M I N U T E S

 

REGULAR MEETING OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF NOVEMBER 2, 2010

 

 

 

 

Call to Order:              The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council of November 2, 2010 was called to order by Mayor Corine Deyton at 7:00 p.m.

 

Invocation:                  The invocation was given by Councilwoman Maudie McCord followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.

 

Roll Call:                     Mayor Corine Deyton, Mayor Pro-tem Sparkle Adams, Councilman Donald Judson and Councilwomen Linda Lord, Maudie McCord and Karen-Brandee Williams.

 

                                    Also present were City Manager John Parker, Director of Finance Mike Blandenburg, Director of Public Works Mike Gippert, Director of Planning, Building and Zoning Steve Pearson, Director of Support Services Christine Terrell, Management Analyst Angela Redding, IT Director Darrin Duke, Director of Recreation and Leisure Services Elaine Corley, Chief Eddie Buckholts, Chief Dwayne Hobbs and City Attorneys Joe Harris and Robert Mack.

 

Approval of                 Mr. Judson made a motion to approve the minutes of the Work

Minutes:                      Session and Regular Meeting of October 18, 2010, seconded by Ms. Adams.  Voting for the motion were Ms. Adams, Mr. Judson, Ms. McCord and Ms. Lord.  Ms. Williams opposed.  The motion carried.

 

Comments:                  Mr. Roy Lunsford:  He stated the major streets are deplorable, houses and yards are littered with cars, debris and trash.  He said this is in our neighborhoods and the due process doesn’t seem to be working.  He also suggested the City look at putting up a town clock.

 

                                    Ms. Joyce Davis spoke.  She asked about the plans for Main Street and stated she lives on Ernest Drive and had heard the City is going to buy houses on the north side and asked if this was true.

 

Renewal of retail         Request was made to renew the following retail alcohol licenses

Alcohol licenses:         for beer and wine:

 

·         Mamani Business, Inc. Texaco Food Mart, 503 Forest Parkway, no exceptions noted

 

·         Sugras, Inc. D/B/A Chevron Food Mart, 4578 Old Dixie Highway, no exceptions noted

 

·         Duvell Investment Corp. D/B/A Pak N Go, 1003 Forest Parkway, no exceptions noted

 

·         Retail Marketing Corporation, D/B/A Wholesale Food Outlet, 4855 Jonesboro Road, no exceptions noted

                                   

                                    Mr. Judson made a motion to renew the retail licenses for beer and wine, seconded by Ms. Williams.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Renewal of retail         Request was made to consider renewal of the following retail

Alcohol licenses:         alcohol licenses for liquor, beer and wine:

 

·         Liberty Package – Forest Park, LLC. D/B/A Liberty Package, 4568 Old Dixie Highway, Ste. 101, no exceptions noted

 

·         TIKU, Inc. D/B/A Forest Park Bottle Shop, 4467 Jonesboro Road, no exceptions noted

 

Mr. Judson made a motion to renew the retail alcohol licenses for liquor, beer and wine, seconded by Ms. Adams.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Resolution to               Request was made to consider a Resolution by the City Council declare property   of the City of Forest Park declaring certain City property, listed on surplus:                  Exhibit   A, to be surplus property and to provide for its proper                                      disposal either by auction or other methods pursuant to the City’s                                       Ordinances; and for other purposes.

 

                                    Ms. Lord made a motion to approve the Resolution, seconded by Ms. Adams.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

           

Ordinance -                 Request was made to consider an Ordinance by the City Council   

Acquisition of             for the City of Forest Park, Georgia, to authorize the acquisition

real estate:                   and purchase of certain real estate in the City for a purchase price                                        of the appraised value; to provide for temporary funding of said                                              purchase from the General Fund of the City; to provide for                                                         reimbursement to the General Fund from funds received from the                                            “SPLOST” Tax in 2010; to provide for severability; to repeal all                                          Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith; to                                                             provide an effective date; and for other purposes.

 

                                    Ms. McCord made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Ms. Lord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Ordinance-                  Request was made to consider an Ordinance by the City Council   

Acquisition of             for the City of Forest Park, Georgia, to authorize the acquisition

real estate:                   and purchase of certain real estate in the City for a purchase price                                        of the appraised value; to provide for temporary funding of said                                              purchase from the General Fund of the City; to provide for                                                         reimbursement to the General Fund from funds received from the                                            “SPLOST” Tax in 2010; to provide for severability; to repeal all                                          Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith; to                                                             provide an effective date; and for other purposes.

 

                                    Ms. Adams made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Mr. Judson.  Voting for the motion were Ms. Lord, Ms. Adams, Mr. Judson and Ms. McCord.   Ms. Williams abstained.  The motion carried.

 

                              Ordinance to                     Request was made to consider an Ordinance by the City Council

                              appropriate                        for the City of Forest Park, Georgia, to appropriate additional funds:                              funds in the amount of $50,000.00 to cover added computer                                         hardware and software costs for City Departments; to repeal all                                    Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith; to                                                       provide an effective date; and for other purposes.

 

                                                                  Ms. Lord made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Ms. Williams.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

                             Ordinance to                      Request was made to consider an Ordinance by the City Council appropriate                        for the City of Forest Park, Georgia, to appropriate additional funds:                               funds in the amount of $19,000.00 to cover additional Annual                                      Audit costs expected in the Finance Department; to repeal all                                        Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith; to                                                       provide an effective date; and for other purposes.

 

                                                                  Ms. Adams made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Ms. McCord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

                              Comments:                  Ms. Williams made the following statement concerning comments and opinions made at the last Council Meeting:

 

                                                                  “As a Councilperson in this City, my focus is not only finding ways to collaborate with other council members but it is also to represent, support, serve, help and assist my Ward constituents where and how I can and I will not cease to do so.  Yes, I asked for a $50 check to donate to World Hunger Relief 2010 with the Forest Park Pizza Hut and that donation served 200, helped 200 children which is a flyer for that.  Yes, I collaborated with the business in my ward, which is Trustee Drugs, by supporting and endorsing a Grand Opening and Health Fair event.  I will continue to support area businesses that have a heart to serve our residents and community.   Also in regard to the endorsement with the Music for Generations Concert, I was actually blessed to have been asked.  That was actually my first endorsement and it supported high school graduates with scholarship funds as they elect towards music careers.  We do need to support our children and this too was a great cause which I chose to support.  I also provided Open Records request information that was requested from William Folds to give account to the purchases of t-shirts. To participate in the final cleanup efforts, which I believe was the largest turnout we had this year, I agreed to purchase 50 t-shirts.  Sparkle Adams purchased the other 50 t-shirts.  I also agreed to purchase food, plants, pots, as well and I think this is what the other council had did with the other cleanups.  In addition, and well within my rights to do so, I also had 36 t-shirts purchased which were not for the cleanup effort but were for my Ward.  I have lots of creative measures that I will use in reaching out, bringing visibility and meeting my ward constituents as I work to bring them together.  I will continue doing so in communicating a transparent and open door policy to serve them.  Additionally, the letter that I sent out on behalf of the cleanup effort, regardless of a few typos or grammatical errors, were actually a blessing to a lot of the residents because actually there were two sides to that letter, the other side was a copy of the City’s code enforcement requirements and regulations which reminded residents of their responsibility and accountability in managing their property and businesses.  I received great response to that letter that went out and I was able to take care of several issues and concerns as a result of my again, creative approach.  Lastly, I will not stop being a beacon of light for the community, but what I do not appreciate is being falsely accused of inappropriate action which all resulted in so many people being blessed.  Be very, very careful in what you say when you approach this podium and all of the so called facts that you bring because there are liabilities attached to it so we do need to be careful and make sure that whatever documents we have that they are correct.  I do wanted to response.  Thank you again for your comments.”

                                                                 

                           Adjournment:                 Ms. Adams made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Judson.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.