MEMBERS PRESENT: Jerry
D. Roseberry, Mayor; and Councilmembers: George Holt; Jim Windham; Mike Ready;
Jeff Wearing, Sarah Davis, and David Eady.
OTHERS PRESENT:
Matt Pepper, Assistant City Manager; Dave Harvey, Police Chief; Jody Reid,
Utility Superintendent; Lauran Willis, City Clerk; Officer Matthew Roberts,
Hoyt Oliver, Cheryl Ready, Peggy Madden, Allyson Epps from Oxford College, Judy
Greer, Juanita Carson, Spencer Arnhart candidate for District 4 Commissioner,
Danial Parson from Oxford College.
The meeting was called to order by the Hon. Jerry D.
Roseberry, Mayor at 6:06 PM.
Agenda – Attachment A
Mayors Announcements
Roseberry said AT&T will be installing fiber optic cable in Oxford and that
Wentworth will be the first area with other spots around the county
Roseberry introduced our new police office Matt Roberts.
Roseberry discussed the need to change our policy regarding a waiting period
for news hires to be eligible to participate in the city healthcare plan. Roseberry said he has instructed the City
Clerk to move forward in contacting our agent to implement a zero day waiting
period for new hires.
Disorderly Conduct Ordinance
Chief Harvey gave a presentation regarding the cities current disorderly
conduct ordinance, emphasizing the restrictions due to the way our ordinance is
written. Chief Harvey introduced a sample of the disorderly conduct ordinance used
by the City of Conyers, which better defines the charges and actions. He
requested the city adopt this change. Roseberry said we will put this on the
next month’s agenda, which will require two readings to adopt.
(Attachment B)
Building
Inspection Fees
Assistant City Manager Matt Pepper presented a proposed building
inspection fee schedule for residential and commercial construction within the
city. This item will be on the June 4th
regular meeting for a vote. (Attachment C)
Signs at Oxford
Square
Councilmember Jim Windham requested that Council discuss the
neighborhood signs at the entrance to Oxford Square. The consensus was to send
notice to the citizens in that community requesting their input before the city
can move forward with what to do with the signs. Assistant City Manager Matt Pepper will
prepare a notice and send to the citizens for their input. (Attachment D)
107 W. Clark
Street
Councilmember David Eady gave an update from the committee and said at
the last council meeting the committee made four specific recommendations that
were voted on and approved. He expressed his understanding for tonight is to
have further discussion on the actual use of the house as there have been
recommendations from the Historic Committee that Melvin Baker chaired, and Erik
Oliver followed that up with some very specific recommendations. Eady said he
has heard there are some reservations about how much of the house we could
realistically sustain for those purposes alone, and how we would operate a
welcome center and museum on a full time bases or should we look into it being
for commercial use so the house has other purposes. There has not been any
decisions made. We want to have some discussion about it and get some
specificity before we move forward. Eady said he feels we should talk to the
DDA because the house is in the jurisdiction that was defined for them and whether
there has been any discussion on their side as to the commercial aspects of
that property and adjacent properties, we wouldn’t want to do anything that
cross purposes since we chartered the DDA to do. (Attachments
E-a & E-b)
Eady said one of the things we discussed as a committee
is that Old Church does not have a reception space. For some of us that have
relationships with the college we can move over and have it at one of the college
facilities but that’s not open for everybody. From the outdoor space
prospective and possibly indoor space at that house could be an option as a
special events location where people may want to put a tent in the back and
have access to bathrooms. There is a number of things we need to think about
and look at as a community asset as to how this house can serve those needs.
Hoyt Oliver mentioned that we need to begin conversations
with the Oxford Historical Society, as Erik mentioned in his report our chances
of getting a grant for the historic displays and those kind of things is much
better if we partnered with a non-profit. I think that should commence and
talking with the HS to find out what kind of things they would suggest that we
should put on display.
Whatcoat Street Improvements
Councilmember Eady has requested that Council discuss moving forward
with the proposed improvements to Whatcoat Street concurrent with the re-design
of Pierce Street.
Allyson Epps with Oxford College said she will address the issues with her
peers.
101 Longstreet Circle Lot
Councilmember Jim Windham presented discussion regarding the city
property on Longstreet Circle and presented several options for the use of that
property.
FY2019
Operating Budget and Capital Budget for FY2019
Assistant City Manager Matt Pepper presented a revised Budget Calendar for
FY2019 with a proposed Resolution for the FY2019 Annual Budget along with a
draft of the FY2019 Operating Budget and Capital Budget. Mayor Roseberry said
we will be adopting the budgets in June and asked if any of the Committee’s members
have any questions or if anyone in the audience had any comments. (Attachment F)
Recycling Pick
Up
Assistant City Manager Matt Pepper said Latham Home
Sanitation has requested to change the day for the weekly recycling pick up
from Tuesdays to Thursdays. They will
provide the city with the fliers for distribution to the citizens. After some discussion all members were in
agreement to accept the request from Latham.
Latham will begin the transition beginning June 1, 2018 and will
continue to notify customers for the next three weeks.
July 4th Parade Route and
Grand Marshal
City Clerk Lauran Willis gave an update on the progress of the parade and said
thanks to the new ladies in the office we are ahead of schedule with getting
the plans in place. She stated that the
route will be same with the exception of ending on Pierce Street. Instead, we
will redirect traffic to West Clark Street to accommodate a for a movie company
that will be filming at the College, and for the construction happening on
Pierce and Haygood.
Willis said we have one nomination for Grand Marshal, if anyone knows anyone
they would like to nominate please contact Ms. Davis. We will vote on the Grand
Marshal at the June 4th meeting.
Adjourn
A motion was made by Ready, seconded by Eady to adjourn the meeting at 6:59 PM.
Respectfully Submitted;
Lauran Willis, CMC/FOA
City Clerk