City Council

December 6, 2021 City Council Meeting Minutes 6:00 PM The regularly scheduled meeting of the Mayor and Council for the City of Gray, Georgia was held on Monday, December 6, 2021 at 6:00pm in the D.V. Childs Civic Center. Present: Mayor Ed Barbee, Mayor Pro Tem James Collins, Council Members Terry Favors, David Tufts, and Terrell Fulford, City Attorney John Newberry, Police Chief Adam Lowe, City Clerk Cindy Yancey and Assistant City Clerk Ashley Roberson. Guests: Tim Pitrowski, Donnie Melton, John Daugherty, Debbie Lurie-Smith, The Jones County News. Mayor Barbee called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. Councilman Tufts gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Tufts made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fulford, and unanimously voted to approve the December 6, 2021 agenda. APPROVED 4-0 Councilman Tufts made a motion, seconded by Councilman Favors, and unanimously voted to approve the November minutes. APPROVED 4-0 Councilman Fulford made a motion, seconded by Councilman Favors, and unanimously voted to approve the November accounts payable. APPROVED 4-0 Mayor’s Report: • No report. Old Business: 1. Second Reading: An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Gray, Georgia to amend Chapter 70, Article I, Section 70-2 of the Code of the City of Gray, Georgia so as to amend and increase the water and sewer minimum usage rates; and for other purposes. Councilman Fulford made a motion to approve the Ordinance, it was seconded by Councilman Tufts, Councilman Favors voted in favor of the motion, Mayor Pro Tem Collins voted in opposition. Ordinance 21-O-003 approved. APPROVED 3-1 New Business: 1. P&Z Hearing: Item A: Pro-Signs, Inc: Requests a variance to allow a commercial free-standing sign to be taller that the maximum height allowed. Property is located at 211 West Clinton Street, and consists of 2.41 +/- acres, zoned C-2 (General Commercial). Mayor Pro Tem Collins made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fulford, and unanimously voted to close the Council Meeting and go into a P&Z Hearing. APPROVED 4-0 Planning & Zoning Director Tim Pitrowski presented the request to Mayor and Council. Page Two City Council Meeting Minutes December 6, 2021 Ginger Hickey with Jack’s Family Restaurants was not present but spoke in favor of the variance, stating that three trees at the orthodontist’s office next door would block the sign at the maximum height of 25 feet. They are requesting 35 feet. Donnie Melton of Fraley Street spoke in opposition of the variance request. He stated that the ordinance is a good ordinance and all of the other restaurants comply with it as is so he does not believe it would be fair to approve the variance. Councilman Fulford made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Collis, and unanimously voted to close the P&Z Hearing and reopen the Council Meeting. APPROVED 4-0 Councilman Fulford made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Collins, and unanimously voted to deny the variance request. APPROVED 4-0 2. A Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of Gray, Georgia to supplement the General Appropriations Resolution passed by Mayor and Council the 5th day of October 2020, for fiscal year 2021; and for other purposes. • Sale of fire truck Councilman Fulford made a motion, seconded by Councilman Tufts, and unanimously voted to approve Resolution 21-R-024. APPROVED 4-0 3. A Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of Gray, Georgia to supplement the General Appropriations Resolution passed by Mayor and Council the 5th day of October 2020, for fiscal year 2021; and for other purposes. • Fire Department contribution Councilman Fulford made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Collins, and unanimously voted to approve Resolution 21-R-025. APPROVED 4-0 4. Approval of Christmas bonuses: $100.00 for FT employees with 1 or more years of service. $50.00 for FT employees with 6 months – 1 year of service. $50.00 for PT employees with 1 or more years of service. $25.00 for PT employees with 6 months – 1 year of service $25.00 for all employees with less than 6 months of service. Mayor Pro Tem Collins made a motion, seconded by Councilman Tufts, and unanimously voted to approve the employee Christmas bonuses. APPROVED 4-0 5. Mayor Pro Tem Collins – Waste Management • Mayor Pro Tem Collins suggested that City Attorney Newberry send a letter to Waste Management notifying them that we are unhappy with their service, and they are in breach of our contract. City Attorney Newberry explained that he reviewed the contract and with Council’s approval he will send a letter and they have twenty days to respond and make necessary changes. • The consensus of Council was for Newberry to send the letter. Page Three City Council Meeting Minutes December 6, 2021 6. 2021 Tree City USA application certification Councilman Tufts made a motion, seconded by Councilman Favors, and unanimously voted to approve Mayor Barbee to sign the application for Tree City USA board. APPROVED 4-0 7. Ratify authorization for Mayor Barbee to sign a letter of support for the health department grant application for building renovations. Mayor Pro Tem Collins made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fulford, and unanimously voted to ratify authorization for Mayor Barbee to sign the letter of support. APPROVED 4-0 8. Authorization for Mayor Barbee to sign the 2022 LMIG application listing the following streets: • Stonegables Court – 396 Stonegables to the culdesac. • Amanda Dr./Amy Lane – 203 Amy Lane to 376 Amanda Drive • Tanglewood Drive Mayor Pro Tem Collins made a motion to amend the list to add Tanglewood Drive and approve the street list, seconded by Councilman Favors, and unanimously voted to authorize Mayor Barbee to sign the application. APPROVED 4-0 9. Executive Session (Real Estate Acquisition) Public Comments: • Debbie Lurie Smith reminded Mayor and Council of the Joint Meeting to be held Thursday, December 9th at 6:00pm at Butler Hall. Susan Holmes and Dale Washburn would be in attendance. Mayor Pro Tem Collins made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fulford, and unanimously voted to close the Council Meeting and go into Executive Session regarding real estate acquisition. APPROVED 4-0 The open meeting resumed. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. ________________________________ Assistant City Clerk