---
date: 2011-11-14
title: November 14, 2011 Minutes
source: 2011-11/2011-11-14_November 14, 2011_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

November 14, 2011

CITYOFSTOCKBRIDGE
SUMMARY OF MINUTES
COUNCIL MEETING

November 14, 2011 6:00 P. M.

A Meeting of the Stockbridge City Council was held November 14, 2011 at 6:00 P. M.
Mayor Lee Stuart presided and Council members present were, Mark Alarcon, Harold
Cochran, Shirley Dabney, Fred Evans and Kathy Gilbert.
Attorney Andy Welch was the attorney representative from Smith Welch Webb & White.
Mayor Stuart welcomed all guests.

Motion to Convene made by Councilman Cochran. Seconded by Councilman Evans.
Passed unanimously 5-0.

Motion to approve the Regular Council Meeting Minutes of October 10,2011 was made
by Councilman Evans. Seconded by Councilman Cochran. Passed unanimously 5-0.

Invocation was by Reverend Eugene Edwards

Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Stuart presented a Proclamation was presented to Ann Poole for Native
American Indian Heritage Month.

Mayor Stuart presented a Proclamation to Andy Welch for Kindness Works
Week (Recognized November 7-13, 2011).

Mayor Stuart read a Proclamation issued by President Barack Obama for Military
Family Month, November 2011.

Mayor Stuart presented a video honoring military veterans.

Councilwoman' Gilbert made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Seconded by
Councilman Evans. Passed unanimously 5-0. ____________________________
CONSENT AGENDA

Resolution - Authorizing the City of Stockbridge to proceed with the annexation of:
502 Country Club Drive Stockbridge, GA 30281. Homeowners: Paulette Bannister
and John Bannister, Jr.

Resolution -Authorizing the City of Stockbridge to enter into an agreement with
Keck & Wood, Inc. for Professional Design Services for Walt Stephens @
Brentwood & Monarch Intersection Improvements.

Resolution - Authorizing the approval of Job Descriptions &Revisions and Pay
Grade Classifications for Wastewater Systems Tech, Wastewater Collections
Operator; Water System Tech I, II, III, IV.

Temporary Use for a Church - Carlos Torres
4340 North Henry Blvd. Suite 290/300 Stockbridge, GA 30281 (Brooklyn Plaza)

Temporary Use for a Church - Maressica Emmanuel/Increase Christian Church
Intl
5353-5365 North Henry Blvd. Suite 115 Stockbridge, GA 30281

Ray Gibson, City Administrator presented a Resolution authorizing the City of
Stockbridge to enter into a contract with Albion Scaccia Enterprises, LLC to repair the
water fountain on East Atlanta Road in the amount of $73,727.00. An insurance claim
will fund the repairs. Mr. Gibson stated that as requested by Council, staff presented
this item to the Public Works Committee and also interviewed all three companies that
were bidding to repair the fountain. The recommendation by the committee and staff is
to approve Albion Scaccia Enterprises, LLC to repair the fountain. It was also discussed
at the Public Works Committee to have the same company do the repair work of the
fountain at Municipal Park that will also be paid by with insurance claim funds. Motion to
approve made by Councilman Evans. Seconded by Councilwoman Gilbert. Passed
unanimously 5-0.
PUBLIC HEARING
The first of four public hearings for the Proposed 2012 Operating Budget was presented
by the Treasurer, Annette Anderson. Mayor Stuart noted that the budget is available
online and includes graphs and charts to compare with the 2011 Budget. Mrs. Anderson
prepared a summary report that was distributed to those in attendance, and she went
over the report which outlined the increases and decreases in the various departments
with an explanation. Mrs. Anderson also stated that the City will be requesting grant
monies for various city projects. After reviewing the proposed changes, Mrs. Anderson
called for questions and/or comments regarding the first draft of the Proposed 2012
Operating Budget.

Mr. Gibson stated that there are some areas of privatization that are being considered
and that the Public Works Department has significant increases due to several road
repair projects that were behind schedule.

Mr. Gibson also noted that an issue that needs to be addressed by the Council is 2012
is the $6.00 base fee for water for the citizens in the City of Stockbridge. He noted that
his research has determined that other communities in Georgia have base water fees
that start around $10.00 and higher, and that this items needs to be looked at as this
revenue pertains to infrastructure improvements.

Mr. Gibson stated that he also spoke with members of Henry County government
officials in regards to streetlights and was advised that the county is billing the
streetlight fees to HOA's (Home Owners Associations) and other entities throughout the
county. Unlike the City of Stockbridge, who is currently paying for all streetlights in the
City in excess of $300,000 annually, and suggests the Council look at this item also in
2012 to minimize this amount or maybe look at going in the same direction as the
county.

Mayor Stuart asked Attorney Welch for clarification on the Publix Detention Pond Fees
in the amount of $193,000. Attorney Welch stated that in May 2011, the City adopted a
Resolution to assess a special fee, a portion of which was billed to each of the land
owners. This matter came up as a result of the Publix Detention Pond not functioning
properly and not being up to water quality standards for storm water. The sewer line
that runs in that general area had eroded almost to the point of collapse causing a need
for immediate action by the Henry County Water and Sewer Authority to make repairs.
Those repairs are only a temporary fix. A permanent fix would require the installation a
concrete flume to channel all of the water through that flume to prevent further erosion.
Attorney Welch further stated that the City Administrator would need to issue an RFP
shortly to initiate a permanent fix to complete the project There remains a couple of land
owners that have not paid their portion of the fees, and while collections efforts are
being made, the City has given authority to Smith Welch Webb & White to file suit
against those that fail to pay. There have been preliminary discussions with those land
owners with outstanding balances in an attempt to collect these balances. Based on the
final cost for the permanent fix, the assessment of fees would be discussed at that time.

Attorney Welch also stated that in regards to the streetlights, the City can setup
streetlight districts to capture a percentage of the cost of the streetlights and assess a
fee to individual homeowners, and perhaps grandfather in subdivisions if the City is in
the position to do so. Attorney Welch further stated that the City is under legal authority
under that state's Constitution to set up streetlight districts.

Councilman Alarcon asked for an update on the Monarch Village Stormwater Detention
Pond. Attorney Welch stated that all of all of the information has not yet been made
available. Mr. Gibson stated that Falcon Engineering and Design Consultants is working
on this project and needs to do a more in depth analysis to bring information to Council
and determine what actions need to be taken. The results will be discussed at the
Public Works Committee meeting and then brought back to a Work Session meeting in
the near future.

Mayor Stuart called for anyone to speak and ask questions during the Public Hearing in
regards to the 2012 Proposed Budget as presented. There were no citizens that spoke
during the Public Hearing. Mayor Stuart advised everyone to check the website for the
updates.

Attorney Welch stated that the Referendum for the Sunday Alcohol Sales has passed
and the City of Stockbridge can move forward to adopt the Ordinance and set an effective
date.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
• Melvin Thomas represented the Stockbridge Civic Association and spoke on
behalf of the citizens in the area behind the Food Depot as the forgotten
residents of the City and requested the City look into street lighting and sidewalks
for the community.

• Anthony Ford thanked the Council for moving forward on the Intersection
Improvement Project for Monarch-Brentwood- Walt Stephens Road area and
offered congratulations to the newly elected council members.

Mr. Gibson thanked the staff for their efforts on the Veterans Day Parade event.
Mayor Stuart thanked the citizens and staff for their efforts with the Veterans Day
Dinner and Parade, and offered a special thank you to all of this kids that
participated.

Mr. Gibson advised the Council that the ARC (Atlanta Regional Commission) has
denied the City's application for funds for the Railroad Street Sidewalks Project. Any
funding for sidewalks on Railroad Street at this point would have to come from the City.

Mayor Stuart recognized the Newly Elected Council Members: Robin Buschman,
Richard Steinberg and Alphonso Thomas.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion to convene in Executive Session to discuss Land Acquisition made by
Councilwoman Gilbert. Seconded by Councilman Evans. Passed unanimously 5-0.

Motion to adjourn Executive Session and reconvene Regular Session made by
Councilwoman Gilbert. Seconded by Councilman Evans. Passed unanimously 5-0.

Motion for the Mayor to sign an Executive Session Affidavit where property acquisition
was discussed made by Councilwoman Gilbert. Seconded by Councilman Evans.
Passed unanimously 5-0.

Motion to call for a Special Called Meeting on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 5:00pm
to discuss Land Acquisition made by Councilwoman Gilbert. Seconded by Councilman
Alarcon. Passed unanimously 5-0.

Motion to adjourn made by Councilman Alarcon. Seconded by Councilwoman
Gilbert. Passed Unanimously 5-0.

Respectfully submitted by:

Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk Lee Stuart, Mayor
