Mayor & Commission Meetings

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the January 14 Mayor and Commission session was remote. The meeting could be viewed live at www.accgov.com/videos, on YouTube at www.youtube.com/accgov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/accgov, and on ACTV Cable Channel 180 or the live ACTV stream at www.accgov.com/actvlive Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Mayor and Commission Special Called Session Thursday, January 14, 2021 5:37 p.m. City Hall The Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia met this date in a special called session. Present: Mayor Girtz; Commissioners Davenport, Link, Wright, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Thornton, and Hamby. Absent: Commissioner Parker. Commissioner Denson came in at 5:45 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to consider Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV) Coronavirus Funds: First allocation; and a resolution authorizing settlement of litigation. New business – Consider under suspension of Rules A motion was made by Commissioner Hamby, seconded by Commissioner Link, to approve the proposed funding recommendations for the initial allocation of Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus funding as shown in Attachment #1 of agenda report dated January 11, 2021; authorize acceptance of the associated HUD Grant Awards; and authorize the Mayor and ACCGov staff to execute all related contracts and documents. The motion passed by unanimous vote. A motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Myers, to adopt the following resolution. The motion passed by unanimous vote. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF LITIGATION WHEREAS, on or about October 21, 2020, Plaintiff Salvadar Salazar (“Plaintiff”) initiated a lawsuit in the State Court of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, styled Salvador Salazar vs. Roger Williams In his Individual Capacity as a Police Officer for Athens-Clarke County, Georgia; and, Tori Teets In her Individual Capacity as a Police Officer for Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, and assigned Civil Action File No. ST20CV0589 (hereinafter, the “Litigation”) by filing a complaint in said court; and WHEREAS, the Litigation arises out of the alleged unlawful arrest and unlawful use of deadly force against Plaintiff at 190 Baxter Drive, in Athens, Georgia on October 6, 2019; and WHEREAS, the Litigation was subsequently transferred to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Athens Division, and assigned Civil Action File No. 3:20-cv-00143-CAR; and WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 1-20-1 of the Code of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, the Unified Government has an obligation to indemnify Roger Williams and Tori Teets, and has done so by providing defense counsel and resolving said Litigation as set forth below; and WHEREAS, the attorneys for the Plaintiff and the attorneys for the Unified Government have negotiated a resolution of the Litigation; and WHEREAS, without admitting liability or fault, the Commission finds it to be in the best interests of the Unified Government to resolve the Litigation as set forth below; and WHEREAS, it is the intention and understanding of the Commission that adoption and approval of the settlement terms below shall fully and completely resolve any claims or causes of action, whether asserted or not, arising from or out of the events described in the complaint filed by Plaintiff in the Litigation NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission hereby resolves as follows:  SECTION 1. The Commission does hereby approve and authorize the payment of the sum of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars (250,000.00) to Plaintiff, and his attorneys, said amount to encompass any damages that Plaintiff allegedly suffered and attorney’s fees. SECTION 2. As part of this resolution to the Litigation, Plaintiff must agree that the monetary relief described above affords him complete and total relief for the claims asserted in the Litigation, and any other claims, whether asserted or not, arising from or out of the events that occurred on or about October 6, 2019, and on behalf of himself, his heirs, and his assigns, forever releases and discharges the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia and Defendants Williams and Teets from any further claims, causes of action, judgments, damages, or costs of Litigation (including attorney’s fees) arising from or out of the events that occurred on or about October 6, 2019, and must agree to dismiss his claims with prejudice at an appropriate time as set forth in a written settlement agreement or consent order. SECTION 3. The County Attorney and outside counsel retained for purposes of this Litigation shall have authority to prepare, or to cause to be prepared, any and all documents and court filings necessary to effectuate the resolution of the Litigation as described herein, and to make such filings with the court as may be necessary or appropriate. The Mayor of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, shall have authority to sign any documents as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the resolution of the Litigation as described herein. The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. ________________________________________ Clerk of Commission