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Tybee Island, Georgia
March 12, 1980
The regular meeting of the Tybee Island City Council was held
at City Hall on Wednesday, March 12, 1980 at 1:00 p.m. The change
from the regular meeting time of 3:30 p.m. was arranged so that
Councilman Fleetwood could attend a meeting of the Chatham- Savannah
Resource Recovery Committee scheduled for the same afternoon.
Mayor M. J. Counihan presided and the following members of
Council were present: William C. Fleetwood, Jack Owen, Edward Jung,
Jerome Bettencourt and Nick Alexander. City Attorney Lance Smith
was also present. Mrs. Karen Losey was absent due to personal illness.
The first visitor to appear before Council was Mr. Denny, a
developer representing the McCuskers. He displayed a site plan for
townhouse units on the McCusker property between 15th and 16th Streets
and informed Council that the property is being considered for the
development of 63 townhouse units, with 112 parking spaces and land-
scaping and fencing to make the area attractive from all aspects. In
discussion Council was reminded that there are no height restrictions
on this parcel of land, due to its being a part of the tract sold by
the City for the construction of the water slide. Council agreed
that, at present, no need for variances of any kind are foreseen, and
wished the group well in their efforts to pre -sell the units.
There being no other visitors, the meeting was opened for business
legally presented.
The minutes of the meeting. of February 6, 1980 were approved as
written.
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Bills for the month of February, 1980 were approved, as
follows:
Fire Department $ 356.22
General Government 3,198.65
Ceramics Department 139.15
Recreation Department 238.50
Sanitation 1,132.74
Public Works 3,155.57
Water Department 1,900.73
Sewer Department 3,868.10
Police Department 1,873.24
Parking Meter Department 74.53
Capital Outlay Expense 439.30
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Councilman Alexander explained that, in addition to the
above, he has a bill in the amount of $2,307.50 from Whitaker
Laboratory, Inc. for tests of the landfill site. He questioned
whether the work is completed, and whether the bill is in line
with the estimates received at the time the work was authorized.
On the advice of the City Attorney, Council agreed to hold back a
portion of the payment until it can be ascertained that Whitaker
has supplied to Environmental Protection all the information re-
quested by them in the joint meeting of the chemist, the city and
the environmental protection specialists.
Councilman Alexander also informed Council that Port -a -let
has notified him of the necessity of removing the chemical toilet
from the public dock due to vandalism.
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Mayor Counihan then called on the Clerk to read the list
of appointments to the Planning Commission. Mr. Edmund Spiers
was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of
Chris Simon. This appointment is effective on March 1, 1980 and
is for a period of four years. Mr. Pete Dieppe completes a one -
year term on March 18, 1980 and has been asked to serve again for
a four -year term, and Mr. Charles Worden has been appointed to
fill the vacancy created by the expiration of Dr. Charles Peter-
son's five year term which ends March 19, 1980. Mr. Worden will
serve a four -year term, beginning March 19, 1980.
The following appointments were announced for the upcoming
municipal election: Mr. Robert Cook was appointed Elections Super-
intendent in February, 1980. The Clerk of Council will act as
Absentee Ballot Clerk. The following persons have also been asked
to serve: Mrs. Pat Pagan, Chief Manager; Mrs. Ethel Chandler and Mrs.
Irene Brown, Assistant Managers; and Mrs. Margaret Guilliams, Mrs.
Olivia Pagan, Mrs. Corene Brady, Mr. Scotty Graves and Mrs. Eleanor
Rimedio as clerks.
The Tybee Island Jaycees have stated that they wish to sponsor
a Candidates Night at the City Hall, when all candidates for munici-
pal office can gather to talk with voters and answer questions.
Council chose Tuesday, April 29th, at 7:00 p.m. as a suitable time
for this event. Mr. Fleetwood announced that he will be out of the
country from April 24th through May 1st, and therefore, regretfully,
will be unable to attend Candidates Night.
Councilman Fleetwood called the Council's attention to the pro-
posed budget for FY 80 and requested that it be studied carefully
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so that any proposed changes can be brought to the attention of the
Finance Committee.
Councilman Jung read a proposed agreement for animal control.
The agreement, in essence, relegates animal control to Chatham County
and diverts income from fines, etc. to this source. Councilman Jung
moved that the agreement be accepted, Councilman Owen seconded, and
the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Alexander announced that the Tybee Island Garden Club
has accepted responsibility for overseeing the planting of the deco-
rative planters on the strand in front of the new Public Safety Build-
ing. Mrs. Lettye Hollingsworth, President, has been very helpful to
the city in this project, and has promised to consider further beaut-
ification projects after the effects of the proximity to the ocean
have been studied on the present project. Councilman Alexander said
that he is especially interested in landscaping the plot of land at
the end of First Street, as this would be a very attractive feature
for visitors coming onto Butler Avenue.
Mayor Counihan then announced that two prospective candidates
for municipal office are present at his invitation. He introduced
Julianne Meyers and Jim Fabrikant, Jr., and called a brief recess of
the meeting so that the present council and the prospective council
members could be interviewed by the press.
After the news conference, Mayor Counihan reconvened the meeting.
Councilman Jung introduced the first reading of the retirement ordi-
nance. Mr. Fleetwood asked to speak on this subject first, as it may
be necessary for him to leave prior to the close of this meeting in
order to attend the area meeting of the Resource Recovery Committee.
Mr. Fleetwood stated that he has talked at length with employees and
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knows that the older employees are very interested in pension bene-
fits, but that younger employees are not very interested. He stated
that he opposes any plan that obligates the city with no provision
for removing our investment to another plan in the future. He also
stated that he would prefer a voluntary, contributory plan and would
like to look at some other options. Mr. Jung stated that he agrees
that this particular plan does not have to be the one adopted, but
that he believes some pension plan should be instituted immediately.
He further stated that his purpose today is to recommend passing this
ordinance on first reading, and he did so move. Councilman Fleetwood
expressed concern that the city would have no control over the money
invested, that this is a GMA- sponsored plan, but should be more thor-
oughly studied. He asked the city attorney if the Council has the
authority to enter into a plan which would then necessarily need to
be continued through future administrations. Mr. Smith stated that
Council does have this authority, and further remarked that no referen-
dum is necessary, but that an ordinance is definitely required.
Councilman Bettencourt then seconded Mr. Jung's motion of acceptance
on first reading, and the motion passed with one dissenting vote cast
by Councilman Fleetwood.
Councilman Fleetwood then stated that he has just received an
amended proposal for paving and widening of Second Avenue. He stated
that Porter Construction Company had been low bidder on this project
last year, but that funds have not, until now, been available to com-
plete this work, which had been further delayed by the moving of
utility poles from the right -of -way. Due to the lengthy delay, prices
have changed, and it is necessary to sign a new contract for this work.
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Councilman Alexander moved that the contract be signed, Councilman
Jung seconded, and the contract was accepted unanimously. The
total contract amount if $25,620.00, and it is Council's intention
that this work begin without delay.
Councilman Alexander reported that Council has agreed that the
old police facility at the end of 16th Street be remodeled. He said
that the extra bathrooms are certainly needed, and that the space
can be used by the meter maids or by an attendant for collecting
parking money. He stated that the renovation will provide this bene-
fit, and that, if removed, the building could never be replaced due
to the shore protection laws.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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CLERK OF COUNCIL
4124-4441-1..‘—) AYOR