MINUTES- CALLED MEETING CITY OF CAMILLA, GEORGIA  JULY1,2024  A Called Meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Camilla was called to order at 5:00 p.m. on Monday,July 1, 2024 by Mayor Owens. He stated the city attorney will provide an explanation as to why a quorum is present with those members in attendance. The specific purpose oft the called meeting is consideration of a special election for the vacant seats ofI District Present at roll call: Councilman Burley and Councilman Morgan. Absent: Councilman Collins and Councilman Palmer. It was stated, for the record, Mayor Owens is present. City Manager Stroud, City Attorney Wiley (via phone), and Clerk Ford were also present. City Manager Stroud gave the invocation and the Mayor and Council led the Pledge of  1/Post 3 (Venterra Pollard) and District 2/Post 3 (Laura Beth Tucker).  OPENING PRAYER AND PLEDGE  Allegiance to the Flag. Sign-in Sheet Attached.  CITIZENS AND GUESTS APPROVAL OF AGENDA  A motion was made by Councilman Burley and seconded by Councilman Morgan to approve the July 1, 2024 Called Meeting agenda. City Attorney Wiley explained a provision in the Charter allows three of them to act as a quorum for the specific purpose of special elections. She read from Charter Section 5.14 which states: In the event that the office of the mayor or a councilmember shall become vacant as provided in Section 2.12 of this charter, the city council ort those remaining shall order a special election to fill the balance oft the unexpired term of such official; provided, however, that if such vacancy occurs within 12 months of the expiration of the term of that office, the city council or those remaining shall appoint a successor for the remainder of the term. In all other respects, the special election shall be held and conducted in accordance with Chapter 2 ofTitle 21 of the O.C.G.A., the "Georgia Election Code," as now or hereafter amended. Councilmember Tucker and Councilman Pollard both have terms expiring December 31, 2025. Their offices are now vacant and there are unexpired terms of office. Section 2.12 states: (b) Filling of Vacancies. A vacancy in the office of mayor or councilmember shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any, by appointment if less than 12 months remains in the unexpired term, otherwise by an election, as provided for in Section 5.14 of this charter and in accordance with Titles 21 and 45 oft the O.C.G.A., or other such laws as are or may hereafter be enacted. Section 5.14 is specific for special elections. The mayor is authorized under the Charter to vote and they do not need four votes and can move forward with The motion to approve the agenda passed via roll call vote 3-0 with Councilman Burley,  three votes to call for a special election.  Councilman Morgan, and Mayor Owens voting in favor ofthe motion.  Page lof2    SPEAKER APPEARANCES RESOLUTION NO. 2024-07-01-1 DISTRICT 1/POST 3 (VENTERRA POLLARD) DISTRICT: 2/POST: 3 (LAURA BETH TUCKER)  None  CONSIDERATION OF SPECIAL ELECTION FOR VACANT SEATS:  Mayor Owens stated Resolution No. 2024-07-01-1 declares a vacancy in the position of two council positions; calls for a special election for the purpose of filing said vacancies; provides notice of District 1 precinct change; repeals all resolutions in conflict; and for other purposes. A motion was made by Councilman Burley and seconded by Councilman Morgan to approve Resolution No. 2024-07-01-1. Mayor Owens read from the Resolution information regarding the relocation of District 1 voting precinct from 400 Pecan Drive to The Depot located at 212 E. Broad Street. Early voting will be held at City Hall. On Election Day registered voters in District 1will vote at' The Depot. Information for qualifying for office will be presented to the public at the appropriate time. Attorney Wiley provided a detailed explanation of Corey Morgan's past and current terms of office. The quo warranto case against Councilman Morgan was for the term ending December 31, 2023 and cannot/does not prevent service for a new term. The quo warranto case has no legal applicability to his new term of office. He can lawfully sit and duly serve as a member of council and three tribunals rejected the claim Corey Morgan was not a resident. After additional information and explanation regarding the quo warranto cases against Corey Morgan and Venterra Pollard, Attorney Wiley stated the cases are not relevant to the upcoming special election and are outside of the quo warranto scope. The dates are not relevant to the special election to be held on November 5th. The ruling has been adhered to and fulfilled and is applicable only to a particular term of office. Mayor Owens commented that anyone living in District 1 who meets the qualifications can run for office in the new special election in November. The elected councilmembers will take office immediately. Voting in favor of approving the Resolution via roll call vote: Councilman Morgan, Councilman Burley, and Mayor  Owens. The motion passed by a 3-0 vote.  ADJOURNMENT  The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m. on motion by Councilman Burley.  BY:  ATTEST:  6 KELVIN M. OWENS, MAYOR  Oh-fin CHERYL FORD,CLERK  Page 2of2    CITY OF CAMILLA, GEORGIA a SIGN-IN SHEET  DATE: OWLY I 2024 MEETING: COUNCIL  TIMB: 586  A.M. K P.M.  LX WORK SESSION  JOTHER: CALLED  SPLAKER NO: YES  NAME  ADDRESS  TOPIC OF DISCUSSION  Waltev Auelgron 1b5 honras 2 Lwallewe wleng AID Ihonrgs  3 FWibnel, hay Siadks 5 ffaag Baeks  20 Whlipd Le 178 CakDat 4311 w54  6 Ronkie es 247lincolwsy  7 Aiil 0/M 8 Tepne lestef 9 Ph6 MEas  IFlwcal EA DAdE34  10 11 12 ay  Venleva PolaKL oDgiol StRarilliaa  bwlw 020fedan Llamlaka  13 14 15 16 17    CITY OF CAMILLA, GEORGIA RESOLUTION NO. 2024-07-01-1  A RESOLUTION DECLARING VACANCIES IN THE POSITION OF TWO COUNCIL POSITIONS; CALLING FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF FILLING SAID VACANCIES; PROVIDING NOTICE OF DISTRICT 1 PRECINCT CHANGE; REPEALING ALL RESOLUTIONS IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND FOR  OTHER PURPOSES.  WHEREAS, Laura Beth Tucker was elected to a term on the City Council oft the City of WHEREAS, Laura Beth Tucker died on March 11, 2024, resulting in a vacancy in her WHEREAS, Venterra Pollard was elected to a term on the City Council of the City of WHEREAS, Venterra Pollard's office as a member of City Council was vacated WHEREAS, the remaining members of the City Council do hereby the declare the two WHEREAS, more than a year remains on the terms of each of the vacated offices WHEREAS, it is the duty and responsibility of the Mayor and City Council to call a WHEREAS, under Georgia law, said Special Election is authorized to be held in WHEREAS, the currently designated District 1 voting precinct located inside the Northside Recreation Center, 400 Pecan Drive, Camilla Georgia 31730, is under renovation and  Camilla ("City Council") for a term ending December 31,2025; and  office as a member of the City Council; and  Camilla ("City Council") for a term ending December 31,2025; and  effective. June 24, 2024; and  (2)aforementioned positions on the Camilla City Council vacant; and  previously held by Laura Beth Tucker and Venterra Pollard, respectively; and  Special Election to fill said vacancies on the City Council; and conjunction with the general election on November 5, 2024; and  will not be available for use on November 5, 2024 ("Election Day"); and  WHEREAS, Mayor and Council desire to designate a different District 1 voting precinct for Election Day to be located inside The Depot located at 212. E. Broad Street, Camilla,  Georgia 31730.  NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Camilla,  and it is hereby ordained by authority ofthe same, as follows:  Section 1. Pursuant to the Charter of the City of Camilla and the Georgia Elections Code, as amended through the regular 2024 session of the Georgia Special Assembly, and as provided by O.C.G.A. $21-2-540, a Special Election for (1) the unexpired term of Laura Beth Tucker ending    on December 31, 2025; and (2) the unexpired term of Venterra Pollard ending on December 31,  2025, shall be held under the following terms and conditions:  1. 2. 3.  Said Special Election shall be held on November 5, 2024. The hours oft the Special Election shall be between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.  The Special Election shall be held pursuant to the provisions of the laws of the State of Georgia as enacted and amended. Provided further, the Charter of the City of Camilla and amendments thereto shall be in force and effect where same were. not repealed or modified by the laws oft the State of Georgia. For the purposes of this election Rhunette Williford is designated as the Election Superintendent of the municipality. Poll officials shall be named and designated as required by Georgia law. Tammy Jackson is designated as the Absentee Ballot Electronic voting ballots shall be used for the conduct of this election. The polling place for District 2 - Council Post 3 shall be City Hall located at 30 The polling place for District 1 - Council Post 3 shall be The Depot located at 212 Each candidate for District 2 - Council Post 3 shall file a notice of candidacy in the office of the City Clerk at Camilla City Hall, 30 East Broad Street, Camilla, Georgia. Qualifying shall begin on September 9, 2024 at 8:30 AM and will continue day to day until the close of qualifying on September 11, 2024 at 4:30 Each candidate for District 1 - Council Post 3 shall file a notice of candidacy in the office of the City Clerk at Camilla City Hall, 30 East Broad Street, Camilla, Georgia. Qualifying shall begin on September 9, 2024 at 8:30 AM and will continue day to day until the close of qualifying on September 11, 2024 at 4:30  4.  Clerk.  5. 6. 7. 8.  East Broad Street, Camilla, Georgia. E. Broad Street, Camilla, Georgia 31730.  PM.  9.  PM.  10. The qualifying fee for a candidate of City Council District 2 - Council Post 3, shall be $72.00. The qualifying fee for a candidate of City Council District 3 -  Council Post 2 shall be $72.00.  11. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. $21-2-216, any person who is a resident of District 1 and District 2 of the City of Camilla and a qualified elector of the City of Camilla shall be eligible to vote in this election. The registrar shall cease taking applications for registration from persons desiring to vote in this election on the close of the registrar's business on October 7, 2024 as provided in O.C.G.A.  $21-2-224.    12. The Election Superintendent shall publish all notices pertaining to this Special 13. Notice oft the District 11 Precinct change shall be published as required by law.  Election in the manner required by law.  ITISSO RESOLVED, this 1st day of. July, 2024.  CITY OF CAMILLA  By:  CAM  Mayor, Kelvin Owens ku  CFaA GEORGIA  Attest: Ohoul, Clerk, Chery/Ford)  frd