---
date: 2022-05-09
title: Regular Council Meetings Minutes
source: 2022-05/2022-05-09_Regular Council Meetings_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
MONDAY, MAY 9, 2022 6:00 P.M.
Mayor & City Council Administration
Mayor Anthony S. Ford Frederick Gardiner, City Manager
Mayor Pro Tem Alphonso Thomas Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk
Councilman Elton Alexander John Wiggins, City Treasurer
Councilwoman Yolanda Barber Quinton Washington, City Attorney
Councilman John Blount Jeremy T. Berry, City Attorney
Councilwoman LaKeisha Gantt Danielle Davis, City Attorney
Mission: To provide visionary leadership and superior municipal services that enhance the
quality of life for citizens while creating a welcoming business atmosphere focused on
sustainability and expansion of tourism and cultural events.
I. Call to Order - Mayor Ford

II. Invocation – Councilman Blount

III. Pledge of Allegiance – Recited by all in attendance

IV. Roll Call – All members were present except Councilwoman Gantt

Motion to Amend the Agenda: Councilman Blount motioned to amend the
Agenda to add Item #7 to amend the spending authority for the City Manager
from $25,000 up to $50,000 for budgeted items; second by Councilwoman
Barber.

Councilman Blount appealed to the Council to allow Mr. Gardiner to explain
the reasoning for the change in the policy and increasing the amount.

Councilwoman Barber noted the motion is to add the item to the Agenda with
discussion later on the Agenda; and noted if the action is approved, it would
be an amendment to the city’s Procurement Policy and Ordinance and
withdrew her second from the motion. Councilman Alexander seconded the
motion.

Councilwoman Gantt joined the meeting.

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Discussion: Mr. Gardiner provided an overview of the request where he noted
the spending authority had been reduced to $25,000 by the prior
administration and gave an example of the purchase price of a vehicle of
$46,000 and there was $50,000 in the budget, and under the current policy,
the item would be required to be presented to the City Council for approval,
which prolongs the process.

Mayor Ford called for a vote to add the item to the Agenda. The motion
passed 4-0-1 (Thomas abstained).

V. Motion to adopt the Agenda Blount/Alexander Passed 5-0.

VI. Motion to adopt the Minutes Blount/Alexander Passed 5-0.
1 Minutes March 14, 2022
2 Minutes March 29, 2022

PUBLIC COMMENTS - All public comments must be submitted to the Clerk no later than one
hour prior to the meeting. The Public Comment Form can be found on the City’s webpage on the
City Clerk’s page at: https://stockbridge.seamlessdocs.com/f/20pkdz4mo7xb and the form must
include your name, phone, and email contact information. Comments are limited to (3) three
minutes and will be read by the Clerk during the meeting, respecting all members of the elected
body, officials, and staff. Comments including defamation, unruliness and/or swearing will not be
accepted. None

CEREMONIAL- Mayor Ford administered and read proclamations as follows:
3. Swearing-In – Frangela Merritt – Downtown Development Authority Board
4. Swearing-In – Angela Myers-Jenkins and Deron Johnson – Ethics Committee
5. Proclamation - Memorial Day, Asian American/Pacific Islander Month

NEW BUSINESS
6. Council consideration to approve the Main Street Advisory Program MOU
(Memorandum of Understanding) 2022 – 2023.
Presented by: Kira Harris-Braggs, Main Street Program Manager
Motion to approve Thomas/Gantt Passed 5-0.

Ms. Harris-Braggs noted the Stockbridge Main Street Program Staff will be honored at
the upcoming 2022 National Main Street Conference as second place winners of the
Small Business Saturday Neighborhood Champion Innovation Contest! This
competition, which was hosted by American Express and Main Street America, was a
nation-wide search for exemplary Main Street Programs that hosted innovative
promotional campaigns and activities in observance of Small Business Saturday. Kira
Harris-Braggs, Stockbridge Main Street Program Manager, and Lisa Fareed,
Stockbridge Main Street Program Coordinator, have been asked to participate on a
panel of experts, from around the country, to discuss best practices for Small Business
Saturday at the National Main Street Now Conference which will be held in Richmond,
Virginia from May 14th – 19th. They will also receive a monetary reward to assist with
further Stockbridge Small Business Saturday program implementation. Currently there
are over 1,800 Main Street Programs nationwide, with 300+ programs in the state of
Georgia. The Stockbridge Main Street Program is the only winner representing the State
of Georgia and the Country’s Southeastern Region.
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7. Council consideration to amend the spending authority for the City Manager from
$25,000 to $50,000.
Presented by: Councilman John Blount
Motion to approve Blount/Gantt Passed 4-0-1 (Councilwoman Barber abstained noting
the proposed action requires an amendment to the city’s Procurement Policy and
Ordinance and the verbiage of what is being proposed has not been provided to the
Council for review).

COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR
Mayor Ford noted Early Voting was underway and began on May 2nd and polling
locations will be available to voters through Friday, May 20th with Election Day on
Tuesday, May 24th; noted the dates for Saturday voting are May 7th and May 14th and
Sunday voting is May 15th from 1pm – 5pm; noted the locations for Early Voting which
include the Merle Manders Conference Center at 111 Davis Rd. in Stockbridge, the Henry
County Elections Office at 40 Atlanta Street in McDonough, the Fortson Library in
Hampton and the library in Locust Grove; noted during the last week of Early Voting,
May 16 – 20th, JP Moseley and Fairview Recreation Center will be open for voters to cast
their ballots at any of the referenced locations throughout the County, and that you will
only vote at your local precinct on Election Day, Tuesday, May 24th; and noted you could
request an Absentee Ballot by contacting the Elections Office at 770-288-6448, and see a
sample Absentee Ballot online at the website mvp.sos.ga.gov; and noted there are local
elections with three Henry County Board of Commissioners seats on the ballot and two
Board of Education seats on the ballot along with multiple, court and judicial races and
State House and Senate elections as well as congressional races on the ballot; noted the
CDC is recommending a 2nd Booster vaccination for those who have a weakened
immune system, as well as those individuals who received the primary dosage of the
Johnson & Johnson vaccination; noted COVI-19 is still out there and while it may not be
as severe as it has been, we need to remain vigilant and noted FREE vaccinations and
tests are available at the Henry County Department of Health located at 135 Henry
Parkway in McDonough where the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations are being
administered, and Free Testing is available at Red Hawk Field Monday, Wednesday and
Friday from 9am to 3pm.

UPCOMING MEETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Council meetings will be held in the City
Council Chamber and some Board/Committee meetings will continue to take place via
Zoom. Meeting dates and times are subject to change. Please visit the city’s website
www.cityofstockbridge.com for the meeting invitation link, Facebook page or contact City
Hall offices at 770-389-7900 for updates.
➢ Youth Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m. - 2nd Wednesday of each month Levi
Meeting Room - City Hall (May 11)

➢ Main Street Advisory Board Meeting, 2nd Friday of each month 9:00 a.m. Via
Zoom (May 13)

➢ Downtown Development Authority Meeting, 6:00 p.m. Via Zoom - 3rd
Tuesday of each month Via Zoom (May 17)

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➢ Youth Council Advisory Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m. - 3rd Tuesday of each
month Patrick Henry Meeting Room - City Hall (May 17)

➢ Planning Commission Meeting, 4th Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Via Zoom –
(May 26)

➢ City Council Work Session Meeting, Last Tuesday of each month – City Hall
Council Chamber (May 31)

➢ City Council Meeting, Second Monday of each month – Via Zoom (Jun 13)

UPCOMING CITY EVENTS/INITIATIVES
• A Continuous Salute to Veterans: Please forward pictures of Veterans including
name, branch, rank, and years of service as Mayor Pro Tem Thomas presents a
special tribute to our local veterans. Pictures should be submitted to:
zpearson@cityofstockbridge-ga.gov Thank you for your service!

• Please join Councilwoman Yolanda Barber for FREE Zumba on Saturdays at Clark
Park beginning May 14th at 8:00 a.m.

• Food Truck Tasty Tuesday is back! Join us at Clark Park 111 Davis Road from
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17th, June 7th and June 14th and enjoy
great food and family fun.

• Here is your opportunity to Meet the Mayor, and voice your questions and/or
concerns Tuesday, May 23, 2022 from 10 a.m. to noon. Call Zenovia Pearson to
schedule an appointment. 770-389-7900 ext. 248.
Motion to convene Executive Session for Real Estate, Personnel and Litigation:
Gantt/Alexander Passed 5-0. The City Treasurer was asked to attend.
Motion to adjourn Executive Session Gantt/Blount Passed 5-0.
Motion to reconvene the Meeting Gantt/Alexander Passed 5-0.
Motion to appoint Rosalynd Rawls as the Executive Assistant to Mayor & Council
Gantt/Barber Passed 5-0.
Motion to adjourn Gantt/Blount Passed 5-0.

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