BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
OPEN TO PUBLIC –
January 9th, 2024 6PM
Upstairs Training Room
Public Hearing to review Home Rule Ordinance Change for removal of officer.
HIAWASSEE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
1. Call to order
1.1 Invocation – Nancy Noblet
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance
1.3 Mayor’s Introductions of Guests and Announcements
1.4 Approve the Agenda as distributed
2. Swear in Jonathan Wilson
3. Approval of Consent Agenda:
3.1 Minutes from December 5th, 2023 City Council Meeting
3.2 Minutes from Work Session November 27th, 2023
3.3 December 15th Special Called Minutes – Mediation
3.4 December 21st Special Called Minutes – Budget Amendments
3.5 June, July, August, September Financials
4. Terms of agreement from Mediation 12-15-23
5. 2nd Reading of Home Rule Ordinance hearing procedures for removal of officers
6. Approval of corrected DDA/City Council minutes of October 5th, 2023
7. Approval of Berrong-Oakley House Roofing job to Park Atlanta Homes
8. Approval of Watershed Monitoring agreement with EMI for 2024
9. Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement for Economic Development
10. Approval of Workers Comp insurance renewal for 2024
11. Executive Session
12. Adjournment
HIAWASSEE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Mayor Liz Ordiales called to order the meeting of the Hiawassee City Council on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 6pm in the Upstairs Training Room at City Hall. She displayed a picture of Jerry Taylor behind bars, in the latest publication of the Lake Chatuge Chamber of Commerce.
Present in addition to the Mayor, were Council members Amy Barrett, Jay Chastain, Nancy Noblet and Patsy Owens as well as incoming Council member Jonathan Wilson. Also present were Economic Development Director Denise McKay, City Attorney Thomas Mitchell and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick.
Mayor Ordiales stated that the agenda would need to be amended to include the vote for a Mayor Pro Tem as Council member Amy Barrett’s term has ended and to include the second reading of the ordinance to provide procedures for removal of an officer. The invocation was given by Council member Nancy Noblet and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Motion to approve the agenda as amended was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Patsy Owens with all in favor.
The City of Hiawassee held a Public Hearing to review the Home Rule Ordinance Change for Removal of an Officer. Attorney Mitchell read the Home Rule Ordinance 2023-12-01 in its entirety. Mr. Jeff Pierot asked how the procedures would work. Mr. Mitchell read the Hiawassee City Charter section 5.15 and stated that the Home Rule will amend Section A to provide that the Council can adopt procedures for removal of an officer.
Mayor Ordiales read the Official Code of Georgia section 36.35.6 and expressed her belief that the Home Rule change violated that section of the code and that there were 3 other attorneys who agreed that the change was not appropriate for a Home Rule Amendment. While she agreed that the procedures should be there and spelled out, she wanted it to be done correctly so that there would be no issues of legality in the future. She specifically highlighted the section of OCGA section 36.35.6 “Continuation in office and limitations thereon”. She also pointed out that Attorney Mitchell’s email to the Council and Mayor stated, “If the proposed amendment purported to adopt the process already stated in the charter, that MIGHT be a problem.” She said she is trying to avoid problems and believes legislative action is necessary.
Council member Barrett asked Mr. Mitchell for his opinion, and he stated he believed this to be the right course of action.
There was no further discussion and the meeting moved onto the January Council Meeting.
City Attorney Thomas Mitchell swore in Jonathan Wilson as Council member Post 4.
Motion to approve the Consent Agenda which includes the minutes from December 5th, 2023 City Council Meeting, the minutes from Work Session November 27th, 2023, the December 15th Special Called Minutes – Mediation, the December 21st Special Called Minutes – Budget Amendments, and the June, July, August, and September Financials, was made by Council member Amy Barrett and seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet. In discussion, Council member Barrett requested that the financials be tabled again until February as Council member Wilson was just coming on and may not be comfortable voting on the financials. Council member Wilson stated he had reviewed the financials. Council member Barrett also stated that because there were expenditures that had not been approved, she wanted to know if approving the minutes would signify approval of those expenses. Attorney Mitchell stated that since all the contracts in question had already been ratified it was appropriate to approve the financials. Council member Barrett asked about the Root Design expenditure for the Boardwalk being applied to Economic Development and thought they would be better suited to Parks and Recreation. Mayor Ordiales stated that the grant was for Economic Development and that was why the expenses were applied there and that the Parks and Rec budget was much smaller. The full council voted to approve all the minutes and financials.
Council member Nancy Noblet made the motion to appoint Council member Jay Chastain as Mayor Pro Tem. The motion was seconded by Amy with all Council members in favor.
Attorney Mitchell read the mediation agreement (attached Exhibit B) and stated that it had been approved by Mayor Ordiales’ attorney (Attorney Chris Balch) and the mediator (Attorney Dana Miles). Motion to authorize the execution of the mediation agreement was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Jay Chastain will all in favor.
Motion to approve the 2nd Reading of Home Rule Ordinance hearing procedures for removal of officers was made by Council member Jay Chastain, seconded by Council member Amy Barrett. Council member Nancy Noblet also approved. Council member Patsy Owens was opposed, and Council member Jonathan Wilson abstained from voting.
Motion to approve the 2nd Reading of the ordinance for procedures for removal of an officer was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Jay Chastain. Council member Nancy Noblet also approved. Council member Patsy Owens was opposed, and Council member Jonathan Wilson abstained from voting.
Motion to approve the corrected DDA/City Council minutes of October 5th, 2023 was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet will all in favor.
Motion to approve the Berrong-Oakley House Roofing job to Park Atlanta Homes was made by Council member Patsy Owens, seconded by Council member Amy Barrett will all in favor.
Motion to approve the Watershed Monitoring agreement with EMI for 2024 was made by Council member Jay Chastain, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet will all in favor.
Motion to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement for Economic Development was made by Council member Jay Chastain seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet will all in favor.
Motion to approve the Workers Comp insurance renewal for 2024 was made by Council member Nancy Noblet seconded by Council member Jay Chastain will all in favor.
There being no need for executive session, motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Council member Nancy Noblet seconded by Council member Amy Barrett will all in favor. Meeting was adjourned at 6:33pm