---
date: 2015-01-27
title: January 27, 2015 Special Meeting Minutes
source: 2015-01/2015-01-27_January 27, 2015 Special Meeting_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

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APPROVED MINUTES
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
SPECIAL CALLED COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015 5:30PM

_ Administration
Tim L Thorrpson, Mayor lVid1ael Harris, City Manager
Alphonso Thomas, Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk
Robin Buschrnan, Councilwoman Randi Rainey, Deputy City Clerk
Anthony S. Ford, Councilman Michael Vlﬁlliams, City Attorney
LaKeisha Gantt, Councilwoman
Regina L Ward, Councilwoman

The Special-Called meeting was called to order by Mayor Thompson at 5:37 p.m. The City Clerk,
Vanessa Holiday was asked to proceed with a verbal roll call. All members of the Council were
present and a quorum was confirmed.

Councilwoman Buschman provided the invocation.

All in the chamber recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Councilman Ford made a motion to adopt the Agenda; second by Councilwoman Gantt. The
motion passed 5-0.

|tem#1 Executive Session

Councilman Ford made a motion to enter into Executive Session for items A, B and F; second by
Councilwoman Gantt. The motion passed 5-0.

City Attorney, Michael Williams advised the Council to add Personnel Matters to Executive
Session.

Councilman Ford restated the motion for Executive Session to include A, B, F to include
personnel matters.

Mayor Thompson confirmed Councilman Ford's motion to include item A; attorney client privilege,
item B; negotiation and purchase of property, F; deliberate upon appointment/employment, hiringl
compensation; second by Councilwoman Gantt. The motion passed 5-0.
5:44 p.m.

Councilman Ford made a motion to adjourn the Executive session at 6:37 p.m.; second by
Councilwoman Buschman. The motion passed 5-0.

Councilman Ford made a motion to reconvene the Special Called Meeting; second by
Councilwoman Gantt; the motion passed 5-0.
Councilwoman Gantt made a motion to amend the Agenda to approve the Settlement Agreement;
second by Councilman Ford. Mayor Thompson asked if there should be more clarification of the
motion; City Attorney Michael Williams stated that more information would be provided and the
motion was okay as stated.

January 27, 2015 5:30pm 4640 N. Henry Blvd. Stockbridge, GA 3028] Phone: (770) 389-7900
Page |2

Councilwoman Lewis Ward asked City Attorney, Michael Williams for clarification on amending
the Agenda for a Special-Called meeting. City Attorney, Michael Williams advised that this is
allowed as this item is a result of Executive Session discussion.

Councilwoman Buschman asked Counsel for clarification as to whether or not she should abstain
from the vote. City Attorney, Michael Williams advised Councilwoman Buschman that it would be
appropriate for her to abstain from the vote. The motion passed 4-0-1 with Councilwoman
Buschman abstaining from the vote.

Item #2 —
Resolution
To approve the 2015 contract for the City Attorney, Michael Williams

Presented by City Manager, Michael Harris

City Manager, Michael Harris noted that the Council had appointed Michael Williams as the City
Attorney at the previous council meeting (1—12—2015); a draft contract was prepared and sent to
Council for review.

Councilwoman Gantt made a motion to approve the 2015 City Attorney contract for Michael
Williams; second by Councilman Ford; the motion passed 4-1-0 with Councilwoman Lewis Ward
opposing.

Mayor Thompson read an excerpt from the Oath of Office from the Charter; and that he is thinking
of what is best for the city of Stockbridge, as far as moving fon/vard with a legal team. Mayor
Thompson was not in favor of this contract and cited the legal fees paid by the City over the
previous year to Fincher-Denmark provided detailed invoices and asked that the Council
contemplate before moving fon/vard. Mayor Thompson also noted that the new flat rate contract in
the amount of $10,000 per month for City Attorney, Michael Williams includes the attorney on-site
for (4) hours per day, there is an additional $2,500 fee to monitor any outside legal issues.

Councilwoman Gantt stated that the city’s outside litigation was nearing a close and that the
annual fee of $150,000 was reasonable for a city.

Mayor Thompson stated that he did not contemplate any DDA action, and that there were
currently four (4) lawsuits ongoing. The Mayor also expressed that our attorneys may get the
privilege to write their own terms, without having any accountability.

Councilwoman Buschman stated that Mr. Williams will no longer be associated with the prior firm
and suggested that if our attorney is doing something out of compliance, that the council has the
ability to vote him out. Motion passed 4-1. Councilwoman Lewis Ward opposed.

Item #3 —
Resolution —
To approve Council Compensation
Presented by City Manager, Michael Harris

City Manager, Michael Harris presented a Resolution for Council to authorize staff to publish a
Notice of lntent to take action to increase Mayor and Council compensation. Mr. Harris stated that
this item had been brought before mayor and council last year in November 2014 and that state
law mandates that a (3) week advertisement prior to voting on the action.

Mayor Pro—Tem, Alphonso Thomas made a motion to direct staff to move fonrvard with the
advertising of three weeks required. Mayor Thompson requested that the motion include the
amounts to be advertised.

Mayor Pro-Tem Thomas stated that proposed annual salary for Council Members would be
January 27, 2015 5:30pm 4640 N. Henry Blvd. Stockbridge, GA 30281 Phone: (770) 389-7900
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$12,000 and $14,400 for the Mayor; second by Councilwoman Lewis Ward.

Mayor Thompson questioned the Council as to the best interest of the City, and asked the
question as to whether or not they deserved a raise. Mayor Thompson stated that based on his
calculations, the increase was 43% for the City Council and 29% forthe Mayor, Mayor Thompson
also referenced the medical benefits package that elected officials of the city receive and stated
that the Mayor and Council are volunteers. Mayor Thompson stated that he opposed this action
and asked that the Council do research before the vote to approve the pay increase.

Councilman Ford stated that he does not participate in the city's healthcare package, and only
receives a salary.

Councilwoman Buschman expressed that the increase represents approximately $9.80 a day and
that she feelsjustified for an increase. Councilwoman Buschman referenced the many hours that
the council works and that the City is currently paid below those of comparable cities.

Mayor Thompson asked if there was a motion on the floor; the Clerk confirmed a motion from
Mayor Pro Tem Thomas; second by Councilwoman Lewis Ward. Motion passed 3-1-1.
Councilman Ford opposed. Councilwoman Gantt abstained.

ltem#4 Settlement Agreement Litigation

City Attorney, Michael Williams stated that this is a partial settlement related to the litigation with
the DDA. The partial settlements are with three parties as shown in the Resolution that authorizes
the Mayor on behalf ofthe City to execute the settlement agreements. The parties being settled
with are: JEG Family Trust, GSKS LLC and Albert Bantley. These were all 3"’ party defendants in
this case. Councilman Ford made a motion to accept the settle agreement; second by
Councilwoman Gantt. Motion passed 4-0-1. Councilwoman Buschman abstained.
Councilwoman Lewis Ward stated that while she did not participate in the city’s medical plan, she
did elect the vision and dental plans.

Mayor Pro-Tem Thomas made a motion to adjourn; second by Councilman Ford. Passed 5-O.
Meeting adjourned at 7:09 pm.

Respectfully Submitted by:

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Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk

January 27, 2015 5:30pm 4640 N. Hcnry Blvd. Stockbridge, GA 30281 Phone: (770) 389-7900
