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[1. CALL TO ORDER]
WE'LL CALL AN ORDER TONIGHT'S COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR THE AUBURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR APRIL THE SECOND, 2024.[2. MINUTES]
THE COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THE MINUTES FROM THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE OF MARCH THE 19TH.ARE THE ADDITIONS OF CORRECTIONS THOSE MINUTES? IF NOT AS THEY'RE MOVED TO APPROVE.
ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED, THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON MARCH
[3. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION]
THE 19TH.WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BOARD APPOINTMENTS TONIGHT.
THE FIRST IS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
UM, THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MAYOR TO MAKE THE NOMINATIONS.
UH, WE HAVE TWO, UH, POSITIONS OPEN TONIGHT.
ONE INCUMBENT MS. LAURA RAYBURN HAS DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE A SECOND TERM.
SO TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MR. DAN BUSH FOR HER SEAT.
SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR MR. DAN BUSH.
ANY CONVERSATION OR THOUGHTS? YES, SIR.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MR. BUSH.
UH, DAN BUSH IS A LONG TIME AUBURN NATIVE, UH, WHOSE EXPERIENCES GO BACK EVEN FURTHER THAN MY OWN.
DAN IS A GRADUATE OF AUBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL AND AUBURN UNIVERSITY.
HE ALSO EARNED AN MBA FROM SANFORD IN BIRMINGHAM.
PROFESSIONALLY HAD A 33 YEAR CAREER AS AN ENGINEER AT ALABAMA POWER AND THE SOUTHERN COMPANY.
AND THEN HE RETURNED TO AUBURN IN 2002 AND MOVED BACK INTO THE FAMILY HOME ON NORTH COLLEGE STREET IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
DAN WAS THERE WHEN THE NORTH AUBURN HISTORIC DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED AND HE UNDERSTANDS THE DESIGN REVIEW STANDARDS OF THAT AREA AND WE WOULD BE BLESSED TO HAVE DAN ON AUBURN'S HISTORIC REVIEW COMMITTEE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, THOUGHTS ON MR. DAN BUSH? OKAY.
ANY OPPOSED? AND WE'LL CONFIRM MR. BUSH LATER ON IN THE AGENDA.
WE APPRECIATE HIS DESIRE TO SERVE.
THE SECOND INCUMBENT IS, UH, NICK HAYES.
MR. HAYES HAS SERVED ONE PARTIAL TERM AND ONE FULL TERM AND I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MR. HAYES FOR A SECOND.
ALRIGHT, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR MR. HAYES FOR A SECOND FULL TERM.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THOUGHTS? YES, MR. MAY I HAVE SOME? YES.
UM, I, I'D JUST LIKE TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT WE HAD A COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 17TH OF OCTOBER AND WE HAD CITIZEN INPUT ON THAT REGARDING OFFENSIVE AND VULGAR BANNERS BEING HUNG ON VARIOUS PROPERTIES IN THE, FOR THE, UH, AUBURN AND GEORGIA FOOTBALL GAME.
UH, ONE OF THOSE PROPERTIES IS, IS OWNED BY THE NOMINEE.
UH, FORTUNATELY THE SIGNS WERE REMOVED THANKS TO THE INTERVENTION OF COUNCILWOMAN WHITTEN.
UH, THE INTERVENTION, HOWEVER, WAS, WAS AFTER A CONCERNED CITIZEN SPOKE WITH THE NOMINEE AND WHOSE REPLY WAS QUOTE, FREEDOM OF SPEECH WAR EAGLE.
UH, THIS RESPONSE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OR CITIZEN'S CONCERNS.
IT WAS SAID AT THE MEETING THAT WE DON'T NEED THE F WORD IN FRONT YARDS.
AND WHILE WE WANT TO PROTECT FREE SPEECH, WE ALSO NEED TO MAINTAIN DECENCY.
THIS OCCURRENCE WAS NOT MEETING MINIMUM STANDARDS.
SAYING TO READ THESE SIGNS WAS VERY UNFORTUNATE AND DISAPPOINTING AND ALSO NOTING THAT CHILDREN WITNESSED AND READ THEM.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PROPERTY IS GENERALLY EPT AND UNSIGHTLY.
WE ARE FORTUNATE THIS PROPERTY IS NOT ON NORTH COLLEGE STREET WHERE IT WOULD BE ON ONE OF OUR MAJOR GATEWAYS.
WHEN WE APPOINT A BOARD OR COMMISSION MEMBER, THEY REPRESENT US, THE COUNCIL, AND ALSO THE CITIZENRY OF AUBURN.
AND WHILE WE USUALLY REAPPOINT MEMBERS, IT IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COURSE CORRECTION IF NEEDED.
SO ANYONE WHO OWNS PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT AND EVEN HAS A MODICUM OF INTEREST IN THIS PRESERVATION WOULD NOT ALLOW THIS.
WE HAVE TWO EXCELLENT APPLICANTS FOR THESE VACANCIES, ONE OF WHICH WE FEEL WITH DAN BUSH.
AND I URGE THE MAYOR TO WITHDRAW THE SECOND NOMINEE.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THE NOMINEE SHOULD BE AFFIRMED.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE A COMMENT OR I, I HAVE A SHORT ONE.
UM, ANOTHER ONE OF THE NOMINEES HAS SERVED A TERM ON THE SAME COMMITTEE.
UM, IT WAS BACK UNDER MAYOR HAM IN 2014 2018.
I DON'T GUESS I SHOULD MENTION THE NAME ON THAT, BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT WAS PUT FORTH BY THE NOMINEE THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS? WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I THINK, UM, MR. HAYES, UM, IN HIS TIME ON THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL INTO QUESTION, HAS HE MADE ANY VOTES OR HAD ANY ACTIONS WITHIN HIS ROLE ON THE COMMISSION THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, A DETRIMENT TO THE
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COMMISSION OR TO THE CITY? AND I WOULD PROBABLY, THE ANSWER IS NO.AND SO HIS FACT THAT HE HAS TENANTS AND RESIDENCE THAT I KNOW HE'S HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH, AND THOSE TENANTS CHANGE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
UM, AND HE'S, HE AND I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS, SO I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT LOT IS A PROBLEMATIC LOT AS FAR AS THE TENANTS IN THERE.
BUT THAT IS NOT MR. HAYES HIMSELF.
AND, UM, I WOULD SAY THAT IF HIS ACTIONS ON THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COM COMMISSION WEREN'T HIM NOT BEING, UM, REAPPOINTED, THAT'S ONE THING.
UM, THE ACTIONS OF HIS TENANTS ARE NOT THE ACTIONS OF MR. HAYES.
I THINK MS. WHITTEN, ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? YES, MR. MAYOR? SURE.
I CAN'T SPEAK ABOUT WHAT MR. HAYES CHOOSES TO DO, UH, OUTSIDE HIS ROLE AS A, UH, MEMBER OF THE, THE, THE HISTORIC COMMISSION.
BUT WHAT I AM MORE INTERESTED AND UH, SUPPORTIVE OF IS, UM, PRECEDENT AND, UH, THE PRECEDENT THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED OVER THE COURSE OF, UH, MY TENURE HERE HAS, UH, ENSURED THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR A SECOND TERM GET THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT SECOND TERM.
SO THAT WILL BE WHERE MY FOCUS LAYS IN SUPPORTING THE IDEA THAT AN, AN INCUMBENT GETS A SECOND SHOT.
WE'LL TRY TO DO THIS BY VOICE VOTE.
IF WE NEED TO, WE CAN RAISE HANDS.
WOULD THAT BE OKAY? BELIEVE IT'LL BE SPLIT VOTE.
SO, ALL IN FAVOR OF MR. NICK HAYES.
YOU MAY WANNA DO HANDS JUST TO OKAY.
LINDSEY HAS TO BE ABLE TO RECORD WHO.
THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO DO 'CAUSE IT'S FIVE.
WE'LL CONFIRM THAT LATER ON IN THE AGENDA.
[4. DOWNTOWN DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE]
ALRIGHT.WE HAVE ONE POSITION TERM BEGINS APRIL 18TH, 2024 AND ENDS APRIL 17TH, 2030.
INCUMBENT DAVID HENSON HAS SERVED ONE FULL TERM AND HE HAS REAPPLIED.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE DAVID HENSON TO A SECOND FULL TERM.
I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO NOMINATE DAVID HENSON TO A SECOND FULL TERM COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION CARRIES AND WE'LL CONFIRM THAT
[5. AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY]
LATER ON IN THE AGENDA.AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY? YES, SIR.
WE HAVE ONE POSITION TERM BEGINS APRIL 15TH, 2024 AND ENDS APRIL 14TH, 2028.
INCUMBENT MARSHA BUSING HAS SERVED ONE FULL TERM.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE MARSHA FOR A SECOND.
ALRIGHT, I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND FOR MARSHA BUSING TO SERVE A SECOND FULL TERM.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I DO.
MS. BUSING HAS BEEN A VERY CAPABLE LEADER OF THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD.
SHE HAS BROUGHT A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WITH HER INTO THIS POSITION.
AS A PAST ASSOCIATE DEAN OF LIBRARY SCIENCES FOR THE AUBURN UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS AND A UM IT WOULD BE HARD TO FIND ANYONE WITH BETTER CREDENTIALS.
HOWEVER, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, I BELIEVE SHE CARES ABOUT NOT JUST THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ITSELF, BUT THE AUBURN COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE YOUNG FAMILIES WHO USE THE LIBRARY IN LARGE NUMBERS.
I TRUST IN MS. BUSING TO KEEP THE BEST INTEREST OF THESE YOUNG FAMILIES IN MIND AS WELL AS THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
I THANK HER FOR WANTING TO SERVE HER COMMUNITY IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT CAPACITY AND I PRAY FOR HER SUCCESS.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK TO? YES, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT, UH, MS. BOOING.
I ACTUALLY WORKED WITH MS. BOOING AT THE, OUR, UH, UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS AND I DON'T THINK SHE KNOWN ANYTHING ELSE BUT THE LIBRARY.
SO I, I, UH, SUPPORT HER IN HER SECOND TERM ON THIS, UH, LIBRARY BOARD.
ALL IN FAVOR OF REAPPOINTING MARSHA BUSING FOR A SECOND FULL TERM PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION CARRIES AND WE'LL CONFIRM
[6. CEMETERY ADVISORY BOARD]
IT LATER ON THE AGENDA.CEMETERY ADVISORY BOARD? YES SIR.
WE HAVE ONE POSITION TERM BEGINS APRIL 15TH, 2024 ENDS APRIL 14TH, 2028.
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SERVED ONE FULL TERM.MS. ROBINSON HAS NOT CHOSEN TO, UM, SERVE A SECOND FULL TERM.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE DORIS AND HUTCHINSON.
ALRIGHT, I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND FOR DORIS ANN HUTCHINSON, ANY COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS, ANYTHING? WELL, I THINK MS.
SO I THINK SHE WOULD SERVE AS A GOOD ACCESS TO THE, UM, CEMETERY ADVISORY BOARD.
CON ANYONE ELSE? I JUST, JUST QUICKLY, UM, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON HER BEHALF AS WELL.
THE, THE THINGS IN HER APPLICATION JUST JUMPED OUT AT YOU.
SHE'S, SHE'S LOOKING FOR A WAY TO SERVE THE AUBURN COMMUNITY IN A POSITIVE WAY AND PRESIDENT OF WILLING WORKERS AT HER CHURCH AND JUST SEVERAL THINGS LIKE THAT JUST SPEAK TO HER ABILITY TO WANNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND FOR DORIS ANN HUTCHINSON.
ANY OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION CARRIES AND WE'LL CONFIRM THAT LATER ON IN THE
[7. QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA]
AGENDA.QUESTIONS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA FOR THE CITY MANAGER? ANY QUESTIONS? MS. CROUCH, ANYTHING FOR US? YES.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED AND IT IS UNDER ORDINANCES NUMBER NINE B FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH DIXIE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE.
UH, THEY JUST NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME SO I DIDN'T WANNA EVEN ASK YOU TO DO FIRST READING.
UM, WE'LL MOVE THAT TO THE APRIL 16TH AGENDA AND IT'LL APPEAR FIRST READING THEN.
IS THERE MOVE TO ADJOURN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, SO MOVE.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, IT IS SIX MINUTES AFTER SIX, SO WE'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR REGULAR AUBURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
LINDSAY, WITH THE ROLL CALL ADAM.