Administrative Services Committee Meeting

Administrative Services Committee Committee Room- 1/7/2008- 1:00 PM Meeting ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 1. Approve the petition for Non Employment Related Attachments Disability Retirement of Ms. Catherine Worley under the 1949 Pension Plan. 2. Consider a request from Leadership Augusta to construct Attachments a bronze plaque at Riverwalk honoring Charles Devaney for his leadership and vision. (Referred from December 18 Commission meeting) 3. Motion to approve modification of the current employee Attachments disciplinary appeals process. Suggestions for change include: Keep the current appeal structure but modify the composition of the Personnel Board so that Personnel Board Members serve "at the Pleasure of "the Commissioner that appointed them. Eliminate the Personnel Board and replace it with a Personnel Hearing Officer. Modify the disciplinary appeal process so the Personnel Board makes merely a recommendation to the Administrator regarding employee disciplinary actions. (Referred from December 18 Commission meeting) 4. Consider a request from the Interim General Counsel for a Attachments salary adjustment for the Staff Attorney I position in the Law Department. 5. Motion to approve setting Qualifying Fees for 2008. Attachments 6. Consider a request from United Way for reconsideration Attachments of funding from the 2008 CDBG Program. (Referred from December 18 Commission meeting) www.augustaga.gov  Administrative Services Committee Meeting 1/7/2008 1:00 PM Petition for Non Employment Related Disability Retirement of Ms. Catherine Worley Department: Human Resources Caption: Approve the petition for Non Employment Related Disability Retirement of Ms. Catherine Worley under the 1949 Pension Plan. Background: Disability Retirement Benefit is the accrued benefit reduced by Workers' Compensation, payable for life beginning on the Disability Retirement Date. If the disability occurred in the line of duty, there is a minimum benefit of 50% of average monthly compensation. Analysis: Ms. Catherine Worley (age 49) is currently a Secretary with the Public Services Department. Ms. Catherine Worley was hired on December 8, 1977; she joined the 1949 Pension Plan on December 8, 1977. Ms. Worley meets all requirements of Disability Retirement for the 1949 Pension Plan. Her proposed retirement date is November 30, 2007. The disability retirement benefit payable to Ms. Worley will be $1,740.58 per month (Life only). Financial Impact: Funds are available in the 1949 Pension Plan. Employee has contributed 5% of her salary towards her retirement since November 7, 1977. Alternatives: Do not approve Disability Retirement of Ms. Catherine Worley under the 1949 Pension Plan. Recommendation: Approve Disability Retirement of Ms. Catherine Worley under the 1949 Pension Plan. Funds are Available in the Following Cover Memo Item # 1 Accounts: REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY: Finance. Administrator. Clerk of Commission Cover Memo Item # 1 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 Item # 1  Administrative Services Committee Meeting 1/7/2008 1:00 PM Plaque honoring Charles Devaney Department: Planning Commission Caption: Consider a request from Leadership Augusta to construct a bronze plaque at Riverwalk honoring Charles Devaney for his leadership and vision. (Referred from December 18 Commission meeting) Background: Applicant has been through the review process including meeting with the committees and a public hearing. All affected departments have been notified and there are no known objections. The proposed location for the plaque is at the Eighth Street breach just on the river side of the levee. Analysis: There are other similar plaques along Riverwalk and there would be no cost to the City Financial Impact: None Alternatives: Approve or deny Recommendation: Approved Funds are Available in the Following Accounts: REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY: Clerk of Commission Cover Memo Item # 2 Cover Memo Item # 2  Administrative Services Committee Meeting 1/7/2008 1:00 PM Proposed Changes to Employee Discipline Appeals Process Department: Law Department Caption: Motion to approve modification of the current employee disciplinary appeals process. Suggestions for change include: Keep the current appeal structure but modify the composition of the Personnel Board so that Personnel Board Members serve "at the Pleasure of "the Commissioner that appointed them. Eliminate the Personnel Board and replace it with a Personnel Hearing Officer. Modify the disciplinary appeal process so the Personnel Board makes merely a recommendation to the Administrator regarding employee disciplinary actions. (Referred from December 18 Commission meeting) Background: Since the Personnel Board was created by the governing authority of Richmond County in the Augusta Code rather than local law, the Board of Commissioners has broad authority amend, modify or change the Personnel Board. [1] Section 1-7-15 of the Code states that "the board of commissioners shall have authority to amend, change or make additions to any rules and regulations adopted hereunder." Thus, the Board of Commissioners has authority to modify the current disciplinary appeals process so long as such changes do not violate any laws. [1] However, the Georgia Legislature still retains full authority to make future changes relating to the Personnel Board, should it so desire to do so. Analysis: Further information regarding each suggestion change is attached. Financial Impact: No financial impact anticipated. Alternatives: The Commission can leave the Employee Disciplinary Appeal Process as it is without making any changes. Cover Memo Item # 3 Recommendation: Consider these suggested changes and make a recommendation for change. Funds are Available in the Not Applicable Following Accounts: REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY: Clerk of Commission Cover Memo Item # 3 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 2 Item # 3 Attachment number 1 Page 2 of 2 Item # 3  Administrative Services Committee Meeting 1/7/2008 1:00 PM Salary Adjustment Staff Attorney I Department: Clerk of Commission Caption: Consider a request from the Interim General Counsel for a salary adjustment for the Staff Attorney I position in the Law Department. Background: Analysis: Financial Impact: Alternatives: Recommendation: Funds are Available in the Following Accounts: REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY: Clerk of Commission Cover Memo Item # 4 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 Item # 4  Administrative Services Committee Meeting 1/7/2008 1:00 PM Set Qualifying Fees for 2008 Department: Board of Elections Caption: Motion to approve setting Qualifying Fees for 2008. Background: The local governing authority is required by law to set and publish the qualifying fees for each elective office not later than February 1, 2008 of the year in which an election is to take place. The Board of Elections will publish the qualifying fees upon approval of the Augusta Commission. Analysis: The qualifying fee for Probate Court, Clerk of Court, Sheriff, and Tax Commissioner are computed based on 3% of the base salary as set forth by Georgia law. The qualifying fee for Board of Education is set by their Charter. All other qualifying fees are based on 3% of the total gross salary for the preceeding year. Financial Impact: The cost for publishing the advertisement will be $20.00. Alternatives: None. Recommendation: Approve the fees as listed on the attached schedule. Funds are Available in the Available in the 2008 Board of Elections Budget. Following Accounts: REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY: Finance. Cover Memo Item # 5 Administrator. Clerk of Commission Cover Memo Item # 5  Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 2 NOTICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY, GEORGIA YOU are hereby notified that, pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-131(a)(1), the qualifying fees for the various local offices appearing on the 2008 General Election ballot have been set by the Augusta-Richmond County Commission-Council as follows: Probate Court $2320.34 Clerk of Court 2320.34 Sheriff 2510.88 Tax Commissioner 2320.34 Coroner 1986.00 Chief Judge, Civil 3454.21 and Magistrate Court Presiding Judge, Civil 3399.23 and Magistrate Court Solicitor of State Court 2909.99 Chief Judge of the State Court Judge 4059.06 Judge of the State Court 3951.06 Board of Education 100.00 Districts 1, 4, 5, 8, and 10 Qualifying for partisan office will commence on Monday, April 28, 2008 at 9:00 AM and will end on Friday, May 2, 2008 at 12:00 NOON. Qualifying for all partisan offices will be conducted by the respective parties. Qualifying for nonpartisan office will commence on Monday, June 23, 2008 at 9:00 AM and will end on Friday, June 27, 2008 at 12:00 NOON. Qualifying for all nonpartisan offices will be held in the Board of Elections Office, 530 Greene Street, Room 104, Augusta, Georgia. This _____ day of January, 2008. _____________________________ Lynn M. Bailey, Executive Director for the Board of Elections, Superintendent Item # 5 Attachment number 1 Page 2 of 2 Item # 5  Administrative Services Committee Meeting 1/7/2008 1:00 PM United Way of CSRA Department: Clerk of Commission Caption: Consider a request from United Way for reconsideration of funding from the 2008 CDBG Program. (Referred from December 18 Commission meeting) Background: Analysis: Financial Impact: Alternatives: Recommendation: Funds are Available in the Following Accounts: REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY: Clerk of Commission Cover Memo Item # 6 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 Item # 6