{"id":1184,"date":"2018-05-08T15:19:18","date_gmt":"2018-05-08T19:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nicholson-ga.com\/?p=1184"},"modified":"2018-05-08T15:19:18","modified_gmt":"2018-05-08T19:19:18","slug":"march-5-2018-council-meeting-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nicholson-ga.com\/?p=1184","title":{"rendered":"March 5 2018 Council Meeting Minutes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nicholson Council Meeting Minutes<\/strong><\/p>\n

March 5, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

6:30 P.M. Community Center<\/strong><\/p>\n

Call to Order<\/strong> \u2013 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Attending:<\/strong>\u00a0 Mayor Jan Webster, Council Members \u2013Mike Barfield, Lamar Watkins, Thomas Gary, Dusty Durst, City Clerk-Debra Fontaine, Mainstreet News \u2013 Charles Phelps, City Attorney \u2013 Jody Campbell<\/p>\n

Pledge of Allegiance<\/strong><\/p>\n

Minutes:<\/strong> Dusty motioned to approve the February 5, 2018 Council Meeting Minutes; Mike seconded. All were in favor. Motion approved<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Financials:<\/strong> Mike motioned to approve the February 2018 Financials; Lamar seconded. All were in favor. Motion approved.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

NEW BUSINESS:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reappoint Bobby Russell as Planning Board Member \u2013 <\/strong>Mike made a motion to reappoint Bobby Russell as a Planning Board Member for the next 3 year term. March 2018 \u2013 March 2021.<\/p>\n

John Deere Tractor for Public Works \u2013 <\/strong>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.\u00a0 All were in favor.\u00a0 Motion approved.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Move SPLOST V completed projects to the following Open Projects<\/strong>: Roads, Streets & Bridges and Tractors, Mowers and other Equipment.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

OLD BUSINESS<\/strong>: \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vote to Adopt Code of Ordinances: <\/strong>(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.)<\/p>\n

City Hall Hours:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Mike motioned to change city hall hours to 9:00 \u2013 5:00 Monday \u2013 Thursday and 9:00 \u2013 3:00 Friday, Thomas seconded.\u00a0 After discussion the vote failed due to lack of a majority vote. Thomas motioned to change city hall hours from 8:00 \u2013 4:00 once the city moves to the Benton facility with an effective date of May 15th<\/sup> and adopt the Code of Ordinances which includes amendments to City Hall hours; Lamar seconded. \u00a0\u00a0All were in favor.\u00a0 Motion approved.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Executive Session:\u00a0 <\/strong>Dusty motioned to go into Executive Session; Mike seconded. Council Members went into Executive Session.<\/p>\n

Mike motioned to come out of Executive Session, Dusty seconded; Motioned approved. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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. \u00a0\u00a0No 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 <\/strong>\u2013 Maternity\/Paternity<\/u><\/strong> Leave<\/u><\/strong> to Chapter 8 which is entitled Attendance and Leave<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

MAYORS REPORT:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n