---
date: 
title: 2022 05-9-2022 Minutes
source: 2022/2022_05-9-2022 _Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

StOCkbFidge
Where Community Connects

CITYCOUNCIL EETING
SU ARY NUTES

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2022 6:00 PM.
Mavor & Citv Council Administration
Mayor Anthony 5. Ford Frederick Cit Manager
Mayor Pro Tem Alphonso Thomas Vanessa lelday, City lerk
CounCI Iman Elton Alexander Joh_n WI Ins CIty Treasurer
Councilwoman Yolanda Barber Quinton ashington, City Attorney
Councilman John Blount T. Berry City Attorney
Councilwoman LaKeisha Gantt Jeremy
Danlel e Davts, City Attorney

Mission: To provideivisiona l eadership and s mun icipal services that enhance the
quality of life for Citizenslw I Ie creating la wel comgng DUSI ness atmosph ere focused on
sustainability and exp ans Ion of tourlsm and cultu ral events.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ford

Invocation by Councilman Blount

Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance

City Clerk, Vanessa Holiday was asked to proceed with a verbal roll call. All members
were present except Councilwoman Gantt.

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
when the item is presented 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

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).

Councilman Blount motioned to adopt the agenda: Second by Councilman Alexander
The motion passed 5-0.

Councilman Blount motioned to adopt the Minutes: Second by Councilman Alexander
The motion 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
webpage on the
City 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 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
Ms. Harris-Braggs noted the request is an annual housekeeping item where the
city
agrees to a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Stockbridge Main Street
Program and the National Main Street Program and guidelines.

Councilwoman Gantt asked if there were new changes with the past MOU
(Memorandum of Understanding).

Ms. Harris-Braggs noted in Article 1, Section 5 it was once called Main Street Center and
now has been changed to Main Street America.

Mayor Pro Tem Thomas noted the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) is an
agreement that outlines the requirements outlined by the DCA (Department of
Community Affairs) for community participation.

Mayor Pro Tem Thomas motioned to approve the Main Street Advisory Program MOU
(Memorandum of Understanding) 2022 2023: Second by Councilwoman Gantt. The
motion passed 5-0.

2|Page
Ms. 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; noted the
competition, which was hosted by American Express and Main Street America, was a
nationwide search for exemplary Main Street Programs that hosted innovative
promotional campaigns and activities in observance of Small Business Saturday; noted
the Main Street Program staff 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 in May ;
noted the Main Street Program will also receive a monetary reward tin the amount of
$2,500 to assist with the Stockbridge Small Business Saturday program implementation;
noted there are currently are over 1,800 Main Street Programs nationwide, with 300+

programs in the state of Georgia; highlighted that the Stockbridge Main Street Program
is the only winner representing the State of Georgia and the Southeastern
Region.

Ms. Harris-Braggs and Ms. Fareed received congratulations from all in attendance

7. Council Consideration to amend the spending authority for the City Manager from
$25,000 to $50,000.
Presented by: Councilman John Blount
Councilman John Blount noted it would be best practices to allow the City Manager to
oversee and approve budgeted items not exceed over $50,000.

Councilwoman Barber noted her concerns are for the services that would need task
orders and change orders such at major construction projects and asked what the
$50,000 would cover.

Mayor Ford noted $50,000 allows the City Manger to approve any singular item and
anything over $50,000 would come before council.

Councilman Alexander noted Council should give the City Manager the opportunity to
succeed with moving things forward especially with the aggressive timetable and wanting
projects completed.

Councilwoman Barber asked it if would require a change to the procurement policy

Councilwoman Gantt requested that the City Council be notified by the City Manger with
Change Orders and Task Orders that are submitted to him.

Mayor Pro Tem Thomas noted he believes in being competitive and having checks and
balances; noted in the past, the city spending limit was changed because of
certain things Council did not approve of as a form of oversight.

Councilman Blount motioned to approve to amend the spending authority for the City
Manager from $25,000 to $50,000: Second by Councilwoman Gantt. The motion passed
4-0-1 (Councilwoman Barber abstained noting the proposed action requires an
amendment to the Procurement Policy and Ordinance and the verbiage of what is
being proposed has not been provided to the Council for review).

3|Page
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 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 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 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 website

www.cityofstockbridge.com for the meeting invitation link, Facebook page or contact City
Hall offices at 770-389-7900 for updates.

> Youth CouncilMeeting, 5:30 pm. -
2nd Wednesday of each month Levi
Meeting Room City Hall (May 11)

> Main Street Advisory Board Meeting, Friday of each month 9:00 am. Via
Zoom (May 13)

> Downtown Development Authority Meeting, 6:00 pm. Via Zoom -
3rd

Tuesday of each month Via Zoom (May 17)

> Youth Council Advisory Committee Meeting, 6:30 pm. -
3rd Tuesday of each
month Patrick Henry Meeting Room -

City Hall (May 17)

> Planning Commission Meeting, 4th Thursday at 6:30 pm. Via Zoom
(May 26)

4|Page
> 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 fonNard 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:
zgearson@ciyofstockbridgegagov Thank you for your service!

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

0 Food Truck Tasty Tuesday is back! Join us at Clark Park 111 Davis Road from
5:30 pm. to 8:30 pm. on Tuesday, May 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 am. to noon. Call Zenovia Pearson to

schedule an appointment. 770-389-7900 ext. 248.

Councilwoman Gantt motioned to convene Executive Session for Real Estate, Personnel
and Litigation: Second by Councilman Alexander. The motion passed 5-0. The City
Treasurer was asked to attend.

Councilwoman Gantt motioned to adjourn Executive Session: Second by Councilman
Blount. The motion passed 5-0.

Councilwoman Gantt motioned to reconvene the Meeting: Second by Councilman
Alexander. The motion passed 5-0.

Councilwoman Gantt motioned to appoint Rosalynd Rawls as the Executive Assistant to

Mayor & Council: Second by Councilwoman Barber. The motion passed 5-0.
Councilwoman Gantt motioned to adjourn the meeting: Second by Councilman Blount. The
motion passed 5-0.

Respectfully submitted by:

Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk MMC hony S. Ford, M

SIPHgC
