COUNCIL MEETING 4040 SOUTH BERKELEY LAKE ROAD BERKELEY LAKE, GEORGIA 30096 FULL MINUTES FEBRUARY 20, 2025 EAMENEDE IN 1955 ATTENDANCE Mayor: Lois Salter Council Members: Rodney Hammond, Scott Lee, Chip McDaniel and Rebecca Spitler City Officials: Leigh Threadgill - City Administrator, Dick Carothers - City Attorney Members of the Public: 3 Members of the Press: 0 CALL TO ORDER Salter called the meeting to order at 8:00 PM. A quorum of council members was in attendance. AGENDA Salter solicited a motion regarding the agenda. Hammond made a motion to accept the agenda as submitted. McDaniel seconded the motion. All council members were in favor and the motion passed. PUBLIC HEARING a) Intent to Opt Out of Statewide Homestead Exemption Salter solicited comments. There were no comments. CONSENT AGENDA Salter noted the following as items on the consent agenda and solicited a motion: a) Minutes of January 9 ,2025, Council Meeting b) Minutes January 16, 2025, Gouncil Work Session c) Minutes of January 16, 2025, Council Meeting d) Financial Statements of December 2024 = Unaudited Council Meeting Minutes February20, 2025 Page 1of3 Lee made a motion to approve all items on the consent agenda. Spitler seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business to discuss. NEW BUSINESS a) R-25-2: Resolution to Opt Out of Statewide Homestead Exemption Threadgill: Following three required public hearings, properly advertised, the council must pass a resolution to opt out of the statewide homestead exemption established by House Bill 581. The required public hearings were held on January 9 at 6 PM, January 16 at 8 PM and tonight, February 20, at 8 PM. If the council approves the resolution to opt out, staff asks that it further authorize the city clerk to transmit the required documentation to the Secretary of State's office by the March 1, 2025, deadline. McDaniel made a motion to approve R-25-2, a resolution to opt out of the statewide homestead exemption and authorize the city clerk to certify and transmit the required documentation to the Secretary of State's office on or before March 1, 2025. Hammond seconded the motion. All council members were in favor and the motion passed. b) Appointment of Council Member to serve the unexpired tèrm of Bob Smith Salter: Following the recent passing of our dear Bob Smith, a city council member extraordinaire, a vacancy has been created on the city council. According to the city charter, a vacancy must be filled by council appointment until such time that an election can be held for the vacated seat. Bob Smith's term was set to expire on December 31, 2027. A special election will be held for the unexpired term in conjunction with the general election scheduled for November 4, 2025. Spitler made a motion to appoint Barbara Geier to serve the unexpired term of Bob Smith. Lee seconded the motion. All council members were in favor and the motion passed. Carothers swore in Barbara Geier to serve as the appointed Council Member to replace Bob Smith until the special election to fill Smith's unexpired term. c) Appointment - Berkeley Lake Conservancy Salter noted that Sue Swanson, who was recently reappointed to the Berkeley Lake Conservancy, resigned. Raina Raflo has been identified as her replacement and, with the advice and consent of the council, is nominated for appointment tonight. Lee made a motion to approve the appointment of Raina Râflo to fill the unexpired term of Sue Swanson. McDaniel seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed. Council Meeting Minutes February20, 2025 Page 2of3 PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Geier moved to adjourn. Spitler seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed. Salter adjourned the meeting at 8:09 PM. Submitted by: - - Tun ILe Leigh Threadgill, City Clérk Council Meeting Minutes February 20, 2025 Page 3 of 3