8/1/2022 Council Minutes  MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF AUSTELL CITY HALL BUILDING MONDAY, AUGUST 1,2022  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; Natalie Poulk, Police Chief(I), 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 Bailey gavet the invocation & Mayor Clemons led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Clemons asked ifanyone had items to add to the agenda. Mayor Clemons added to item 6A, Alvin Poole, to the agenda. Mrs. Anderson moved. toj follow the recommendation of Mayor Clemons to add to item 6A, Alvin Poole. Seconded by Mrs. Leverette. Motion passed. (6-0) Mayor Clemons presented a retirement plaque & pin to Robert Woodard & congratulated  him for his 39: years of service with the city.  2. CONSENT AGENDA - INFORMATION AND UPDATE (No Action Required by Council - See Specific Department Director before a Meeting.)  2. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approve Bills  B. Approve Legal Bills -$ $1,245.00  C. Approve Minutes of] Regular Council Meeting July 11,2022 Consent Agenda. Seconded. by Mr. Myrick. Motion passed. (6-0)  Mrs. Leverette moved toj follow. the recommendation of Mayor Clemons to approve the  1    8/1/2022 Council Minutes  Mayor Clemons stated they need to go into Executive Session. Mrs. Anderson moved toj follow the recommendation of Mayor Clemons to go into executive session. Seconded. by Mr. Myrick. Motion passed. (6-0) Mayor Clemons stated there were no votes made/taken. regular session. Seconded by Mr. Lamar. Motion passed. (6-0)  Mrs. Anderson moved toj follow the recommendation of Mayor Clemons to, go back into  4. EXCEPTION TO CONSENT AGENDA  5.CITIZENS REPORT  Mr. Stan Copeland stated that he had been doing an investigation on the mold issue at the Police Department & had done several open records requests with City Clerk, Mrs. Young. All the requests have been fulfilled in ai timely manner & ai fair price by Mrs. Young. He stated had concerns regarding an open: records request for Mayor Clemons emails. He stated the quote for the ORR for Mayor Clemons emails was unrealistic & he  wanted Mayor & Council to come up with a realistic price.  Mr. Wesley Starrett & Mrs. Judy Starrett came forward. Mr. Starrett is representing Mrs. Starrett. Mrs. Starrett wrote a letter & read it tol Mayor & Council: Iam requesting that this letter be read at the August 1, 2022 Regular Council Meeting for the City of Austell under the Citizens Report. My name is Judy Starrett and I have been an appointed member of the Austell Gas Board for the last two years. I was appointed by Mayor. Jerkins to represent Douglas County. Since my appointment, Ihave faithfully attended the meetings and provided input and representation for the citizens and businesses of Douglas Iwanted to make you all aware that I recently received a voicemail from Mayor Clemons stating, he was not going to reappoint me for my position on the Austell Iwish Icould say that this was a complete surprise, but unfortunately it is not. My husband served as Chiefof Police for Austell for the past 27 years. While he was serving as ChiefofPolice, Mayor Clemons called my husband into his office and demanded that my husband come home and make me: resign my position at the Itis appalling how many steps backwards we have come recently with regard to women's s rights. Apparently, Mayor Clemons thought that my husband should control my every decision and force me to resign. Thankfully, my husband has always been very supportive of me and would never even ask me to resign much These actions are direct retaliation against my husband and my family. Ever: since my husband started trying to rectify the working conditions ofl his employees by addressing the serious health issues in their building, Mayor Clemons has taken  County. Gas Board.  Austell Gas Board.  less force me to.  2    8/1/2022 Council Minutes  retaliatory action against him and now me.  Ia ami not familiar with any board member who has not been reappointed in the past, unless they had a change of address or asked to be taken offt the board for other reasons. Its saddens me to know that today, we: are still facing challenges and roadblocks as women and especially women who have disabilities. Itis my understanding that the decision to reappoint was tabled at the last council meeting. Iti is my sincere hope that Mayor Clemons chooses to do the right thing and reappoint me to the Gas Board. However, Ih have no control over this decision. My only recourse is to explore what legal actions might be available to redress this Ido feel that one person having complete and unchecked control over appointments such as this one. leads to an abuse of power. It is worth considering a change in this policy if we are to ensure that these decisions are made ethically and fairly and not based on favor or anger and discrimination. Ih have really enjoyed working with the Austell Gas System and other member of the Gas Board during my appointment time. Ihope that you will consider this moving forward and I wish the Austell Gas Board members the best shouldIfail to  course ofaction.  be reappointed. Sincerely,  Judy Starrett  Ms. Monica Delancey gave an update on Riverside Parkway.  Ms. Pat Labert stated she lives on Westside Road & wants to thank the Public Works Ms. Natasha stated that she would like the city to check into a "pay as you throw" system for sanitation & that if we are interested, she would be happy to assist us. Mr. Reggie thanked the Mayor & Council for their service. He asked ifl Mayor & Council would consider doing a salary study for the betterment oft the employees to be paid what Mr. Tim Adams thanked ChiefNatalie Poulk for her time & dedication while serving as Interim Police Chiefover the last 8 months. He asked Mayor & Council to consider  Department for keeping the grass cut.  they deserve.  keeping ChiefPoulk's: salary as is & not decreasing it.  6.GASSYSTEM REPRESENTATIVE OLLIE CLEMONS, MAYOR Mr. Kimbrough stated it has been a good year sO far. A. Austell Gas System Board Appointments  Below are the new appointments recommended for the Austell Gas System:  Sayward Masselter appointment will expire 8/1/2024 Ray Thomas - appointment will expire 8/1/2023  3    8/1/2022 Council Minutes  Iti is the recommendation that Council approve the new appointments oft the Austell  Gas Board members.  Below is the reappointment recommended for the Austell Gas System:  Alvin Poole - appointment will expire 7/31/2024  Itist the recommendation that Council approve the reappointment of the Austell Gas  Board member.  Mrs. Anderson moved toj follow the recommendation of Mayor Clemons to approve the Gas Board appointments. Seconded by Mrs. Leverette. Motion passed.  (4yes & 2 abstain)  7.FINANCE DEPARTMENT  VALERIE ANDERSON, CHAIRPERSON Denise Lowe, Finance Director  A. Financial Report  8.G GENERALALADMINISTISTRATION  MELANIE ELDER, CHAIRPERSON Elizabeth Young, Director  A. No Report  9.POLICE DEPARTMENT  DEVON MYRICK, CHAIRPERSON Natalie Poulk, Police Chief(I)  A. Police Report  10. FIRE DEPARTMENT  MARLIN LAMAR, CHAIRPERSON Brandon Merritt, Fire Chief  A. Fire Report  Mr. Myrick asked the status of the new ladder truck. Chief Merritt stated it should be  delivered early October as ofr right now.  11.PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT  SANDRA LEVERETTE, CHAIRPERSON  4    8/1/2022 Council Minutes  Bo Garrison, Director  A. Scott Drive Sanitary Sewer Improvements Recommendation for Award Iti is the recommendation oft the Public Works Department to accept and approve the bidding ofl RDJE, Inc., as the lowest bidder in the amount of $1,816,390.00 for the construction of Scott Drive Sanitary Sewer Improvements project. Funds will come from 2019-Instrastructure account number: 505-4350-54-1400.  Quotes received:  Bidder  Amount $1,816,390.00 $2,258,270.00  RDJE, Inc. 679 Highway 29 South, Suite A Newnan, GA30263 The Corbett Group, LLC 13201 Veterans Memorial Highway Douglasville, GA 30134 Site Engineering, Inc. 7025 best Friend Road Atlanta, GA 30340  $2,497,350.00  Mrs. Leverette moved to follow the recommendation of Mayor Clemons to approve the Scott Drive Sanitary Sewer Improvements. Seconded by Mr. Lamar. Motion  passed. (6-0)  12. PARKS DEPARTMENT  MEREDITH ADAMS, CHAIRPERSON  Darrell Weaver, Director  A. No Report  13. COMMUNITY AFFAIRS  VALERIE ANDERSON, CHAIRPERSON  Darrell Weaver, Director A. Code Enforcement Report B. Alcohol Sales & Consumption  5    8/1/2022 Council Minutes  The Community Affairs Department is requesting approval ofalcohol sales and consumption, sold by licensed vendors, for an event on Jefferson Street from Spring Street to Mulberry Street on September 3, 2022 as shown on the attached aerial. The alcohol may only be purchased and consumed within the area mentioned above and must be in a clear plastic cup. Vendors will be required to ID check and apply Mrs. Anderson moved. toj follow the recommendation of Mayor Clemons to approve the Alcohol Sales & Consumption. Seconded by Ms. Elder. Motionpassed. (6-0)  wristbands for verification of age.  14.A ATTORNEY, DUPREE & KIMBROUGH  A. No Report 15. MAYOR'S REPORT A. CMA Meeting August 9, 2022 @ 6:30 pm Hosted by City of Smyrna Atkins Park Tavern 2840 Atlanta Road Smyrna, GA 30080 B. Police Chief, Appointment  Mayor Clemons stated Mr. Scott Hamilton has been appointed as our new Police Chief. ChiefHamilton, joined the meeting via zoom & thanked everyone for the Mrs. Anderson moved toj follow the recommendation of Mayor Clemons to appoint Mr. Scott Hamilton as the new. Police Chief Seconded by Mrs. Leverette. Motion  opportunity to be aj part oft the Austell family.  passed. (4yes & 2 abstain)  16. ADJOURN  Mr. Myrick moved toj follow the recommendation of Mayor Clemons to adjourn the  meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Adams. Motion, passed. (6-0)  oDiclensnl Mayor 11.7.2023 Date   Attest  6