[1. CALL TO ORDER.]
[00:00:16]
>> SPEAKER: HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A GREAT PLACE FOR AUBURN TO PEOPLE TO COME AND MAKE THEIR DECISIONS.
IT WAS DISAPPOINTING THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SAY GOODBYE TO OUR OLD BUILDING NEXT DOOR IN A MORE APPROPRIATE FASHION THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WELL FOR OVER 45 YEARS.
IT WAS THE HOME OF SOME GREAT PEOPLE THAT STOOD UP HERE AND MADE A DECISION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND CERTAINLY GREAT PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE CITY AND GREAT COMMUNITY CITIZENS THAT SUPPORTED AND PARTICIPATE IN CITIZEN GOVERNMENT.
NOW WE ARE IN THE NEW BUILDING AND I THINK IT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE TIMES WE LIVE IN AND THE COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN.
IT'S A VERY PROUD BUILDING TO BE IN AND WE ARE VERY PROUD THAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS HAVE THEIR HEADQUARTERS HERE AND THAT THEY CAN TRAIN AND WORK AND LEARN AND MEET AND DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO IN THIS BUILDING AND CERTAINLY THAT OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS HAVE THEIR OWN LOCATIONS THAT THEY CAN CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS IN AND THEY DO NOT HAVE TO SHARE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID WELCOME AND WE ARE GLAD TO SEE ALL OF YOU TONIGHT.
[2. MINUTES.]
CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THEIR MEETINGS FROM MARCH 16 COMMUNITY OF THE WHOLE -- COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.ANY ADDITIONS TO THOSE MINUTES ARE EXPECTED TO FOR APPROVAL.
>> SPEAKER: SECOND. >> SPEAKER: MOTION SECOND ALL
IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> SPEAKER: I.
>> SPEAKER: ANY POST? AT THIS TIME HAVE A COUPLE OF
[3. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION.]
APPOINTMENTS TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND THOSE ARE MADE BY THE MAYOR AND OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.TONIGHT WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MR. DAVID BEST WHO HAS SERVED TWO TERMS ON THE HISTORIC PRESS AND BEEN A LEADER WITH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE RECENTLY AND THANK YOU TO MR. BEST FOR DOING THIS. TO REPLACE MR. BEST I WOULD LIKE
TO NOMINATE MS. LAURA RAYBURN. >> SPEAKER: SECOND.
>> SPEAKER: OF EMOTION AND THE SECOND.
ANY COMMENTS? SEEING OR HEARING NONE ALL IN FAVORITE OF MS. LAWYER RAYBURN SAY I.
>> SPEAKER: I I. >> SPEAKER: WE WILL OPPOSE THAT LATER IN THE AGENDA. THERE IS AN INCOME BUT HERE.
HE IS ONLY SERVE A PARTIAL TERM BUT I WOULD LIKE TO RENOMINATE MR. NICK HAYES FOR A FULL APPOINTMENT TO THE HISTORIC
PRESERVATION COMMISSION. >> SPEAKER: SECOND.
>> SPEAKER: WE HAVE A MOTION OF A SECOND FOR MR. NICK HAYES.
>> SPEAKER: LOOKING AT THE APPLICANT'S RESUME AND COMPARING IT TO THE ACQUIRED -- REQUIRED OF HIM FOR HIM TO APPLY TO BE ON THAT, I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE WHERE HE IS QUALIFIED TO SERVE.
HE HAS NO BACKGROUND IN HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE, ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY, URBAN PLANNING, ARCHAEOLOGY, LAW NOR IS HE A RESIDENT OF A HISTORIC PROPERTY OR THE DISTRICT.
BASED ON THAT, I DON'T THINK THE INDIVIDUAL IS QUALIFIED TO SERVE
>> SPEAKER: HE WAS NOMINATED AND I NOMINATED HIM THE FIRST TIME AND BELIEVE THIS COUNSEL POINTED HIM BECAUSE HE DOES OWN A PIECE OF PROPERTY IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
MS. CROUSE, WILL BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF OUR LEGAL ADVISOR AS TO HIS WORTHINESS OF BEING NOMINATED AND QUALIFICATIONS?
>> SPEAKER: MAYOR, WE DID. I INQUIRED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY BECAUSE THE DOUGH WHICH I HAPPEN TO BE THE FIRST STAFF MEMBER ASSIGNED TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WHEN IT WAS FORMED AND WE HAD A VERY SIMILAR SITUATION.
WE HAD SOMEBODY IN THIS INSTANCE THEY DIDN'T OWN PROPERTY NOR RESIDE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT BUT THEY HAD RENOVATED HISTORIC HOMES IN THE PAST. THEY WERE DEEMED AS QUALIFIED.
IN THIS INSTANCE MR. HAYES DOES HAVE AN OWNERSHIP STAKE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT IN A HOME IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, HAS DONE SOME RENOVATIONS TO IT AND IN CHECKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEYS THEY BELIEVE THAT THAT QUALIFIES UNDER THE STATE LAW PROVISION AS
SET FORTH. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, MS. CROUCH. IF THAT'S THE CASE I THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR LIST OF QUALIFICATIONS BECAUSE IT CLEARLY STATES RESIDENT OF AN HISTORICAL DISTRICT OR AN HISTORICAL PROPERTY. THE APPLICANT HAS LISTED HIS OBJECTIVE IS TO OWN A PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT.
THAT CERTAINLY IS NOT THE SAME THING AS BEING A RESIDENT AND AGAIN I SEE NOTHING IN THE OTHER STATEMENTS IN HIS RESUME WHERE
THE APPLICATION THAT QUALIFY. >> SPEAKER: ANY OTHER, FROM THE COUNSEL? THOUGHTS? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR MR. NICK HAYES.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> SPEAKER: AYE.
>> SPEAKER: ANY POST? >> SPEAKER: NE.
>> SPEAKER: LET'S DO THAT WITH A HAND VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF MR. HAYES PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[00:05:05]
ALL OPPOSED TO MR. HAYES PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.HE WILL BE CONFIRMED LATER ON IN THE AGENDA.
[4. BOARDS & COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENT DISCUSSION.]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS BORED AND COMMISSIONED A POINT OF DISCUSSION TONIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL AS WE DID FOR MS. MELANIE CHAMBLISS LAST YEAR TO SUSPEND THE INTERVIEW PROCESS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD APPOINTMENT AND CONSIDER MR. DR. HARRY JENKINS AT OUR APRIL 20 MEETING.WE DID JUST THIS A YEAR AGO FOR MS. MELANIE CHANDLERS.
I WILL STATE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE HANDLED AND BROUGHT FORWARD AT AN EARLIER MEETING AND I FAILED TO DO THAT. I AM BRINGING IT FORWARD TO TONIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SUSPEND OUR RULES AND CONSIDER DR. JENKINS AT OUR NEXT MEETING FOR A SECOND TERM ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD. DR. JENKINS HAS SERVED ONE FULL
TERM AND IS SEEKING A SECOND. >> SPEAKER: MAYOR, TO CLARIFY.
THE NEXT MEETING IS THE APPOINTMENT OF A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER OR REAPPOINTMENT. THIS MEETING YOU ARE ONLY ASKING THESE -- TO SUSPEND THE RULES THAT COUNCIL ESTABLISHED FOR
BOARDS AND COMMISSION POLICY. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, MS. CROUCH. ANY THOUGHTS FROM THE COUNSEL?
I THINK WOULD BE A WISE DECISION >> SPEAKER: DR. JENKINS IS MORE THAN QUALIFIED. THE SCHOOL BOARD VERY WELL IN THE PAST AND I CERTAINLY THINK WE WOULD BE VERY FORTUNATE FOR
US TO KEEP HIM OVER THERE. >> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE?
>> SPEAKER: MR. MAYOR? I BELIEVE WE ARE DOING A DISSERVICE TO THE OTHER APPLICANTS.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF APPLICANTS THAT HAVE GONE TO THE TROUBLE TO APPLY. THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND PREPARING FOR INTERVIEWS AND TO CIVILLY SAY WE ARE GOING TO KEEP SOMEONE ELSE ON OVER AND OVER AGAIN -- I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THE INCOME BUT WHATSOEVER.
I THINK HE'S DOING A FINE JOB. BUT I THINK WE ARE DOING A DISSERVICE TO THE PUBLIC IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS THERE IS NO REASON TO EVEN ADVERTISE OR ANNOUNCE POSITIONS.
CERTAINLY IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO HAVE ALL OF THEM INTERVIEW AND NOT HAVE THE INCUMBENT INTERVIEW.
I'M OPPOSED TO WAIVING THE RULES >> SPEAKER: I THINK IF ANYTHING HAPPENED HERE, MY OPINION IS THERE WAS POOR COMMUNICATION ON MY PART. I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD EARLIER. WHEN WE MAKE THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS, THERE IS A TIME THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND AT THAT TIME WE DIDN'T KNOW IF DR. JENKINS WOULD SEEK A SECOND TERM. SO WE LEGALLY HAVE TO ADVERTISE THAT THERE IS AN OPENING HERE. HE HAS APPLIED FOR THE POSITION.
HE IS A VALID CANDIDATE WITH A GREAT RESUME OF SERVICE TO SCHOOL BOARDS IN TWO STATES AND CERTAINLY TO OUR CITY.
I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE WHO APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION THINKING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW AND POTENTIALLY BE APPOINTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD POSITION.
FOR THAT I WILL OWN THAT. NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS NOT ASK DR. JENKINS TO GO THROUGH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS WHEN HE IS SEEKING HIS SECOND FULL TERM AND HE DOES WANT TO SEEK A SECOND FULL TERM. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> SPEAKER: ONCE YOU ADVERTISE THE POSITION AND HE SUPPOSED TO ACTUALLY -- BECAUSE IT WAS ADVERTISED, DON'T YOU STILL HAVE
TO INTERVIEW? >> SPEAKER: YOU DO NOT.
IF WE SUSPEND OUR RULES. THE ADVERTISING IS A LEGAL MANDATE WE HAVE FOR ANY BOARD OR COMMISSION'S.
>> SPEAKER: WAS THE CHOICE -- THE ADVERTISING -- SOME STATE LAW ISSUES WITH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS BUT THE LEGAL ADVERTISING IN TANDEM WITH THE INTERVIEW.
THE INTERVIEW CHOICE WAS THAT OF THIS COUNSEL AND ADOPTED ONE OF THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE GROUPS. COUNCILPERSON GRISWOLD AND COUNCILPERSON WITTEN WORKED ON THIS AND CAME UP WITH THE BOARD PROCEDURES WHICH ARE CONSIDERED FAIRLY EARLY IN YOUR TENURE.
THEY WERE THE FIRST TASK FORCE TO FINISH THEIR WORK AND I BELIEVE IT WAS JANUARY OF 2019 WERE YOU REVIEWED THOSE POLICIES AND ADOPTED THEM AS A COUNCIL. THAT IS YOUR CHOICE AS A NINE-MEMBER BODY TO EMPLOY THE INTERVIEW RULES AND THOSE WERE SPECIFICALLY JUST TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. YOU DID NOT PUT THAT REQUIREMENT
ON ANY OTHER BOARD OR COMMISSION >> SPEAKER: USE THE WORD ADVERTISED BUT I THINK AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE HAVE TO LEGALLY ANNOUNCE THAT THERE IS AN OPENING.
>> SPEAKER: WE DO. TO KIND OF SPEAK TO SOME CONCERNS, STAFF IS NOT IN THE POSITION WHERE WE CAN SAY WE THINK THE COUNCIL MIGHT APPOINT SOMEBODY THAT HAS ALREADY SERVED ONE TERM. WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT BABY CAN'T SPEAK FOR WHAT YOU MIGHT DO.
THE BETTER THING TO DO IS TO PUT OUT MORE INFORMATION IF YOU SO DESIRE ABOUT THE INCUMBENT'S, LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW YOU GET A MEMO AND WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT MEMO PUBLICLY BUT IS TO PUT IN OUR, ALL OF OUR ADVERTISING FOR ANY POSITIONS AND OPEN POSITIONS AND LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THERE ARE INCUMBENTS
[00:10:02]
WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE ADDITIONAL TERMS. I THINK THAT IS THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO AT THE STAFF LEVEL TOBRIDGE THAT GAP. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER: SO YOU DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR HIM TO INTERVIEW AGAIN? ALONG WITH OTHER CANDIDATES?
>> SPEAKER: I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS WORD.
I WOULD JUST THINK IT'S NOT NEEDED.
HE HAS SERVED ONE TERM HONORABLY , HE HAS AN IMPECCABLE RESUME IN THE EDUCATION WORLD AS FAR AS RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA. HE RETIRED FROM OUR OWN SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE. I DON'T THINK HIS BONA FIDES NEED TO BE ANALYZED BY US. I THINK THEY STAND ON THEIR OWN AND PUTTING HIM THROUGH AN INTERVIEW PROCESS WOULD NOT BE GOOD USE OF TIME. THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION.
TO SEEK A SECOND TERM. >> SPEAKER: DO YOU THINK IT'S FAIR TO THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT APPLIED FOR THE POSITION?
>> SPEAKER: I THINK THAT I MADE A MISTAKE BY NOT COMMUNICATING EARLIER THAT I WOULD ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND CONSIDER REAPPOINTING DR. JENKINS.
>> SPEAKER: MAYOR, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND COUNCILMAN GRISWOLD AND MS. TAYLOR'S THOUGHTS ON THIS MATTER, I STILL SAY THAT THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE DR. JENKINS. I WORK WITH THEM IN THE PAST WHEN I WORKED FOR THE CITY AND HE IS AN IMPECCABLE EDUCATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR. I THINK IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION
TO GO AHEAD AND REAPPOINT HIM. >> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE ON THE
COUNSEL? >> SPEAKER: MR. MAYOR? JUST TO CLARIFY, IF YOU HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP EARLIER, THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE FACT THAT APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BORNE FRUIT BECAUSE WE WERE CLEAR THAT THE INCUMBENT WOULD TAKE THE POSITION.
>> SPEAKER: YEAH, BOB. I THINK ONCE WE UNDERSTOOD AND KNEW THAT DR. JENKINS WOULD WANT TO SEEK A SECOND TERM, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MOST APPROPRIATE FOR US TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE PUBLIC AT THAT TIME.
I DO THINK GOING FORWARD, MEGAN HAS THE RIGHT IDEA.
ADVERTISE AND MAKE IT KNOWN TO THE CITIZENS.
>> SPEAKER: I WANT TO BE CLEAR IN DOING THAT WE ARE JUST GOING TO SAY WHAT TERMS, NOT THAT THERE IS AN INCOME BUT THAT HAS SERVED TWO TERMS. I ALSO -- WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE WE ARE PUTTING THEM OUT THERE.
WE WILL LET FOLKS KNOW IN OUR ADVERTISEMENT THERE IS AN INCUMBENT WHO HAS SERVED TWO TERMS, ONE SERVED PARTIAL TERM AND ONE FULL TERM OR WHATEVER. TO TRY TO SIGNAL AND EDUCATE.
WE WERE REQUIRED BY THE SAME POLICY YOU ADOPTED TO DO A BOARDS OF COMMISSION FAIR. WE TRIED ONE.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT WE GOT ONE IN BEFORE COVID AND THE NEXT ONE PASSED BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN NOT MEETING IN PERSON FOR A YEAR.
WE ARE GEARING UP TO DO A NEIGHBORHOOD FORUM AMONG OTHER THINGS AND HAVE A BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS STOP ALONG THE WAY.
WE WILL MAKE SURE TO COVER IT WHEN WE DO THAT.
THAT WAS AN OUTCOME OF THE SAME TASK FORCE GROUP AND WE CAN TOUCH ON THAT IN THOSE SEMINARS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED.
WE WILL TRY TO PUT OUT THERE. WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS STAFF DOES NOT WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE COUNCIL IN ITS DECISIONS AS TO WHO THEY ARE APPOINTING OR REAPPOINTING AND IF THEY CHOOSE
TO DO SO. >> SPEAKER: ANY OTHER THOUGHTS FROM THE COUNSEL? QUESTIONS? MY REQUEST TONIGHT IS THE COUNSEL WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SUSPENDING THE RULES? MS. KRAUSE, IS THAT SOMETHING WE SHOULD VOTE ON OR HOW SHOULD WE --
>> SPEAKER: I THINK YOU NEED A MAJORITY TO SUSPEND THE RULES.
>> SPEAKER: ALL RIGHT. I WOULD ASK NOW IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH SUSPENDING THE RULES TO MAKE THIS APPOINTMENT ON APRIL TO CONSIDER THIS A -- APPOINTMENT OF DR. JENKINS.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. I BELIEVE THAT IS SEVEN OF US.
SO WE WILL SUSPEND THE RULES AND CONSIDER THAT APPOINTMENT ON APRIL THE 20TH. THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
[5. QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA.]
QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY MANAGER?>> SPEAKER: MAYOR, I HAVE ONE ITEM.
I E-MAILED YOU THIS AFTERNOON AND BE POSTED ON THE CITIES WEBSITE. WE HAD ONE ITEM OF OTHER BUSINESS THAT CAME IN LATE LAST WEEK AND PAPERWORK GOT FINALIZED TODAY. IT IS AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR -- DON'T LAUGH. DUMPS LIKE A TRUCK DOING BUSINESS AS IRRITABLE BOWEL. YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HOW YOU SAY THAT. THEY ARE REQUESTING A RETAIL TABLE WINE AND A RETAIL BEER LICENSE AND SO WE HAVE ADDED THAT TO ITEMS OF OTHER BUSINESS. IT'S ON THE DAIS IN FRONT OF YOU. I WILL BRING THAT UP WHEN WE GET TO IT. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LATE ENTRY BUT WE DO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE NOT ASKING PEOPLE TO WAIT SEVERAL WEEKS TO BE HEARD BY YOU ABOUT THESE THINGS.
>> SPEAKER: GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY
[00:15:02]
MANAGER? IF NOT, DO HAVE A MOVE TOADJOURN? >> SPEAKER
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.