10/3/2022 Council Minutes  MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF AUSTELL CITY HALL BUILDING MONDAY,OCTOBER3. 2022  Present: Mayor Ollie Clemons Valerie Anderson Melanie Elder Devon Myrick Sandra Leverette Meredith Adams Marlin Lamar  Also, present: Denise Lowe, Finance Director; Bo Garrison, Public Works Director; Brandon Merritt, Fire Chief; Scott Hamilton, Police Chief, Darrell Weaver, Community Affairs Director,  Elizabeth Young, City Clerk and Scott Kimbrough, Attorney  1. CALL' TO ORDER  Mayor Clemons called the meeting to order. Pastor Billy Hooper gave the invocation & Mayor Clemons led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Clemons asked if anyone had items  toadd to the agenda. No items were added.  2. CONSENT AGENDA - INFORMATION AND UPDATE (No Action Required by Council - See Specific Department Director beforeal Meeting.)  2. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approve Bills  B. Approve Legal Bills $3,766.92  C.Approve Minutes of Regular Council Meeting September 12, 2022  Mrs. Leverette made ai recommendation to approve the Consent Agenda. Seconded by  Mr. Lamar. Motion passed. (6-0)  4. EXCEPTION TO CONSENT AGENDA  5. CITIZENS REPORT  Mr. Tim Adams came forward to speak. "T am a well-respected former business owner and builder here in Cobb County. Ihave lived in Cobb for years and currently reside in the city of. Austell. I've built multimillion dollar homes, have experience as a: former Police Detective having served with the City ofl Douglasville for 12 years. I was also a Douglas County Firefighter. Ihave a master's degree in Public Administration and an undergraduate in. Journalism received from area Georgian Universities.  1    10/3/2022 Council Minutes  Imet with both Councilperson Meredith Adams and Community Affairs Director Darrell Weaver. After being vetted and interviewed they recommended me to the council to be appointed to serve on the variance committee. In all ofmy interaction with the city of Austell, especially in council meetings I have always brought respect and good will to the podium. The false and slanderous allegation against me by Mayor Pro Tem Anderson on the topic ofb bias is alarming. Other than a briefconversation at one the council meetings Anderson has never had any private conversations with me. Never asked me any questions and apparently chooses to make error filled statements concerning my character. I make a habit ofconsidering the content of one's character starting with the inside and working out. Apparently, Anderson chooses not to use the same standard. I am now forced to stand before you and defend my good name. Mayor Pro Tem Anderson...I am sure you are aware ofjust how serious the action ofs slander against someone is. Ifnot, you may want to ask Mr. Kimbrough about it after the meeting. Iam certain he knows. Words matter. And words especially matter when they are on the record. Even more sO when they affect the outcome of an appointment vote. Because they matter, Ihave decided to come today. Iam demanding an apology from Mayor Pro Tem Anderson and Councilperson Sandra Leverette. I expect a verbal apology on the record and a written apology as well. And because I have listened to the audio oft these statements, I would like to thank Councilperson Marlin Lamar for speaking up on my behalf. I am shocked that our Mayor did not censor Ms. Anderson as soon as the statements were made. The Mayor and Ihave had several conversations about matters of city business, and he should know my character well enough to offer a defense to Anderson's allegations. As for the comments about Austell News Facebook private group. Ifbeing ai member of Austell News with no other criteria means that one is biased. Then since most of the Councilpersons on this board are or have been members oft the group for years. Anderson's logic would conclude that 5 out ofc our 6 current council members are unfit to serve the City of Austell. I am an admin ofthe page. That is tos say,I am responsible for removing content that goes against any Facebook community standards. I am not al hall monitor. Iam not their censor free speech. I see Austell News as a vehicle to keep Austell and it citizens informed of events, incidents and affairs That said, Irefuse to be held accountable for Anderson's perception about a FB group page that most oft this council was member of at the time she put on her performance about her feelings concerning the group. We need to be reminded that people like Civil Rights Leader Reverend William H Borders (a mentor to. Dr Martin Luther King) : Rev. Borders often went to. Atlanta Mayor on what policy Borders disagreed with. Itis part of the process. You can't expect every citizen is going to agree with your EVERY vote. But there is not an ounce ofBias in disagreeing with policy. I will be happy to meet with any one ofyoui ifyou have any questions about this statement or any concerns about my character as an active citizen here in the City of Austell." Ms. Monica Delancy gave an update on the Riverside Community.  related to the overall good oft the city.  Ms. Natasha Dyeri is needing yard trimmings for compost for the garden at Volkstuin. Mr. Garrison told her to contact him & they may be able to help her out with this.  2    10/3/2022 Council Minutes  Mr. Joel Gibbs thanked the Public Works department for a great job fixing a water leak. Ms. Debbie Hays stated she lives on Eastside Dr. & there are several areas that need the trees & bushes cut back. Mr. Garrison told her to contact him & he will check into it.  Ms. Pat Lavert thanked the trash company for doing a good job.  6.GASSYSTEM REPRESENTATIVE OLLIE CLEMONS, MAYOR year & they are getting ready for winter.  Mr. Kimbrough stated it has been a good year SO far, not much is going on this time of  7. FINANCE DEPARTMENT  VALERIE ANDERSON, CHAIRPERSON Denise Lowe, Finance Director  A. Financial Report  8. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION  MELANIE ELDER, CHAIRPERSON Elizabeth Young, Director  A. No Report  9.POLICE DEPARTMENT  DEVON MYRICK, CHAIRPERSON Scott Hamilton, Police Chief A. Police Report B. Retirement ofK-9. Ariel  ChiefHamilton is requesting the retirement of] K9. Ariel. After reviewing the police department' s operations, organizational structure, budget, and staffing required to service the city of Austell, he has determined the K91 unit should be downsized. Austell's city population does not require four K9 officers for efficient operations. ChiefHamilton is requesting for K9 Ariel to be retired and remain inj possession of Mr. Myrick made ai recommendation to approve Sgt. Clark to have possession of K-9  her handler, Sergeant Brandon Clark.  Ariel. Seconded by Mrs. Adams. Motion passed. (6-0) C.N Municipal Finance Lease-Purchase Program  3    10/3/2022 Council Minutes  We (PD) are requesting to participate in the Municipal Finance Lease-Purchase Program with Wade Ford. Currently, Austell PD's vehicle fleet has several vehicles that are close to or has surpassed a reasonable mileage to operate at a safe and efficient manner. There are several vehicles that are 5 years old or older which causes an officer safety concern. One ofthe advantages ofp participating in this program, police officials would be able toj purchase more vehicles at a time which would enhance the quality of the fleet. Once the fleet has been replaced, future budgets could be aligned to provide for replacement vehicles. Mr. Myrick made ai recommendation to approve the lease-purchase program. Seconded by Mrs. Leverette. Motion passed. (6-0) MARLIN LAMAR, CHAIRPERSON Brandon Merritt, Fire Chief  10. FIRE DEPARTMENT  A. Fire Report  11.PUBLIC WORKS DEPARIMENT  SANDRA LEVEREITE, CHAIRPERSON  Bo Garrison, Director A. Center Street Sidewalk  Iti ist the recommendation of the Public Works Department to accept and approve the bidding ofThe M. Mitchell Group in the amount of $62,224.00 for Center Street sidewalk. The lowest bidder was disqualified due to not having the correct Funds will come: from SPLOST (2016) sidewalk account number 335-4200-54-1403.  documentation for the bid process.  Quotes received:  Bidder  Amount $58,300.00 $62,224.00 $181,774.92  PKS Paving  The M. Mitchell Group R&B Developer  Mrs. Leverette made a recommendation to award the bid to The M. Mitchell Group.  Seconded by Mr. Myrick. Motion passed. (6-0)  4    10/3/2022 Council Minutes  B. Veterans Memorial Park Paving  Itist the recommendation oft the Public Works Department to accept and approve the bidding ofUnited Specialty Construction in the amount of $54,996.00 for Veterans Memorial Park Paving. The lowest bidder was disqualified due to not having the Funds will come from SPLOST (2005)resurfacing account number 315-4200-54-  correct documentation for the bid process.  1400. Quotes received:  Bidder  Amount $23,300.00 $54,996.00 $62,224.00  PKS Paving  United Specialty Construction The M. Mitchell Group  Mrs. Leverette made a recommendation to award the bid to United Specialty Construction. Seconded. by Mrs. Anderson. Motion passed. (6-0)  C. Veterans Memorial Park Sidewalk  Itis the recommendation of the Public Works Department to accept and approve the bidding ofUnited Specialty Construction ini the amount of $39,300.00 for Veterans Memorial Park Sidewalk. The lowest was disqualified due to not having the correct Funds will come from SPLOST (2016) sidewalk account mumher31542003-40.  documentation for the bid process.  Quotes received:  Bidder  Amount $32,500.00 $39,300.00 $48,224.00  PKS Paving  United Specialty Construction The M. Mitchell Group  5    10/3/2022 Council Minutes  Sol Construction LLC  $77,000.00  Mrs. Leverette made a recommendation to award the bid to United. Specialty Construction. Seconded. by Mrs. Anderson. Motion passed. (6-0)  12. PARKS DEPARTMENT  MEREDITH ADAMS, CHAIRPERSON  Darrell Weaver, Director A. Threadmill Roof  The Parks Department is asking for the approval on our Threadmill Roof Replacement. The Parks Department held the Bid: for the Threadmill RoofonJ July 29, 2022. The bid process brought in a total of5 companies all named and with bid amounts on the attached spreadsheet. The Parks Department would like to award the bid to the lowest bidder, Commercial Roofing Solutions ini the amount of $1,480,500.00. The cost will be paid for from the 2016 SPLOST account number Mrs. Adams made ai recommendation to approve the Threadmill Roof Motion  335-6210-54.1300.  seconded by Mr. Myrick. Motion passed. (6-0) VALERIE ANDERSON, CHAIRPERSON  13.COMMUNITY AFFAIRS  Darrell Weaver, Director A. Code Enforcement Report B. P&Z-No Report  C. 3034 Veterans Memorial Hwy. - Privilege License  The Community Affairs Department has received an application for a privilege license from Jessica Yun, who is the new owner ofJ Joes Bottle Shop located at 3034 Veterans Memorial Drive. She has requested to sell beer, spirits & Sunday Sales. Mrs. Anderson made a recommendation to approve the privilege license for. Jessica  Kun. Seconded by Mrs. Leverette. Motion passed. (6-0)  14.A ATTORNEY, DUPREE & KIMBROUGH  A. No Report  6    10/3/2022 Council Minutes 15. MAYOR'S REPORT  A. CMA Meeting - October 11,2022 @ 6:30 Hosted by the City of Austell Whitestone Reserve 5858 Westside Road Austell, GA 30106  16. ADJOURN  Mr. Myrick made ai recommendation to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Leverette.  Motion passed. (6-0) Doaclanoh NDV.4.2022  Mayor Date  dipb yay  7