Graysville Board of Mayor and Commissioners
Graysville Municipal Building
January 14, 2010 7:00 p.m.
Call to order by Mayor Doss
A. Prayer led by Commissioner Davenport
B. Pledge led by Commissioner Beene
Roll Call:
Mayor Ted Doss Present
Vice Mayor Jimmy Massengill Present
Commissioner Andy Beene Present
Commissioner Robbie Davenport Present
Commissioner Charles Kaylor Present
Commissioner Thomas Levi Present
Commissioner Dennis Miller Present
Approval of December 10, 2009
A motion to approve the December 10, 2009 minutes was made by Vice Mayor Massengill; 2nd by Commissioner Kaylor. Motion carried
7 – 0.
Warren Nevda with MTAS
Mr. Warren Nevda with MTAS presented Mayor Doss and Commissioner Davenport certificates for completing Level II of the Elected Officials Academy stating it was a huge accomplishment in their first year of office.
Mr. Nevda presented the board with Resolution 2009-2 which he worked on with Sid Hidley; an MTAS attorney. The Resolution addressed the charter change the board voted on in the past; moving the membership from 7 to 5 and changing the name from Town to City. If board approves Resolution 2009-2 it will be sent to Senator Ken Yeager and Representative Jim Cobb who will take it to the legislative to vote on. When approved by the legislative, it will take 2/3 approval from the local board to approve with the membership staying 7 until the 2012 election.
Vice Mayor Massengill has a concern with the membership lowering to 5. If approved the quorum would be 3 which he feels is a small number to make decisions for the city.
A motion to approve Resolution 2009-2 was made by Commissioner Beene; 2nd by Commissioner Kaylor. Motion carried 5 – 2; Vice Mayor Massengill and Commissioner Miller voted no.
Communications from Mayor and Commissioners
Commissioner Beene attended a workshop in December on grants where 3 presentations were given. The local representative is Todd True who can come to the city and give more information concerning the grants. Graysville would be a good candidate for these grants since we are considered a low income city.
Mayor Doss said the grants are usually 80/20 matching and we need to plan for grants by putting money aside during the upcoming budget year.
Consent Agenda
A motion to accept the consent agenda as presented was made by Commissioner Kaylor; 2nd by Vice Mayor Massengill. Motion carried
7 – 0.
Old Business
Easement at Seventh Day Adventist Church
Mayor Doss signed the contract for the water grant today once we receive it back with all the signatures Susan with the Development District can make an offer on the property.
Ordinance 2009-08 change meeting time and order of agenda
2nd reading and Public Hearing
A motion to approve Ordinance 2009-08 was made by Commissioner Kaylor; 2nd by Commissioner Davenport. Motion carried 7 – 0.
Ordinance 2009-09 building permit fees
2nd reading and Public Hearing
A motion to approve Ordinance 2009-09 was made by Mayor Doss; 2nd by Vice Mayor Massengill. Motion carried 4 – 3; Commissioners Kaylor, Levi and Miller voted no.
Ordinance 2009-10 amendment to beer regulations
2nd reading and Public Hearing
A motion to approve Ordinance 2009-10 was made by Commissioner Kaylor; 2nd by Commissioner Levi; Motion carried 6 – 1; Vice Mayor Massengill voted no.
Any properly presented old business
No old business was presented
New Business
Electronic packets
Commissioner Levi suggested the packets be electronically delivered. Everyone is going green it’s financially and environmentally responsible. It would free up some time for the officers and City Recorder Michelle Horton and in the process we are going green. Several of the reports included in the packet are for information only and once they are read they are not referred back to again. If a Commissioner doesn’t have email they can be printed and delivered.
Vice Massengill Massengill said it’s more feasible for the city to print off larger packets than it is to print them at home. If the packets are emailed information can be stored in folders on the computer making it easier for information to be located. Both ways have pros and cons.
Commissioner Kaylor suggested when an item needed to be printed the Commissioners can let Mrs. Horton know what they need and she can have it ready for them at the meeting.
Each Commissioner will let Mrs. Horton know their preferred method of receiving the packets.
Employee handbook workshop
Mayor Doss has reviewed the employee handbook and seen a few issues the board may want to address. He asked all board members to review the handbook and highlight any section they want to address and make notes of sections they would like to delete or add. A public notice will need placed in the paper giving at least a 10 day notice of the meeting. The workshop date was set for Monday February 1 at 6:00 pm.
C.H.I.P. Citizen Help and Input Program
Commissioner Levi has been researching this program which will allow citizens to buy into projects, set up a community newsletter, and allows citizens to decide what projects to fund. When the city completes projects it’s the city buying into the project not the citizens. During his research Commissioner Levi found several cities where citizens buy into projects have less vandalism, it gives the citizens a sense of ownership. Once a full program has been outlined he will bring it back to the board. At the current time he is asking for citizen input / feedback.
Resolution 2010-1
This resolution is a standard mutual aid resolution, giving us resources from GA to Spring City. Vice Mayor Massengill likes the wording stating people can be called back to Graysville should we have a greater need in our city and the board able to override and ask for our equipment to be returned if needed.
A motion to approve Resolution 2010-1 was made by Vice Mayor Massengill; 2nd by Commissioner Beene. Motion carried 7 – 0.
Fire Chief Mike Miles invited the board to attend the mutual aid banquet the Graysville Fire Department will host the 3rd Monday in April at the new Graysville Elementary School.
Any properly presented new business
Mayor Doss reminded everyone of the ribbon cutting at Corner Market and Deli at 12:00 noon tomorrow.
Citizen Input
Johnny Harwood thanked the commission for allowing his family to use the old school building for a fund raiser they raised $800.00. There will be a benefit signing this Saturday, January 16 at 6:00 pm.
Adjournment
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Commissioner Beene; 2nd by Commissioner Kaylor. Motion carried 7 – 0.
Mayor, Ted Doss City Recorder, Michelle Horton Date
Graysville Board of Mayor and Commissioners
Graysville Municipal Building
December 10, 2009 6:00 p.m.
Call to order by the Mayor
Prayer led by Commissioner Beene
Pledge led by Commissioner Davenport
Roll Call
Mayor Ted Doss Present
Vice Mayor Jimmy Massengill Present
Commissioner Andy Beene Present
Commissioner Robbie Davenport Present
Commissioner Charles Kaylor Present
Commissioner Thomas Levi Present
Commissioner Dennis Miller Present
Approval of prior minutes-November 12, 2009
Commissioner Kaylor made a motion to approve the minutes; 2nd by Vice Mayor Massengill. Motion carried 7 - 0.
Communications from Mayor and Commissioners
Vice Mayor Massengill thanked the board for being patient with him missing meetings due to his work schedule.
Mayor Doss thanked the fire department for volunteering their time serving the community.
Consent Agenda
Vice Mayor Massengill made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented; 2nd by Commissioner Kaylor. Motion carried 7 - 0.
Old Business
Property on Highway 27/Hichman Lane
Charges have been dismissed since the property was cleaned up. If new violations occur new charges will be brought.
Easement at Seventh Day Adventist Church
Commissioner Levi has been in contact with Mitch Hazekamp with the Georgia Cumberland Association of Seventh Day Adventists who stated they are in the practice of granting easements and right of way requests. Mr. Hazekamp asked for an official letter of request, diagram and possibility a remuneration package. The information was forwarded to Susan Goldblatt with the State of Tennessee Development District, since we do not have a signed contract she can not make an offer but can ask for a donation of the land. She will submit the donation request to the church.
Revenue for Animal Control
City Recorder Michelle Horton has researched the revenue for a full time animal control officer and it’s not possible this budget year. Mrs. Horton would like animal control to work an additional 5 hours a week to go door to door giving out information on the new animal control ordinance giving citizens 2 weeks to have their dog / cat registered or be citied into court.
Property presented old business
None presented
New Business
Ordinance 2009-08 change meeting time and order of agenda
A motion to accept ordinance 2009-08 was made by Commissioner Kaylor; 2nd by Commissioner Beene. Motion carried 7 – 0.
Ordinance 2009-09 building permit fees
Commissioner Beene would like churches and barns to be included in the no fee for reroofing or installation of new siding.
A motion to accept ordinance 2009-09 and change the wording to show no fees would be charged for churches and barns when installing new siding and when reroofing was made by Vice Mayor Massengill; 2nd by Commissioner Beene. Motion carried 6 – 1; Commissioner Kaylor abstained.
Ordinance 2009-10 amendment to beer regulations
A motion to accept ordinance 2009-10 was made by Commissioner Kaylor; 2nd by Commissioner Davenport. Motion carried 6 – 1 with Vice Mayor Massengill voting no.
Water Drainage
Vice Mayor Massengill received a call from Mr. Michael May about a water drainage issue on his property located at 366 Burnette Street. This has been an issue for several years and looked at by boards in the past. Commissioner Beene said in the past it was discussed to run a drainage pipe from Mr. Mays’ property to the Bridge located on Harrison Ave. Public Works Director Gary Doss has measured the distance from the property to the bridge which is 750 feet. The cost is not feasible for the city to run the pipe; a lot of places within the flood zone have drainage issues and we can’t run a drainage ditch for everyone. Tuesday night during the storm Mr. Doss checked Mr. Mays’ property and there were no drainage issues at that time.
Officer Rhodes 90 day review
Chief Thomas Mahoney recommends Officer Josh Rhodes be hired as a full time officer at a pay rate of $10.00 per hour. Officer Rhodes has a great attitude and an excellent work ethic; he has received officer of the month for 3 consecutive months and completes assignments without complaint. Officer Rhodes is new to the law enforcement profession but is leveled headed and well grounded.
A motion to hire Officer Josh Rhodes as a full time officer at a pay rate of $10.00 per hour was made by Commissioner Kaylor; 2nd by Commissioner Davenport. Motion carried 7 – 0.
Officer Shelton 90 day review
Chief Mahoney recommends Officer Sean Shelton be hired as a full time officer at a pay rate of $10.00 per hour. Officer Shelton has a great attitude and has been conducting our investigations which he does an outstanding job of follow-up on cases and does a great job with the paper work.
Commissioner Miller questioned the dependability marked as 3 on the evaluation form. Chief Mahoney explained Officer Shelton and his wife have a small child which they are committed not to place in child care, which results in one of them being home everyday and his wife works the 12 hours shifts like he does but on alternate days, so if he was called in on a day he was not scheduled to work it would be difficult for him to be here unless his wife was not scheduled for work that day.
A motion to hire Officer Sean Shelton as a full time officer at a pay rate of $10.00 per hour was made by Commissioner Kaylor; 2nd by Commissioner Davenport. Motion carried 7 – 0.
Citizen Input
Roger Jaquette gave an update on the alcohol by the drink petition
he has been working on. He is confidante he’ll have the needed signatures to turn in after May.
Rhonda Hillian is putting together several fund raiser events for her brother Mark Hardwood to help with medical and travel expenses. She asked the board if she could use the Annex (old school) on January 10, 2010 for a wrestling benefit and on January 16, 2010 for a signing benefit.
A motion to allow Mrs. Hillian to use the annex without charge was made by Commissioner Kaylor; 2nd by Commissioner Miller. Motion carried 7 – 0.
Karen Freeman is concerned with the animal control; on Monday a 911 called was placed due to stray dogs one was injured. The police officer didn’t know what to do with the animal so he contacted Mayor Doss who told the officer to set the dog free since there was no proof of ownership.
On July 10, 2009 a dog was picked up and the owner charged with animal cruelty, the dog was sick and lay in the animal shelter for 3 days with only water moaning from the pain it was in. The dog died in the shelter; no medical treatment was sought for the dog.
In October Ms. Freemans’ niece was approached by a police officer informing her he had a cd to prove the July 10 case. Once she heard the cd she took it the Health Department; if the city is found at fault we will get a copy of the report.
The streets are safer than they were however owners are still not property caring for their animals. Mrs. Freeman was walking her dogs and seen a dog get hit by a car when she notified the owner he replied he didn’t care. The owner had a fenced in yard however he continues to let his dogs run a large. Mrs. Freeman asked for training for the police officers on animal control since we only have a part time animal control officer. Mrs. Freeman has spoken with a lot of people in town and stated the Mayor is currently not liked and she feels the best thing is for the Mayor to resign.
City Recorder Horton asked if the meeting would be held at 6:00 pm next month or 7:00 pm?
A motion to hold the meeting at 7:00 pm next month was made by Commissioner Kaylor; 2nd by Vice Mayor Massengill. Motion carried
7 – 0.
A motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Kaylor; 2nd by Commissioner Beene. Motion carried 7 – 0.
Mayor Ted Doss Town Recorder Michelle Horton Date