---
date: 2016-12-27
title: December 27, 2016 Work Session Meeting Minutes
source: 2016-12/2016-12-27_December 27, 2016 Work Session Meeting_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

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Stockbridge
Bringing People Together

ACTION MINUTES
WORK SESSION
COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2016 6:00 p.m.
Mayor & City Council Administration
Mayor Judy Neal Michael Harris, City Manager
Mayor Pro Tem Anthony S. Ford Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk
Councilman Elton Alexander Randi Rainey, Deputy City Clerk
Councilman John Blount Michael Williams, City Attorney
Councilwoman LaKeisha Gantt
Councilwoman Neat Robinson
I. Call to Order

II. Invocation -Mayor Neal

III. Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and Georgia flag

IV. Roll Call Present Absent

Councilman Alexander ___X____ _______
Councilman Blount ___X____ _______
Mayor Neal ___X____ _______
Mayor Pro Tem Ford ___X____ _______
Councilwoman Gantt ___X____ _______
Councilwoman Robinson ___X____ _______
V. Adoption of the Agenda- Gantt/Blount Passed 5-0

VI. Review of Minutes for 11/14/2016, 11/29/2016 -No action taken

December 27, 2016 6:00pm 4640 N. Henry Blvd. Stockbridge, GA 30281 Phone: (770) 389-7900
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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. Speakers must respect all
members of the elected body, officials, and staff. Defamation, unruliness and/or swearing will
not be tolerated while meetings are in session.

Robert West-congratulated Mayor Neal on her win; expressed his dissatisfaction with how Food
Truck Tuesday was handled with his ice cream business “French Quarters Ice Cream”; and
mentioned he was told his business is not welcomed in the City.

Melinda West- also expressed her dissatisfaction with Food Truck Tuesday and explained how
her and her husband was escorted out of Food Truck Tuesday by police officers due to not
having a food truck. Mrs. West also included her and her husband where treated like “thugs”
after getting necessary documents to be a part of Food Truck Tuesday.

Mayor Neal thanked the West’s for coming and expressing their concerns and mentioned their
comments will go before the committee for Food Truck Tuesday.

OLD BUSINESS

PUBLIC HEARING
Final Reading and Adoption of Proposed FY2017 Operating Budget
Presented by: Michael Harris, City Manager & Linda Nabers
No Public Hearing was held
Motion to allow Mayor Pro Tem Ford to have additional speaking time:
Alexander/Blount; Passed 5-0

Motion to approve FY2017 budget without including Land Acquisition in the
amount of $904,500: Alexander/No Second; Motion Failed

Motion to accept the recommendations and revisit the items that will be removed:
Blount/Gantt Passed 3-1-1 (Alexander Opposed) (Ford abstained)

1. Main Street Advisory Board Appointments
Presented by: Michael Harris, City Manager & Lisa Fareed-Muhammad,
Main Street Program Assistant
Appointments made during Executive Session

NEW BUSINESS

2. Main Street Advisory Board By-Laws Update
Presented by: Michael Harris, City Manager & Lisa Fareed-Muhammad,
Main Street Program Assistant
Motion to approve revised Main Street Board By-Laws: Gantt/Blount Passed 5-0

December 27, 2016 6:00pm 4640 N. Henry Blvd. Stockbridge, GA 30281 Phone: (770) 389-7900
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CITY MANAGER’S COMMENTS
Michael Harris congratulated Sargent Webster on receiving a Chief Award for Henry County
from the Henry County Police Department.

COUNCIL’S COMMENTS
Councilman Alexander thanked everyone for coming out and expressed there is still time to
apply to Boards and Commission positions; wished everyone a Happy Holidays.

Councilman Blount thanked everyone for attending and wishes everyone a safe holiday; 2017
will be an awesome year for the City.

Mayor Pro Tem Ford thanked everyone for being engaged; wishes everyone a happy New
Year and stated 2017 will be a prosperous year; will also see improvements with the
Downtown area and Economic Development with the intent in making the City the best City in
the State.

Councilwoman Gantt explained citizens can access forms and look at the criteria in regards to
food truck, with the main criteria having to own a food truck with a specialized item; residents
of Stockbridge or Henry County are priorities with food truck; also thanked everyone for their
continued support and prayers and expressed to citizens to reach out with any questions they
may have; also excited with having a new team.

Councilwoman Robinson thanked colleagues for the great dialogue and wishes everyone a
merry Christmas and happy new years.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Neal welcomed everyone and encourages citizens to bring one person with them the
next time they attend a Council Meeting to fill up the room.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
All meetings will be held at City Hall unless otherwise noted. Meeting dates and times are
subject to change. Please visit the city’s website www.cityofstockbridge.com, Facebook page or
contact City Hall offices at 770.389-7900 for updates and detailed information.

 All City offices will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2017 in observance of New
Year’s Day. City services will resume at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

 Council Meeting – Monday, January 9, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall in the Council
Chamber.

 Main Street Advisory Board Meeting - Friday, January 13, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. at City
Hall in the Levi Meeting Room.

 All City offices will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2017 in observance of Martin
Luther King, Jr. Holiday. City services will resume at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday,
January 17, 2017.
December 27, 2016 6:00pm 4640 N. Henry Blvd. Stockbridge, GA 30281 Phone: (770) 389-7900
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 Stockbridge Zoning Advisory Board Meeting – Thursday, January 20, 2017 at
 6:00 p.m. at City Hall in the Levi Meeting Room.

 Downtown Development Authority Board Meeting – Monday, January 23, 2017 at
6:00 p.m. at City Hall in the Levi Meeting Room.

 Council Work Session – Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall in the
Council Chamber.

EXECUTIVE SESSION IF NECESSARY
Motion to consider appointments in Executive Session: Alexander/ Mayor Pro Tem Ford
Passed 3-2
Motion to end Executive Session: Robinson/Gantt Passed 5-0
Motion to reconvene back into regular meeting: Robinson/Blount Passed 5-0
Motion to recommend appointing Anika Potts (2 yr. term), Ebony Gurndy (2 yr. term),
Lea Sanders (2 yr. term) and Donald Gordon (2 yr. term) to the Main Street Board:
Mayor Pro Tem Ford/ Gantt Passed 5-0

Adjourn

December 27, 2016 6:00pm 4640 N. Henry Blvd. Stockbridge, GA 30281 Phone: (770) 389-7900
