City Council

CITY OF EUHARLEE REVISED CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA JANUARY 5, 2021 7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES City Council Meeting/Public Hearing 12.01.20 Public Hearing 12.08.20 Called City Council Meeting/Public Hearing 12.15.20 NEW BUSINESS 1. Frankie Harris Park Rental James Stephens 2. Mayor Pro Tem Mayor Steve Worthington  CITY OF EUHARLEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 5, 2021 Mayor Pro Tem Joe Turner called the meeting to order. A prayer was led by Council Member David Duncan and followed with the Pledge of Allegiance. City Manager James Stephens called the roll, and the following were present: Mayor Pro Tem Joe Turner, Council Members David Duncan, Tim Abbott, and Greg Free. Mayor Steve Worthington was not present. Council Member David Duncan motioned to approve minutes for City Council Meeting /Public Hearing 12.01.20, Public Hearing 12.08.20 and Called City Council Meeting/Public Hearing 12.15.20. Council Member Tim Abbott seconded the motion. The motion was carried with Mayor Pro Tem Turner, Council Members Duncan, Abbott and Free all voting in favor. NEW BUSINESS Frankie Harris Park Rental - James Stephens Mayor Pro Tem Joe Turner stated for those that didn't know people occasionally rent Frankie Harris Park for events. He asked Mr. Stephens in the absence of Mrs. Kristy Montgomery, ACT I, Inc. representative to share her charity event request to rent the park. James Stephens, City Manager stated she was prepared to be there but then chose to watch on Facebook. She works with or represents ACT I, Inc. It is a youth theatre non- profit entity group. He was informed, they have had performances at Frankie Harris Park in the past. The city's standard non-profit policy, he had before him, authorized him to approve a one day rental to a non-profit for $25 per day. The entity is hoping to rent the facility for 5 days. Because of that he had it on the agenda and strongly supports the activity. It is an event that will invite some adults and youth from Bartow County and for Euharlee itself, will highlight the Frankie Harris venue. In the email in correspondence to her, the last time the city rented the park it was to the group that floated the whole state of Georgia. They were there for 6 days and paid $1500. The reason was they used the water, bathrooms and brought in mobile showers. They covered the expense of the water bill so they really were not charged. He stated again he supports the $25 and because he is a very black and white City Manager and it states he can authorize 1 day and they requested 5 days, he presented it to the Council. If they wanted to give him the guidance going forward and say extend that to multiple days he would be glad to take those marching orders. She represents an entity that highlights young actors, people in the arts, and he thinks it’s a good opportunity. She was certainly aware of the circumstances with COVID. In her correspondence, they were sensitive to the fact and will comply with the executive orders from the Governor's office. He recommended approval for $25 per day or less. Mayor Pro Tem Turner stated he knows the young lady, they have done things with them before and they have given breaks to the 501©(3) charitable events. He would be comfortable with the expense of the electricity and maybe what little water they may use. He would like to go with $20 per day, $100 for the 5 days or even less. Council Member Greg Free asked if she seemed okay with the $25 per day. Mr. Stephens said yes, it is the actual posted amount for a non-profit one-day rental. If it was a little higher it would not rule her out. Council Member Free said if he read it correctly, they are taking care of parking and their own security. Mr. Stephens said yes and he believed she understood that the city requires a very affordable insurance clause. He stated, as the City Manager he would support no charge for the rental. Council Member David Duncan said he is part of the POW WOW and they had to have a million dollar insurance policy. Mr. Stephens said he will not recommend a waiver and they would have to have the insurance for the rental. The Council could waiver, but it was not his recommendation. Council Member Tim Abbott asked if she understood that and, it would not be a challenge or a barrier. Mr. Stephens said it is not in the email correspondence, but pretty sure she understands. They would have to provide that at other facilities so he thinks she understands. The city has an insurance contact they can use. They don’t' require them to use, but one is available to assist them to obtain the coverage. Mayor Pro Tem Turner asked the Council if they would be willing to charge $100 for the 5-day rental. Council Member Abbott said yes. Council Member Free asked if they would be going against the policy. Mr. Stephens said no because it is a multiple day rental. Council Member Tim Abbott motioned for the rental of $20 per day and to secure the insurance policy. Council Member David Duncan seconded the motion. The motion was carried with Mayor Pro Tem Turner, Council Members Duncan, Abbott, and Free all voting in favor. Mayor Pro Tem - Mayor Pro Tem Joe Turner Mayor Pro Tem Joe Turner said there are a couple of new members on the council and as they could see, he was there in the position that night because the Mayor was not able to be there. They would need a motion or a discussion for Mayor Pro Tem for 2021. Council Member Tim Abbott motioned to table the item for a future meeting. Council Member Greg Free seconded the motion. Mayor Pro Tem Turner asked why. Council Member Abbott stated it was mentioned that they were new and he wasn't sure why it was on the agenda; if it was a matter of procedure and if they do it every year. He would like to talk with the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem Turner and Council Member David Duncan about this, so he made the motion to table it and Council Member Free seconded it. He said, there was not a problem with Mayor Pro Tem Turner in the chair, did not think they were at risk, and for him to stay in the chair until they had a chance to talk about it. Mayor Pro Tem asked Mr. Stephens about the city charter. Mr. Stephens said the city charter reads the Mayor Pro Tem is elected by the majority of the City Council. It may be implied that it occur in January, but it does not explicitly say it has to be in January. It also does not include verbiage specific to a term. For example, for many of the committee's it state, the chairman will remain until his successor is approved and that verbiage is not in that section of the charter. If a decision was not made that night on the new Mayor Pro Tem, Mayor Pro Tem Turner will remain in the position. Mr. Stephens agreed with Council Member Abbott's interpretation, what is in the charter, what's not in the charter and Council Member Turner would continue as Mayor Pro Tem. He did not think they were violating their charter because it is not explicit it has to occur in January. Council Member Greg Free said those were his thoughts as well. Also, as Mayor Pro Tem Turner mentioned he is new, and there are some things he wanted to make sure he understood properly. He doesn't have a problem with Mayor Pro Tem Turner being in that seat. He said, 2020 was an unusual year from them all and 2021 is shaping up to be the same. He would like to have the conversation with everybody, what that looks like and what best serves the council and the citizens through doing that. The discussion would be better instead of trying to move on a vote at that time. Mayor Pro Tem Turner said they can add it on the work session to ask questions and asked if that was acceptable. Council Member Abbott said yes and they were okay with him and the gavel in the next meeting. After discussion, the motion was carried with Mayor Pro Tem Turner, Council Members Duncan, Abbott, and Free all voting in favor to table the item. Council Member Tim Abbott motioned to adjourn the meeting. Council Member Greg Free seconded the motion. The motion was carried with Mayor Pro Tem Turner, Council Members Duncan, Abbott, and Free all voting in favor. With no further discussion the meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.