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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19800813CCMeeting1 1 64 Tybee Island, Georgia August 13, 1980 The Tybee Island City Council held its regular meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13, 1980 at the Tybee Island City Hall. Mayor Michael J. Counihan presided and the following members of Council attended: William C. Fleetwood, Jack Owen, Jim Fabrikant, Jr., Julianne Meyers, Jerome Bettencourt and Nick Alexander. City Attorney Lance Smith was also present. Mayor Counihan invited anyone in the audience who would like to speak to Council to come forward. The first visitor to speak was Reverend Byron Twigg of Chapel by the Sea Baptist Church who thanked the Mayor, Council and City Attorney for their support of his program offering help to teenagers in trouble with the courts. He stated that although the pro- gram has had one failure, he hopes it will be continued. He then showed to the Council a plastic wrapper made for the purpose of disguising beer cans by making them look similar to soft drink cans. He stated that these wrappers are for sale in several local businesses and that he wanted to make the Council aware of this. Mayor Counihan responded by stating that he feels the program to help and counsel with young people is valuable and that he supports its continuance; he asked that the City Attorney check into the sale of the plastic wrappers. The next visitor was Art Schultz of the Columbia Management Corporation who brought brochures depicting the Savannah Beach and Racquet Club, a development beginning pre -sales for condominium units on Bay Street. He apologized for upsetting some citizens by the choice of the name for the development and stated that the name is being changed to the Savannah Beach 1 1 65 and Racquet Club on Tybee Island. He hopes that this change will be satis- factory to the citizens of Tybee Island. Mayor Counihan stated that our local building codes will be strictly enforced and that he will personally review the construction plans when they are presented. Councilman Fleetwood reminded Mr. Schultz that the drainage in that area must not be interrupted and Mr. Schultz stated that it will be considered inviolate; he stated that even on a temporary basis, pipes will be used to be sure that no drainage ditch is blocked. He also offered to pay for inspectors from some nationally recognized code enforcement agency to make factory inspections of the units during construction at the factory. Mayor Counihan then opened the meeting for business legally pre- sented. The minutes of the last meetings (July 9 and July 30) were approved as written. Mayor Counihan then announced a public hearing on a petition for a planned unit development brought by Mr. Anthony P. Simon. Mr. Simon pre- sented his petition to Council, explaining that his plans are to remodel an old warehouse building on Van Horne Drive. He has employed an architectural firm to plan this building's renovation into seven condominium apartments of 1,000 square feet each. He further stated that no changes in the outside dimensions of the structure are proposed, with the exception of balconies or porches added for each unit. Adequate parking has been included, and fencing for landscaping purposes may be designed. Councilwoman Meyers, a member of the Tybee Island Planning Commission and chairman of the Planning /Development Committee explained that this petition had been recommended for approval by the Planning Commission. She also stated that there had been no objections from neighboring property owners at the Planning Commission meeting, and that Mr. B.P. Hosti, a neighboring property owner, had appeared at that meeting to 1 1 66 speak in favor of the project, which he feels will improve the neighborhood. City Attorney Smith then explained to the Council that approval of a PUD would give the owner permission to do only what he has presented as his plans; any change of use or plans would need to go through the Planning Commission. After discussion, there being no objections, the petition was granted by unanimous consent of Council. Bills for the month of July, 1980 were approved for payment (as funds are available) as follows: General Government: $2,544.93, Public Works: $6,194.87, Sanitation - $12,315.17, Recreation - $1,641.86, Ceramics - $432.47, Fire Department - $406.56, Sewer Department - $5,473.50, Water Department - $3,419.32, Parking Meter Department - $1,033.06, Police Department - $8,046.08. In addition, capital outlay expenses were approved in the amount of $5,314.73 and other expenses totalled $2,811.33. Under Communications, a letter from Mr. James Sheley dated August 8, 1980 in which he complained of the blocking of Alger Avenue by a gate installed by Walter Brown was read. Councilman Fleetwood stated that Mr. Brown claimed to be the owner of that portion of the street, even though this is not shown on the current county maps. An investigation will be made and Mr. Sheley will be informed of the results of the investigation. A letter from Colonel Tilford E. Creel of the Savannah District, United States Corps of Engineers, was read. The letter was dated August 8, 1980 and congratulated the city on the progress made on public access and parking, and asked that the complete plan be submitted to the Corps and the DNR during the next fall, so that the renourishment project can be included in the next fiscal budget. The letter was accepted as information. Mayor Counihan then introduced Mr. Jeff Shelton of Utility Services who recently presented an updated proposal for repairs to the water tank. Mr. 67 Shelton explained to Council the urgency of the situation and also noted that some seepage is occuring. In the discussion which followed, it was suggested that grant monies be sought to help defray the costs involved. Councilman Fabrikant then moved that the contract proposal from Utility Services be accepted. Councilman Fleetwood amended the motion to include the words "when funds allow ". Councilman Alexander seconded the amendment, which carried unanimously. The motion was thus adopted. A Resolution of Respect was read as follows: WHEREAS, ON THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF JULY, 1980, DEATH BROUGHT TO A CLOSE THE ACTIVE LIFE OF MRS. ANNA MARIA HOSTI RENTIERS; AND WHEREAS, MRS. RENTIERS HAS, BY HER GREAT LOVE OF AND DEVOTION TO THIS COMMUNITY, EARNED-THE AFFECTION OF THE PEOPLE OF TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA; AND WHEREAS THE STATURE SHE ATTAINED IN THIS COMMUNITY BY HER EXEMPLARY LIFE AND BY HER UNSELFISH DEVOTION TO HER SELF IMPOSED DUTIES IN SUPPORT OF THE TYBEE ISLAND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS RECOGNIZED DURING HER LIFETIME; BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND DOES, BY THIS RESOLUTION AND PUBLIC RECORD, RECOGNIZE THE PROFOUND INFLUENCE OF ANNA MARIA HOSTI RENTIERS UPON THE PEOPLE OF TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA, RECOGNIZING FURTHER THAT HER DEATH IS A DISTINCT LOSS TO THE CITY IN WHICH SHE WORKED AND WON DEEP RESPECT AND AFFECTION. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS RESOLUTION BE SPREAD UPON THE MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL AND A COPY THEREOF BE SENT TO HER SON, MR. CHARLES JOSEPH RENTIERS, IN RECOGNITION OF MRS. RENTIERS' RESPECTED PLACE IN THIS COMMUNITY. Upon motion by Councilman Owen, seconded by Councilman Fabrikant and unanimously adopted, a copy of the above Resolution was presented by the Mayor to Mrs. Dorothy Hosti who accepted on behalf of the family of the deceased. Councilman Fleetwood reported on the status of a pension fund plan for City employees. He stated that the ordinance is currently being prepared with the advice of the auditors and the city attorney. He stated that the members of Council are in agreement that the plan be adopted and are now only waiting on the finalization of the ordinance. Councilman Fleetwood then stated that the sanitation department states that ten dollars per month is no longer an adequate charge for garbage and trash pickup outside the city limits. He suggests we up the rate or let the business go to private contractors. Councilman Fabrikant agreed that 68 changes must be made. He supports private garbage collection for everyone. He stated that our equipment is worn out, and believes that we should keep a sani- tation department strictly for trash pickup and contract garbage pickup. Councilman Fleetwood reminded Council that the engineers are currently studying the establishment of a transfer station. He also reminded Council that this ad- ministration removed the garbage fee from the water bills in 1976. He says this fee can be reinstated, and will probably need to be in the near future as our landfill is exhausted and we cannot avoid the long distance haul much longer. He supports maintaining the present sanitation department so as to be more in control of the services. Councilman Fabrikant favors relinquishing control of garbage collection so as to lower payroll costs. It was agreed that no decision can be made until the engineering report is received. Mayor Counihan instructed the City Attorney to inform the present inhabitant of the old sewer plant premises that the city will require the property for the establishment of a transfer station. Mayor Counihan then instructed Councilwoman Meyers, chairman of the Fire Department Committee, to contact appropriate persons at the Southside Fire Department and arrange an informational meeting with them. He stated that the Southside Fire Department is moving into areas countywide and may be able to benefit our local volunteer department in some respect. Councilman Fleetwood re- marked that we have an excellent department for the annual costs of approximately $10,000. Mayor Counihan then asked Councilman Owen, Police Commissioner, why police units are so often seen at Lazaretto Creek, which is outside our city limits. Councilman Owen responded that our city police are often alerted by the county to watch for certain vehicles proceeding east on Highway 80, and render assistance to the county police when necessary. Chief Price spoke, noting that use of county jail facilities may actually be a savings to the city, in that it eliminates the cost of a jailer and food costs. He made this response to Council- woman Meyers, who questioned the large expenditure by the city for the use of County facilities. 1 1 1 69 Councilman Fleetwood then initiated a discussion of finances in general. He affirmed that little help has been forthcoming from the county and explained the large capital expenditures that were necessary so far this year have caused a problem with cash flow. He introduced a resolution to authorize a bank loan, a copy of which is attached to and forms a part of these minutes. After the reading of the resolution Councilman Fleetwood moved its adoption, Councilman Owen seconded and it was unanimously carried. Councilman Fleetwood invited the public to attend the meetings to hear the discussions of finances and also to examine the financial records of the city at any time. He stated that a general obligation bond issue may be necessary because we will not be able to continue to make capital improvements out of current income as we have done the past two years. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. / CLERK OF COU C L R E S O L U T I O N AUTHORIZING TEMPORARY LOAN BY THE CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND, TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, ARTICLE VII, SECTION VII, PARAGRAPH IV, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. WHEREAS, under and by virtue of the Constitution of the State of Georgia, Article VII, Section VII, Paragraph IV (Sec- tion 2 -6004) of the Georgia Code of 1933, Annotated) each County, Municipality or Political Subdivision of the State authorized to levy taxes is given the authority to make temporary loans between January 1 and December 31 in each year to pay expenses for such year to pay expenses for such year, upon certain conditions, and WHEREAS, such conditions have been fulfilled by the City of Tybee Island, Georgia as hereinafter appears, and WHEREAS, the City of Tybee Island, Tybee Island, Georgia has now no outstanding temporary loan, or loans made in the current fiscal year, or in any prior year, and WHEREAS, the total gross income of said City of Tybee Island, Georgia from taxes in the last preceding fiscal year (1978 -79) exceeds $ 260,790.00 , and WHEREAS, the amount to be borrowed, $ 100,000.00 plus all other anticipated obligations and expenses of the City of Tybee Island, Georgia for the fiscal year 1979 -80 are less than the total anticipated revenue from all sources for such fiscal year, which is expected to exceed $ 260,000.00 , and WHEREAS, under the aforesaid authority, the City of Tybee Island, Georgia may make such temporary loan, or loans, in the fiscal year 1979 -80 in a total amount not to exceed $ 100,000.00 and WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council constitute the governing body of the City of Tybee Island, Tybee Island, Georgia. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of the City of Tybee Island, Tybee Island; Georgia in a legally called meeting, assembled August 13, 1980: That the City of Tybee Island, Tybee Island, Georgia is hereby authorized to borrow from Savannah Bank & Trust Company of Savannah the sum of $ 100,000.00 , to be represented by a Promissory Note bearing interest at the prevailing and best obtainable rate of interest per annum, and the entire amount, to- gether with interest, to be repaid on or before December 31, 1980. 1 1 The Promissory Note evidencing said loan shall be executed in the name of the City of Tybee Island, Tybee Island, Georgia and signed by the Mayor and /or Mayor Pro Tem and City Treasurer and /or Finance Chairman at any time subsequent to August 13, 1980. Passes in regular session this 13th day of August, 1980. BY: ATTEST THE CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA Clerk of Counci