HomeMy Public PortalAbout19810114CCMeeting1
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Tybee Island, Georgia
January 14, 1981
The regular monthly meeting of the Tybee Island City Council was held at
3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 1981 at the City Hall. Mayor Michael J. Counihan
presided and the following members of Council were present: William C. Fleetwood,
John J. Owen, Jim Fabrikant, Jr., Julianne J. Meyers, Jerome W. Bettencourt and
Nick C. Alexander. City Attorney James E. McAleer was also present.
The public was welcomed to the meeting by the Mayor. He then requested that
anyone who wished to speak to Council please come forward. The first visitor to do
so was Mrs. Carolyn Golden. She explained to the Council that a group of ladies
are interested in establishing a thrift store, accepting donations and items for sale
on consignment, in the old parish building of St. Michael's Catholic Church. She
questioned whether, since income is to be donated to the church, a business license
or permit is needed. Mayor Counihan stated that churches are normally exempt from
all forms of taxation, including business licenses. It was suggested by Councilman
Owen that items for sale could be tagged using the word "donation" rather than "price ".
The next visitor to speak was Ms. Lynn Daniels who requested permission to
hold classes in aerobic darting at the Community House. Mayor Counihan replied that
the community house has always been available for the use of local clubs and organi-
zations and that the policy has always been not to allow any form of commercial acti-
vity.
A public hearing of a petition ( #1 -1981) of Resort Investments Corporation
for re- zoning lots 6 through 11, Ward 1, also known as PIN #4 -04 -08 -004, and located
at 209 through 215 Butler Avenue. The petitioner was represented by Mr. Anthony R.
Taylor who presented each member of Council with a package explaining the proposed
redevelopment of the Desoto Beach Motel into condominium units. The re- zoning petition
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is for property immediately across from the proposed development which the group
seeks permission to use as a parking lot for the condominium units. The area is
presently zoned R -2 -B, which has no provision for parking lots. Mr. Earl Anderson,
Zoning Administrator, then explained to the Council that no provision for parking
lots is contained in any zoning classification, but adequate parking for condominium
units is required by the ordinance.
Councilman Bettencourt spoke, referring t9,the pictures of former mayors
displayed in the auditorium, stating that learned men wrote the ordinances in the
past, and that he feels all changes are suggested for reasons of personal gain.
Mrs. Nita Brown of the audience spoke, saying that she lives in the neighbor-
hood and asked if, at a later date, the group could build a high rise building instead
of the proposed parking lot. Mr. Anderson replied that if the area is zoned for
Planned Unit Development, nothing other than the plans approved by the Planning
Commission could be built without a new re- zoning petition. Mrs. Meyers remarked that
the Planning Commission, of which she is a member, has suggested a Planned Unit Develop-
ment for the site in question.
Councilman Fleetwood stated that he believed that First Street and Butler
Avenue should be commercial. He then moved to re -zone the area in question to
commercial, and to allow the construction of a parking lot for the private use of
the condominium project. Councilman Owen seconded and the vote was unanimously in
favor.
The meeting was then opened for business legally presented and the minutes
of the meetings of December 10, 1980 and December 24, 1980 were approved as written.
Councilman Bettencourt, reporting for the Recreation Committee, stated that
the basketball program will be more costly this year due to the request by the St.
Michaels Church Council that an off -duty policeman be on duty to . keep order, and to
a rental fee for the gymnasium of $750.00. He asked Council's opinion as to whether
the program should be implemented. Councilman Fleetwood commented that the money to
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finance the program can be provided. Councilman Bettencourt then moved that the
program be continued, Councilman Fabrikant seconded and the motion was unanimously
carried.
Councilman Bettencourt then asked that Council re- consider qualifying fees
for candidates running for municipal office. He believes this income could offset
the costs of elections, and that the city is growing enough to warrant it. Mayor
Counihan referred this matter to the Finance Committee for their study. Councilman
Fleetwood remarked that fees for hearings such as the one just finished can be ad-
justed to more accurately reflect their cost.
Police Commissioner Owen then read a letter commending Chief Price. Councilman
Fleetwood moved that the letter become a part of the minutes; with no objection this
was ordered by the Mayor. A copy of the letter is attached to, and becomes a part of,
these minutes.
Mrs. George McDonald, chairman of the Planning Commission, was then asked by
Mayor Counihan to read a letter she had received from Mr. Bill Fishback. The letter
referred to the names chosen for certain condominium projects and recommended that
the name "Tybee Island" be given preference over "Savannah" or "Savannah Beach ".
Mayor Counihan expressed agreement with Mr. Fishback's opinions, and the letter was
accepted as information.
Councilman Fleetwood referred the Council's attention to an editorial in
the Savannah Morning News of January 14th. This editorial was read, and Councilman
Fleetwood moved that it become a part of the minutes of this meeting, and that the
article be sent to members of the legislature. There being no objection, this action
was ordered by Mayor Counihan. A copy of the editorial is attached to, and becomes
a part of, these minutes.
Ordinance #13 -1980 was heard on Second Reading. This ordinance requires a
bond be posted by licensed contractors and is intended to discourage illegal activities
and cheating of the public by contractors. Councilman Fleetwood moved its adoption;
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Councilman Owen seconded; the ordinance was adopted by a vote of four to two,
with Councilmen Fabrikant and Alexander casting negative votes.
A Resolution supporting the local option sales and use tax was read.
Councilman Fleetwood moved its adoption, Councilman Owen seconded, and the vote
was unanimously in favor. A copy of this Resolution is attached to, and becomes
a part of, these minutes.
Councilman Alexander, chairman of the Water /Sewer Committee, reported that
the committee has approved a special agreement with Savannah Beach and Racquet Club
for water /sewer service. This will allow the use of master meters which will simplify
the accounting and billing procedure and benefit the city. After the explanation of
the agreement, Councilman Alexander moved that it be accepted and Councilman Owen
seconded. The motion was unanimously carried.
Councilman Fleetwood then explained that Coastal Area Planning & Development
has done a study and recommended a merit pay plan. He further stated that there are
four months to go on the present budget and that he expects a short fall of approxi-
mately $80,000. He stated that this is not intended to be a criticism of any member
of Council, but that he believes that the city has too many employees and that infla-
tion makes it imperative to cut personnel costs. He believes that a blanket raise
(or cost -of- living increase) is not the answer as the study made by CAPDC reveals
some discrepancies in employees' salaries which he believes should be rectified. He
further stated that a merit plan encourages quality rather than quantity in employees
and that he favors the adoption of some such plan. After discussion Mayor Counihan
requested that the Finance Committee meet and make a recommendation to the Council.
Councilman Alexander proposed that Council consider annexation of the unin-
corporated portions of Tybee Island and also Little Tybee Island (Petit Chou). He
called on the City Attorney to explain the procedure for annexation. There was some
discussion after which Councilman Alexander moved to begin procedures to annex all of
Tybee Island east of Lazaretto Creek and also Little Tybee Island. Councilman
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Fleetwood seconded and the motion passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Counihan then
instructed the City Attorney to begin the legal advertisement, and to contact our
local representative, Bobby Phillips, asking him to sponsor this annexation in the
legislature.
Bills for the month of December, 1980 were approved as follows:
General Government -
Parking Meters
Police
Sanitation
Public Works
Fire
Sewer
Water
Recreation
Ceramics
Other Expenses
$1,853.57
211.63
4,325.65
1,008.39
3,290.64
854.06
2,886.51
1,794.68
352.46
503.13
2,371.65
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned until the next
regular or special called meeting.
/7(&44L,AAaa,,
CLERK OF COUNCIL
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Ordinance Number 13 -1980
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA, PROVIDING
THAT THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA,
BE AMENDED BY ADDING A SUBSECTION (C) TO TITLE 8, CHAPTER 2,
SECTION 3 PROVIDING FOR A BOND REQUIREMENT FOR LICENSED CON-
TRACTORS FOR HIRE.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and Council of the City of Tybee Island,
Georgia, that:
The Code of Ordinances of the City of Tybee Island, Georgia, be amended by
adding a subsection (c) to Title 8, Chapter 2, Section 3, to read as follows:
(c) It shall be further required that bond in the amount of two thousand
dollars be posted with the Clerk of Council before a permit can be issued by
the Inspections Department. The requirement applies only to licensed contractors
for hire.
ATTEST:
BY:
CLERK OF COUNCIL
First Reading: December 10, 1980
Second Reading: January 14, 1981
Enacted: January 14, 1981
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R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the City of Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia desires to continue
the collection of a city- county combination local sales and use tax within
the special district whose boundaries are caterminous with the boundaries
of Chatham County; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Ga. Laws 1979, p.446, which was signed into law on April 1,
1979, the governing authority for Chatham County and each of the qualifying
municipalities located within the special district requires each qualifying
city to pass a Resolution authorizing that the proceeds of the joint county -
municipal sales and use tax generated in the district will be distributed
according to a joint certification of distribution; and
WHEREAS, this certificate of distribution is based on population figures of each
of the participants in the special district; and
WHEREAS, on the thirtieth day of December, 1980, the certificate of distribution
attached hereto was signed by the Mayor of the City of Tybee Island, with
the full approval of the governing authority of the City of Tybee Island;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the combination city- county local sales and use
tax is hereby levied by the governing authority of the City of Tybee Island;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the effective date of this certification of
distribution shall be January 1, 1981.
ADOPTED THIS FOURTEENTH DAY OF JANUARY, 1981.
CLERK OF COUNCIL
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STATE OF GEORGIA )
ODINFY OF CHATHAM )
5-C-1
CERTIFICATE OF DISTRIBUTION
Pursuant to Ga. Laws 1979, p. 446, which was signed into law on April 1, 1979,
the governing authority for Chatham County and each of the qualifying municipalities
located within the special district as provided for in said Act coterminous with the
boundaries of Chatham County hereby certify that the proceeds of the joint county -
municipal sales and use tax generated in such district shall be distributed by the
State Revenue Commissioner as follows:
City of Bloomingdale shall receive 89%
City of Garden City'shall receive 4.02%
• Town of Pooler shall receive 1.25%
City of Port Wentworth shall receive 2.08%
City of Savannah shall receive 73.48%
Town of Thunderbolt shall receive 1.37%
City of Tybee Island shall receive 1.17%
County of Chatham shall receive 15.741
TOTAL 100.00%
The effective date of this certificate is January 1, 1981.
Executed by the undersigned on behalf of the governing authorities of all
qualifying municipalities located within the special district and by the 'Chairman
of the governing authority of Chatham County.
This 30 day of December, 1980.
Mayo90 the City of ort Wentworth
•
e Town o erbolt
yor o the it
A714
ee Island
Chairman
Commis sG` ners
County
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gcabannab glinting #.'
Established 1250
DONALD E. HARWOOD
General managor
WALLACE M. DAVIS JR.
sagew v. Editor
THOMAS F. COFFEY JR. and LARRY POWELL
Asseeloa Editors
6A
Wednesday, January 14,1981 j
Tybee's -Sands
Let's wish state Rep. Bobby
Phillips and his Tybee Island con-
stituents success in their push for
making Tybee's second beach ren-
ourishment program a success.
The first renourishment pro-
gram was a success only partly.
The thousands of tons of sand de-
posited on the beach stayed in
place on a long stretch of the is-
land's oceanfront, but the work on
the south end could not withstand
the elements, and the sand
washed away.
Now, the plan is to build a jetty
at the south end and refill that
portion of the beach with
pumped -up sand. The cost is esti-
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mated at $3.9 million, requiring
approximately $1.8 million in
state and local funds. That's what
Mr. Phillips is trying to get, a li-
on's share of that $1.8 million to
go . with federal money 'that's
available. The rest of the local leg-
islative delegation should support
him in his quest. As Mr. Phillips
puts it, it is a critical plan.
Indeed it is critical _ critical
to whether Tybee's south end is
saved or whether more of it wash-
es into the Atlantic Ocean. The
day will come if something isn't
done that the whole south end will
disappear with the ebbing tides.
The state has an obligation to try
and prevent that from happening.
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