CITY OF REMERTON - Work session
Monday,June 1, 2009 - 5:30 PM

Welcome Guests
Citizens to be Heard.

Presentations, Public Hearings and Updates:
1. Presentation to Investigator Derrick Sinclair by Mayor and Council-Mayor Cornelius Holsendolph

New Business:

1. Discussion regarding water meter issue-Public Works Committee

2. Discussion regarding radios for Utility Department-Ron Woods

3. Discussion regarding use of concrete tanks at maintenance shop by Fire Department-Ron Woods

4. Discussion regarding DDA request to postpone noise ordinance until July 2009-Jessica Freeman

5. Discussion regarding millage for DDA future budgets-Jessica Freeman

6. Discussion regarding Summer Youth Employment Program provided by Department of Labor through grant-Virginia Sims

7. Discussion regarding Quarterly Reports from first quarter 2009-Council member Day

8. Department Reports:
  a. City Clerk-Lisa Mashburn
  b. Probation-JessicaFreeman
  c. Police-MikeTerrell
  d. Fire/Utilities/Public Works-Ron Woods

Old Business:
1. Discussion regarding draft of noise ordinance-Attorney Brad Folsom

Executive Session: Personnel - The candidates for City Administrator have been narrowed down to two.  Their names and bios will be available soon, as is required by law.  A selection will likely be made at the next council meeting.
Adjourn.

Click here fro the audio of the June 1, 2009 Council Work Session.

Local humor blogger, Merrill Guice, expounds on the problems of gay divorce and suggests a new business model for Remerton:

"...There is an opportunity here.  I think that my former hometown of Remerton, GA should pass some laws on Gay Divorce and become the Gay Divorce Capital of the South. They are needing a new business model anyway."

Sounds good to us.  It needs to be presented to the City Council next week as well as the DDA.

(Click here for the full story at The Daily Egg .)

Downtown Development Authority
May 18, 2009

Welcome Guests
Establish Quorum - Chairman Gregory, Vice-Chairman Hill, members Barbara Depasture, Bill Cone, Marvin Brooks and Bill Gandy were all present.
Approval of Minutes from March 16, 2009 -Approved

New Business

1.  Adoption of DDA  Financial Report - Sherry Wood/Jessica Freeman - Approved.
2.  DDA department report - Jessica Freeman - The Volkswagen in front of the Beatles House was discussed.  It is not in the right of way.  . 

Old Business

1.  Discussion regarding 1 Mil increase in 2006-  Sherry Wood - (min 13:30) - The DDA is going to request the full 1 mil be applied to their budget as was requested several years ago.  There is no record of how the 1 mil increase was to be divvied up, only a quote from former City Mgr. McDougal about applying a portion of the millage increase to the DDA.   The DDA wants the full 1 mil, and to carry over unused portions from year to year.  The DDA will send the request to City Council.

2.  Discussion regarding Master Plan- Chairman Glenn Gregory - (min 27) - Creating a master plan by an outside agency is a costly process.  The sample plan shown for Carrolton, GA cost $100,000.  The DDA will likely have to develop a plan on it's own.   Gregory discussed beginning the master plan for 2009 development at next June's meeting.   

At minute 36:20 there was a DDA member Bill Gandy began a discussion about the store being renovated as a smoothie shop (attached to The Boardwalk).  Although they received a building permit for interior work they have not applied for a permit for the new facade being erected.  This is in the downtown area and subject to DDA design guidelines review.

At minute 43:10 DDA Chairman Gregory as for an update on the Streetscape project from Council.  This project may be at risk of being lost.

Vice-Chairman Hill mentioned the Council's work on a new noise ordinance and the proposed Entertainment District at minute 43:50.

City Council and DDA member Sherry Wood suggested a letter be sent to council formally requesting the noise ordinance be tabled until Council could get input from the DDA.  If this is approved it should result in a delay of several more months.

Chairman Gregory and Bill  Gandy urged that the Council keep the DDA informed of their plans which would impact the duties of the DDA so they could have their input.

Vice-Chairman Hill suggested that other members of the DDA attend Council sessions to show their interest and keep informed of the actions of the City Council.  Hill and fellow DDA member Barbara Depasture seldom miss a City Council meeting.  Sherry wood is a member of City Council and the DDA Secretary, Jessica Freeman, also normally attend Council meetings.

Our unsolicited suggestion would be that those four DDA and Council participants keep the other four DDA members informed as well as have the Council meeting minutes sent to DDA members.

Adjourn

 
Click here to listen to the 57 minute DDA Meeting of May 18, 2009.

(The Editor was not present at that meeting and all notes and comments above are based on listening to the audio.)

A public hearing/council work session was held on May12, 2009 to begin the formal process of developing a new noise ordinance for Remerton.  The ordinance will incorporate objective instrument based sound measurements rather than the subjective observations currently in the ordinance.

Representing the City were Mayor Holsendolph and Council members Ryan Gordon, Lydia Day and Bill Wetherington as well as City attorney Brad Folsom and City Clerk Lisa Mashburn.  Absent were Council members Sherry Wood and Reggie Stacks.

Mr. Eric Sauders of Charley O'Corley's was the only restaurant/bar owner present.  The other audience members included four Plum Street propertyt/business owners and one Plum St. resident.

It was an unexpectedly poor turnout for such a controversial ordinance rewrite.

Whether or not to define an Entertainment District with higher allowed noise levels from the residential areas was the first task. 

The consensus seemed to be that an entertainment district would be established that included Baytree Place with the boundary drawn at the rear property lines of the businesses and not to include Plum Street.

There will likely be three time periods for regulation during each day with varying acceptable noise levels based on the district:

(more later...)

 
Click here for the 1hr 49min Noise Ordinance Worksession audio.

CITY OF REMERTON - Regular Meeting
Monday, May 11, 2009 @ 5:30 P.M.
City Council Chambers

(Mayor Holsendolph called for a moment of silence due to the death of Police Chief Terrel's mother last Friday.)
Welcome Guests
Pledge and Prayer - by Mayor Holsendolph
Establish Quorum of Council - All members present.
Approval of minutes from Regular Council Meeting, Monday, April 13, 2009- Approved without changes.
Citizens to be heard -  First up was Mr. Bill Hart, property owner, with a complaint about the elevated water meter on his property and Public Works Dir. Woods response to his complaint.  These elevated water meter enclosures look bad, reduce property use, make lawn maintenance more difficult and are a tripping hazard.

Following Mr. Hart was property owner Barbara Depasture about asphalt left on one of her properties after a pipe repair several months ago and also the elevated meter boxes.

The matters were referred to the Public Works Committee for resolution.

UPDATE:  Update regarding City Water Project- (min 9:35)  There is still one easement being negotiated.  A request for a boring permit under the railroad tracks has been made.

NEW BUSINESS:
1. Consideration regarding the Travel Policy in regards to using City vehicles when available for travel and training.-Council member Day - (min 10:44) Ha! Silly woman...people want to use their own cars.  Proposal defeated. 
2. Consideration regarding the Travel Policy in regards to using City Credit Cards Only for Travel.-Council member Day - Ha!  Silly woman..people want to use their own credit cards so they can get their frequent flier miles.  Proposal defeated.

3. Consideration regarding the Travel Policy in regards to meal allowance per day. The amount would be $40.00 in low cost area and $50.00 in high cost areas per day for meals.-Council member Day - Instead of a set amount per meal the policy will now allow up to these total amounts per day for meals.  Proposal passed.
4. Consideration regarding updating the Ethics Committee Ordinance.-Council member Day - (min 13:30) Ha! Silly woman...you have to trust your City Manager to pass complaints along to the Ethics Committee.  Like the last City Manager...who was given the option of being fired or resigning...because of trust issues.  Proposal defeated.
5. Financial Report-Lisa Mashburn -
6. Reminder Special Called Work Session on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 5:30 PM.

Council Comments - (min 22:45) Not satisfied with being shot down three times, Council member Day went for a fourth strike by suggesting that the info sheet given to all new residents include some of the more common violations students may not be aware of and the corresponding penalties.  This includes things like disorderly conduct, the open container ordinance, vandalism, public urination, etc.

Probation officer Jessica Freeman explained that the State law governing penalties for these misdemeanors is up to 12 months jail and/or probation and/or up to $1000 fine.  The penalties vary at the judges discretion.

Council member Wetherington didn't think it would do any good.  And, the Mayor was worried it might scare away potential renters.

It was suggested putting the ordinances on the CityofRemerton.com website...some day.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Personnel - A candidate for City Administrator was interviewed.
ADJOURN

 
Click here for the audio of the Council Regular Session of May, 11, 2009.  (27 min.)

(Click Read more... for the preliminary, unapproved minutes of this session)