Public Safety Committee Meeting

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Commission Chamber Tuesday, March 14, 2023 1:05 PM PUBLIC SAFETY PRESENT Mayor Garnett Johnson Commissioner Catherine Smith-McKnight Commissioner Bobby Williams Commissioner Brandon Garrett ABSENT Commissioner Alvin Mason 1. Grant Approval/Acceptance – FY 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Williams. Voting Yea: Smith-McKnight, Williams, Garrett Motion carries 3-0. 2. Motion to approve the emergency purchase of ammunition for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Training Division. Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Williams. Voting Yea: Smith-McKnight, Williams, Garrett Motion carries 3-0. 3. Motion to approve the emergency purchase of ammunition for the Richmond County Sheriff’s SWAT Team. Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Williams. Voting Yea: Smith-McKnight, Williams, Garrett Motion carries 3-0. 4. Motion to approve Accountability Court applying for BJA FY23 Adult Treatment Court Grant. Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Williams. Voting Yea: Smith-McKnight, Williams, Garrett  Motion carries 3-0. 5. Motion to approve the minutes of the Public Safety Committee held on February 28, 2023. Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Williams. Voting Yea: Smith-McKnight, Williams, Garrett Motion carries 3-0. 6. Discussion of EMS Services (Requested by Commissioner Bobby Williams) Motion to approve receiving this item as information. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Williams. Voting Yea: Smith-McKnight, Williams, Garrett Motion carries 3-0. 7. Presentation by Ms. Carrie Ducote from Best Friends Animal Society regarding an introduction of a new way to manage outdoor cats that is more effective and fiscally responsible than the current method of trapping and euthanizing. This would require an ordinance change to exempt fixed outdoor cats who are not a nuisance from mandatory impoundment. (Requested by Commissioner Brandon Garrett) Motion to approve implementing the program and tasking the Animal Services Director to proceed with the next step to move forward with an ordinance amendment to exempt fixed outdoor cats who are not a nuisance from mandatory impoundment. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Smith-McKnight, Garrett Voting Nay: Williams Motion fails 2-1.