---
date: 2013-02-11
title: February 11, 2013 Minutes
source: 2013-02/2013-02-11_February 11, 2013_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

February 11, 2013

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
FEBRUARY 11, 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; Mayor called the meeting to order.

Invocation by Bishop Bryer.

Pledge of Allegiance

Adopt Agenda; Richard Steinberg asked to amend the agenda to add and approve the
engrossed list of minutes as follows: Special Called Meeting November 29, 2012, Work Session
December 4, 2012, Council Meeting December 10, 2012, Special Called Meeting December 11,
2012, Special Called Meeting December 12, 2012 at 3:00pm, Special Called Meeting December
12, 2012 at 3:30pm, Special Called Meeting December 18, 2012, Special Called Meeting
December 20, 2012, Special Called Meeting December 27, 2012 and Council Meeting January
14, 2013. He also asked for the correction from the January 14th meeting where the November
6th meeting was listed as November 4th but the minutes approved were November 6th. He
also asked that Executive Session be removed from the agenda. The Mayor also asked that
item # 1 be removed from the agenda as the appointee will not be with us tonight. Richard
Steinberg added item # 1 to be removed; a second was made by Harold Cochran; the motion
passed 5-0.

Consent Agenda

Resolution - To enter into a contract with Falcon Design Group for project and contractor
management of the City Hall roundabout project.

Amendment - To amend the agreement for the Belt Press Facility.

Harold Cochran made a motion to approve the consent agenda; a second was made by Shirley
Dabney; the motion was passed 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS

Item # 1 - Presented by Mark Alarcon, Mayor

Confirmation – of Mayoral appointment of Public Works Director. Item was removed.

Item # 2 - Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator

Resolution - to approve the court reporter transcript from the hearing held on December 10,
2012 as the official meeting minutes of that Special Called Meeting. Mr. Milliron stated that this
was housekeeping as this was the official court document and cannot be changed. Rather than
the City Clerk duplicating the document, we ask that the Council adopts the transcript as our
official minutes. Robin Buschman made a motion to adopt the transcript; a second was made
by Shirley Dabney; Alphonso Thomas made a comment that he did not want to approve
something that he has not read. Mayor stated that the document was available to be read. He
stated that this is a legal and professional bonded individual that produced this document and
captured the hearing verbatim and it cannot be changed. The document is ready to be turned
over to the Supreme Court if necessary. Alphonso Thomas asked if the Council was notified
that the document was available for review. Mayor Alarcon stated that yes it was. The motion
passed 5-0.

Item # 3 - Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator

Resolution – to authorize right-of-way negotiations and acquisitions for South Berry Street
sidewalk project. Mayor talked about how valuable this investment is for the City and that he is
excited that this will get us closer to the sidewalks. Mr. Milliron stated that the resolution
authorized the City Administrator to negotiate acquisitions for Phase I of the South Berry Street
Project. He then went through some of the main points of the document. Harold Cochran made
a motion to adopt the resolution; a second was made by Alphonso Thomas; Robin Buschman
asked if there was more after this. Mayor Alarcon stated yes. Mr. Milliron stated that there are
several parcels involved with this project; the motion was passed 5-0.

Item # 4 - Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator

Resolution – to authorize right-of-way negotiations and acquisitions for Reeves Creek Phase II.
Mayor stated that it has been about a year and a half since Phase I of this and now it is time to
move to the next phase. Mr. Milliron read through the resolution. Richard Steinberg made the
motion; a second was made by Shirley Dabney; the motion was passed 5-0.

OLD BUSINESS

Item # 5 - Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator

Ordinance - to repeal existing random drug testing ordinance. The Mayor went through some
of the previous items that were approved for the employees to guide them as to what to expect
in employment with the City and this is the last piece. Mr. Milliron read through the ordinance
and stated that this will get us in line with State and Federal laws. Mayor also stated that every
facet of the employee handbook was gone through with our attorneys and it is much more
mirrored with the updated laws of the State of Georgia. Robin Buschman made a motion to
adopt the ordinance; a second was made by Harold Cochran; the motion was passed 5-0.

Item # 6 - Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator

Ordinance - to amend the 2012 budget to reclassify the City Events Fund as a General Fund.
Mayor Alarcon stated that this is an additional step that is necessary. Mr. Milliron stated that
this is a budget amendment. He stated that the City asks for budget amendment requests in
tandem with the actual spending action which is the best practice. Mr. Milliron explained the
need for the amendment and stated that this is a net change of zero dollars. He explained the
way the fund was originally set up and then how the fund should have been set up. This
ordinance will reclassify the fund as appropriate. Richard Steinberg made a motion; a second
was made by Harold Cochran; the motion passed 5-0.

Item # 7 - Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator

Resolution - to adopt a new employee manual. Mayor stated that this is the new benchmark as
to how we conduct business with our employees. Robin Buschman made a motion to adopt the
new employee manual; a second was made by Shirley Dabney; the motion passed 5-0.

Item # 8 - Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator

Ordinance - to permit wine and growler malt beverage tastings. Mr. Milliron explained the
ordinance and the fees associated with this ordinance. This will allow one to try before you buy
as you can taste different wine or growler malt liquor (beer) before purchasing the beverage.
This also covers growlers which are containers used to fill and cap the beer or wine of your
choice and purchase to take home. There is no consumption on the premises. Mr. Milliron
explained further the rules of the ordinance. Robin Buschman made a motion; a second was
made by Harold Cochran; Richard Steinberg asked if Mr. Milliron would explain to the citizens
about the other cities and what they were doing with this ordinance. Mr. Milliron explained what
other cities such as Avondale Estates and Sandy Springs, have done with similar actions; the
motion passed 5-0.

Item # 9 - Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator

Resolution - to permit half-day rentals of the MMCC ballroom on Sundays. The Mayor
explained how this resolution came about and the need for this. Mr. Milliron explained that this
was the City being reflective of good government. He went through the resolution and
explained the rates and the hours for the rates. Richard Steinberg made a motion; a second
was made by Harold Cochran; 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

EXECUTIVE SESSION This item was removed.

q 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].

q 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).

q 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).

q 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).

q 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).

q 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).

q 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).

q 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].

q 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).

Mayor addressed the committees topic and that these have not been put together as of yet and
that we also did not have a work session in January. He talked about the work session that was
held for February and the new setting of the work session. He stated we are trying to get a
more relaxed setting and less formal. He commended the Council on a full 5-0 vote on all the
items. Mayor also stated that he is working on the committee issue but the way they were put
together and functioning in the past, was not productive to the City.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

All Meetings Will Be Held At City Hall Unless Otherwise Noted

1. Valentine’s Day – February 14, 2013

2. Henry County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers Free Tree Give-Away – February
15, 2013 at 8:30 am at City Hall

3. Presidents' Day – February 18, 2013

4. City Council Work Session – March 5, 2013 at 6:00 pm, Second Floor Library at City
Hall

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.

Mayor went through twelve different ways citizens can make contact with the Mayor and the
Council before opening up public comments.
Item # 7 - Vanessa Holiday - 708 Seline Court – she talked about the citizens being able to
speak at the previous work session and that it was said that it was to get citizens input and get
the citizen’s concerns and then the comments would be addressed at the voting meeting. She
stated that she had asked on item # 7 at the work session, if the new vacation and sick time
policy would be the same for all employees across the board and she did not hear that
addressed tonight.

Item # 9 - Samuel Valme – 110 Jasper Drive – he wanted to echo what the previous citizen had
said that during the work session, they were allowed to make comments on the items that were
presented; item # 9 there was a question as to whether there would be indication of a
preference on the rentals as to the full day rentals and the half day rentals. He stated that this
was not discussed here today.

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

Respectfully submitted by:

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