MOTION TO ADJOURN  AI motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Bennett and the motion was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. The motion was unanimously approved. The meetinga adjourned at 8:20 p.m.  3IPage    or DEDR SEAL SHAM  MayorofD Demorest  DemorèstCity Clerk  4IPage