---
date: 2013-03-11
title: March 11, 2013 Minutes
source: 2013-03/2013-03-11_March 11, 2013_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE

MARCH 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 Edwards.

Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor recognized Commissioner Reid Bowman.

Adopt Agenda; Richard Steinberg made a motion to adopt the minutes adding the retreat minutes and
deleting the Executive Session; a second was made by Shirley Dabney; Alphonso Thomas stated that he
was not present at the retreat and therefore, would only agree to the remaining minutes; the motion passed

5-0.

ADOPT MINUTES:

Work Session Meeting on February 5, 2013

VV Council Meeting on February 11, 2013
Special Called Meeting on February 19, 2013
Special Called Meeting on March 1, 2013

CONSENT AGENDA

Proclamation Approval and presentation of Proclamation by Mayor Alarcon forthe 2013 Industry

Appreciation Week; Mayor presented the proclamation.

NEW BUSINESS

Item # 1 -
Presented by Laura Luker, Director of Tourism, H.C. Chamber of Commerce
Presentation —
Annual report by Henry County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau; Mrs. Luker gave
a brief overview of what the Visitor's Bureau does and how the bureau operates. She stated that
the organization promotes Stockbridge and Henry County through billboard campaigns, desktop
website, YouTube and Facebook. She distributed a 2013 visitor's guide and stated the new and
improved website will be up within a month. The audience then watched a short video
commercial

item # 2 -
Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator
Ordinance —
To reduce vesting Schedule from 10 to 2 Years in the Georgia Municipal

March 11,2013; 6:00pm
Employees Benefit System (GMEBS) Defined Benefit Retirement Plan for the City of Stockbridge;
David Milliron reviewed that the Council had just passed a new Employee Manual and now we
have to adopt the change with GMA Retirement through an ordinance; Bill Linkous reiterated the
need forthe ordinance; Richard Steinberg made a motion to approve the ordinance; a second
was made by Harold Cochran; Alphonso Thomas stated that this was not discussed at the work

session. He said that the employer values the employee but does the employee value the
employer. He stated that he does not believe that two (2) years is long enough. He recommends
at least three (3) years. Mr. Milliron went back to the minutes that were passed and stated the
Council voted 5-0 as a whole. Alphonso Thomas said that he does recall that but he still feels that
at this time, this is his position at this point in time. The motion passed 5-0.

OLD BUSINESS

Item # 3 -
Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator
Ordinance —
Criminal Trespass to be added to the Code of Ordinances; David Milliron stated that
this mirrors the state law. We have had much input from the court as well as some Council
members on this. Robin Buschman made a motion to pass this ordinance; a second was made
by Richard Steinberg; the motion was passed 4-1 with Alphonso Thomas opposed.

Item # 4 ~
Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator
Ordinance —
Vacant or Foreclosed Property Registry to be added to the Code of Ordinances;
David Milliron explained what the registry is and how a property gets on the registry. He also

explained the procedures once a property is added to the registry. Mayor Alarcon stated that this
is something that the Council has been reviewing. The City of Stockbridge has brought back code
enforcement and we now have our own Code Enforcement Officer. This ordinance will give us
more control on how we police these vacant properties. We understand that homeowners are

struggling and doing the best they can but we cannot allow that blight to continue in our
community as it will continue to lessen our property values and deter the commuters that go by.
Richard Steinberg made a motion to approve the ordinance; a second was made by Shirley
Dabney; the motion passed 5-0.

Item # 5 -
Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator
Resolution —
Setting the fee, pursuant to City Code Section 9.80.070, for entry on the City's
vacant and foreclosed real property registry at $100.00; Mayor Alarcon explained the need for the
fee; Robin Buschman made a motion; a second was made by Harold Cochran; the motion passed
5-0.

Item # 6 —
Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator
Ordinance —
Relating to the City Administrator so as to change the name of the position, clarify
the selection process, and clarify permissible interactions between elected officials and city staff;
David Milliron said that the first relating to the name change was a request of the Mayor and a
piece of housekeeping which speaks to all ordinances on the City’s books, with the exception of
the City Administrator ordinance and the Procurement ordinance. The other is related to the
selection when there is a vacancy and the ambiguity relating to that process; and third it cleans up
the verbiage as it relates to the interaction of Council as related to staff and directing staff or
conversing with staff. Bill Linkous stated that in looking at this ordinance, there were certain
problems with the ordinance both from past experience and with the language of the ordinance.
He stated he addressed the discreet portions of the ordinance that the Council had issues with;
typographical errors; reference to the Charter since this is an ordinance and not the Charter;
removed a duplicate paragraph and then also the changes that Mr. Milliron had gone over
already. Mr. Milliron stated that this was an initiative to begin code review which was talked about
at the retreat and therefore, Council will be seeing more code changes in the future. Harold
Cochran made a motion; a second was made by Richard Steinberg; Alphonso Thomas asked if

March 11, 2013; 6:00pm
there would be a re-adoption of the employee manual and the City Administrator’s contract to
change the verbiage. Mr. Linkous said that he did not feel there was a necessity to re-adopt the
contract but he would take a look at the employee manual but he does not think there is a legal

necessity to do so; the contract was a separate document between the Council and Mr. Milliron
and he did not think it necessary to change just those two words; the purpose of this is to change
the ordinances to be consistent with each other; the motion passed 4-1 with Alphonso Thomas as
opposed.

Item # 7 —
Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator
Ordinance Re-adoption of Procurement Ordinance so as to change City Administrator to City

Manager throughout for consistency of the Code of Ordinances; Mayor stated that this was being
changed as it is an ordinance that is related to the previous item; Robin Buschman made a
motion; a second was made by Shirley Dabney; the motion passed 4-1 with Alphonso Thomas
abstained.

Item # 8 -
Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator
Resolution —-
Requesting the Henry County Legislative Delegation to introduce legislation in the
General Assembly to create voting districts for the election of Stockbridge City Council
members. Mayor discussed a big push to get this done by bringing in State Representatives
and Senators in the last two (2) to three (3) years. The County government has representation
and he would like to ask for the Counci|’s support. Mayor stated that for the record, we are not
in control of what, when, where and how this City gets divided. There are State and Federal
laws that mandate what can and cannot be done. He stated he is requesting of the Henry

County delegation to introduce legislation to the General Assembly to create voting districts for
the City of Stockbridge and the Council members. Richard Steinberg made a motion to move
fonivard; a second was made by Robin Buschman; Alphonso Thomas went on record to support
district voting but said as he stated in the work session, he has a problem with the process. He
stated that the citizens have asked for a Town Hall Meeting and the last meetings were a few
years ago. He said that he does not grow tired of communicating with the citizens on issues.
Mayor stated that the tiredness he was referring to was the political toying of the sincerity of the
true representation. He noted that we had given twelve ways the citizens could contact the City
and the Council. He said that he has not had one phone call or one email opposing moving
forward with this tonight. Mayor also said that he has a signed document in his office stating
that the citizens want districts. The motion passed 5-0.

HENRY COUNTY PLANNING & ZONING

Item # 9 -
Presented by David Milliron, City Administrator
Public Hearing for the six-month extension to the Conditional Use Permit for Islamic Society of
South Atlanta; Mayor stated that he, Mr. Steinberg and Mr. Milliron have been invited to go out
and see the efforts that the mosque is putting forward to locate a stand along building to occupy.
Mr. Linkous stated the procedure for the hearing. Mr. Milliron said this was an act to declare the
public hearing forthe sole purpose of issuing an extension for a conditional use permit. He then
explained that a conditional use permit is a variance to the City zoning laws. This is an extension
to a previous act. However, we require six month renewals to come before the City Council and it
is recommended that it be done as a public hearing. For the record, the City Council, at its
October 18, 2012 Special Called Meeting, approved the Islamic Society of South Atlanta for a six
month conditional use permit to operate a religious facility within a commercial strip center. It
requires the facility to hold a valid occupancy certificate/business license and remain compliant
with all of the local, state and federal laws. This institution does have a valid Occupational Tax
Certificate and it has been provided to the City Clerk. Mayor opened the public hearing asking for
anyone to speak for or against the extension of the conditional use permit. No one came forward
so the Mayor asked for a motion. Richard Steinberg made a motion; a second was made by

March 11, 2013; 6:00pm
Harold Cochran; Ms. Buschman stated that the Council wants to work with all of our citizens and
churches. The Islamic Society of South Atlanta takes interest in letting us know and seeing the
plans and seeing the places they may want to move permanently and she appreciates the
communication; the motion passed 5-0.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

All Meetings VWI Be Held At City Hall Unless Otherwise Noted

1. Citizens Gun Safety Workshop—March 14, 2013 at 6:00pm at Merle Manders Conference Center

(Pre—registration required by calling 770-288-8335)
2. Town Hall Meeting With Mayor Alarcon and Commissioner Bruce Holmes on the Future of

Stockbridge-March 23, 2013 at 9:00am at the Multiplex
3. City Hall will be closed for Good Friday-March 29, 2013
4. Apply now for City of Stockbridge Board or Commission Appointments-Application on website

PUBLIC COMMENT

The Public Comment session is an opportunity for citizens to address the Mayor and Council on items
speciﬁc to the published agenda. This is not a public question and answer session. The Mayor will
recognize individuals to speak, whom are requested to conﬁne their comments to no more than three
minutes. Please state your name and address for the record prior to speaking on your topic.

Item # 4 —

Kathryn Gilbert at 120 Willow Hill Lane spoke on the vacant registry and how she was
involved in a property that had house contents dumped on the property lawn and that the Sheriff's
office said that the contents were for anyone to come and pick through. It took her several days to
track down the owner to get the property cleaned up. She thanked Council for passing this.

Anthony Ford at 708 Lily Glen Lane spoke about the same concerns that Mrs. Gilbert did. He
understand that the fee is $100.00 but he wanted to know if the fee was not paid, what action will be
taken. Will the registry be on the website and who has access to that’? What can home owners
associations do to cooperate with this process?

Item # 6 —
Elizabeth Yee at 112 Saint Margrit Circle asked how does the City Manager get elected
and who makes the selection and who does the City Manager report to. Also if one were interested
in being a City Manager, how would one go about applying?

George Espada at 630 Shortline Court asked if the City Administrator’s contract is in effect. He wants
to see the contract and he wants to see what efforts were made to vet Mr. Milliron for the position. He
also wants to have a copy of the ordinances for items 6 and 7. He will be putting in an Open Records

Request tomorrow for these items. Mr. Espada stated on a professional level, that he did not believe
Mr. Milliron was qualified to be the City Manager. Mayor Alarcon interrupted and asked Mr. Espada
to stick with the item which was the ordinance and not a personal attack on whether someone was
qualified to do theirjob or not. Mr. Espada said the he would be filing with the Attorney General the
topics of the issue with the employment contract, the vetting, the resume, the application of Mr. Milliron
and he will ask for a legal opinion of the Attorney General on the changing of the City Administrator
and the City Manager. Mr. Espada apologized and stated that he meant no disrespect to Mr. Milliron
but he does have his legal opinion.

item # 8 —

Marilyn Flynn at 521 Country Club Drive spoke on the previous town hall meetings and that
she did attend one of those meetings and she apologized as she thought that was a Council Meeting.
She stated that they were proposing two (2) at large seats and three (3) districts. She stated that
before the item goes to the legislature, that there be another town hall meeting to hear the citizen's

March11,2013;6:00pm
opinions about this since there are so many new citizens.

Elizabeth Yee at 112 Saint Margrit Circle spoke that she does not understand about the districts as
she thought there were districts already. She wanted to know how this would impact the voting that
we now have and is it necessary. She thought it would be a good idea to have a meeting with the
delegation to explain things.

Kathryn Gilbert at 120 Willow Hill Lane said that she was glad this was moving forward; she talked
about how the districts would be drawn as to equalization and that the Department of Justice has to
approve anything first.

George Espada at 630 Shortline Court spoke in favor of Mrs. Gi|bert‘s presentation. He feels the City
should be about transparency, good governments and having citizen participation. He stated that we
do not have representation in this City and he said that we lack the ability to be represented by a
district so he will do anything he can to lobby for this.

MOTION TO ADJOURN; Harold Cochran made a motion to adjourn; a second was made by

Shirley Dabney; the motion passed 5-0; meeting closed at 7:30pm.

Respectfully submitted by:
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Rhonda A. Blackmon, City Clerk ark A. Alarcon, M or

March 11, 2013; 6:00pm
