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date: 2010-09-13
title: September 13, 2010 Minutes
source: 2010-09/2010-09-13_September 13, 2010_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
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September 13, 2010

MINUTES
STOCKBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 13, 2010

City Council
Lee Stuart. Mayor
Mark Alarcon Ray Gibson, Assistant City Manager
Harold Cochran Vanessa Holiday. City Clerk (absent)
Shirley Dabney Nancy Brown. Deputy Clerk
Fred Evans
Kathy Gilbert

The Regular Meeting of the Stockbridge City Council was held on September 13, 2010
at 6:00 P. M. Mayor Lee Stuart presided and members present were Mark Alarcon,
Harold Cochran, Shirley Dabney, Fred Evans and Kathy Gilbert.

Fred Evans made a Motion to Convene; Kathy Gilbert seconded and passed
unanimously. The meeting convened at 6:00 P.M.
Mayor Stuart: That should be at the green tab you have there.
Kathy Gilbert: I make a motion to approve the August 9 meetings, meeting minutes.
Mayor Stuart: I have a motion by Ms. Gilbert. Do I have a second?
Fred Evans: Second.
Mayor Stuart: Second by Mr. Evans. All in favor of approving the minutes? One, two,
three, four, five. Thank you.

Mayor Stuart: Okay, at this time well have the invocation and Mr. Alarcon, if you don't
mind, sir. Do us the honor?

Mark Alarcon gave the Invocation.

Mayor Stuart led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Stuart: First off, I want to welcome everybody and thanks for the turnout here.
This is what we call participatory government and it's good to see you out here
participating in it. If you don't participate in it, to me you ain't got nothing to say. So we
need y'all's participation. Before we get started, though, and because of the holidays
that just passed, I got something I want to read here. I think in regards to 9/11 here, if
you'll just bear with me. I want to read this to you. If s called The Little Things. Someone
sent this to me. It says:

You might remember the head of a company survived 9/11 because the son
started kindergarten. Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring
donuts. One
woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time. One was late because
of being stuck on the New Jersey Turnpike because of an auto accident. One of them
missed his bus. One spilled food on his clothes and had to take time to change. One's
car wouldn't start. One couldn't get a taxi. The one that struck me the most was the
man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning and took the various means to get to
work, but before he got there he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a
drugstore to buy a band aid and that is why he is alive today. Now when I'm stuck in
traffic, missing an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone-all the little things
that annoy me-I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very
moment. So next time your morning seems to be going wrong with your day—you can't
seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated. It may
be just that God is at work watching over you. May God continue to bless you with all
those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purposes. I thought
that was very fitting after 9/11, we had this (applause)

Mayor Stuart: And with that being said, we will proceed on to our agenda that we have
here. We have Old Business. We have Henry County Planning and Zoning. Item 1 is
Zoning Modification by Mr. Patel about the Medical Clinic.

Stacey Jordan: Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Council Members. My name is Stacey
Jordan. I'm from the Henry County Planning and Zoning Department. Dr. Patel Is here
tonight with us. He is requesting a modification of the zoning conditions that were
placed on the property at 5329 North Henry Boulevard when it was rezoned from R-3 to
C-2 on April 14, 2008. The first two conditions are the ones that Dr. Patel would wish
to—his initial request was to eliminate the conditions. The Zoning Advisory Board
recommends a change to the wording. Originally, Condition #1 stated 'The facade of
the existing single-family structure shall be renovated to consist of brick or masonry
product on all four (4) sides'. And I'm reading from our Staff Report. The
recommendation of the Zoning Board to change the language of Condition #1 is to
state: 'If the existing structure is replaced or improved up, the exterior product shall be
brick or masonry product.'

The second condition states that 'Dumpster(s) shall be placed on a concrete pad and
enclosed on three (3) sides. The enclosure shall be constructed of brick, stone, stucco
or any combination thereof provided it is consistent with the design features of
structures on the site and shall not exceed eight feet (80 in height.' The Zoning Advisory
Board requests, or excuse me, recommends that that language should be changed to
say 'Should a dumpster be placed on the property, it shall be placed on a concrete pad
and enclosed on three (3) sides. The enclosure shall be constructed of brick, stone,
stucco or any combination thereof, provided it is consistent with the design features of
structures on the site and shall not exceed eight feet (80 in height.'

Mayor Stuart: But I believe the questions from before when we came in was, I think we
all agreed that we just needed more clarification-on the parking, on the driveway and an
overall site plan, I believe it was the sign as well.

Kathy Gilbert: Absolutely. And I have one other item as well that I just noted here.
Even if we don't have a dumpster enclosure, I would think we would want some sort of
enclosure for exterior garbage, just...

Stacey Jordan: Yes.

Kathy Gilbert: Some sort of enclosure to have that not...

Stacey Jordan: Yes, and if it's, if ifs the pleasure of the Council to actually change the
wording, then that language could be inserted for Condition #2. But whatever the waste
receptacle will be, that it will be enclosed. Dr. Patel submitted a new site plan, and I
trust that ifs in your exhibit. It looks like this.

Mayor Stuart: Okay.

Stacey Jordan: And it is more complete than the first site plan that was submitted. It
shows approximately 15 general-purpose parking spaces as well as two handicap
parking spaces, which is sufficient for the purpose of converting the structure to a
medical clinic.

Kathy Gilbert: Is that Option 1-B?

Stacey Jordan: Yes, ma'am, that's correct.

Kathy Gilbert: Okay. I notice there is a notation here that this would require a
detention system, stormwater detention, I'm assuming that is.

Stacey Jordan: I'm certain that is correct.

Kathy Gilbert: Okay.

Stacey Jordan: And keep in mind also, that this is a conceptual plan. We don't require
engineer drawings before a request has been approved.
Ray Gibson: That would have to be determined at the Development Plan Review
stage, about the storm water.

Kathy Gilbert: Okay.

Mayor Stuart: Anyone have any questions? No other questions?

Mark Alarcon: Is there, is there... Yeah, I'm going... Is there absolutely no aesthetic
changes that are going to made to the facade of the building?

Stacey Jordan: There will be. The building will need to be retrofitted to meet the
commercial building codes for a medical facility, including handicap ramps, any sort of
railings. There will be changes to the structure, and I'm certain that in order to better
market the property for Dr. Patel's use, hell want it to be as attractive as possible. So
I'm certain that there will, aesthetically, it will be pleasing.

Mark Alarcon: Well that's, I'm sure that's one of my concerns, but you know the
request that you mentioned in changing the words in Condition 1 said 'if there's going to
be any future', you know, Vork done',...

Stacey Jordan: Okay.

Mark Alarcon: ...you're conveying to us that there is going to be some work being done,
so what's wrong with, even if we did something as a Council to help, you know, his

expense in getting the business open, maybe critique this back to, you know, three
sides or something like that, thafs aesthetic, you know, and visible from the road...

Stacey Jordan: Sure

Mark Alarcon: ...We're not doing the back, but to do absolutely nothing, I mean I don't
know that that would... At least the front or one of the sides...

Stacey Jordan: Certainly. If ifs the pleasure of the Council, you can certainly change
the wording to accomplish that purpose.

Ray Gibson: Mr. Alarcon, you're asking for brick?

Mark Alarcon: Whatever we have in place, you know, as a City. We just, I just didn't... I
wanted to make sure that his request to amend Condition 1, he said was going to be
when, if there's ever any future changes, but it sounds like there's going to be changes
taking place now, so we need to make that aesthetic appeal change now, not in the
future. To be brick and stucco or masonry, but I mean me-as a Council person—I'm
willing to try to try to back down off the four-side request and

Stacey Jordan: Sure.

Mark Alarcon: ...go to, maybe, a three-side.
Stacey Jordan: Yes, sir. And I think when it states when improvements, I understood
that the Zoning Board meant an addition or some substantial structural change, rather
than, perhaps, paint or something that would improve the property, but would not trigger
that need to pull the siding off and to replace that with a masonry product.

Ray Gibson: You may want to call Mr. Patel up and ask him exactly what his intent is
in terms of renovating the building.

Mayor Stuart: Dr. Patel, are you here? Will you come on up, please sir?

Dr. Patel: The exterior of the building I want to keep the same, so no changes to the
exterior. That will be something to put on my notes 10 years later when I make the
room a little bit larger. And handicap ramp provided for handicap and those changes,
but nothing outside.

Kathy Gilbert: Other than possibly some paint?

Dr. Patel: Right. Clean and paint.

Ray Gibson: So I think the main alteration at this time is going to be the ramp, a
handicap-accessible ramp.

Kathy Gilbert: Okay, I would like to at least include in Item 2 that there be an enclosure
for garbage receptacles. It doesn't necessarily have to be big enough for a dumpster,
but some sort of enclosure to corral those.

Dr. Patel: What about garbage can, like simple garbage can?
Kathy Gilbert: No. I would like the garbage can to be in some sort of a fenced
enclosure so that it is not visible from the street or other property.

Dr. Patel: I mean you can put that kind of wording, should not be visible from outside or
something. Like if you put on the back of the building like we use at home.

Kathy Gilbert: I understand, but I think I would like to see some sort of an enclosure.
Maybe it's just a fence, a six-foot panel fence of three feet by four feet, or something
like that, but some sort of an enclosure to contain them.

Mayor Stuart: Anyone else? Well, do I have a motion to...

Kathy Gilbert: Do we, do we need to ask if there's any additional public comments?

Buddy Welch: You have to ask if there's anyone opposed to it or anyone who wants to
speak in behalf.
Mayor Stuart: Okay, do we have anybody opposed to this or want to speak on his, on
behalf of it?

Fred Evans: I make a motion that we uphold the Zoning Board's denial of the request.

Mayor Stuart: I have a motion from Mr. Evans to uphold the Zoning Board's
denial. Have a second?

Ray Gibson: Mayor, can we hold on one second and make sure we didn't have
any opposition to the request. Just double-check.

Mayor Stuart: Going once, going... Any opposition? No opposition.

Tom Ifland: What about the house?

Mayor Stuart: Do you want to come up here and speak, "cause they're gonna
hear, please? Thank you. State your name and go ahead and speak.

Tom Ifland: My name is Tom Ifland, and I'm a resident here. But if it's the house I think,
if ifs the building I think it is, which is across from QT, doesn't that look like a house
now? And if it's going to be a business, I think it could be spruced up a little bit. You
know, we're trying to make the City look halfway decent now and I don't know if you're
going to put a ramp up there and not do anything to the exterior, I'm opposed to it.

Mayor Stuart: Okay. That's opposition. Any others? Alrighty. I still have a motion by Mr.
Evans to deny

Harold Cochran: Second.

Mayor Stuart: Second.

Stacey Jordan: Mr. Mayor? If I could just ask for clarification. The Zoning Advisory
Board recommended denial of the request to simply eliminate the conditions, but they
also
recommended a change in the wording. For the motion, does that include the change
in the wording?
Mayor Stuart: Denying it as it's written. That correct, Fred? That's what you...
Fred Evans: The wording would include that 'if at what time if ever changes were 7
Stacey Jordan: That's correct.
Mark Alarcon: If s kind of where I was going with it. I mean, if you're going to do
something to the front. Is that where you're going to be putting the access ramp, is in
the front?
Dr. Patel: The side front.
Mark Alarcon: On the sidewalk coming up in the front?
Dr. Patel: Umhmm.
Mark Alarcon: You're going to have to be doing some siding changes to attach it or to
pour concrete?
Dr. Patel: I can do the stuccoing of our mezzanine in the front.
Shirley Dabney: On the side?
Mark Alarcon: I'm sorry?
Dr. Patel: In the front with the mezzanine, like in the front side?

Mark Alarcon: Well, that's kind of where I was going earlier when I said that I would be
willing to entertain, you know, doing a two or three side, maybe not requiring the four-
side, but to spruce it up as, you know, the gentleman here mentioned, is kind of the
direction I'd like to see. I'm not trying to make it too expensive. I know how difficult it is
to open up and spend those moneys, but I mean—like he said—it is a business and
you're going to be spending a lot with the parking lot and all these things. We need to
do something to critique the aesthetic appeal from the road.

Dr. Patel: I can do that front, I mean change the front of the facade with a masonry
product

Shirley Dabney: Yeah, but what about just the three sides? You just want one side?
Just the front, not both, not the sides?

Mark Alarcon: I was saying two or three, because I know this property, you know,
pretty well and the way ifs positioned, you can see the front and you can see the
driveway side very easily. The far left side and the rear, because of the trees and the
buffer there, isn't really very visible from the road, even if you're coming from that
direction. So, I mean personally, I could entertain a two-sided application, but I certainly
would like to see it spruced up and brought up to the City standards as the/re written at
the County and try to make it look, you know, like a business.

Mayor Stuart: We still have the motion here by Mr. Evans.
Fred Evans: Yes,...
Mayor Stuart: Do you want to modify it?
Fred Evans: Yeah, we can modify the motion to one, you know, like he said, two-to-
three of the sides. I mean, the front and either/or the sides. As far as changing the
wording on your part of it, no sir. I can't see that. I just...
Kathy Gilbert: I'm not entirely certain I understand the motion.
Fred Evans: Pardon?
Kathy Gilbert: I'm not entirely certain I understand the motion.
Fred Evans: The motion is to allow him to go in there and do the front and the sides.
Kathy Gilbert: The front and two sides?
Mayor Stuart: But to deny the wording of what you had? Okay, Mr. Welch. How's that?
Fred Evans: I'm talking about denying the wording for the future that's before us.

Mark Alarcon: The exception on this one and then just leave the wording of it as it is in
the ordinances.

Buddy Welch: You have a motion to deny.

Mayor Stuart: Correct.

Buddy Welch: The motion is to deny on the floor. That would have to be retracted.
That motion would have to be retracted and another motion made if you're going to
change anything from denial. What are you trying to ...?

Fred Evans: I'm making the motion to allow him to do the front and two sides.

Buddy Welch: Okay. Okay. Then you would need to retract your motion to deny,
because that was based upon what the Zoning Board had recommended.

Fred Evans: Right.

Buddy Welch: And your motion then would be to modify the conditions to require the
improvements to be made to three sides, and are the three sides brick?
Fred Evans: Brick, stucco, masonry, whatever thereof.
Stacey Jordan: Going with stucco.
Buddy Welch: That would be your motion.
Fred Evans: Right.
Buddy Welch: But you'd have to retract your motion first.
Fred Evans: Alright. Then I withdraw my denial of the motion.
Mayor Stuart: Retract You want to retract your motion, Mr. Cochran, as well?
Harold Cochran: Yes, sir.
Mayor Stuart: Okay, so we retract the motion to deny it. And now you want to make a
motion to...
Fred Evans: Now I make a motion to approve...
Mayor Stuart: Modify
Fred Evans: Right. And the two sides. Modify the motion, yeah.
Mayor Stuart: To modify it to three sides. Okay.
Buddy Welch: That is as to Condition 1, correct?
Mayor Stuart: Correct.
Buddy Welch: "Cause you're going to need to vote ...
Mayor Stuart: 'Cause it says four.
Buddy Welch: You have two conditions. You'll need to vote on those separately.
Fred Evans: As far as the second condition of it,...
Kathy Gilbert: We have to take one motion at a time.
Fred Evans: Motion at a time. One motion at a time.
Mayor Stuart: So we have a motion for to approve Condition 1, modified to three sides.
Mark Alarcon: Front and two sides, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Stuart: I'm sorry. Front and two sides.

Ray Gibson: I guess I have a question, Mr. Welch. I'm wondering why we need to have
two separate motions for one single item that we're... They're just, they're going to deny
the request and then they're going to make amendments to the request, so it's all one
motion, I think. I don't think we have to change the motion.

Buddy Welch: Because it makes more sense and people can understand it.

Mark Alarcon: Mr. Welch, is your mic on?
Buddy Welch: It says ifs on.
Mark Alarcon: Okay. Might have to turn my earmuffs.
Mayor Stuart: Okay, so we have the motion to modify Condition #1. That's by Mr.
Evans. Do we have a second?

Shirley Dabney: Second.

Mayor Stuart: A second by Ms. Dabney. Have any more discussion? All in favor? One,
two, three, four, five. Okay. Thank you.

Mayor Stuart: Now, Condition #2.
Kathy Gilbert: Condition number. I will make a motion to approve condition #2, but to
as written but add that a smaller garbage enclosure be required for other than dumpster
garbage containers.

Mayor Stuart: Okay, I have a motion by Ms. Gilbert. Have a second?

Shirley Dabney: Second.

Mayor Stuart: Have a second by Ms. Dabney. Have any discussion? Further
discussion? All in favor? Two, three, four... 5-0

Buddy Welch: Were there anything else on the list?

StaceyJordon: No, sir. Just those two. Thank you all.
Ray Gibson: I just want to make it clear for the Mayor and Council that when we do
make a motion to amend something, that we actually give the actual wording we're
going to be using for the conditions-Mayor Stuart: Okay.

Ray Gibson: ...so that goes into the records. So we know exactly when people, when
the Development Plan Review, or Zoning Department get so they'll know exactly what
is going to be allowed on the subject property.
Mayor Stuart: Okay.
Kathy Gilbert: Thank you for that
Mayor Stuart: Alright. That's all Old Business.

Mayor Stuart: Under New Business, we have Item 2 The Anointed Word Outreach
Christian Center - Pastor Smith of 114 Burke, West Burke Street Stockbridge,
presented by Ray Gibson. Ifs a Zoning Request from C-2 (General Commercial) to
Church Use.

Ray Gibson: Thank you Mayor and Council. I do not think Mr...Pastor Smith has made
it to the meeting yet; however, I just want to mention that this was brought up at the
Work Session. Is Pastor Smith here?

Unknown: He's on his way.

Ray Gibson: He's on his way. We can still proceed. This application was requested
and brought to the last Work Session was to have a Anointed Word Outreach Christian
Center located at 114 West Burke Street. And as mentioned at the Workshop, this is
asking for a six-month approval, at which time the occupant will be asked to come back
before the Council to get an extension on that six months.
Mayor Stuart: And he meets all the six items?
Ray Gibson: Well, he'll have to go through that process as part of the approval.
Mayor Stuart: Okay.
Mark Alarcon: I'd like to make a motion to move forward with that.
Mayor Stuart: Have a motion by Mr. Alarcon. Do I have a second?
Kathy Gilbert: Second.

Mayor Stuart: Have a second by Ms. Gilbert. Any discussion? All in favor? One, two,
three, four... 5-0. Thank you very much.

Mayor Stuart: Item 3 is 4G Properties,!_LC, Mr. Sammy Garrison 5353 North Henry
Boulevard. Stockbridge. Requesting permission for Destiny Word of Faith Church -
Reginald D. Steele, Sr. Pastor to occupy 2400 sq. ft. in Cobblestone Square Shopping
Center. Mr. Garrison?

Ray Gibson: The applicants are here, are present, if they would like to speak. I can
handle the request if you want me to.

Mayor Stuart: Okay.

Ray Gibson: Similar to the last request, church, Destiny Word of Faith would like to
locate at 5353 North Henry Boulevard. If you know where the Ace Hardware is, it's the
strip plaza adjacent to that. So, once again, they're seeking a six-month approval and
they'll have to come back before Council after six months if they wish to continue
leasing the building.
Mayor Stuart: Any questions? Got a motion?
Fred Evans: I make a motion to approve.
Mayor Stuart: Mr. Evans make a motion to approve it. Do I have a second?
Kathy Gilbert: III second.

10

Mayor Stuart: Ms. Gilbert is second. Any discussion? All In favor? Two, three, four
five. Moving right along. Thank you.

Mayor Stuart: Item 4 is a Gang Seminar - Presented by: Terry Kight - Code
Enforcement Officer requesting approval of Gang Seminar/Luncheon -1 believe the
date is not 15 October. The email I got here was 19 November now, I believe. But it's
one or the other. Ms. Kight. Matter of fact, here's just came in the email.

Terry Kight: Thank you, Council, for allowing me to speak tonight. I'm requesting your
support in providing space at the Conference Center and lunch for a Gang Awareness
Seminar. In August I attended a GCIC Training Seminar that included speakers from
the Macon Gang Unit. They made me realize that I was in denial about the serious
gang issues here in Stockbridge. Graffiti began as large wall of our strip malls covered
in legible words; then it morphed into this cryptic type code; then it went from being in
your face visible to practically invisible, so small and hidden you hardly notice it. Our
businesses have been so good about immediately cleaning up the graffiti that it would
be easy to presume there are no gangs here. It wasn't until I reviewed my Before and
After photos that I realized we had a lot of damaged property. I also learned that the
gang members are younger and younger. Some children are actually being raised by
gang members. That motivated me to coordinate with our local CAGE Unit to provide a
session that accomplished three goals:
1. Continuing education for all our officers networking as most productive,
2. Adding to the information database by inviting teachers. We want to do this on a
break session as they are exposed to the initial gang behaviors, and
3. I want to motivate our community leaders. The inspiration could generate
additional awareness programs and possibly alternative solutions.

The tentative date was September 17 as school was on break and the teachers could
make it, but that date was changed. I believe the new date is October 15. It will be an
all-day learning session with scheduled speakers from many jurisdictions. Sergeant
Jason Mitchell will be taking over the project completely to eliminate any confusion over
plans. I'm asking for your commitment tonight for the all-day seminar at the Merle
Manders Conference Center, lunch provided by the City. Thank you.

Mayor Stuart: That day was changed to 19 November.

Terry Kight: I wasnt notified.

Mayor Stuart: That's what I got It just came in on the email on it there. Thafsthe date
they had to move it to. That was one that came in and then there was a ...

Fred Evans: This has got October 22.

Shirley Dabney: The 22nd.

Mayor Stuart: That's ... I got an email from Captain Goings and Major Mathis, Stoney
Mathis. It's gonna be the ... It's in November, I think the biggest thing, we just need to
coordinate, I mean if we approve it—but I think he's forgetting to write people in there.
It's the 19th of November, is what I think the email said. Because October didn't work
out neither for them.

Mark Alarcon: So you think {unintelligible)
ll
Terry Kight: I cannot impress upon you enough how serious this is. Collectively, if you
went through my file of the photographs, the graffiti here in the City and you speak to
these men and you find out exactly what this stuff means, it's very serious, and 1 don't
believe it should be put off.

Mayor Stuart: We're not putting it off, Ms. Kight. What it is is the law enforcement
authorities who run code, who run the law enforcement, trying to coordinate all those ...
the email I read just before coming up here, was in November. They're suggesting they
have the date. That was from Sergeant Jason Miller, Mitchell, Mitchell. Jason Mitchell.
It's in November is when they want to turn around and do it there and they have all the
people lined up, basically, for it there. I'm all for it. I think we need it. To do it, you've
just got to find the date to get everybody in sync to be able to make it work. You've got
to have the appropriate people there.

Terry Kight: And again, the appropriate people, our target audience, primarily, would
have been the school teachers as they can relay the information they find with the
students directly to these officers. We planned it for September 17, which is this Friday,
six weeks in advance and had approval from all the speakers. We were ready to go.
This is that important. In November the Conference Center is going to be booked with
the holidays and it's going to be hard to find anywhere to get enough people in one
room.

Mayor Stuart: I believe he's already coordinated that with the email that I've seen. I'm
sorry you're not in on it, but that's the law enforcement guys that are turning around.
They got all the ducks lined up and it's in November is when they're wanting to do it. I'm
all for it. If s just they can't do it right now. Ifs not lined up that way.
Shirley Dabney: Is the Conference Center available ...
Mayor Stuart: Yes.
Shirley Dabney: ... on November 19.

Mayor Stuart: I saw on there. They're saying when it was available, when the speakers
are available and the people available with the school breaks and other stuff, whatever
it is that they're coordinating on it. It was for November.
Shirley Dabney: Okay.

Mayor Stuart: I'm sorry I don't have it, but I think it's the 19th of November.
Shirley Dabney: Okay.
Mayor Stuart: I have it down there in the email. But I think ifs a worthy cause.

Kathy Gilbert: Thank you for your efforts in getting this started. I really appreciate that.
It is important to the City and I appreciate your efforts in getting this organized and I
know ifs disappointing that ifs not happening in the timeframe that you were looking at,
but I think it will be a great opportunity when it does happen. Thanks.
Terry Kight: Thank you.
12
Fred Evans: Also, I'd like to say Congratulations to Terry and Council Lady Dabney
and former City Clerk, Merie Manders on the Legacy of Leadership Award they received
at the Capitol a couple of weeks back.

Terry Kight: Thank you.

Mayor Stuart: Alright, so we have a motion to approve the resolution. We need
approval to turn around. There's no resolution in here for that.

Fred Evans: I make a motion that we approve the request.

Mayor Stuart: Approve the funding for the seminar on date to be determined in
November?

Fred Evans: Yeah.

Kathy Gilbert: Second.

Mayor Stuart: Mr. Evans, second by Ms. Gilbert. Any discussion? All in favor. Two,
three, four... 5-0. Thank you.

Mayor Stuart: Okay. Now ifs Item 5. Mr. Welch, City Attorney will present Resolution -
Authorizing the City of Stockbridge to execute the First Amendment to the Development
Agreement with Walter Speer, LLC (Ingle's Markets). Its Item 5 in your books.

Buddy Welch: Since this is a change in condition, you will need to ask if there's any
opposition or any support for it after giving the report. There has been a request made
that the buffer area be changed. This is where the Ingles is presently being put
together. The north line will remain at 40 feet; the remaining lines will be at 10 feet, but
they will be required to have a landscape buffer for each of the other three sides. It will
have to be approved by the Planning Department, approved by the City. This is the first
amendment to an existing Development Agreement that was approved in December of
1996 for development of that property.

Mayor Stuart: Do we have anyone who wants to speak for it? Do we have anyone that
wants to speak against it, opposing it? We have neither/nor? Okay.

Ray Gibson: Mayor, I just want to add that I did talk to the legal counsel for Ingles and
they are in support of the change.
Mayor Stuart: You talked to who?
Ray Gibson: The legal counsel for Ingles.
Mayor Stuart: Okay.
Ray Gibson: And they are in support of the change.
Mayor Stuart: Okay.

13

Kathy Gilbert: Just like to make note of the fact that a couple of months ago, I believe,
we approved some additional signage for this property—if I'm not mistaken. And I'm a
little bit concerned that this property is getting a lot of amendments and changes to the
area. I'm not entirely certain that it will be appropriate to the neighborhood.

Ray Gibson: I just want to add that when the Save-Rite was built there, a lot of the
conditions weren't actually satisfied at that point, so Ingles has come into a situation
where there was, the tree cover was already pretty-much cleared. So that's issue they
faced and in looking at the plans, the Development Plan Review Department, the
County just overlooked the fact that there was a Development Agreement on the
property. I think that's what happened the first time when the site plan was looked at for
the Save-Rite.

Kathy Gilbert: Thank you.

Mark Alarcon: One point that I do want to point out—if my memory serves me correct.
During those same discussions, we were talking about the height of the signs and in
the paperwork that I have in front of me, it still depicts a 25-foot high sign. I thought we
put a 16-foot high restriction on that for that property, because we were going with the
three signs, not to be so engulfing that, you know, with signage that we reduced the
height of that. So I wanted to make sure that was pointed out and we don't allow them
three 25-footers.

Buddy Welch: It was. It was reduced to writing in the previous hearing you had
concerning that in which you approved it.
Mark Alarcon: Thank you, Mr. Welch.
Mayor Stuart: Any other discussion? Have a motion?
Fred Evans: I make a motion to approve.
Mayor Stuart: Have a motion by Mr. Evans to approve it. Do we have a second?
Harold Cochran: Second.

Mayor Stuart: Mr. Cochran has a second. Any discussion? All in favor? 5-0. Thank
you.

Mayor Stuart: Item 6. Resolution - Authorizing the City of Stockbridge to enter into an
agreement with Henry County for the construction of a Fire Station and Emergency
Medical Services Facilities. Item #6 in your book.
Buddy Welch: Back in 2009, Vulcan Materials made a gift to the City of 1.65 acres on
Rock Quarry Road so that a fire station could be built on that side of town. We have
entered into an agree... We've entered into numerous discussions with Henry County
concerning the construction of that. The document will require that the title be conveyed
to Henry County. They will build the facility on the property. They have to begin
construction by November 1 of this year and if they ever stop using the property for fire
station purposes, there is a procedure whereby the property would be sold and the City
would be paid for the value of the land. The land was given to the City at a value of
about $380,000 at the time of the gift and that has been covered in this document.
There is one
14
blank that will have to be filled out, and that's on paragraph 2 in which we would insert
the date of the agreement. If you approve that tonight, then it would go in, the
appropriate date would go into that blank. And that can be filled in by the Clerk. The
original deeds and documents for execution by the City have been delivered. It's our
recommendation, surely, that we go forward with this, because the County's building
these facilities and there will be an EMS station along with the fire station and it will be
a modern facility.

Kathy Gilbert: I just have one... I'm curious and I don't know, Mr. Welch, if you can
answer this or Mr. Gibson. The Rock Quarry Road construction, the bridge, how will
that impact the construction of this facility.

Buddy Welch: It's not going to impact the structure. There is a small portion of the
property that the County will be moving out of fire station service into Right-of-Way
service, but it's very, very small. Ifs more of a triangular-shape piece of property,
beginning on the north end and going to the south end of the property, but the size of
the property is still more than sufficient to build the size of the facility that the County's
wanted all along.

Ray Gibson: Given that the time-line is November 1, 2010 to October 1, 2012 for
completion, it should fall in line with the road project that... Once again, we haven't got
a drop-dead date when we're going to start the road project, but they should coincide
with each other.
Kathy Gilbert: I make a motion to approve the resolution ...
Fred Evans: Second.
Kathy Gilbert: ...and date it as appropriate.
Mayor Stuart: Who second? Fred, was that you?
MarkAlarcon: Fred

Mayor Stuart: Mr. Evans. Any discussion? Further discussion? All in favor? One, two,
three 5-0
Buddy Welch: Next resolution deals with a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute
a lighting service agreement with Georgia Power. Now this is only for service. This
deals with the East Atlanta Road Streetscape. We have had a meeting on this and the
subcontractor is going to be using Georgia Power for the installation of the lightings and
will save the City considerable amount of money on that by using Georgia Power to do
that. And this Is the agreement for the servicing of those facilities once they're installed.
Staff recommends approval.

Mayor Stuart: Any discussion? Questions? Have a motion?

Fred Evans: I make a motion to approve.

Mayor Stuart: Have a motion by Mr. Evans; second by Ms. Dabney. Any discussion?
All in favor? One, two, three, four, five.

15

Buddy Welch: Item #8 and 9 need to be explained together. The City had requested
that we prepare a new ethics ordinance that would apply to the Mayor and members of
the City Council. This is the form ordinance that is recommended by GMA. The
provision has all the provisions, and it contains none of the options that are put out by
GMA. The resolution—GMA requires that you adopt the resolution, saying that you will
comply with the terms set forth in the resolution and in the ethics ordinance.

Mayor Stuart: I believe there's four options they present on writing it. For some reason
we chose...

Kathy Gilbert: Mr. Mayor, if I may? In discussing this with Mr. Welch, I suggested that
we might be better off with the municipal court version as the adjudicating officer for any
complaints. The reason being, I felt like it would that it would allow for someone with
some legal knowledge to adjudicate, and if in fact the municipal court judge was the
object of an ethics complaint, that the complaint would be heard by a qualified third
party. I think so ... We are the last city in Henry County to adopt an ethics ordinance
and to become a Certified City of Ethics. This is something I found out about the
Certified City of Ethics Program when I was first elected two years ago, three, two and
half years ago, and I have wanted to see this City adopt an ethics ordinance . The other
two options are, are, allow for a panel of citizens—I believe a panel of three citizens. If
there's discussion and the Council wishes to move in a different direction, I certainly
have no, no problem with that

Mayor Stuart: There's a, as I was saying, there's four different options on it there. I
would not favor Option D of using the municipal court. I'm for the option of that we can
figure out however we want to do it.

Buddy Welch: You are not bound by all four options.

Kathy Gilbert: Right.
Buddy Welch: You can put any form of option you wish in there and you can combine
any of those four. You can disregard any, all four of them and put in something else; but
those are just suggestions from Georgia Municipal Association.

Mayor Stuart: My suggestion would be that we... We can do it however we want—each
Council person could nominate a person, a citizen to sit on the ethics board. That would
be six, and then we draw names out of a hat; but I think to have the citizens,
themselves, who we are accountable for, let them do the ethics investigation. It would
keep it out of the courts and the other stuff on it here that we just empanel a group of
citizens who agree to serve and let them hear the ethics complaints, 'cause that's
generally where they're coming from. And we want to hear from them on it there. I am...I
think it's great to have a City of Ethics, but I think the way we go about it so we don't get
accused of keeping everything in-house. That there municipal court judge means I
appoint him. There we go. Now I don't want to turn around and have the fingers point at
me on something like that. I would prefer to have an independent group of citizens to sit
on the ethics board and they hear the complaints and make the findings and then it can
be referred to the appropriate legal authority from there. But thafs my take on it.

Mark Alarcon: Mr. Mayor, especially after hearing Mr. Welch's input that we're not
bound by any of these four options, I'd like to suggest that we table it and definitely bring
this back to the table, once we've all had a chance to talk amongst ourselves. And I am
in
16
agreement with you to empower the citizens as well, but we just have too many options
and variations that we couldn't, we really couldn't vote on a solid ethics format tonight.

Kathy Gilbert: And I certainly agree, and I will make a motion to table it to the Work
Session for further discussion.
MarkAlarcon: I second.
Mayor Stuart: We have a table.
Buddy Welch: Will you make that motion apply to both?
Mayor Stuart: Yes.
Buddy Welch: Eight and nine?
Mayor Stuart: Eight and nine.
Buddy Welch: 'Cause you have to have both of those to do the one.
Kathy Gilbert: And just as a further note, this ordinance has to be reapproved, I
believe every four years. So it doesn't..! mean you don't just do it and then forget it.

Mayor Stuart: Okay. So we're tabling eight and nine. All in favor? Any discussion?
One, two, three, four, five to table it. Thank you.
Ray Gibson: Budget's next.

Mayor Stuart: Umm...#10 Ordinance - 2010 BUDGET AMENDMENTS - ($233,024)
Reduction Presented by Ray Gibson, and Nancy Brown, and Mark Alarcon.
Nancy Brown: Mayor and Council, these are our housekeeping-
Mayor Stuart: I can't hear you. Slide that over. Nancy Brown: I'm
sorry. Can you hear me now? Kathy Gilbert: Yes. Mayor Stuart:
Thank you.

Nancy Brown: These are our housekeeping items where we have adjusted line items
throughout the budget. We've come up with it by adjusting some things we've decided
we may put off til next year or items that we have saved money on through the year.
We've got a total budget savings of $233, 024 and we ask that you approve these
housekeeping items.
Kathy Gilbert: I make a motion that we approve these budget amendments.
Mayor Stuart: I have a motion by Ms. Gilbert.

17

Shirley Dabney: Second.
Mayor Stuart: Do I have a second?
Mayor Stuart: Did you say 'second', Shirley?
Shirley Dabney: Yes.
Mayor Stuart: Have a second by Ms. Dabney. Any discussion? All in favor? One, two,
three, four

Kathy Gilbert: Oh, I'm sorry.

Mayor Stuart: 5-0. Thank you.

Mayor Stuart: #11 Resolution - Authorizing the City of Stockbridge to authorize the
execution of the Georgia Department of Transportation's Local Maintenance and
Improvement Grant Program Certificate of Ownership and Agreement. That's tab #11.

Buddy Welch: It's just designating the roads that you're going to improve, and
authorize the Mayor to sign the document.
Mayor Stuart: Is that list...we got the list of what they are? Ifs ready to...
Ray Gibson: The list is part of your exhibit book.
Mayor Stuart: Okay. I'm sorry. 13 of them. Is that the priority of them, too, Ray?
Ray Gibson: At this time, that's correct.
Mayor Stuart: Okay. Do I have a motion?
Fred Evans: I make a motion to approve. I make a motion to approve.
Mayor Stuart: Have a motion by Mr. Evans.
Kathy Gilbert: Second.

Mayor Stuart: Second by Ms. Gilbert. Any discussion? All in favor of approving? One,
two, three, four, five. Good.

Mayor Stuart: Item 12 is Resolution - Authorizing the City of Stockbridge to install a flag
pole and related equipment in the Cemetery; authorizing the funding of said
construction and a special fund for maintenance of said installation at 4380 North Henry
Boulevard. It's Item #12.

Buddy Welch: This is a resolution that was requested to install the flag pole at the
City's cemetery. This is a public cemetery, owned by the City. You will note that in the
resolution there is an appropriation provision and you would need to set the maximum

18

there that could be spent for this. The Assistant Manager is directed to
prepare specifications and put the project out for bid.

Mayor Stuart: Okay, and I think...

Buddy Welch: This would authorize you to go with the lowest bid, the lowest qualified
bid, as long as it did not exceed the amount that was set forth in that, in the resolution.

Mayor Stuart: Okay, a couple of things on it there. This is kind of the one I picked up
on it. One, #3 there, it says approval special... that's supposed to be Assistant City
Manager, not County Manager.
Buddy Welch: It says Assistant City Manager
Shirley Dabney: Yeah.
Mayor Stuart: My copy says County Manager
Kathy Gilbert: Mine says County as well.
Mayor Stuart: Okay, we didn't get it. Okay. I just did a rough ballpark to get us in the
ballpark to get this. This came out by the veterans group that met. Since we can't do the
Veterans' Day Parade thing, they said we want to do something for veterans, so it's the
City Cemetery down here on 138 and it will be well under, but I said well under eight
grand, should be able to... I have a first time just called out, got about four grand to buy
the flag pole, which is a fiberglass pole, or steel pole with the winch inside, solar panel
on top, and all the equipment that goes with it. And then they figure half of that at the
worst to pour a concrete pad, but a stench in there with a plaque on it that we can
dedicate it to the citizens of Stockbridge at that time and then have a perpetual fund,
'cause there's no such thing as a flag that will hang in this weather, so we have to
replace it, as necessary, on it. We wanted to have this done by INovember if we can for
Veterans' Day on the 11th to have the ceremony and stuff down there. I've got some
different specs, I just... said, did the rough work. I've talked with Harold and Fred, and
I'll work with you to hand off *cause IVe got stuff, I'm going to be gone on it there, but
plying we stay with this resolution on it here and put it up for the bids and get it out. Its
just we gotta push and push fast, because we gotta...
Ray Gibson: Do you want to set a cap...
Mayor Stuart: Thafs...
Ray Gibson: ...of say $10,000.
Kathy Gilbert: Absolutely.

Ray Gibson: I would say $10,000 so we're flexible in what we can... I'd hate to keep
coming back for changing it, because, obviously, time is of the essence here.

Kathy Gilbert: I..Mr. Mayor?

Mayor Stuart: Eight grand should be more than enough.
19
Kathy Gilbert: I have a question. Ms. Brown, do you know what the current cemetery
fund, what the amount is in the current cemetery fund?

Nancy Brown: (inaudible)

Mayor Stuart: But Nancy, I think you told me we can't use that money for that.

Nancy Brown: It's a question for Mr. Welch, but I think that money is designated for the
care of the cemetery, and not for...

Buddy Welch: I think thafs right.

Kathy Gilbert: If s a perpetual care fund?

Buddy Welch: I think thafs right. I have not researched it, but my remembrance of it is
ifs perpetual care fund.

Kathy Gilbert: Okay.

Mayor Stuart: So does it have to come out of the general fund, which we're looking
good right now, money on it?
Kathy Gilbert: I make a motion not to exceed $8,000.
MarkAlarcon: I second.
Mayor Stuart: Any discussion? All in favor? One, two, three, four, five.
Mayor Stuart: Okay. Item 13 Resolution - Authorizing the City of Stockbridge to direct
the City Attorney to amend Title Eight of the City Code of Ordinances regarding
"Planning and Development".

Buddy Welch: The Henry County and the City have maintained, basically the same
zoning ordinance for many years. Henry County has now changed their zoning
ordinance. We had started up the evaluation of the ordinance, converting it into the
City's ordinance. We were directed to hold up on that. We have several applications for
annexation and what happens when you have different zoning ordinances is, if a person
wants to annex into the City, then they have to file a zoning application with Henry
County to have that property zoned with the same terminology and the same
requirements as the City's existing ordinance, where if you have the same ordinance
that Henry County has, the person annexing does not have to go through that process
thafs rather time-consuming and expensive. In order for us to move forward with that,
we would ask for authority to put it together, get it ready, and present it to your... We
would have to present it to you; then you would have to make a recommendation to
send it to Planning and Zoning. Planning and Zoning Board would have to review it. You
have to publish notices for all of this. You would have to also draw and update your
City's zoning map and at which time they would make a recommendation back to you.
You would conduct a public hearing on it, adopt a zoning ordinance, adopt the zoning
map. There is also some new statutes that came into effect recently that was adopted
by the Legislature dealing with pre-built homes

20

and how they can be governed, which needs to also be in our zoning ordinance. It's not
in Henry County's, but it needs to be put in ours. I assume Henry County will take care
of that at a later date. We also have some special zonings and requirements
concerning signage in Stockbridge that I would assume that you want to carry forward,
but what we will do is do a comparison chart to show you what you're carrying forward
versus what Henry County presently has. And then you can make your elections from
those choices or something else that you may come up with that would be better. The
reason the sign ordinances need to stay basically the same way they are, these issues
have been litigated. Our ordinances were upheld by the federal district courts, so we
would like to avoid further litigation concerning signage if we could.

Mayor Stuart: I talked with Mr. Gibson earlier in this here, and I think there's a
misunderstanding, himself or mine. I don't recall ever telling you to hold up on those.
We asked you to go ahead and do those, but he would like to have seen them and
made some admend...I think he's got some ones that you would like to add to it. Is that
correct?
Ray Gibson: I think the discussion was that we could move forward with the request and
then we can come back and look at it as a group.

Mayor Stuart: Right.

Ray Gibson: But I also want to make clear to the Council, I think if s very critical we
involve the citizens and the stakeholders in this process. I think once we get a
document ready, we should have outreach to them. Have a few town hall meetings,
walk them through the document, take feedback and then take It through the formal
process of adoption.

Buddy Welch: What was specifically told to us was that we were not to take any action
on it, that it was going to be reviewed by the Mayor and Mr. Gibson and then they
would get us the recommendations. Once we got that, we would put it all together and
then present it to the Mayor and Council, and that's the reason no action has been
taken.
Mayor Stuart: Okay.
Buddy Welch: We're ready to move forward if you adopt the resolution.
Mayor Stuart: Sounds like a simple misunderstanding of it there and we're ready to go.

Kathy Gilbert: I make a motion we adopt the resolution, going forward with the Planning
and Development.

Mayor Stuart: Have a motion by Ms. Gilbert. Do we have a second?

Fred Evans: I second.

Mayor Stuart: Mr. Evans second. Any further discussion?

Ray Gibson: Can I add to that? I think, once again, I want to make sure that we have it
come back before Council with a timeline and the number of meetings, kind of set dates
so we can move this through a process and we follow that process.

21

Kathy Gilbert: Would that be precluded by adopting this resolution?

Buddy Welch: We will adopt, we will provide to you—ifs not included in that...

Kathy Gilbert: Okay.

Buddy Welch: ...Well provide a timeline for you. What we will do is have a draft of it
ready for you to consider at your October Study Session meeting and then, hopefully,
we'll have it early enough where Ray and whoever else wants to review it make
comments back can. And then you would start the process of you studying it and then
once you decide you are ready to make a recommendation to the Planning and Zoning,
then you would have to adopt that resolution—-it's a resolution at that point in time-to
Planning and Zoning. Then the public hearings would start at Planning and Zoning
concerning that. And they would advertise it, give notices of it. You have to have your
document prepared that's presented to them. You have to have your map prepared
that's presented to them. Once that is done, then it's brought back and a public notice is
again given concerning your hearing concerning planning and zoning, and you have to
adopt the ordinance and then you have to adopt the map. And it's all very technical and
the law specifies the dates and times, and it will take several months, now, to get all of
this completed.
Kathy Gilbert: I Understand.
Buddy Welch: But we will get you a timeline together and get it to you this week.
Kathy Gilbert: Okay. My motion stands.
Mayor Stuart: Any other discussion?
Fred Evans: Second.
Mayor Stuart: Mr. Evans, you already second it, so... All in favor? One, two, three, four
5-0. Alright.

Mayor Stuart: Next item here is Council Discussion on Form of Government Change. I
believe Mr. Alarcon?

Mark Alarcon: Mr. Mayor, citizens, I wanted to be very clear as to why I was insisting
that this item show up on the agenda tonight. There was a lot of confusion. Actually, to
be honest with you, accusations made and a lot of things that are circling around why or
how this information got out of an Executive Session and I wanted to clear my name
from the accusations that I was receiving that Mark Alarcon went from an Executive
Session to the public and breached, or broke a law, in regards to Executive Sessions
and I'm going to continue and then, you know, just keep you Mark Alarcon's perception:

Number one: I did not in any way, form, or fashion bring this item up to anyone. Back in
August 171 did an interview with Ray McBerry on the agenda, and I talked about some
very skirting, very close issues that some may think went over the line. I don't believe
they did, but in no way, form, or fashion, did that interview have anything in it that
alluded to what was mentioned in the Executive Session. It aired on the next day on
August 18, so if I'm following it correctly, either I'm a genius or have some sort of
telepathy ability to make a statement about a governmental change or any of those
types of statements prior to
22
actually the meeting taking place on August 23rd. There was an Executive Session at
the Work Session August 24th. Here's the verification of the DVD. On the 24th, Mr.
Fred Evans—and I'm going to read: 'At last night's meeting the Council's...

Buddy Welch: You should not disclose, you should not disclose what goes on in
Executive Session.
Mark Alarcon: Am I doing that now?
Buddy Welch: If you read it, you are.
Mark Alarcon: No, no, no. This is a email that was sent out that...
Buddy Welch: I don't... If it's a matter that was taken up in Executive Session, it should
not be discussed until the matter is concluded, and then you can publish whatever you
wish from the Executive Session.

Mark Alarcon: If this was an email—I'm asking your legal guidance here—If this email
was sent by a Council person and was copied
Buddy Welch: To who?
Mark Alarcon: Excuse me. Let me finish my statement.
Buddy Welch: Okay.

Mark Alarcon: And a person who was not in that session was copied—arbitrarily,
incorrectly, whatever-once that person was included in that email, then it is public
record.

Buddy Welch: My best advice to you, okay, is what is conducted in Executive Session
should remain in Executive Session. That's my best advice to you and each member of
this Council.

Mark Alarcon: Well, I'm going to continue. And I'm doing this as a defense of my
character. If this is a breaking of the law, then thafs what It's going to be. I don't feel like
communicating what I feel like is public record, because this email went out requesting
that... I'm not going to read it, but I'm telling you that this email went out, requesting that
that governmental change, or that statement was mentioned and he, you know, Fred
asked for it to be put on the agenda. Then it was taken off the agenda. Then I spoke
with Vanessa. She's not here. She said that Harold, I think you had called and y'all had
some discussion about the agenda. The bottom line is, it's on the agenda now and we
have this turnout, because I think people are interested in why are we trying to do
something that we have been, you know, running the City has a strong-mayor form of
government, and now there's, there's concern. I, personally, could care less what type
of form of government we decide on. If it's a strong-mayor form of government, then we
need to operate it under those, the Charter as ifs written. If its going to be a weak-mayor
form of government, amen, I don't care. Let's run it according to the Charter that it's
written under. Same thing with the, if we decide to go with the City Attorney, I mean the
city manager-form of government. Thafs fine and good, but when these things are
stated or said and then I get accusations the next day. I had a, you know, I was in
basically told that I'm being complicit, okay? In writing, I'm being complicit. Now for
those of you that
23
may not know because I, I thought I knew what it meant, and then I went back and
double-checked and made sure I understood what it mean. But it said that I'm being
involved with others in reprehensible and illegal activity. Now, I don't know about
anybody in this room, but I don't think anybody wants to be told that they're acting in an
illegal or reprehensible manner without any documentation verifications. So, you know,
I'm venting here and I'm reaching out to you guys as the citizens to understand that I'm
here in support of the strong-mayor form of government, as a support of Lee Stuart,
and we are going to have to learn to work together, I don't care what form of
government we decide to go with. But I wanted to clear my name as being some sort of
leak, (applause)

Kathy Gilbert: Mr. Mayor, may I read something into the record?

Mayor Stuart: Go ahead.

Kathy Gilbert: The Mayor and City Council can be compared to a Chairman and Board
of Directors in the private sector. Corporations have a CEO, a COO, or an Executive
Director to run the day-to-day operations of the organization. No corporation that I'm
aware of~ and if there is one, I'd like to know where it is and what it is—is run on a day-
to-day basis by the Chairman and/or Board of Directors. The Charter is the constitution
of our City.

MarkAlarcon: Amen.

Kathy Gilbert: The constitution, like the Charter, may not be changed by legislation.
Unlike the constitution and for this purpose, the Charter can only be changed by the
state legislature. The current Charter establishes a strong mayor form of government,
(applause) which could be loosely compared to a sole proprietorship in the private
sector. It works far better with small cities, which this City was in 1981 when the Charter
was adopted. I don't know what the population was back then. I'm guessing, I've heard
somewhere in the vicinity of maybe 1500. The City has grown significantly since then
and governing has become far more complex. The Mayor, previous Mayor and Council
clearly wanted to codify the City Manager position as they adopted an ordinance
defining that position. Mr. Welch, I'm guessing you probably had something to do with
writing that ordinance. I'm also guessing that you probably advised them that it probably
wouldn't stand unless there was a state legisiature-adopted-change to the Charter. If
you didn't, well then that may have been a mistake. If you did, and the Mayor and
Council said, 'No, thafs not the way it's going to be; we're gonna do it this way', then
thats the way it is. It served the City well—that ordinance—for many years. We don't
need to discuss personalities. But the City functioned for many years under that
arrangement. As long as the Mayor stayed the same, things worked.

Mayor Stuart and every Council man and woman agree that we need a full-time City
Manager. In order to begin the search process, we need to define the responsibilities
and duties of that position. Mayor Stuart was asked to define the duties and
responsibilities he is comfortable with delegating as is his privilege under the current
Charter-the responsibilities and duties that he is willing to delegate to a City Manager,
and he has not done so to date. It would be a waste of taxpayer time and money to
advertise for a position that is not defined as to the powers and duties and
responsibilities, and it is highly unlikely that any competent candidate would apply for a
position under such vague parameters.

24

The Mayor has filed suit against the City, a suit against the City that, in part,
deals with the apparent discrepancy between the Charter and an ordinance
relative to the City Manager position. The City is dysfunctional at present as a
result of that suit. Please understand the suit names the City of Stockbridge,
which means the Mayor is suing each and every one of you here present tonight
if you are a resident and citizen of this City. He is not suing Smith, Welch &
Brittain, nor is he suing the Council. Only as they exist under the umbrella of the
City of Stockbridge. Mr. Welch was retained at the first meeting of Mayor Stuaifs
administration by a unanimous vote of this Council. We have three ways forward:

1. We can wait for the Mayor's suit to be settled in court, which could take
many months, if not years, and cost the taxpayer huge sums of money and
potentially destroy the City in the process.
2. We can request the legislature to change the Charter to a city manager
form of government, or
3. The Mayor could agree to drop his suit, submit with the Council to
impartial, qualified third-party mediation through the Georgia Municipal
Association, NUGA, to resolve this immediate issue and others associated
with possible conflicts between the Charter and the ordinances.

There is a significant amount of misinformation out in the public domain as to
what a charter changed to a City Manager form of government means. It does not
mean that the Mayor will be stripped of his power, or neutered, as I have heard. I
don't believe that Mayor Copeland of McDonough believes that he has no power.
And I wouldn't suggest to Mayor Lindsey of Locust Grove that she has no power,
unless you're ready to duck. Both of these cities operate under a City Manager
form of government. It does mean that the Mayor and City Council become a
team to provide the primary policy-making role and an appointed City Manager
acts as the primary Executive in the primary Executive role. It combines the
strong political leadership of the elected Mayor and Council with a strong
managerial experience of an appointed local government management
professional.

It was developed in the early 1900's by reformers who envisioned a more
business-like approach to municipal government. The City Manager serves...
under the City Council form of government, the City Manager serves at the
pleasure of the Mayor and Council and may be fired by them, subject to
applicable laws and contractual obligations. I've heard that the City Manager just
lives on and on with no oversight. Under this form of government,
responsiveness to citizens is actually enhanced, because administrative
accountability is centralized in one individual, the City Manager.

Everyone on this Council is in agreement on the need for changes that will make
this City more citizen-friendly. The changes we are attempting to get made to our
website to provide the citizen access that you will have this evening has been
adopted by this Council. These are things that I personally espoused when I first
ran and I continue to champion, as does every other Councilman on this dais.
While some may not have in the past, minds have been changed. We all want
better management of City projects and review of all City processes and
procedures, Including the world of the City Attorney to make this City run as
efficiently, effectively, and economically as it can for its citizens. And we are
working toward those goals as best we can under very trying circumstances. We
need to stop micro-managing that process, because there is not one of us,
including the Mayor, who have all of the expertise to competently run this City.
We need to free our employees to do their worlds. They don't need the Mayor or
Councilman micro-managing them. They need the competent leadership of a
professional City Manager who reports to the Mayor
25
and Council. We need to give our citizens the tools they need to serve you, our citizens.
We need to find and hire the experience we need, where it is lacking and then we as
the Mayor and Council need to listen to and weigh the recommendations of those
people and get out of their way. There is plenty of blame to go around, both inside and
outside of City Hall, from mismanagement and intransigent on issues of the past. I
believed when I was elected, and I still do, that this City has a bright future. It is time to
put the past behind us. Dwelling there is counterproductive and damages this proud
City. It is time, past time, for those both inside and outside of City Hall and every one of
us on this dais as well, to stop seeking revenge on people who are dead or gone and
start working as a team towards that bright future.

Mayor Stuart: Thank you for your statement there, Ms. Gilbert. I will recuse myself
from speaking much about the lawsuit as Mrs..., *cause its still in effect. I will just say
this to the citizens. The majority of y'all elected me to do the same job as the previous
mayor under the same rules ... (applause) You elected me to do it under the same
rules bylaws, and all I've asked is you to pay me the same courtesy as you have the
previous people and then at the end of my term if you don't like it... (applause) At the
end of my term, if you don't like it, throw my butt out. But the fourth option, she did fail to
for get to, though, the three options she mentioned. There's also the fourth option. Next
year, you get to vote for three more Council members. So if they're not listening...
(applause). With that being said, I would like to ...

Mark Alarcon: Mr. Mayor, I'd like to...

Mayor Stuart: Go ahead, Mr. Alarcon.

Mark Alarcon: An agenda amendment, I mean a ... to ask that we do as a courtesy
to everyone here that has signed up, if we could not go to Executive Session and go
ahead and hear the public comments...

Mayor Stuart: Okay.

Mark Alarcon: ... and then adjourn to Executive Session. I think that would be more
courteous to the citizens for their coming out and wanting to speak.

Mayor Stuart: Yes, I think that would be kind of appropriate. And we do have ... xcause
we never know how long those will go.

Kathy Gilbert: That will take an amendment to the agenda and that will require a
motion.

Mayor Stuart: We went ahead... We've amended it before without an amendment. Do
we have a motion to go ahead and hear the people's public discussion? Have a
motion?

Mark Alarcon: Make a motion.

Mayor Stuart: Have a motion from Mr. Alarcon. Do I have a second?

Kathy Gilbert: I will second that motion.

26

Mayor Stuart: Wow! We have motion from Mr. Alarcon; a second from Ms. Gilbert.
Any discussion? All in favor of moving it up? One, two, three, four, 5-0. Thank you so
much. With that being said, going down the order here, we have Rebecca Aaron.
Rebecca Aaron? Here to speak about Community Outreach Dinner. Rebecca Aaron?
You Rebecca Aaron?

Rebecca Aaron: lam.
Mayor Stuart: Okay. Come on up, please.

Rebecca Aaron: Thank you for giving me this time. I just wanted to let you know that
the churches of the Henry County... Okay?

Mayor Stuart: Go ahead.

Rebecca Aaron: Okay. The churches all around Henry County have gotten together
and we are doing a Community Thanksgiving Dinner the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
We have about 15 churches currently working with us: Stockbridge, McDonough,
Hampton, Luella, Ola. We'll be having about 300 people at each host church in the City
and we're looking for volunteers for the churches, donations from around the area, as
well as potential host churches in some of the areas. So we just want to make sure you
were, you know what we are doing, and that Is a community outreach. We're hoping to
reach at least 1500 people. Are there any questions?

Mayor Stuart: Can you explain again where-all's it going to happen? Is it one location,
or...

Rebecca Aaron: No. There're going to be a host churches. There will be one host
church at each of the major cities.

Mayor Stuart: Okay.

Rebecca Aaron: So what we're trying to do is match up the host church with the
people in the strong-need area—people in need often aren't able to travel-say, if we
had one in just McDonough. So we're hoping to foster relationship with the people in
need and their host city.
Mayor Stuart: Do you have anyone right now, a church in Stockbridge thafs hosting?
Rebecca Aaron: Stockbridge First United Methodist.
Mayor Stuart: First United.

Rebecca Aaron: And hopefully, Red Oak United Methodist. Also in McDonough it will
be McDonough First Methodist, Oakland Baptist has also. We're looking for people in
Locust Grove and Ola-the Ola area-and Hampton are the three churches we're looking
for host churches. So if you're churches are open, are welcome to opening doors,
maybe about 300 people, if s very doable. We're talking about maybe a double
Wednesday night dinner. We want one-on-one relationships with people, talking to
them. We just don't want to feed them. We want to make sure they know that they're
loved and taken care of by our Henry County community. So, and our churches are
working together, all denominations. We're really proud of how our churches have come
together—15. So...
27
Mayor Stuart: That's great.
Rebecca Aaron: I think so, too. We're really excited.

Mayor Stuart: Could you do a flyer or something like that and email it us? And send
that...

Rebecca Aaron: Sure. I sure will.

Mayor Stuart: That would spread the word on it.

Rebecca Aaron: It would. It would be great-volunteers and people in need. We're
welcoming both. Everyone needs information.
Kathy Gilbert: I think we can probably put something on our Facebook page as well.
Rebecca Aaron: Great! Yeah. That would be wonderful.
Kathy Gilbert: If you'll get the information to us.
Rebecca Aaron: Okay. I certainly will. And Connecting Henry has been great, helping
us so far. Thank you very much for everything.

Mayor Stuart: Thank you.

Rebecca Aaron: Any other questions? No? Alright. Thank you very much, everyone.
(applause)

Mayor Stuart: Next we have Robin Ernst of Helen Lane, Stockbridge. Robin Ernst?

Robin Ernis: Good evening, everyone. I'm Robin Ernis. I live at 155 Helen Lane in
Stockbridge, Georgia. I'm here and tonight to support Mayor Stuart. I think he's doing a
fabulous job for Stockbridge and as far as, as long as the Mayor stayed the same,
everything was fine. I don't think it was fine. I think it just moved along, just like
everybody wanted it to move along. And when you get a new mayor that comes in or
any new management that comes into a city or a county, you have to be willing to make
some changes. You have to go over employees and what, whether they have job
descriptions, and you have to look at your budget and see where you can cut the
budget and save the county money. I know Mayor Stuart as a friend, although I haven't
known him a long time, but he's an honest man. He has integrity and I'm here to support
him tonight. Thank you. (applause)

Mayor Stuart: Next, we have Ronald Greer to talk about employee benefits. You with
him, sir?

Ronald Greer: III let him come up with me. He's my son. Thank you. I hope not to take
but just a minute of your time, but I'd like to introduce myself first I'm Ron Greer. A lot of
you know me as Ronnie. IVe been around here for a hundred years. Stockbridge is near
and dear to my heart and I want to thank all of you who are on the Council and other
positions for taking this job, because it's not easy. I have served on elected committees
as
28
well as corporate boards, and I understand the decisions sometimes you're asked to
make are very, very hard to do and I appreciate the opportunity of asking you to make
another one.

First, I want to tell you a little story. My company is Employee Benefits Specialists
Company. It's been in Henry County. We opened our office here in 1964 in the City of
Stockbridge, right across where the old post office used to be, side of Harold's Service
Station. We got finally where the road was so thick we had to move, because we
couldn't get in and out of the office. So basically what we did was we went out to Eagles
Landing and built a building out there and that's where we've been operating ever
since. For 30-something years our firm has handled every single governmental body in
Henry County's benefits, or somebody. If our firm didn't do it at the time they were
there, somebody I trained does it. And we basically had every one of them down
through the last 25 or 30 years, except one. And that's the City of Stockbridge. We
have had Hampton off and on. Every time they change mayors, they call us to come
back over and do it again, so having said that, I'm going to tell you that we have tried so
long to operate a healthy staff for the City of Stockbridge and the employees of the City
of Stockbridge to get them in the real world as to whaf s going on in these benefit
periods. Some of the plans are excellent. Some are so antiquated you don't even want
to talk about 'em. But they need to be updated, and we've asked our people to do, to
come in and talk these folks about doing it, and I think we've done a... I've talked to
most of every one of you up here on this Board, individually, about doing it. We actually
have qualified people in our office—I'm a CLU, Allen, my son, is a graduate with a
finance degree from Georgia Southern; he's got a Master's Degree in Insurance
Financial Planning from Georgia State. He's a CLU and a Charter Financial Consultant.
And $2 and all that will buy you a cup of coffee if you don't know what you're talking
about. We happen to know what we're doing. And we'd like to have the opportunity to
show it with you there.

During this process, we now have business scattered from Waynesboro to Franklin
County municipality governments. I'm going to ask Allen, if he would, just to read this list
to you, the ones that we do have right now.

Mayor Stuart: Sir, if you can, you've got about 20 seconds.

Ronald Greer: Thafsall?

Allen Greer: What we're working on today is we have municipalities across there,
across the area. We're in a position. We've talked to most of the staff here and they
would like to, or I don't think have a large opposition to work with us. What we're asking
you to do is if you can keep the business local. We'd appreciate keeping the business
local. Right now we're in competition with a firm from Cartersville. We have the exact
same expertise and the same abilities and we'd like for y'all to just keep the business
local, if possible. Thank you.
Ronald Greer: Thank you.

Mayor Stuart: Okay. Thank you.

Ronald Greer: There's no need to go 135 miles to get something when you can do it
right here three miles away. Thank you so much for your time.

29

Mayor Stuart: Thank you.

Mayor Stuart: Next we have Kenneth Dockery.

Kenneth Dockery: Good afternoon. Freddy, Mr. Cochran, Mark, Ms. Gilbert, and
Shirley. I voted for Mayor. I did not vote for a City Overseer. Now we finally got
somebody to run against Rudy Kelley to take over this mess. He did. That's why he got
voted for. And that's what I'm looking forward to. I wish he would run again. I asked him
about that awhile ago, to run for a second term. I hope he does, but this stuff going
behind closed doors and all—this is ridiculous. This is out of hand. This is what we're
trying to get rid of. (applause). I mean this is ridiculous! I'm not a politician. I'm just an
old country boy. I live down the road two blocks from here—55 years. I remember Mr.
Hart; I remember Jimmy Glass; I remember Paul Collier; and I remember Rudy Kelley.
But those days are over. It's time for a new mayor. Leave him alone; let him do his job.
Thank you. (applause)

Mayor Stuart: Next we have Mr. Don Gordon. And I'm sorry, I can't read what you've
got written there. Whatever... I can't... My writing's not good anyway.

Don Gordon: My name's Don Gordon and I live on Shields Road. I've been in here
before with you guys. Been in Stockbridge about 20 years. It's been a long time since
I've seen this kind of turnout at a City Hall meeting. Its also been a long time—I think
this is the first time I've ever been to a Council meeting where I've seen unanimous
votes across the board on everything that's been brought up. Ifs also been the only time
I've ever been to a City where I've heard 'citizen' mentioned more times than anything
else. So, obviously, numbers speak for what we want. And there's corrections here to
be made. And they're trying to be made. I voted for Lee Stuart. I believe in a strong
mayor government. I think he's doing a great job for us. He was voted in by the people;
we made a choice, you know. There was 23, 32 years mayor in the City before. We
made a choice; we put Lee Stuart in as Mayor. We liked what he said to us. He's a ... I
can pick up a phone and call him any time I want to and talk to him about anything I
want to and the problem gets done. There was never an opportunity before. You know,
I am totally all for a strong mayor in the City. I like Mayberry the way it is. We want to
keep it here. I don't care what McDonough's doing. I don't care what the City of Atlanta
is doing. We want Mayberry to stay Mayberry. (applause)

Mayor Stuart: Mildred Reed.
Mildred Reed: Greetings to the Honorable Lee Stuart, Mayor of Stockbridge. ?? The
City Council. My name is Mildred Reed, Atlanta South District, and member of the
Knight's Monumental AME Church at 224 Red Oak Road. I am the South Atlanta
District Walk Cancer Walk Coordinator, and before I go any further, I would like to
introduce the following members of Knights to please stand as part of the group that is
supporting our Cancer Walk here. And I would like to, necessarily, say we mentioned
that we had one recently-retired marine with us. (applause) Thank you.

The reason I'm here today is to share with you and the members of the audience that
we're having our second annual Cancer Walk Project, which is scheduled for Saturday,
October 9, starting at 9 a.m. The Cancer Walk idea was developed by our presiding
elder, Reverend L. T. Daniels, and we wanted to focus on all forms of cancer that
affects our community. The riding of the walk will be from the church, Knight's
Monumental, Red Oak
30
Road, continuing up Tye Street using the sidewalk as much as we have available and
making a right turn onto North Henry Boulevard, and then continuing here to City Hall
and in this area we will circle and we will reverse the route. Before we go, we will have
media interviews and picture-taking in front, across the street there.

The purpose of this walk is to raise funds for the American Cancer Society and the
registration for the walk is $25. And I do have flyers available and registration forms. I
do want to say that I personally, personally thank Mayor Stuart, the City Council, and
Ray Gibson, who has been very instrumental in helping put us in the right direction as
to what we're supposed to do. I, too, Ray Gibson ??... I, too, voted for the Mayor, and I
am very excited, having been in the community for awhile there start coming to the
Council meetings and taking the interest and have tried to pass the word throughout the
community that we should be here to know what's going on and to support, give as
much support and input as we can. Thank you. (applause)

Mayor Stuart: And Ray, we're all squared away now on what we needed on the
paperwork and stuff to make that happen?

Ray Gibson: Thafs correct. Yes.

Mayor Stuart: Thank you.

Mayor Stuart: Next is Dr. Mike Moon. To talk about Veterans' Day and flag pole
dedication.

Dr. Moon: Thank you, Ray. Hello, everybody, tonight. And hello, Mayor, and hello,
Council. Say hello to everyone. Freddy, how ya doing, Buddy? And Mr. Cochran, Ms.
Gilbert, Ms. Dabney, Mr. Alarcon. And Mr. Buddy Welch. I've been knowing this young
man here since I was a young kid in McDonough. But what we're here to talk about right
now is the Veterans' Day up here in Stockbridge to have a new flag pole and have
everyone to come out that morning, I believe 9:30 Is what we've talked about. And also
I had thought about something since then. I'm with the Cemetery Resource Group. This
is Alfred Britt; he's the president of it. We're going to go through the cemetery and find
out who all the veterans are that are buried in the cemetery so everyone will have a list
of who's buried there. Also, I've thought about something else, since we talked the other
day, about from where the drive is, where you drive in. Over, well have to walk out to
the monument. My... I thought about maybe having a walkway there, but using pavers
and possibly /all selling the pavers like we did at the Wall of Honor in McDonough, with
people's names on them, and you could sell them for $35 apiece and that recoups
some of your money for putting up the flag pole. And that's something I thought about
the other day. I thought it would be an excellent idea and even possibly having some
benches there like they have in McDonough, too, and have it, you know. Make it very
nice and sell those benches, and that would recoup your money. It wouldn't take no
time, because I'm on the committee that takes care of the Veterans' Wall of Honor, and
we've been working hard down there, getting a lot of repairs done. And it's really, it's
come, ifs really come, it's come together.

And I got something else to say before I leave. I'm a sick man. I'm not well at all. It's
rough for me to come out tonight, but I came out because I wanted to speak about this,
because the veterans is a very important thing. Mayor Lee Stuart is a veteran. He
served this country a long time and I'm proud of him, and... but what I wanted to say is
we're all

friends and let's stay friends, and lefs be friends to one another. Let's, let's, you know
we can be human to one another and I know how to do that and also to just ask God
for guidance. That's all we can do and the best we can do. And I hope y'all have a nice
evening, (applause) Thank you.
Mayor Stuart: Thank you, Dr. Mike.
Alfred Britt: Thank you, sir.
Mayor Stuart: Next, we have Anna Steinberg.
Anna Steinberg: Hello. My name is Anna Steinberg, 254 Kensington Trace,
Stockbridge. I have a question specifically to Councilwoman, specifically Kathy Gilbert,
and Councilman Fred Evans. Why are you trying to take away my rights and the rights
of 23,000 people, citizens of City of Stockbridge? How to choose and govern the City of
Stockbridge. Thank you. (applause)

Mayor Stuart: Next we have Richard Steinberg.

Richard Steinberg: Good evening, Mayor and members of City Council. My name is
Richard Steinberg. I'm the other half of Anna Steinberg, and I live at 254 Kensington
Trace In the City of Stockbridge. Over the course of the past year, different members of
the City Council have delivered invocation prior to the start of the actual City Council
meetings. If you review the videotapes, or the actual transcripts of those meetings, you
will find that the message that is unilaterally delivered is a prayer for peace, for
harmony, for cohesiveness, for unification, and for our City Council and for our citizens.
However, behind the scenes of this fagade, it appears that the City Council as an entity
cares less about the citizens of Stockbrldge and are concerned with personal power
and control, both publicly and privately plotting to mandate a change in the form of our
city government, without any say-so on the part of our citizens. US Constitution-and if
you've read it, the City Charter—call for and actually implement a separation of power
doctrine with specific executive, legislative, and judicial powers. The system of checks
and balance has worked well, historically, for the federal government and locally here
for the City of Stockbridge. Our new mayor, who was elected by the citizens of
Stockbridge, has made every diligent effort to restore the separation of power at the city
level. However, you folks routinely interfere with his ability to do so. And now that you
can't have your way, you plot to change the form of city government in direct defiance
of the public mandate. So I directly ask folks, especially Councilwoman Kathy Gilbert,
among others: Where is the unification? Where's the peace? Where's the harmony?
Where's the cohesiveness? These are the things that you espouse in your invocations?
I strongly urge the City Council to stop quarreling and stop squandering the City's
resources, financial and otherwise, in your power-grabbing plot. The citizens of
Stockbridge own the right to make the ultimate decision on how they are governed-
today, tomorrow, and for the years to come. If s not your choice. If sours. Thank you.
(applause)

Mayor Stuart: Next we have Iris Dockery.

Iris Dockery: Thank you for allowing me to speak. I'm hearing opposition to the last-
minute resolution to transfer administrative executive powers to a legislative branch. I
want a Mayor, not a City Manager. The Mayor doesn't control without a City Council and
the City Council doesn't control without a Mayor. Thafs a fair balance. It brings honesty

and integrity to the table. I voted for a Mayor, not a City Manager. Why do you want to
change that? Is it because you don't agree? If so, work it out. Don't get rid of the
Mayor's power to question issues. If everyone is not in agreement, then something
must be wrong. If it can't be worked out with the Mayor and Council, give it to the
people of Stockbridge to vote on it. Lefs see who's on track with that. This is our City. It
should be public to us what is going on at City Hall, not behind closed doors,
(applause)
Mayor Stuart: Next is Steve Koveran, Kavran
Steve Kovach: Kovach.
Mayor Stuart: Kovach. Sorry for...
Steve Kovach: You were close. Mr. Mayor, City Council. We, the people voted for the
Mayor. We, the people, voted for Rudy Kelley. We, the people, voted for each and
every one of you. And it is now we, the people, saying we want a strong mayoral type
of government. There are many veterans in this room. I am one. Lee Stuart is another.
We fought for freedom. We fought for liberty. We fought for justice. And we fought for
American and American way. What I'm seeing here right here in this Council meeting is
not the American way. We fought tyranny worldwide. We don't want it here. If you can't
get along with the Mayor—Mr. Mayor I will correct you one point. There is a fifth
alternative. The City Council can resign and we will accept your resignation (applause)
if you cannot get along with the Mayor and do the job that you are elected to do. It's
very simple: work together. You go to a corporation and you have to do what the boss
says. If not, you're fired. Mr. Mayor, you're the boss. And we, the people, are the boss.
We can hire you; we can fire you—whoever you are. Thank you. (applause)
Mayor Stuart: I believe the next one is Sherrod Patel.
Ray Gibson: He's already spoken.
Mayor Stuart: He's already spoken. Chrystal Stovall-Dixon.
Chrystal Stovall-Dixon: Good evening, everyone. My name is Chrystal Stovall-Dixon
and I live at 959 Maple Leaf Drive in McDonough, but I live in the city limits of
Stockbridge. I came out here tonight to voice my support of Mayor Lee Stuart as well.
I've heard the strong-mayor form of government being compared to a sole
proprietorship, and I'm curious as to why that was never the comparison when we had
another mayor, (applause) I believe the strong-mayor form of government is, in reality,
similar to the CEO of a corporation. And just like a CEO is responsible to the
stockholders, the Mayor is responsible, and the Council, is responsible to the citizens of
this City. A few months ago, I was here and we were talking about changing the way the
Council members are elected from at-large members to districts. That was promptly
shot down by each and every one you—well I shouldn't say each and every one of
you—but that was promptly shot down, and I never heard any more about it; but yet
here you are trying to change the Mayor's position. And I don't think that's right. We
wanted more representation and better representation from our Council members by
getting Council members elected by district so you can represent us. And now you're
trying to change the Mayor's role so we won't even be represented by the Mayor any
more, by some City Manager. So I'm totally against that and I wanted to share that
tonight Thank you. (applause)

33

Mayor Stuart: Mr. John Powledge.

John Powledge: Thank you, Mayor, Qty Council. Ifs my pleasure to stand here before
you tonight. I'm John Powledge. I live at 936 Maple Leaf Drive. I've been in the military,
also. I've been involved in politics as well. I understand elective and representative
government. And I'm a very strong believer in representative government. There's a
couple of things I've noticed in the six years that I've lived in this city and in this county.
And that is that my county government and my city government would rather tell me
what to do, rather than put the power in my hands where it should be as a tax-paying
citizen in both this county and this city. You ask me, 'well how have you done that to
me?' Well one way you've done that is by refusing to district the City so that I vote for a
representative who sits on this Council. You guys don't allow that to happen. Why, I
don't understand. Now you want to put an unelected bureaucrat, called City Manager,
in charge over what happens in this City, rather than an elected official who is the
Mayor. We need a strong mayoral form of government, if for no other reason, than we
can throw that person out of office if we're unhappy with them when their time for
reelection comes. Ill tell you, I have noted those who have voted in the various ways
that they have on districting. I will assure you I will vote to have you out of office the
next time I get the chance to. (applause) My eyes are also on how you vote when it
comes to a strong-mayoral form of government. If you vote for Qty Manager over a
strong-mayor, I will be watching, and I will vote you off of this Council if you go that
direction.

Let me say one more thing. I heard it said tonight that because of the size of
Stockbridge, we needed a strong City Manager, rather than a strong Mayor, because it
would work better that way. Well, I've got a question for you, since you made that
statement tonight. If Stockbridge is so big and, therefore, should have a City Manager
and a weak Mayor, why in the world, for something much bigger, like the United States
of America, don't we take the power away from the President and give it to a national,
some national person who is going to run the government, instead of President of the
United States? I've got to tell you, that just doesn't make sense. In finality, I just want to
say this. I want you guys to work together. For 30 years, everyone seemed to be very
happy with the Mayor who was in, at least on this Council. All of a sudden you get a
new Mayor who comes in who has some different ideas for how they want to make sure
that the City budget and other things really reflect the will of the citizenry and you don't
want to listen to him, and you don't want to work for him. Ill tell you, if you don't want to
work with him, fine. We, the citizens will vote you off this Council and well put some
people on who will work with him. (applause)

Mayor Stuart: Okay. That is all that I have that have signed up. Is there anyone else
wanting to speak before we have a motion to go to Executive Session? Anyone wanting
to speak that didn't get a chance? Come on up, if you would.

Tom Ifland: I'm Tom Ifland, and I live in the City. And I've lived here for a number of
years, and my wife has lived here since 1947. And we are not against the new Mayor,
but we are against people knocking Mayor Kelley, Ted Strickland. I think they did a
wonderful job. We're not against change and neither is either City Council members that
were here when Rudy was here. But let's, lefs explain to the people how we're going to
make what changes we want to make and how we're going to make them. Thaf s what I
have to say, but I, I just... I'm tired of hearing about the 30 years that these guys put in.
They did a wonderful job, I think, and I'm tired of knocking it. That's all. (applause)

34

Mayor Stuart: State your name, if you would, please.

Chris Glaze: My name is Chris Glaze. I work for the City of Stockbridge Water
Department. And I don't know whafs going on here. I just came here tonight. I just want
to say thank y'all guys for doing a good job, you know. I appreciate you a lot and Ray—
he's done a really good job. Every time I have a problem, I go to him; he takes care of
me. Thaf s the inside. You know, whatever goes on the outside, you know, I can't help
you, but I know there's some honest people here. And a gentleman said something
about Ted Strickland. He was a good man to me. He taught me about education and he
got me for to where I needed to be. And I'm a volunteer for Butts County Fire
Department and I'm about to start EMT School, and Ted Strickland's the one that put
me there. But, but I'm hoping that Lee Stuart could do a good job, but I also, you know,
again I want to thank Ray and all you guys for everything you've done. Alright?
(applause)
Mayor Stuart: Okay, do we ...
Kathy Gilbert: I make a motion to convene to Executive Session.
Mayor Stuart: Have a motion to convene. Do I have a second?
Shirley Dabney: Second.
Mayor Stuart: Have a second. AH in favor to convene? One, two, three, four, five. We
will be back after Executive Session.

Executive Session was convened at 7:48 PM
Executive Session was adjourned at 8:40 PM
The Regular Council Meeting reconvened at 8:41 PM

Kathy Gilbert: Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to reconvene the regular session.
Mayor Stuart: Have a motion by Ms. Gilbert to reconvene. Have a second?
Shirley Dabney: Second.
Mayor Stuart: Ms. Dabney second. All in favor? One, two... Okay.

Kathy Gilbert: I have a further motion, actually, I have two further motions. One is to
adopt a resolution, authorizing the Mayor to sign an affidavit, attesting to the fact that
we discussed nothing other than property acquisition, pending or future litigation,
against the City.
Buddy Welch: Personnel, too.
Kathy Gilbert: ...and personnel.
Mayor Stuart: Okay. Have a motion. Where is that?
Fred Evans: Second.

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Mayor Stuart: Okay. Second by Mr. Evans. You have that right there. Didn't you
have it? You toid me to sign the paper.

Kathy Gilbert: You didn't take a vote.

Mayor Stuart: All in favor? One, two, three, four, five.

Kathy Gilbert: And I have a further motion authorizing the Mayor Pro Tern to
sign an affidavit, attesting to the fact that we discussed nothing other than the
Mayor's pending litigation.

Shirley Dabney: Second.
Mayor Stuart: All in favor. Whoops! I can't...Fred, that's your job.
Kathy Gilbert: You got to call the motion.
Ray Gibson: Who seconded that?
Kathy Gilbert: Shirley. And you're calling the motion.
Shirley Dabney: Okay.
Mayor Stuart: Okay. Anything else?
Kathy Gilbert: Are you ready for a motion to adjourn?
Mayor Stuart: How about a motion to adjourn?
Kathy Gilbert: I make a motion to adjourn.
Shirley Dabney: Second.
Mayor Stuart: All in favor? One, two, three, four, five. Alright.
The Regular Session of the City Council adjourned at 8:42 PM

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Respectfully submitted by: Nancy Brown, Deputy City Clerk
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