---
date: 2013-01-14
title: January 14, 2013 Minutes
source: 2013-01/2013-01-14_January 14, 2013_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

January 14, 2013

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
January 14, 2013; 6:00 pm
City Council

Mark Alarcon, Mayor

Richard Steinberg, Mayor Pro Tem

Robin Buschman, Councilwoman

Harold Cochran, Councilman

Shirley Dabney, Councilman

Alphonso Thomas, Councilman

Rhonda A. Blackmon, City Clerk

Call to Order; the City Clerk called the meeting to order.

Invocation was by Eugene Edwards.

Pledge of Allegiance

The Mayor welcomed everyone.

Adopt Agenda; Motion made by Richard Steinberg; a second was made by Harold Cochran;
Mr. Thomas wanted to get clarification as to why the council discussion item for the naming the
new Multiplex for Ms. Carrie Hamburg. Mayor stated that it was too early to be in that stage and
that the conversation had been between himself and Mr. Thomas and the Council has not had
an opportunity to discuss this. Mayor thought it would be more appropriate to get community
input and business input and discuss this at a later date. Mr. Thomas stated that last year the
Municipal Court building was named after a former Councilmember and there was not input or
discussion as to that; the motion passed 5-0.
Adopt Minutes; the Mayor entertained a motion to engross the meetings listed below; he got
confirmation from Mr. Linkous that the minutes could be passed this way and he made note that
there may be some typographical errors that need to be addressed. Mr. Linkous agreed that
the minutes could be passed this way and any errors would be brought to the Clerk’s attention
after the fact. A motion was made by Harold Cochran; a second by Robin Buschman; Mr.
Thomas clarified that the December meeting minutes would be forth coming. The Mayor stated
that was correct; the motion passed 5-0.

 Work Session on October 2, 2012.

 Work Session on November 4, 2012.

 Council Meeting on November 12, 2012.

 Special Called Meeting on November 26, 2012.

EXECUTIVE SESSION; Richard Steinberg made a motion to go into Executive Session for the
items B, D, F and H; a second was made by Harold Cochran; passed 5-0.

 A. Meeting to discuss or vote to authorize the settlement of a matter covered
by the attorney-client privilege as provided in Georgia Code section 50-
14-2(1) and 50-14-3(b)(1)(A). The subject discussed was [identify the case or
claim discussed but not the substance of the attorney-client discussion].

 B. Meeting to discuss or vote to authorize negotiations to purchase, dispose
of or lease property as provided in Georgia Code section 50-14-3(b)(1)(B).

 C. Meeting to discuss or vote to authorize the ordering of an appraisal related
to the acquisition or disposal of real estate as provided in Georgia Code
section 50-14-3(b)(1)(C).

 D. Meeting to discuss or vote to enter into a contract to purchase, dispose of,
or lease property subject to approval in a subsequent public vote as provided
in Georgia Code section 50-14-3(b)(1)(D).

 E. Meeting to discuss or vote to enter into an option to purchase, dispose of,
or lease real estate subject to approval in a subsequent public vote as
provided in Georgia Code section 50-14-3(b)(1)(E).
 F. Meeting to discuss or deliberate upon the appointment, employment,
compensation, hiring, disciplinary action or dismissal, or periodic evaluation
or rating of a public officer or employee as provided in Georgia Code section
50-14-3(b)(2).

 G. Meeting to interview one or more applicants for the position of the
executive head of an agency as provided in Georgia Code section 50-14-
3(b)(2).

 H. Pursuant to the attorney-client privilege and as provided by Georgia Code
section 50-14-2(1), a meeting otherwise required to be open was closed to
the public in order to consult and meet with legal counsel pertaining to
pending or potential litigation, settlement, claims, administrative proceedings,
or other judicial actions brought or to be brought by or against the agency or
any officer or employee or in which the agency or any officer or employee
may be directly involved and the matter discussed was [identify the matter
but not the substance of the discussion].

 I. Staff meeting held for investigative purposes under duties or responsibilities
imposed by law as provided by Georgia Code section 50-14-3(a)(1).

Richard Steinberg made a motion to adjourn Executive Session; a second was made by Shirley
Dabney; the motion passed 5-0.

Robin Buschman made a motion for the Mayor to sign an affidavit pertaining to items B, D, F
and H; a second was made by Richard Steinberg; the motion passed 5-0.

Richard Steinberg made a motion to reconvene back to the regular meeting; a second was
made by Harold Cochran; the motion passed 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS

Mayor and Council Appointments

Item # 1 - Presented by Mark Alarcon, Mayor

Appointments for the Fiscal Year 2013 by ordinance, resolution or contract:
City Administrator

City Clerk

City Treasurer

City Attorney

City Auditor

Municipal Court Judge and Associate Judge

Municipal Solicitor and Associate Solicitor

Mayor Alarcon entertained a motion to appoint the slate of the 2013 Mayoral and City Council
appointments as follows: City Administrator-David Milliron, City Clerk-Rhonda Blackmon, City
Treasurer-Annette Anderson, City Attorney-Bill Linkous and Freeman, Mathis & Gary, City
Auditor-Mauldin & Jenkins, Municipal Court Judge-Santana T. Flanagan, Municipal Court
Associate Judge-Christopher Chapman, Municipal Solicitor-Jerry Patrick, Associate Solicitor-
Jason Martin; the Mayor read through the document. Robin Buschman made a motion to adopt
the slate; a second was made by Harold Cochran; Mr. Thomas stated that he had not had an
opportunity to put his input in as to this slate and therefore, he would abstain from this vote;
Mayor asked Mr. Linkous to define an abstain vote. Mr. Linkous stated that in this
circumstance, the abstention is a neither for or against vote. He said that there are
circumstances where the abstention could be a no vote; the motion passed 4-1; Alphonso
Thomas abstained.

Item # 2 - Presented by Mark Alarcon, Mayor

Ordinance - to substitute the City Administrator for the City Manager as to bank accounts and
check signing; Mayor Alarcon stated that this was just to clarify in the ordinances this language.
Mr. Linkous agreed that this was just a correction to the language. Mr. Milliron reiterated and
further explained the purpose for the language change. A motion was made by Richard
Steinberg; a second was made by Harold Cochran; the motion passed 5-0.

Item # 3 - Presented by Mark Alarcon, Mayor

Resolution - for the City of Stockbridge to open bank accounts and designate authorized
personnel to sign checks on the City’s behalf; Mayor Alarcon read through the resolution. The
Mayor read the positions for authorization to sign bank documents as he had previously asked
the City Clerk to please fill in the names on the document as they pertain to the appointments
that were made. He also had previously noted that he had not appointed the committees as of
yet and would not be doing so tonight but he did want to name Mayor Pro Tem Richard
Steinberg as the Finance Committee Chair for the purposes of this ordinance. Mayor then
asked for a motion and a motion was made by Robin Buschman; a second was by Harold
Cochran; the motion passed 5-0.
Item # 4 - Presented by Mark Alarcon, Mayor

Ordinance - to adopt and amend the 2013 budget to include job descriptions, pay scales and
city organization chart; Mayor read the ordinance. David Milliron stated that the budget was
adopted on December 27, 2012. The software the City is using is very old so Finance did a line
by line audit of the budget and found a few errors which when corrected, came out in the plus
for the City. Also, job descriptions have now been rewritten and are reflective of the new
organizational chart being put forth tonight. This is a re-adoption of the budget and there are no
additional monies added. The Mayor stated that the only item that has not been completed yet
is the employee handbook but the items on the agenda tonight are needed for the handbook
completion. Mr. Milliron wanted to state that every position has been tied back to the budget.
He noted that the only department that had a large change was Public Works and he went
through the information pertaining to that department. Mr. Milliron also wanted to note that even
with the additional vacant positions listed in the budget, the budget is still lower than the City’s
previous budget. A motion was made by Richard Steinberg; a second was made by Shirley
Dabney; Mr. Thomas said that as a duly elected official of the City of Stockbridge, he has had
many citizens come forward about the budget. To represent the citizens of the City, he does not
feel the budget is in the best interest of the citizens and he will be voting against it. He also
wanted to know how the citizens can make comments on this budget. He did say that he
thought this Council was trying to do the best they could do. He also mentioned that citizens
are concerned about programs and he wanted to mention that the grant program was a way for
the citizens to address the programs. Mayor Alarcon wanted to let the citizens know that with
the changes in the budget pertaining to enhancing services, he wanted to make sure that the
citizens are calling him if they do not see that they are providing good customer service. Mayor
then talked about the reasoning behind not setting up the committees as of yet and that he was
also looking into new meeting forums for the future. Mr. Milliron addressed the question Mr.
Thomas has about the citizens being able to speak on the budget. He wanted to reiterate again
what this re-adoption was. Mr. Milliron then went through the fact that we had budget hearings
already and we did not have much participation. He also stated that the committee meetings
will also be a way citizens can address items. Mr. Thomas stated that he agreed that there
were meetings and so he put it back on the citizens to participate; the motion passed 4-1;
Alphonso Thomas opposed.

Item # 5 - Presented by David Milliron, Treasurer

Resolution - to adopt a Capital Asset Policy; Mr. Milliron discussed the policy and the necessity
for it as a piece of housekeeping for the City as per discussions with the city’s auditor and the
city’s attorney so as to be in compliance with the Government Accounting Standards Board; a
motion made by Richard Steinberg; a second made by Robin Buschman; Ms. Buschman
discussed that she was aware of the Government Accounting Standards Board and she wanted
to reiterate the importance of this resolution; the motion passed 5-0.

Item # 6 - Presented by David Milliron, Treasurer

Resolution - to adopt an Investment Policy; Mr. Milliron stated that we are operating without
this policy at this time and this resolution would give the City a protection on funds and other
issues related to investment of public funds in line with state and federal law; a motion was
made by Richard Steinberg; a second was made by Robin Buschman; the motion passed 5-0.

Item # 7 - Presented by David Milliron, Treasurer

Resolution - to adopt a Debt Management Policy; Mr. Milliron stated that the Mayor had asked
him to look at the Downtown Development Authority and the Urban Redevelopment Authority
and other economic development areas. He talked about the City’s bonds and that we can do
bonds through the GEFA loan which are back by the state and are usually utilities. He stated
that we have issued bonds such as the one that was used to build the City Hall building. He
stated that the City’s bonds, however, are not really bonds. They are guarantees on mutual
funds. The City needs to be able to leverage with what the market is doing and lock in when
needed. This resolution requires the City to be rated which means the threshold for financial
transparency is at the highest level. It goes into the details to be a financially sound City and
keep the City there. A motion was made by Robin Buschman; a second made by Shirley
Dabney; the motion passed 5-0.

Item # 8 - Presented by David Milliron, Treasurer

Resolution - to adopt a new Procurement Ordinance; Mr. Milliron stated that this was a rewrite
of the procurement policy. He went into some of the main points of the policy. He wanted
everyone to know that he looks at all the money that goes out of the City to make sure the City
is spending its money the wisest as well as making sure staff is going through the proper
procedures for spending the money. Mayor wanted the citizens to know that by summer, with
our new software implementation, they will be able to look on their computer and see where the
City money is being spent. A motion was made by Richard Steinberg; a second made by
Shirley Dabney; the motion passed 5-0.

HENRY COUNTY PLANNING & ZONING

No items

AGENDA REQUEST

No items

COUNCIL DISCUSSION ITEMS
No items
COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATES
No items
ANNOUNCEMENT OF UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

All Meetings Will Be Held At City Hall Unless Otherwise Noted

th
1. Urban Redevelopment Agency-January 15 , 2013 at 5:00pm
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2. City Hall will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Day-January 21 , 2013

3. Stockbridge Community Partnership Grant application deadline-February 1, 2013 at

5:00pm

4. City Council Work Session-February 5, 2013 at 6:00pm

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Citizens are permitted to address the City Council for up to three (3) minutes on any topic on today’s
agenda. The Mayor will recognize individuals to speak. Please provide your name and address for the
record prior to speaking on your topic.

On item # 4 - Vanessa Holiday at 708 Selene Court; she talked about the pay scale, organizational chart
and the job descriptions not being attached during the hearings in December. She also claims that there
was not a notice posted or published that we were adopting a 2013 budget.

On item # 4 - Anthony Ford at 708 Lily Glen Lane; he talked about not seeing Veteran’s Day in the budget
to honor the Veterans. He also stated that he does not see the Black Gala in the budget and per the 2010
census, there are 56% African Americans in Stockbridge. He stated that if they disregard the people, it will
show in the polls.

On item # 7 - Samuel Valme at 110 Jasper Drive; he talked about hearing Mr. Milliron say that this item
would need to be adopted through referendum and he wanted to make sure this was a mistake or if it was
the case.

MOTION TO ADJOURN; a motion made by Harold Cochran; a second made by Shirley
Dabney; the motion passed 5-0.

Respectfully submitted by:

Rhonda A. Blackmon, City Clerk Mark A. Alarcon, Mayor
