Minutes City Council Meeting January gth, 2023 6:30pm  Baldwin Courtroom, 155 Willingham. Avenue, Baldwin, GA, 30511  Mayor Joe Elam, Council Member. Alice Venter, Council Member Maarten Venter, Council Member Theron Ayers, Council Member Larry Lewallen, and Council Member  Stephanie Almagno were: alli in attendance.  Call Meeting to Order Invocation and Pledge  Economic Development Discussion (maximum 20 minutes)  Council made a commitment at the fall retreat to dedicate 20 minutes at each work session to discuss economic development in Baldwin, and the commitment was forgotten at the. January work session. Mayor Elam proposed postponing the discussion to the next council meeting and Council was in consensus. No action  was taken. ConsentAgenda  a. Approval of Minutes: Council Meeting 11/28/22, Work Session 12/8/22, b. FD Revenue Recognition for Cornelia Turnout Gear Reimbursement $3,308 d. FD] Expense Approval for Ladder Truck Maintenance $6,400.00  Council Meeting 12/12/22, and Work Session 1/3/23. FDI Expense Approval ofTurnout Gear $3,308  Action: A motion was made by Maarten Venter to approve the consent agenda as presented along with the rephrasing ofitem (b) to clarify that Baldwin's turnout gear was used by Cornelia, who is reimbursing Baldwin the $3,308 with a second by Stephanie Almagno. Motion  Carried 5-0. Citizen Comment Public. Hearings Reports Old Business  1. Consideration/APproal of SAFER GRANT  Chief Royaddressed Council regarding the SAFER Grant Application, giving JMCM Consulting authorization to proceed with preparing the application for Baldwin. This form acknowledges the required upfront fee of $1,500, as well as the potential cost of $5,000 if Baldwin is awarded the grant. Both costs will come: from the Fire Department's budget, however, the potential $5,000 will not be paid until the FY24 budget cycle. Both JMCM and FEMA will assign Baldwin a representative to work with the Fire Department for the first few months after being awarded the grant. If Baldwin is not awarded the grant, the writer will update and continue to submit the application until awarding.  Council Meeting Minutes  January gth, 2023  Page 1    Grant submission opens January gth and closes January 30th, but the decision Action: A motion was made by. Alice Venter to approve the SAFER Grant application at a cost of$1,500 upfront and a potential $5,000 payable to JMCM Consulting if and onlyifBaldwin Fire Department receives the SAFER Grant, and the consultant will continue to process the application until the grant is awarded or Council makes the decision to cease applying with a second by  ofawarding will not be made until September.  Stephanie Almagno. Motion Carried 5-0.  New Business  2. Comsideration/Aprowal of Qualifying Fees Ordinance #2023-01118 CAO Emily Woodmaster addressed Council regarding this current election year. All ofthe dates and locations featured in the ordinance have been confirmed by Habersham County Election Supervisor Laurel Ellison. The General Election will be held' Tuesday, November 7th, 2023 (see section two). Three Baldwin City Council seats (Posts 1, 2 and 3) are open for reelection, and they are currently held by Council Members Lewallen, Ayers, and Almagno respectively. This post will serve from January 1st, 2024 to  December 31st, 2027 (see section four).  The qualifying period for the general election will be from August 21st, 2023 to August 25th, 2023 and located at the South Precinct at 403 Habersham County Shopping Center, Cornelia, GA; 30531 (see section five). The qualifying fee for each oft the open positions is currently $35.00, and Woodmaster recommended keeping the fee as such. That fee is paid to Habersham County at the time of the candidate's application and notice of running (see section six). A pauper'saffidavit may be filed in lieu of paying the All election appointments are handled via intergovernmental agreement with The last day for voter registration for the 2023 General Election is October 10th, 2023. Early voting will be October 16th through November 3rd and is currently slated to be conducted at the Ruby C. Fulbright Aquatic Centerin Clarkesville (see section 11). Ifthat location changes, citizens will be notified The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for. January 23rd, 2023. Once the ordinance is passed, it will be advertised in Baldwin'sl legal organ  qualifying fee ift the candidate meets all the requirements.  Habersham County (see section seven).  in advance.  The Northeast Georgian.  Council Meeting Minutes  January gth, 2023  Page 2    Action: A motion was made by Maarten Venter to accept the 1st Reading of Ordinance #2023-01118 as presented with a second by  Larry Lewallen. Motion Carried 5-0.  Executive Session Announcements  a. City Offices will be closed on January 16th in observation of Martin Luther King,  Jr. Day. Adjournment  Action: A motion was made by' Theron Ayers to adjourn the meeting with a second by Maarten Venter. Motion Carried 5-0.  Venter, Mayor  &  2/132028 Date Approved by Council  Woodmaster, CAO  ZAlb  Emily  0 SEAL  COMTI  GF  Council Meeting Minutes  January gth, 2023  Page I3