07-03-1978 Regular MeetingJuly 3, 1978
The regular scheduled meeting of Mayor and Council was held pursuant to the Charter
on July 3, 1978 at City Hall, Smyrna, Georgia. The meeting was called to order
by presiding officer Mayor Frank Johnson at 7:30 o'clock p.m. All Council members
were present except Jim Tolleson who was on vacation. Also present was City
r Attorney Charles Camp, City Clerk Wi•llouise Spivey, Director of Finance Gunter
Newsom, Inspector John Steely, Police Chief R. E. Little, Parks and Recreation
Director Asa Howard, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Sherry Reavis and
representatives of the press.
Invocation was given by Elbert Coalson, followed by the pledge to the Flag.
Only one bid was received for underground garbage can liners. It was opened, read
and is recorded as follows:
Moultrie Grocery Company - $7.35 per can on approximately 1,500
Jack Shinall made a motion the bid be referred to committee. Elbert Coalson seconded
the motion and the vote was 6-0. Gunter Newsom explained there was only one company
that makes this type can, but three hardware companies in Moultrie handle them.
Mayor Johnson instructed Gunter Newsom to contact the manufacturer and see what could
be worked out on a straight purchase. He also is to contact other cities using this
can and try to work out a joint purchase.
Commercial building permits were submitted by Inspector John Steely and upon his
recommendation the following action is recorded:
(1) Smyrna Swim and Tennis Club requested a permit to build a club house on North
Cooper Lake Road. Mr. Steely said the request was for the club house only, the
drainage problems had been worked out, and he recommended the.permit be approved
subject to approval of the Fire Marshal. Rem Bennett made a motion the permit be
granted, subject to approval of the Fire Marshal. Jack Shinall. seconded the motion
which carried 6-0.
(2) Eugene F. Sparks, 1439 Whitfield Street, requested a backyard variance in
order to add a room onto his home. Our ordinance calls for a 30 foot setback. The
room addition would leave only 16.6 feet to the property line. A letter was sub-
mitted from Mrs. Richard Brooks, the adjoining neighbor, stating she did not object
to the variance being granted. Rem Bennett made a motion the variance be approved.
Jerry Mills seconded the motion which carried by a 6-O.vote.
Jim Hawkins made a motion we request bids, to be opened at the next council meeting
for badgestand uniforms for the Fire Department for a one-year period. Bill Darby
seconded the motion which carried 6-0.
Cobb County Commissioners Charles Jones and George Langford presented Mayor Johnson
with a check for $95,000 for the paving of Les Charles Drive in King Springs Park.
Mayor Johnson thanked Mr. Jones and Mr. Langford for their work and effort in
r securing these county funds to go toward the cost of the park, and for the continued
participation they have given the city.
v Elbert Coalson made a motion that Sanford Place be closed during the Pony League
Baseball Tournament at Cobb Park, July 15 through July 20, 1978. Jack Shinall
seconded the motion. Vote on the motion was,6-0.
Elbert Coalson made a motion a permit be approved for the Smyrna Athletic Association
parade on September 2, 1978. Jerry Mills seconded the motion which carried 6-0.
The parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Smyrna Drive -In, travel south on Atlanta
Road, right on Cherokee Road, left on South Cobb Drive, south to McCauley, left
into King Springs Park.
Jerry Mills made a motion the minutes of June 5, 1978 be approved as submitted.
Rem Bennett seconded the motion which carried 6-0.
Jerry Mills made a motion the minutes of June 19, 1978 be approved as submitted.
Rem Bennett seconded the motion which carried 6-0.
Jim Hawkins made a motion the minutes of June 22, 1978 be approved as submitted.
Jerry Mills seconded the motion which carried 6-0.
Budgets 1978-79 - Finance Director Gunter Newsom read a cover letter presented with
the proposed budgets as follows:
(Continuation of July 3, 1978 Meeting)
"TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL: This package presents the proposed budget for the City of
Smyrna for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1978 and ending June 30, 1979.
This budget should be one that all segments of th_e city government can live within
and finish this fiscal year .in the black. This budget was prepared with the
following assumptions:
That the charge for sanitation for all customers be raised $1.00 per month.
(2) That the charge for sewer service be raised $1.50 per month; $1.00 a month
of this will go toward normal operations and 50C toward system improvements
and repairs.
(3) That all employees having coverage under the dependent portion of the city's
health insurance program pay $2.00 per week toward the cost of this dependent
coverage.
(4) That the Council adopt "Method 2" of implementing the Pay and Classification
Plan and merit raise system presented by the Atlanta Regional Commission.
This would affect an average 6.67% salary increase for all employees.
The City of Smyrna has been operating in a deficit position for the last three
fiscal years. This has been caused by,the effects of inflation and the effects
of the Mayor and Council to maintain a cost of government to.'tthe Smyrna citizens
at the lowest possible cost. In order for this budget to be balanced it is
necessary that the Mayor and Council take the appropriate steps to implement the
assumptions listed above.
As you are aware, the city is in the process of re-evaluating every activity that
we perform to see if there is a way to perform that activity cheaper or whether
We need to perform that activity at all. As part of that process, the Mayor has
instructed all city departments not to fill any vacancies when they occur until
they have fully justified their need for this position. The Public Works Depart-
ment and Parks and Recreation Department ..are instituting a central tool crib to
economize on the use of tools. The city has ceased paying any mileage allowance
and is regulating the use of city owned vehicles in the performance of a job. The
city is also investigating the feasibility of implementing a motor pool for all
city vehicles.
During the year, there will be more and more actions taken to provide the services
desired by Smyrna citizens at the most economical cost. Signed/GUNTER E. NEWSOM,
Budget Officer"
Bill Darby made a motion the entire package be approved, the budgets, Method 2
of the Pay and Classification plan and merit raise system presented by ARC,
the increase in sanitation and sewer charges and employees contribution of $2.00
per week for dependent coverage of the health insurance program. Jerry Mills
seconded the motion which carried 6-0. It was the decision of council that
department heads would not be included in the pay scale.
Parks Committee Report;; In the absence.of Jim Tolleson,,Mayor'Johnson called on
Parks and Recreation Director Asa Howard for a report. Asa reminded everyone
of the big Fourth of July celebration tomorrow at Nash Middle School and read a
schedule of events. He also reported the GRPS District Girls Softball Tournament
would be held July 7th through July 22nd.
Finance Committee: Bill Darby stated the Finance Committee will be meeting with
all department heads soon to go over the wage scale just adopted.
Streets Committee: Jerry Mills made a motion the new organizational chart for
the Public Works Department be approved and entered into the minutes. Rem Bennett
seconded the motion which carried 6-0.
Jerry Mills also asked council to give some thought to considering the motor pool
and suggested to Mayor Johnson that he appoint a.sub-committee to study the
possibility. Mayor Johnson advised he would appoint this committee at the next
meeting.
Inspection Committee: Rem Bennett read a letter being sent to all political
candidates informing them they must comply with the City of Smyrna Sign Ordinance
if they intend to post political signs within the city. A $500 bond must be
posted with the City Clerk to insure the signs will be taken down.
Pawn Shop License Request: Jerry Loden requested a business license to operate a
Pawn Shop at 1022-24 Cherokee Road. Rem Bennett read a letter from Lt. Farmer
stating his investigation showed no reason the license should not be granted. The
letter had been read and approved by Chief Little. Rem Bennett made a motion the
(Continuation of July 3, 1978 Meeting)
H
license be granted. Jerry Mills seconded the motion. During discussion Jim Hawkins
asked Mr. Loden if he had read and understood the pawn shop ordinance. The answer
was yes. Mr. Loden stated he had applied for a swap -shop license to buy, 'sell and
trade, not a pawn shop license. He also stated he could.not operate a pawn shop at
this location since there was already one in Belmont Hills Shopping Center and it
was against their rules to have more than one business of this type. Mr. Loden was
advised the swap shop comes under the pawn shop ordinance and the license would have
to be issued as a pawn shop. After further discussion vote on the motion to grant
the license carried 6-0.
Bill Darby advised a Public Hearing on Federal Revenue Sharing expenditures would
be held at the regular meeting on July 17, 1978.
Mayor Johnson advised that Willouise Spivey received her Certified Municipal Clerk's
Certificate at the GMA Convention in Savannah last week. He congratulated her for
her efforts and -completion of the certification program.
Attorney Camp, in reviewing the pawn shop ordinance, noted that Section 14-52 read
as follows: "All applications for licenses hereunder shall be acted upon by the
Mayor and Council after a public hearing and after advertisement as required herein.
No license shall be issued until it -has-been approved by the Mayor and Council."
The section of the ordinance requiring advertising had been overlooked and appli-
cations for pawn shops had never been advertised. Jack Shinall made a motion the
license request be reopened. Jerry Mills seconded the motion for discussion. Mr.
Loden left the meeting with the understanding his license had been approved, and
there was some question as to whether the request could be reopened since he had
already left the meeting. After further research of the ordinance, Attorney Camp
stated that when -the ordinance was rewritten, or during the codification, the adver-
tisement requirement had been omitted; therefore, the license approved tonight would
be valid. The motion and second to reopen was withdrawn.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
July 17, 1978
The regular scheduled meeting of Mayor and Council was held at the City Hall, Smyrna,
Georgia on July 17, 1978. The meeting was called to order by presiding officer
Mayor Frank Johnson at 7:30 o'clock p.m. All Councilmen were present except Jerry
Mills who was in the hospital. Also present was City Attorney Charles Camp, City
Clerk Willouise Spivey, Finance Director Gunter Newsom, Police Chief R. E. Little,
Public Works Director Jim David, Civil Defense Director Jim Farley, Parks and
Recreation Director Asa Howard, Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Sherry Reavis,
Luke Boring who was filling in for City Inspector John Steely and representatives
of the press.
Invocation was given by Jim Tolleson, followed by the pledge to the Flag.
The first order of business was to consider the request for transfer of Cable TV
franchise ownership from Jones Intercable, Inc... to Cable Holdings, Inc. Jim Hawkins
made a motion the franchise ownership be transferred. Bill Darby seconded the
motion. Doyle Graves represented Jones Intercable. Robert*Broz represented Cable
Holdings, Inc. Mr. Broz presented a financial statement foi. Council review. He
stated Cable Holdings, Inc. operates five other cable systems at this time. They
have, through the use of satellite receiving stations, added,programming at some
of their other stations. Their plans are.to add these in Smyrna in order to bring
in a better pay TV package. The basic fee would remain Oie"same, although the pay
TV package might go up. Mr. Broz said it might be nece5sa•ry to add new amplifiers
in order to provide service to some areas, but that he w6u,]d see what could be
done. The certificate of insurance will be transferred from.Jones. Intercable, Inc.
to Cable Holdings, Inc. Vote on the motion to approve the transfer of franchise
ownership from Jones Intercable, Inc. to Cable Holdings, Inc. carried by a 6-0 vote.
No action was taken on the request by Barry Williams for a business license, per
his request to the business office.
0. A. Kimball requested a business license to operate "The Study Hall of Smyrna",
1022-19 Cherokee Road. Mr. Kimball explained he wanted to open a recreation hall
for children 12 through 18 years of age. He stated there would be a disco dance