Brooklet City Council members voted to appoint Hugh Hunter as the City Attorney following Cain Smith’s resignation.
During Thursday night's March 21, 2024 meeting the approval of agenda item 14.4 ratified Hunter’s resuming the position on February 28, 2024 as a part of assisting the city with two grievances filed by employees, and issues related to those grievances. Continue reading for a recap of the meeting.
After a prayer and pledge of allegiance led by Mayor Nicky Gwinnett, the agenda for the March 21, 2024 Brooklet City Council Meeting was approved.
Presentations
City Auditor Patricia Hunter presented a summary of the Audit Report, thanking City Clerk Lori Phillips for her work and her understanding of the accounting system allowing for smooth operation.
City Auditor Hunter says that the council could improve upon two areas including specifying the budget/finances more exactly in writing to allow for easier auditing, and to be conscious of spending in light of economic inflation.
Overall Hunter reports that budgeting has been well handled and finances are robust in the city, with the cash statement in June of 2023 totaling over $2.8 million, rising from about $2.5 million the previous year.
Mayor Pro-Tem Rebecca Kelly and Councilmember Bradley Anderson thank City Auditor Hunter and City Clerk Phillips for their thorough and invested work with the financial accounting in the city.
Public Comments
Gilbert Howard signed up to speak during the meeting. He addressed the council and asked them at what date they were made aware that former Council Member Jonathan Graham was not a resident of the City of Brooklet.
Mayor Gwinnett stated that he would get the answer and report back to Howard. Questions about Grahams residency has been one of many issues the council has been dealing with in recent weeks.
Approval of minutes
The Minutes of meetings between September 14, 2023 until March 6, 2024 were APPROVED
Consent Agenda APPROVED:
- Employee Health Insurance Renewal for 04/04/2024
- Updated fees to use the Randy Newman Community Center, Pavilion, and Festival Grounds as follows: Half a Day (4 hrs.) $175; Ful Day (8 hrs.) $275; Hourly Rate $40 per hour; Pavilion (10X10 spot) $10 each.
Council member Anderson says the community center rates were lowered to encourage more use of the facility to increase revenue, currently expending more than incoming.
- Prince &Son Tree Specialist Inv# 250 - Council approved this on February 15th at the $4500 rate; an additional invoice was received for $500 for one tree to be removed, which has increased it $5000 as it is one job...since it was quoted and then added to it, it exceeds the variance threshold.
- Invoice #01W1587 for $1,387.70 received from SWAT - Solid Waste Applied Technologies Inc., for servicing the Sanitation Truck
- Quote received from Core & Main in the amount of $12,423.60 for Water Meters.
APPROVED Consideration of a Motion to Approve the February Financial Reports as presented.
Report from the City Engineer Wesley Parker - NOT PRESENT
Report from the City Consultant Mathew Morris - NOT PRESENT
Reports from committee members:
Councilman Anderson asked for greater pressure to be placed on the city engineer and consultants to bring reports to the council.
Councilman James Harrison reported to the attendees that a piece of city equipment had recently broken. Derrel Smith, public works lead in Brooklet, says that the Hydro-dig broke due to a crack caused by metal fatigue
Councilman Roughton - NOT PRESENT
Police Chief Gary M. Roberts says that there were 39 calls for service in February.
“It was a rough month for our guys,” said Roberts.
The department is currently in the testing phase of operating the new tag reader at the town's entrance.
Safety Coordinator Jim Stanoff says he reached back out to the FEMA representative regarding the generator grant.
“Seems like there's been a delay in processing and until further notice it'll be on hold… in August it will be five years since the application was submitted,” said Stanoff.
Stanoff also recommends that Willie St. be surveyed and marked accordingly due to its vacancies, as liability claims on vacant city properties have increased in the state.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
14.1 APPROVED Motion to approve a resolution celebrating 75 Years of the Kiwanis Club of Brooklet, GA.
In March 1949, Brooklet’s Kiwanis Club was established. In these 75 years the club has enhanced quality of life and served kids in the community, providing scholarship opportunities and youth clubs resources. The council congratulated them and declared that March 19 is Kiwanis day in Brooklet, Georgia.
14.2 APPROVED Motion to Approve the Resignation of I Cain Smith as the City Solicitor & City Attorney, effective February 28, 2024.
14.3. APPROVED Motion to Approve the Resignation of Johnathan Graham, Council Seat #5, effective March 1, 2024.
Mayor Pro-Tem Kelly asked when the vacant seat needed to be filled, and City Attorney Hugh Hunter said he would find out.
14.4 APPROVED Motion to appoint Hugh Hunter as the City Attorney through June 30, 2024, and to ratify him being hired on or about February 28, 2024, to assist with two grievances filed by employees and issues related to those grievances.
Councilman Harrison said that this motion is the second draft of this item, and is more encompassing of the proceedings of filling the city attorney position since the resignation of Cain Smith after one month that led Former City Attorney Hunter’s return.
Councilman Anderson thanked City Attorney Hunter and stated that June is approaching quickly and an "aggressive" approach to filling the position is needed. He suggested that the council begin drafting a timeline and process of hiring a new attorney immediately, to prevent another issue such as Smith’s resignation.
City Attorney Hugh hopes to be helpful in the transition process of placing a new city attorney in the position.
14.5 APPROVED Motion to appoint Robby Mock, Jr. as the City Solicitor.
14.6 APPROVED Motion to Appoint Debra Alexander as Chairman of Planning & Zoning.
14.7 APPROVED Discussion and Motion to Authorize the City Attorney to update the Zoning Ordinance under ARTICLE XV. - PLANNING COMMISSION, Sec. 15-1. - Creation of planning commission and Sec. 15-4. - Reporting to the city council.
This motion clarifies that applicants of service on the Planning and Zoning Commission must meet the requirement of holding Brooklet City residence. It also defined that absence from city meetings more than three times makes you liable for replacement. The modification also allows for position holders to receive a small amount of compensation.
14.8.APPROVED Discussion and Motion to Authorize the City Attorney to Prepare an Ordinance for Food Truck Vendors and for a Farmers Market.
City Attorney Hugh Hunter alluded to recently passed state laws about vendor requirements and stated he would investigate further to prepare the ordinance.
Councilman Anderson suggests food truck vendors be limited to designated locations and not all over the city.
Safety Coordinator Stanoff says that a certificate of insurance may be required of vendors of food trucks or farmers markets.
14.9. APPROVED Motion to approve Estimate #4783 from Ninja Lawns for $1,170.94, the estimate will address the immediate Spring Annuals Install for landscaping in front of City Hall.
14.10 APPROVED Motion to approve estimate #4784 from Ninja Lawns for 618.95, the estimate will address the immediate Spring Annuals Install for landscaping in front of City Hall.
Mayor Pro-Tem Kelly says that this landscaping will cost less than the estimate and be closer to $400
14.11 NOT APPROVED Discussion and review of a quote received for the purchase of a Caterpillar 301.7 Excavator for $43,311.00
Councilman Harrison suggested that leasing it would be more expensive over time, as repairing damages to the rented machinery could be especially costly. Public works lead Smith says that the machine would be used to install water meters or handle exploratory digging, saving man hours. Smith says the current backhoe is 22 years old.
Anderson requested that funding this purchase be discussed further and the council agreed to bring the matter back on to the table at a future meeting.
14.12. APPROVED Discussion and Motion to Approve a Quote for the Purchase of thirty (30) Sign Posts, two quotes were received and they are as follows:
- Traffic Safety Direct-$1,738.00
- GCI (Georgia Correctional Intuition - $1,655.00
14.13. AMENDED AND APPROVED Discussion and Motion to Approve Fencing around Well #3 Property. MOTION
The council approved the payout of contingency up to $8,500.
14.14. TABLED Discussion and Motion to Approve the Job Description to add to the Employee Handbook, for an Equipment Operator and Water System Maintenance Technician with a beginning hourly rate of $21.50 plus benefits.
Councilman Anderson says other job descriptions do not include hourly rate, and this decision should could later as the city is working towards salary scales.
Mayor Gwinnett adjourned the meeting at 8 P.M.
