Nicholson Council Meeting Minutes
March 5, 2018
6:30 P.M. Community Center
Call to Order – 6:30 p.m.
Attending: Mayor Jan Webster, Council Members –Mike Barfield, Lamar Watkins, Thomas Gary, Dusty Durst, City Clerk-Debra Fontaine, Mainstreet News – Charles Phelps, City Attorney – Jody Campbell
Pledge of Allegiance
Minutes: Dusty motioned to approve the February 5, 2018 Council Meeting Minutes; Mike seconded. All were in favor. Motion approved.
Financials: Mike motioned to approve the February 2018 Financials; Lamar seconded. All were in favor. Motion approved.
NEW BUSINESS:
Reappoint Bobby Russell as Planning Board Member – Mike made a motion to reappoint Bobby Russell as a Planning Board Member for the next 3 year term. March 2018 – March 2021.
John Deere Tractor for Public Works – Mike motioned to purchase the John Deere Tractor for the Public Works Dept., as described in the State Contracted bid for the cost of 88,800.00; Dusty seconded. All were in favor. Motion approved.
Move SPLOST V completed projects to the following Open Projects: Roads, Streets & Bridges and Tractors, Mowers and other Equipment.
OLD BUSINESS:
Vote to Adopt Code of Ordinances: (this motion will coincide with the following motion to change city hall hours since the hours and holidays are part of the Nicholson Code of Ordinances.)
City Hall Hours: Mike motioned to change city hall hours to 9:00 – 5:00 Monday – Thursday and 9:00 – 3:00 Friday, Thomas seconded. After discussion the vote failed due to lack of a majority vote. Thomas motioned to change city hall hours from 8:00 – 4:00 once the city moves to the Benton facility with an effective date of May 15th and adopt the Code of Ordinances which includes amendments to City Hall hours; Lamar seconded. All were in favor. Motion approved.
Executive Session: Dusty motioned to go into Executive Session; Mike seconded. Council Members went into Executive Session.
Mike motioned to come out of Executive Session, Dusty seconded; Motioned approved.
Jody Campbell explained that the City of Nicholson adjourned into Executive Session to discuss matters protected by Attorney Client privilege pertaining to employee hiring and firing in Personnel Policies and Procedures Handbook. No votes were taken in Executive Session however a proposal was made which will be discussed openly to be considered at this time. The proposal was to amend the personnel policies and procedures in the Employee Handbook, adding a Section 9 – Maternity/Paternity Leave to Chapter 8 which is entitled Attendance and Leave:
Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in Section 5 herein, after an employee has been employed with the City for a period of twelve (12) months, an employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid leave time in order to care for the employee’s child after birth, or placement of adoption or foster care. The four weeks of paid leave time shall be inclusive of, and not in addition to, the twelve weeks of leave time provided for in Section 5 herein.
After Jody read the preceding amendment to City Hall Employee Handbook which was discussed in Executive Session: Mike motioned to approve Amendment to Employee Handbook as read, Dusty seconded. All were in favor; Motion was approved.
MAYORS REPORT:
- Jan mentioned that according to City Charter, the Mayor gets to choose a Mayor Pro Tem annually, the choice has been made by alphabetical order, and however, Lamar did not wish to hold the position at this time so the next person would be Dusty Durst. Jan spoke to Dusty and he agreed to be Mayor Pro Tem for 2018.
- Jan and Debbie met with the Jefferson DDA Director, Beth Laughinghouse to walk through the Benton and get feedback on the facility. Beth was very impressed with the facility and saw great potential and had a lot of great ideas.
- The City heard from Jordan with NEGRC that the city RFP’s last day was Friday, at that point they had only received one proposal but she expected more would come on the last day. As soon as we hear back from Jordan we will get the proposals to the Benton Citizens Committee to go over the proposals.
- Roger Brock asked to temporarily use the Baseball Fields at Benton. He said he would coordinate with teams and make arrangements for lights and scheduling. Jan asked council for their thoughts. Council agreed that if something is in writing and if there is a significant cost to the city for lights we can take that into consideration for an agreement. Mike offered to contact Jackson EMC about the cost of the lights for 3 hours per night, for whatever nights per week that the fields are in use. He will let city council know what he finds out.
- The city received a call from Mr. Donald Brooks asking if the city would be interested in allowing the Athens Speedway Reunion to hold their car and truck show in the Benton parking lot on April 14, 2018. City Council agreed to allow the show as long as they provide their own portable toilets. Jody mentioned putting together a one page agreement for the event with the city’s terms.
- Jan reminded council members that the classes for Savannah will be ordered tomorrow morning and to be sure to get their choice of classes and hotel to Debbie tonight.
- Lastly Lamar asked about the voter’s precinct changing for citizens in Jackson County. Jan explained to Lamar that Lori Wurtz-Jackson County Election Superintendent mentioned that she wished she knew that Benton was an option when this change was being decided on. Due to their being so many precincts that were not all ADA compliant (Americans with Disabilities Act) the county was forced to narrow down to the places that were fully compliant and make sure that those places were big enough to handle the large amount of voters that would turn out. Debbie mentioned that city elections will not change; only county election locations will change.
- Daisy Festival meeting will be on Wednesday March 7th at 6:00pm.
LIBRARIAN’S REPORT:
February was a bit slow as far as computer usage. Weather can keep people away plus it is a shorter month. *The maker space project for February was bird feeders. Everyone enjoyed making them. The most fun was rolling the paper towel holder in the bird seed. *Projects for March include Family Game Night and Making Kites. *I participated in Read Across America (Dr. Suess Birthday) at EJES on Friday March 2. *Claire will be participating in Career Day at EJES on Friday Feb 9. *We are still busy getting ready for this year’s Summer Reading Program. *We are hoping when the former Benton School opens beyond just City Hall and the Water Department that the library can move over also. That of course depends on the architect and space.
CITIZENS REQUESTING TO SPEAK
Adjournment: Mike motioned to adjourn; Dusty seconded. Meeting Adjourned at 7:40pm.
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Approved by City Clerk