City Council

Page 1 of 5 The regular meeting of the Mayor and Council was held in the Council room of West Point City Hall January 13, 2020 at 5:30 P.M. with Mayor Steven M. Tramell presiding. Members Present: Members Absent: Mayor Pro-Tempore Joseph R. Downs III Councilmember Gloria R. Marshall Councilmember Alanteo “Henry” Hutchinson Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter Councilmember Sandra Thornton Councilmember Benjamin F. Wilcox Mayor Tramell called Gretchen Holloway of Rehoboth Missionary Baptist Church of Valley, Al. for opening prayer. Fire Chief Milton Smith led the Pledge of allegiance. Mayor Tramell called the meeting of the Council to order and welcomed everyone. Mayor Tramell thanked Commissioner Lewis Davis for his support and for attending our meetings. MINUTES Mayor Tramell asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the December 9, 2019 regular meeting. Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter made said motion and was seconded by Councilmember Sandra Thornton; the minutes were approved unanimously without change. FINANCIAL REPORT Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter presented the December financial report with the January cash position and forecast and made a motion to accept the report; motion seconded by Councilmember Sandra Thornton and passed unanimously. AGENDA Mayor Tramell asked for a motion to approve the agenda. Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made said motion and seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter and passed unanimously. 1 Page 2 of 5 PROCLAMATION FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH Mayor Tramell read a proclamation proclaiming Human Trafficking Awareness Month in the City of West Point. Human Trafficking is modern day slavery that involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Mayor Tramell presented the proclamation to Renew Hope which is under the Circle of Care. Adrian Carpenter Chairman of the Task Force along with Elizabeth Lester, Martha Scott, and Carol Bergh were present to receive the proclamation. OATH OF OFFICE (ELECTED OFFICIALS) City Attorney Jeff Todd administered the Oath of Office to Mayor Steve Tramell, Councilmember Sandra Thornton, Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter, and Councilmember Deedee Williams. ELECTION MAYOR PRO-TEM Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to appoint Councilmember Henry Hutchinson as Mayor Pro-Tempore to serve a One (1) year term and until a successor is elected and qualified. Councilmember Sandra Thornton seconded the motion; passed unanimously. 2020 COUNCIL MEETING DATES AND TIMES Councilmember Deedee Williams made a motion to adopt the 2020 City Council Meeting Schedule as proposed. The schedule is in the Council packet. Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III seconded the motion; passed unanimously. 2020 APPOINTMENT OF CITY OFFICERS:  MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE Councilmember Sandra Thornton made a motion to Wesley Leonard as Municipal Court Judge. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter; passed unanimously.  MUNICIPAL COURT RECORDER TEMPORE (ASSISTANT JUDGE) Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter made a motion to appoint Benjamin F. Wilcox as Municipal Court Recorder Tempore Assistant Judge. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; passed unanimously.  MUNICIPAL COURT PROSECUTING ATTORNEY Councilmember Henry Hutchinson made a motion to appoint Mark Carlton as Municipal Court Prosecuting Attorney. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Sandra Thornton; passed unanimously. 2 Page 3 of 5  MUNICIPAL COURT ASSISTANT PROSECUTING ATTORNEY Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to appoint Jeffery M. Todd as Assistant Municipal Court Prosecuting Attorney. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter; passed unanimously.  MUNICIPAL COURT PUBLIC DEFENDER Councilmember Deedee Williams made a motion to appoint Luther Jones as Municipal Court Public Defender. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Sandra Thornton; passed unanimously.  APPOINTMENT CITY ATTORNEY Councilmember Sandra Thornton made a motion to appoint Jeffery M. Todd as City Attorney. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; passed unanimously. SWEARING IN OF CITY ATTORNEY Mayor Steven Tramell administered the oath of office to City Attorney and Assistant prosecuting Attorney Jeffery M. Todd. SWEARING IN OF MUNICIPAL COURT STAFF City Attorney Jeffery M. Todd administered the oath of office to Wesley Leonard the Municipal Court Judge and Benjamin F. Wilcox as the Municipal Court Recorder Tempore Assistant Municipal Court Judge. 2019 BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter made a motion to appoint Larry Duncan to serve a 3-year term on the Historic Preservation Commission. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; passed unanimously. Councilmember Henry Hutchinson made a motion to appoint Joe Thompson to serve a 3- year term on the Historic Preservation Commission. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; passed unanimously. Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to appoint Henry Hutchinson to serve a 3-year term on the Troup County Parks and Recreation Commission. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter; passed unanimously. Councilmember Deedee Williams made a motion to appoint Josh Moon to serve a 5-year term on the West Point Development Authority. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III. During the discussion, Councilmember Deedee Williams asked about the 5-year term limit. City Manager Ed Moon stated it has always been a 5-year term. The motion passed unanimously. 3 Page 4 of 5 GEMBS RESTATED DEFINED BENEFIT RETIREMENT PLAN Councilmember Sandra Thornton made a motion to approve the restated defined benefit retirement plan submitted to the City by the Georgia Municipal Association. The restated plan assures that employees are allowed to accrue benefits tax-free until retirement benefits are distributed to them. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; During the discussion, Councilmember Deedee Williams stated she wanted to continue the discussion about the issue of In- Service distribution. The motion passed unanimously. RESOLUTION TO UPDATE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter made a motion to approve an updated water conservation plan that is prepared in accordance with requirements of Rule 391-3- 6.07(4)(b)8 and published guidelines of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Henry Hutchinson; passed unanimously. SERVICE DELIVERY STRATEGY UPDATE CONSULTANT Councilmember Henry Hutchinson made a motion to enter into an agreement with Pelican Consulting to provide services associated with the renegotiation of the Troup County Service Delivery Strategy. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Sandra Thornton; passed unanimously. SLUDGE DISPOSAL Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to enter into an agreement with Jack Robertson to receive and land apply biosolids on his property located in Alabama. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter; passed unanimously. OTHER Councilmember Sandra Thornton asked everyone to attend the MLK Unity breakfast on January 20th at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church LaFayette, Al beginning at 8:00 a.m. central time. Mr. Orentha Holloway will be the speaker. She also stated the Black History Program will be February 22, 2020 at the West Point Gym. Councilmember Deedee Williams asked everyone to attend the Troup County Transit Board Level 1 Training that will take place in LaGrange. ADJOURN Mayor Tramell asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made said motion and seconded by Councilmember Sandra Thornton; passed unanimously. 4 Page 5 of 5 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. ________________________ ______________________ Richard McCoy Steven M. Tramell City Clerk Mayor 5