City Council

P age |1 Minutes Forsyth City Council Meeting November 15, 2021 Call to Order Mayor Wilson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance, Invocation and Roll Call Mayor Wilson led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Stroud gave the invocation. In attendance for the meeting was Mayor Eric Wilson, Councilmembers Greg Goolsby, Julius Stroud, Mike Dodd, Melvin Lawrence, Chris Hewett, and John Howard. Also in attendance for the meeting was City Manager, Janice Hall; City Attorney, Bobby Melton, and City Clerk, Regina Ivie. All members of council were in attendance for the meeting therefore all unanimous votes will be six votes (Goolsby, Stroud, Dodd, Lawrence, Hewett, and Howard). Approval of the Agenda Mr. Hewett offered a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Seconded by Mr. Lawrence; the motion carried unanimously. Approval of the Minutes from the Council Meeting on October 18, 2021 Mr. Goolsby offered a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Mr. Hewett; the motion carried unanimously. Introduction of employees – City Hall Staff Mrs. Ivie introduced the City Hall staff; Janet Eldridge, Utility Billing Clerk; Lyn Standifer, Receptionist; Lisa Roberts, Accounts Payable/Payroll/Human Resources Clerk; and Shayla Furlow, Customer Service Representative. Ms. Roberts and Ms. Furlow are recent hires within the administration department. Ms. Hall introduced Frank Wilder, Main Street Coordinator who began working for the City in October. Approval of application of Mohammad A. Rupani for Forsyth Stop LLC for a license for the sale of alcoholic beverages. Mr. Melton stated the application is for the sale of alcoholic beverages (beer/malt-package; and wine package). The applicant is Mohammad A Rupani, Forsyth Stop LLC. At 33 S. Jackson Street; tax parcel F27 040. The notice was published in the Monroe Reporter on November 3, and 10, 2021. Mr. Dodd offered a motion to approve the application as presented. Seconded by Mr. Stroud. After some discussion the motion carried with five votes (Goolsby, Howard, Lawrence, Dodd, and Hewett) and one vote against (Stroud). Approval of a street closure request change for the tree lighting event Mr. Hewett offered a motion to approve change of the date of the street closure request as presented. Seconded by Mr. Stroud; the motion carried unanimously. Approval of preliminary plat approval for Fox Run Subdivision Ms. Hall stated previously Howell Newton and George Emami reviewed the plans for this land at a previous council meeting. Per the subdivision ordinance the preliminary plat must be reviewed by Planning & Zoning for approval before it’s presented to City Council. Planning & Zoning approved the preliminary plat. Mr. Goolsby offered a motion to approve the preliminary plat. Seconded by Mr. Lawrence; the motion carried unanimously. Approval of temporary alcohol permits for Old Mill Market Ms. Hall stated two separate temporary one day permits are being requested, December 7th and December 14th 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Six are allowed per year, one was previously approved in October 2021. Forsyth City Council – November 15, 2021  P age |2 Mr. Stroud offered a motion to approve the temporary alcohol permits as presented. Seconded by Mr. Hewett; the motion carried unanimously. Electric Cities of Georgia Official Ballot Mr. Dodd offered a motion to allow Mayor Wilson to vote on behalf of the city for the Electric Cities Board Election. Seconded by Mr. Hewett; the motion carried unanimously. Approval of off system sales margins for power supply year 2022 Mr. Hewett offered a motion to approve a deposit of the off-system energy sales margins into the Flexible Operating Account, Intermediate Extended Maturity Portfolio per Ms. Hall’s recommendation. Seconded by Mr. Dodd; the motion carried unanimously. Approval of Requisitions Greater than $5,000 Core & Main $37,830.64 Core & Main $162,500.00 Georgia Hydrant $17,000.00 Calibration Controls Automation Inc $5,770.46 GoForth Williamson, Inc $10,840.00 Davis Plumbing $16,800.00 Mr. Stroud offered a motion to approve the requisitions as presented. Seconded by Mr. Dodd; the motion carried unanimously. City Manager’s Report Ms. Hall provided the following report: • Holiday request for upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays – will not allow departments to close ½ day before Thanksgiving or Christmas; may have drive-thru only open after lunch on day before both holidays. Thanksgiving holiday is 11/25-11/26. With Christmas Day on Saturday, I gave department heads option to take either Thursday or Monday. All agreed to take Thursday and Friday, 12/23 & 12/24 for 2 days for Christmas. • Electric and Public Works crews are working on putting up Christmas lights and decorations. Mike is working on lighting for trunks of trees downtown. Replacement bulbs are the issue right now as price has tripled and availability is low. • Chamber Christmas parade will be December 2 with same route as previous years with possibly one change to end route at BOE/Fine Arts building rather than East Main/Agnes Street. If any elected officials want to participate in the parade, we need to let the Chamber know this week. • Revisions and corrections have been made to the Tax Agreement with Monroe County and Tax Commissioner and the revised Agreement will be signed and submitted to them for their signatures. • Working with Code Enforcement and Housing Authority on several blighted properties that have been on the “in progress list” for quite some time to have those presented to City Council to be deemed as blighted properties so that we can move forward in the process of having those structures demolished and liens filed against the properties. Should have that ready and before you at the next meeting. • Continue to work on the 2022 budget. Please let me know if you have questions regarding the printouts that were previously provided. • Meeting with CGEMC in reference to service areas for Phase 2 of Juliette Commons. Should have final from CGEMC soon so that can be approved by council. Their line runs through the subdivision so that provides them with territory within our corridor. • First Baptist Church wants to install a crosswalk on King Street from back of Church to lots across King Street. • Closeout public hearing for CDBG for Blount Street waterline project will be Thursday, December 2 at 2:00 pm. The Regional Commission will conduct the public hearing. • Public hearings for 12/6 council meeting for variances for Jane Pennington for duplexes on Freeman Road and George Emami for townhomes on Lovers Lane. Forsyth City Council – November 15, 2021  P age |3 1st responder supplement by Governor Kemp and Christmas bonus discussion 1. Discussed at last council meeting to match the 1st Responder Supplement to all employees based on same qualifications as the Supplement. $1,000 to all fulltime and $300 to all part time (supplement did not include part time only volunteers; we do not have volunteers so applied this part of Supplement to part time employees). a. Would reimburse amounts to public safety from ARPA funds if confirmation received that this is an eligible expense. I feel that it is, but still waiting on official confirmation. b. Total match for 16 PT and 71 FT would be $81,758.65 2. When previously discussed, I recommended proceeding with match as the Christmas bonus, but council stated did not want this to be instead of the regular bonus. a. Paid $28,046.95 in Christmas bonuses for 2020 b. Total for 2021 would be $27,505.54 if keep same pay as i. Part time net of $150 ii. Fulltime less than 1 year $200 iii. Fulltime greater than 1 year $350 3. If match the Governors Supplement and pay Christmas bonus totals would be: a. $109,264.19 if not eligible for reimbursement from ARPA funds b. $72,987.34 if eligible for reimbursement from ARPA funds Mr. Hewett offered a motion to approve a supplement bonus and Christmas bonus for all employees. Option 3 a. from Ms. Hall’s report $109,264.19 if not eligible for reimbursement from ARPA funds. Seconded by Mr. Stroud; the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Stroud requested an update periodically on blighted properties in the City. Ms. Hall stated that issue was discussed at the most recent Housing Authority meeting; steps have begun to deem those as blighted property with Council’s approval once a list is compiled by the code enforcement officer, Jeremy Malone. Mr. Lawrence inquired about recent submissions of traffic calming policies for Brookwood and Jones Street. Ms. Hall stated speed detection signs have been moved to Brookwood; several residents have complained they do not want the speed bumps. Mr. Howard stated Brookwood needs repairs. City Attorney Report Mr. Melton stated an ordinance is currently being advertised for the December 6th council meeting for Lover’s Lane; to rezone to RM (Residential Multi-family) with a variance for setback provisions. Planning and Zoning specifically requested child safety metal fencing; that’ll be a restriction. Mr. Melton further stated an ordinance is being advertised for the December 6th council meeting for property on Freeman; to rezone the property to RM (Residential Multi-family) with a variance for setback provisions based on the diameter of the lots. Mayor’s Report Mayor Wilson stated he recently attended the MEAG Mayor’s Summit; good information was received regarding the state of public power in Georgia and other states, a good review of the political landscape locally and nationally and how that impacts power. Mayor Wilson expressed his humble appreciation for recently being selected to be Chairman of the Georgia Association of Regional Commission. Additional Business Mr. Stroud requested the park engineer attend the retreat in January 2022; to begin compiling action items for the parks. He would like the board appointments on the December 6th council meeting; to vote at the December 20th meeting and be sworn in at the first meeting in 2022. Public Comments Mr. James Green at 73 Blount Street expressed his appreciation for the expedient way the recent planning & zoning issue was resolved. Mr. Green read a letter regarding sewer lines and drainage issues at 276 MLK Drive. He further mentioned issues with Paul James Street while using gps. Forsyth City Council – November 15, 2021  P age |4 Executive Session Mr. Hewett offered a motion at 6:50 p.m. to adjourn into executive session to discuss property acquisition and personnel matters. Seconded by Mr. Stroud; the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Goolsby offered a motion to adjourn the executive session and return to open session at 7:16 p.m. Seconded by Mr. Hewett; the motion carried unanimously. Adjourn There being no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m. Forsyth City Council – November 15, 2021