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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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