---
date: 2014-03-10
title: March 10, 2014 Minutes
source: 2014-03/2014-03-10_March 10, 2014_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

March 10, 2014

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2014 6:00 pm

City Council
Administration
Tim L. Thompson, Mayor Hugh
Austin, Chief Executive Assistant
Alphonso Thomas, Mayor Pro Tem Stephanie
Tigner, Interim City Clerk
Robin Buschman, Councilwoman Mike
Williams, City Attorney
Anthony S. Ford, Councilman
LaKeisha Gantt, Councilwoman
Richard Steinberg, Councilman

Call to Order by Mayor Thompson at 6:02pm

Invocation provided by Mildred Reed

Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison

Adopt Agenda; Lakeisha Gantt made a motion to remove items #4 and #6 and move item #11
st
to end of the agenda after executive session; move items #13 and #14 to the April 1 2014
Work Session agenda and to change the word readopt to amend on item 10; a second was
made by Anthony S. Ford; the motion passed 5-0.

PRESENTATION

Item #1-Presented by Mayor Tim L. Thompson

Presentation: State of the City Address presented by Mayor Tim L. Thompson; Mayor
Thompson delivered the State of the City Address.

Good evening, after just over two months in office, I am coming before you this evening to
report on the state of the City of Stockbridge. Normally an address like this would come with lots
of hoopla and excitement. It is supposed to be an opportunity to share with the community all of
the good things that have been done and a bright vision for the future of our City.
Tonight I WILL be speaking about a bright future for our great City. But unfortunately I cannot
begin by speaking positively on the current state of the City. That is because the previous
Mayor, the previous City Council and the previous City Manager left this City in complete
shambles. Actually, that is putting it mildly. To be blunt, we have inherited a disaster!

When I was elected last November, I reached out to the previous administration in an effort to
work together to provide for a smooth transition; there was no smooth transition; there was no
cooperation; there was no meaningful dialog. There was no effort whatsoever to see to it that
the needs and interests of the people of Stockbridge were attended to. At the time, I believed
that this lack of common courtesy and respect was nothing more than the after-effect of a bitter
campaign season. However, I also believed that the previous administration could rise above
any bitterness and put the past behind us. I could not have been more wrong.
Instead of working together to move the City forward, they were busy over the last two months
of 2013 attempting to dismantle the City. As a matter of fact they have made it almost
impossible for us to hit the ground running. I have spent the last two months cleaning up one
mess after another, and I fear we may not have yet discovered the worst. Tonight I am going to
catalog a few of the problems we have discovered so far. I am also going to tell you what we
have done or what we are going to do to address these problems. Let’s begin with the money.
Many of you were here a few weeks ago when our auditor presented the results from the audit
for the year ended December 31, 2012. We were told by the auditor that the results were not
made available in a public presentation because the prior administration did not want the results
to be made public. I am certain that those of you who heard the auditor now know why…findings
related to unreconciled and out of balance cash accounts, lapses in internal controls, un posted
journal entries and year end account balances that did not agree with the periodic financial
statements. The audit has been late 2 years in a row, at no fault of the Auditor. For the last
couple of years, the previous City Manager (who also served as the City Treasurer) saw to it
that our books were not properly kept – so much so that at any given time the City could not
truly determine how much money it had on hand. I cannot determine whether this was
intentional or not. But the City Manager and the previous Council and Mayor were fully aware of
these deficiencies. Yet nothing was done to address the problem. Let me repeat that.
NOTHING was done to address the problem. Now I am a business man. I know many of you
run businesses as well. But you don’t have to be a business owner or an accountant to have
common sense. My common sense tells me that you can’t run a City without knowing how
much money you have in the bank. Perhaps in prior years, they could have gotten away with
such cavalier behavior in managing the City’s finances because we had such high bank
balances in our general fund. As you may have heard from the auditor, the City had over $8
million in its unrestricted general fund balance at the end of 2012. For a City with a budget the
size of ours, that’s an excellent position to be in. I might not be here today speaking about our
dire financial position if we still had $8 million in the bank. But as you know, this past December,
the previous administration – without knowing exactly how much money we had in the bank –
decided to go on a breathtaking spending spree, spending millions to buy property which it then
turned around and gave away to seven people who claim to be operating as a Downtown
Development Authority. Let me say that again, they simply gave the property away for nothing
in return. Then, to make matters worse, they gave the so-called Downtown Development
Authority $6 million MORE dollars to fund the acquisition of a failed business park.
But wait….it gets even worse! They obligated the City to pay an additional $15 million to the so-
called Downtown Development Authority in order to complete the acquisition of the failed
business park and tied up half the City’s franchise fee revenue for 30 years. And if for some
reason the DDA and the City don’t have the money to repay the debt, they bound us to impose
a property tax for the first time in decades. All of this happened in the lame duck period last
November and December. I am here to tell you today that as of January 1, when I took office
along with Mr. Ford and Mrs. Gantt, the City no longer had $8 million in the bank. In fact, we
had no idea how much money we had in the bank. The previous administration did all this in
secret behind closed doors. Now that you know what they were doing, all the secrecy makes
sense doesn’t it? President Kennedy once said: “The very word 'secrecy' is repugnant in a free
and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret
societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings.” My colleagues and I share that view.
That is why we have pledged to the greatest extent possible to limit our need for executive
session meetings, so that everything we do is done in the open. Now I will speak further about
the so called Downtown Development Authority later. But first I want to speak to the state of the
st
administrative offices when our terms began on January 1 (And I don’t need to talk about the
previous administration’s attempt to violate the City Charter by refusing to allow us to take office
st
on January 1 .) As you know, the former City Manager took advantage of a loophole in his
contract – which was approved by the previous administration when he was appointed. Last
December that same administration gave him sterling reviews and a substantial pay-raise. And
then two weeks later, they allegedly asked for his resignation for which he got a $50,000
sweetheart deal severance package. He also received an additional $15,000 to reimburse him
for job hunting expenses, even though he did not present any receipts to show he actually
incurred any expenses. We are working to correct that last piece. In any event, after
inappropriately removing millions of dollars from the City’s bank accounts, I believe the previous
administration further saw to it to improperly insure that the previous City Manager personally
walked away with tens of thousands of dollars. When I took office, we had no City Manager. At
a last minute special called meeting in late December the prior City Council and Mayor voted to
amend the organizational chart which eliminated a senior finance administration position, the
deputy city clerk position and the economic development director’s position – for which she got
a significant “severance” package. Then the new City Council had to terminate the City Clerk
for participating in the attempt to violate the Charter by refusing to recognize the new members’
terms of office. Then two weeks later our Chief Information Officer resigned. Making matters
worse, the former City Manager’s office was cleared of physical files, and our IT consultant has
discovered that he apparently deleted a large number of e-mails from the City’s computers.
But perhaps one of the biggest problems administratively was the culture of fear that existed
within the staff. Apparently, the previous City Manager managed through fear and intimidation.
I want to make a point to say we have an excellent group of city employees. The vast majority
just want to do their jobs and do them well. They don’t care about the politics. They just want to
do right by the people of Stockbridge, as you all witnessed during our recent snow storms.
The previous administration poorly served our employees, but we are changing that.
During this interim period, I have been serving a duel role as the City’s Chief Executive Officer
and City Manager to keep the City running properly. I do have first-hand knowledge of the
problems left to us by the previous administration. Let me first talk about our police department.
One of the last acts of the previous Mayor was to inform the Henry County Police Department
that we would no longer be using them for law enforcement within the City limits of Stockbridge
and furthermore we would no longer be paying for it. Now thankfully, our County Commission
Chairman Tommy Smith and Chief Nichols have a sense of decency and honor about them.
For the time being, Henry County is continuing to provide enhanced police services for the City.
Can you imagine what would have happened if they had decided not to? Stockbridge would
have been a sitting duck for criminal activity. Urgent calls for police assistance would have
gone unanswered. Why did the previous Mayor do this? Was there something he was afraid
of? Now it has been said that this action was fully vetted and approved by the prior City Council
– which isn’t saying much. It is said that the intent was for Stockbridge to build its own police
force. Indeed the records do seem to indicate that this was the direction the prior Council
wanted to go in. Yet, they did not take any meaningful action to put their plans into motion:
Did the City hire a police chief? No. Did the City hire any police officers? No. Did the City
purchase any squad cars? No. Radios? No. Guns? No. Did the City even bother purchase a
single pair of handcuffs? Absolutely not. The Mayor could have sent a letter to Henry County to
open a dialog as to how to phase-out their police services as the City phased-in its own force.
Instead, the previous Mayor somehow felt that it was appropriate to cancel police services
altogether. Now I want to add that the whole concept of creating a new Stockbridge police force
is utterly laughable when you factor into the equation the fact that the very same Council spent
virtually our entire fund balance on a failed office park in December and pledged an addition
$1.5 million per year to the so-called Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority. So I ask
the question: with what money could we have started our own police force? So I am happy to
note that we are taking action tonight in amending our budget to restore funding for this critical
service for our residents. Now I have already discussed the situation with our planning and
zoning services at prior Council meetings. I won’t belabor the point, but I would be remiss in
failing to point out that the previous Mayor also asked Henry County to cease providing planning
and zoning services. Now, let me turn to one of the biggest sources of controversy and a major
challenge for the City going forward. I have already mentioned the City’s acquisition of a failed
business park through the so-called Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority. Let me get
a little more specific about the problems we have inherited in this “deal.” Now remember what I
was saying earlier about common sense? Well in order for you to believe anything you’ve heard
from the so-called Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority, you have to throw away all
your common sense. As you know by now, the City is engaged in litigation with the so-called
Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority. So I will be careful in discussing this matter.
Let me first remind you that the City gave over $6 million dollars in December to seven
individuals purporting to operate as the Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority.
These seven individuals then went out and purchased portions of a failed office park.
Now what would make someone go out of their way to purchase a failed business park? After
all, it didn’t work the first time. And the economy has not fully recovered yet. I am not aware of
a scramble for new office space. Just what would possess someone to spend millions of dollars
on a failed business park that has sat dormant for years? World Internet Group. That
underwhelmed response you just heard pretty much sums it all up. If this were Google, Apple,
Qualcom or Microsoft, we’d all be singing a different tune. But it isn’t.
It’s World Internet Group. The company that Stockbridge, gave a HALF A MILLION DOLLARS
to as an incentive to relocate here. Who or what is World Internet Group? That’s the question
I’ve been asking for months now. Before I took office, the previous administration was extremely
secretive about World Internet Group. The referred to a confidentiality agreement they had
signed that prevented them from discussing the company publicly. They used that same
confidentiality agreement to improperly justify secret discussions of the company behind closed
doors. Now that I have taken office, I can plainly tell you that we do not know any more about
World Internet Group than we did before I took office. I can confidently state that my colleagues
here on this Council who were part of the previous Council do not have any greater
understanding than I do at this point. Who is World Internet Group? And what is it about them
that justified the squandering of millions of taxpayer dollars on a failed office park? We were
promised thousands of new jobs. We were led to believe that World Internet Group was a large
global company. We were led to believe that the company would be investing millions of dollars
here in Stockbridge. In short, we were lied to. Our new City Attorneys have been trying to get to
the bottom of this. Here are some of the things we have learned: According to World Internet
Group’s attorneys, the company “has never held itself out to be a large company.”
In fact, the Company has only agreed to create 70 jobs over 2 years. Not thousands, 70; and
there are no penalties for failure to perform. No independent due-diligence of any kind was done
on the credit-worthiness and ability of World Internet group to perform. Neither the current
attorney for the so-called DDA nor the previous attorney (who was also the previous City
Attorney) did any due diligence. The previous City Council and the alleged DDA board members
have all relied on one person’s word that World Internet Group is a reliable partner.
The one person who claims to have done any due diligence at all on World Internet Group is the
Chairman of the so-called Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority. He is the common
denominator in all of this. Would it surprise anyone to know that this was the person who
originally attempted to develop the business park? The fact is that he IS the original developer
of record for this failed business park. Now as the chairman of the so-called Stockbridge
Downtown Development Authority, he is attempting to rehabilitate this failed project. And he is
seeing to it that his family is profiting on the deal. Would it surprise you to learn that his own son
walked away with over $130,000 in real-estate commission from tax-payer dollars on this deal?
This is true. Would it surprise you to learn that the Chairman was warned by the previous City
Attorney to recuse himself from the deal but failed to do so? This is true. The Chairman is going
to tell you that he did recuse himself on one vote in November. That is partially true. However,
the minutes of the so-called DDA show that ever since then he has been the single biggest
cheerleader for the project, presiding over discussions within the so-called DDA and voting on
matters pertaining to this project, participating in the closings and otherwise shepherding the
project on behalf of the so-called DDA. The fact is, if you can believe him, he was the only
person to conduct any due diligence on the project and that the prior City Council and the so-
called DDA relied exclusively on the chairman makes it clear to me that he did not fully recuse
himself at all. Now this address is not about the chairman, so I will leave it at that. But I did feel it
was important for you to understand that the prior City Council voted for the City to guarantee
up to $20 million dollars all on an extremely speculative real estate deal.
We have inherited a mess. So what are we doing about it? It is my hope that going forward, this
new Mayor and all of the Council will make diligent strides to work together.
First we need to restore trust of the citizens of Stockbridge. That is why we want to do
everything in an open and transparent manner by limiting our closed sessions as much as
possible. We will develop ways to better communicate with the citizens of Stockbridge and
receive their input. Second, we need to get a firm handle on our financial affairs. We have
already in these two months put together an action plan to get our books current and that plan is
underway. Third, we are taking steps to empower the staff to do their jobs in a professional
manner, with no threats of intimidation, retaliation, or micromanagement as was the case under
the previous administration. Going forward, senior staff will be invited to contribute toward the
development of the Council’s agenda and will be allowed to participate in work session and
council meetings. Fourth, we need to insure that we are doing everything possible to
appropriately match our resources to the governmental services we provide, especially in the
area of public safety. Finally, we will implement a sound economic development policy and
insure that all projects receive the necessary due diligence the people of Stockbridge deserve.
More details about this will be forthcoming in the near future. There is a lot of work to be done.
We hope that you’ll be patient with us as we move forward. We need your prayers and support.
We need your help. Thank you. May God bless Stockbridge, the State of Georgia and the
United States of America.

Item #2-Presented by Mayor Tim L. Thompson

Presentation: Presentation by Henry County Police Chief Keith Nichols and Deputy Chief Joe
Jackson and staff; Police Chief Keith Nichols provided Mayor and Council with some history of
his public service career. He then introduced EMA Director Don Ash who explained how 911
calls are dispatched. Captain Scott Gray provided background information and explained police
coverage for the City of Stockbridge. Chief Nichols introduced Deputy Chief Joe Jackson.
Deputy Chief Jackson provided Mayor and Council background information and provided crime
statistics. Chief Keith Nichols concluded the presentation. Anthony S. Ford thanked everyone
who presented. He asked if the data presented covered the north precinct and not just the City
of Stockbridge. Chief Nichols stated “yes”. Lakeisha Gantt asked about the (2) additional police
officers and the extra services. Police Chief Keith Nichols explained the SDS Report Exhibit D
and the reference to (2) police officers. He said he does not know anything about the (2) extra
police officers. Richard Steinberg asked what police services the city would receive for $500k.
Alphonso Thomas said the presentation made it clear as to what the $500k for police services is
for. He said there are (28) officers responding in the COS every day. Richard Steinberg asked if
the force is short staffed in the north precinct. Police Chief Nichols stated the county has lost 20
positions since 2008; we are 15 officers short county wide. Robin Buschman thanked Henry
County police for coming out. She asked for clarification on the police precinct, county taxes and
the additional police officers. Chief Nichols provided an explanation of the previous
administration intentions in regards to the (2) police officers. Lakeisha Gantt thanked Police
Chief Keith Nichols and staff for their presentation.

OLD BUSINESS

Item #3-Presented by Chief Executive Assistant, Hugh Austin

Permit: Approval of Six Month Conditional Use Permit for Islamic Society of South Atlanta;

Public Hearing required; Mayor Thompson opened the public hearing on the Six Month
Conditional Use Permit for Islamic Society of South Atlanta; He called for speakers in favor;
Houston Nelson 2504 Walter Way, spoke in favor of the conditional use permit for ISSA. He
said the organization is fantastic. He asked council to look into revising the process for religious
organizations. Mayor Thompson called for speakers against; there were no speakers; Richard
Steinberg made a motion to approve; a second was made by Robin Buschman; the motion
passed 5-0.

Item #4-Presented by Chief Executive Assistant, Hugh Austin
Permit: Application to receive a transient permit to sell fireworks; item was removed.

Item #5-Presented by Chief Executive Assistant, Hugh Austin

Board Appointment: Appointment of COS Representative to the Henry County Zoning
Advisory Board; Mayor Thompson called for nominees for the COS Representative to the Henry
County Zoning Advisory Board; Alphonso Thomas made a motion to table the item until further
notice; a second was made by Lakeisha Gantt; the motion passed 5-0.

Item #6-Presented by Mayor Pro Tem Alphonso Thomas

Ordinance: To repeal the Ordinance relating to miscellaneous provisions so as to create
provisions allowing festivals in the city; item was removed.

Item #7-Presented by Mayor Pro Tem Alphonso Thomas and Anthony S. Ford

Resolution: Adoption of the Memorial and Veterans Day Resolution; Mayor Pro Tem Alphonso
Thomas thanked Anthony S. Ford for cosponsoring the resolution. He said there was no
acknowledgement of the Veterans Day in 2013. Anthony S. Ford said this is great for COS and
Henry County and ask for the support of the Mayor and Council. Richard Steinberg initiated the
discussion to increase the fund plus 10%. Lakeisha Gantt made a motion to adopt the Memorial
and Veterans Day resolution; a second was made by Anthony S. Ford. After some discussion,
Lakeisha Gantt amended the original motion to adopt the Memorial and Veterans Day resolution
to include an increase of 10% for Memorial Day march in the amount not to exceed $6,566 and
Veterans Day Parade and Lunch in the amount not to exceed $11,583; a second was made by
Anthony S. Ford; the motion passed 5-0. Robin Buschman wanted to ensure that council is
diligent about getting businesses and volunteers involved and ensure that the funds are not
giving out as gratuity. Alphonso Thomas said these are city events and we are not asking
citizens to contribute.

Anthony S. Ford requested a (5) minute recess.

Item #8-Presented by Chief Executive Assistant, Hugh Austin

Ordinance: Re-Adoption of the Sign Ordinance; City Attorney Mike Williams provided an
overview of the revisions made to the sign ordinance. He said the amendment will allow for
multi-jurisdictional developments when part of the development is located in COS and part in
Henry County. Henry County Planning and Zoning staff will take this to the commission to
ensure that both areas would have the same plan. Mayor Thompson asked will this apply to all
communities. Robin Buschman asked if there is a glitch what would happen. Mike Williams said
staff would ensure consistency; we cannot force Henry County to move on this. Michael Harris
said we have reviewed our sign ordinance. We have received the draft language and has been
provided to the attorney for review. Mr. Harris stated we do not anticipate any problems;
Lakeisha Gantt made a motion to adopt the amended sign ordinance; a second was made by
Anthony S. Ford; the motion passed 5-0.

Item #9- Presented by Chief Executive Assistant, Hugh Austin

Ordinance: To Amend the 2014 Budget; Hugh Austin introduced Mike Bush. Mr. Bush stated
there were line items reduced in the budget and now the city has a savings of $437,613.83. The
savings total is $572,222.36 which will fund the following line items; $500k for police services;
$10k for police services for council meetings, $12,500 for Mayor and Council initiative or $2,500
per councilmember, $12,000 for court software, Administrative Assistant for Mayor and Council
and elimination of P&Z expenses and revenues in the amount of $194,751 each. Richard
Steinberg asked what line item would the $18k expenditure for the Memorial and Veterans Day
events come out of. Mike Bush said we can amend and add to the revenue or a new budget will
be brought back to the April meeting.

Lakeisha Gantt made a motion to pay for police services; she withdrew her motion. Lakeisha
Gantt made a motion to amend the budget line by line; a second was made by Anthony S. Ford;
after some discussion, Lakeisha Gantt made a motion to withdraw her motion.

Lakeisha Gantt made a motion to amend the budget and change the Administrative Assistant to
Executive Assistant to the Mayor and Council and increase the pay determined by the pay scale
and approve the budget line by line for the budget; Lakeisha Gantt withdrew her motion.

Alphonso Thomas made a motion to change Administrative Assistant to Executive Assistant 1
with a requirement of council appointment; a second was made by Anthony S. Ford;

Richard Steinberg asked what is the difference in job function and how would it affect the salary.
Alphonso Thomas explained the appointment by council and the job duties; the motion passed
3-2 with Robin Buschman and Richard Steinberg as opposed.

Alphonso Thomas made a motion to accept item #2 for police services as stated in the
proposed budget; a second was made by Lakeisha Gantt; the motion passed 4-0-1 with Robin
Buschman as opposed.

Alphonso Thomas made a motion to accept recommendations for police services for council
meetings; a second was made by Lakeisha Gantt; the motion passed 5-0.
Alphonso Thomas made a motion to approve contingency funds for council; a second was
made by Lakeisha Gantt; the motion passed; 3-2 with Robin Buschman and Richard Steinberg
as opposed.

Alphonso Thomas made a motion to accept additional cost for court software system
conversion; a second was made by Lakeisha Gantt; the motion passed 5-0.

Lakeisha Gantt made a motion to approve the savings listed on budget the amendment to
include the executive assistant, administration, court, Public Works, general liability, consulting
fees, sites, security upgrades, ad valorem taxes and Planning and Zoning; a second was made
by Anthony S. Ford; the motion passed 5-0.

Item #10- Presented by Chief Executive Assistant, Hugh Austin

Ordinance: To amend 2014 COS Organizational Chart; Alphonso Thomas made a motion to
approve the 2014 COS Organizational Chart; a second was made by Lakeisha Gantt; Anthony
S. Ford said the city needs a Deputy City Clerk to assist the Clerk and should be appointed as
the Clerk. Richard Steinberg said I made the suggestions last week because the city will be
dysfunctional if something should happen to the Clerk. Mayor Thompson asked if this could be
changed at the next meeting. City Attorney Mike William stated “yes”; after some discussion,
Alphonso Thomas withdrew his motion.

Alphonso Thomas made a motion to accept the organizational chart and to add under the City
Clerk a Deputy City Clerk at the next meeting and to amend the budget to compensate the
position; a second was made by Anthony S. Ford; 4-0-1 with Robin Buschman as opposed.

NEW BUSINESS

Item #12- Presented by Chief Executive Assistant, Hugh Austin

Agenda Item: Approval of Cash Bond Schedule; Lakeisha Gantt made a motion to approve the
Cash Bond Schedule; a second was made by Richard Steinberg; the motion passed 5-0.
Item #13- Presented by Chief Executive Assistant, Hugh Austin

Public Works Director Kevin Walters

Agreement: Award of Contract WWTP Sewer Design Construction; moved to April 1, 2014
Work Session

Item #14- Presented by Chief Executive Assistant Hugh Austin,

Public Works Director Kevin Walters

Agreement: Award of Contract Rock Quarry Water Main Relocation; moved to April 1, 2014
Work Session

Item # 15- Presented by City Attorney, Mike Williams

Executive Session: Personnel, Real Estate and Litigation; Alphonso Thomas made a motion to
o adjourn into Executive Session for items A, F and H to include a request to recuse Robin
Buschman and Richard Steinberg due to their support of the DDA; a second was made by
Lakeisha Gantt. Richard Steinberg vehemently disagreed with Mayor Pro Tem. He said
everyone has a right to agree or disagree on any topic that comes before us. Consequently, if
you were to remove me, it will only be from that item not the other items up for discussion.
Mayor Thompson said you took an oath of office for the COS not the DDA. Richard Steinberg
reiterated his objection of removal by members of the council. Robin Buschman respectfully
requested for her personnel item to go first in Executive Session. Alphonso Thomas stated a
motion is on floor and we need to vote on the motion. Richard Steinberg stated the city opens
itself up for litigation for removing him from attending the executive session. Lakeisha Gantt said
Richard Steinberg has signed a written affidavit on behalf of the DDA and gave it to opposing
counsel. Councilman Steinberg was aware that COS had filed additional litigation against the
DDA and for this reason I do feel this is a conflict. Mayor Thompson asked legal counsel for
clarification. City Attorney Mike Williams said there are items that councilmembers Steinberg
and Buschman can participate in; the motion passed 3-2 with Richard Steinberg and Robin
Buschman as opposed.

Alphonso Thomas made a motion to end Executive Session and to reconvene the meeting; a
second was made by Lakeisha Gantt; the motion passed 5-0.

Item #11-Presented by Chief Executive Assistant, Hugh Austin

Appointment: Selection of City Manager; Alphonso Thomas made a motion to accept the
Mayor’s nominee Michael Harris as City Manager; a second was made by Anthony S. Ford; for
the record, Richard Steinberg said there is a problem following policy and procedures. He said
the city has a formal policy and procedure that includes advertising positions including the city
manager. He spoke on an email regarding the procedure. He said the hiring of the new city
manager is illegal. Alphonso Thomas said I do not recall any advertising of the city manager
position voted and approved David Milliron. He asked how you can state that we are out of
compliance and you were a part of the council. Mayor deferred to the city attorney, you are not
bound by the process of the prior council. Lakeisha Gantt spoke on the process of selecting a
city manager. She said everyone has acknowledged two great candidates. She addressed her
concerns with her appointment as city solicitor in which no one opened up to me. Alphonso
Thomas stated I have remained the same. Mayor Thompson said having the right individual in
place is critical and move this city forward; the motion passed 3-2 with Richard Steinberg and
Robin Buschman as abstained.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

All Meetings Will Be Held At City Hall Unless Otherwise Noted. Meetings dates and times are
subject to change so please confirm with City Hall at 770.389.7900 or via
www.cityofstockbridge.com

• Work Session Meeting – April 1, 2014 at 6:00pm

PUBLIC COMMENTS

All persons wishing to speak for public comment must sign in with the City Clerk prior to the
beginning of the meeting. You must sign your name, address, and phone number. You will be
able to address the Mayor and Council for three (3) minutes.

1. Wendell Moore110 Misty Ridge Trail, addressed his concerns with code enforcement.
He spoke on parking on city streets and a city walking trail that is not properly
maintained.

2. Lenard Yancey 149 Misty Ridge Drive, addressed his concerns with parking. He said
emergency services are not able to pass due to people parking illegally on the streets.
He also spoke on patrons playing loud music in Memorial Park. He said there are no
signs in the park about playing loud music. He also requested more code enforcement
for holidays and weekends.

3. Vanessa Holiday, 708 Seline Court spoke on tough issues that council is dealing with.
She said things were done in the past improperly and commended the council for their
work.
4. George Espada 630 Shortline Court did not speak.

5. Houston Nelson 2504 Walter Way; spoke on the disgusting behavior on some of the
members of council. He commending the council for selecting Michael Harris as City
Manager. He addressed his concerns with the homeless in Stockbridge, traffic on
Highway 138 booting illegally parked vehicles and coordinating a job fair in the city. He
also stated that a second code enforcement officer is needed.

6. Carl Swenson 43 Thurmond road did not speak.

7. Kenneth Wilson, 583 Creek Valley Court, spoke on the Stockbridge Music and Arts
program and provided some background information on the summer program.

MOTION TO ADJOURN; Alphonso Thomas made a motion to adjourn; a second was made by
Lakeisha Gantt; the motion passed 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 10:13 pm.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY:

Stephanie Tigner, Interim City Clerk Tim L. Thompson, Mayor
