CITY OF MORROW, GEORGIA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
March 923,
2004
PRESENT AT MEETING: ALSO PRESENT:
Jim Millirons, Mayor John J. Lampl, II, City Manager
Thomas
J. LaPorte, Mayor pPro tTem
C. R. Huie, Councilman
Virlyn Slaton, Councilman
Charles O. Sorrow, Councilman
Mayor Jim Millirons called the regular meeting of the Morrow City Council to order at 7:30 p.m. The meeting took place in the Council Chambers of the Morrow Municipal Complex, 1500 Morrow Road, Morrow, GA 30260.
Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Councilman Sorrow gave the invocation.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES: Work
Session - February 24March 09, 2004
Regular Meeting - February 24March 09, 2004
Councilman Slatonorrow
made the motion to approve the minutes as written, seconded by Councilman SlatonHuie.
The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Mayor Millirons convened the public hearing at 7:32 p.m. City Manager John Lampl explained the purpose of a proposed application submission to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for a Community Development Block Grant. The grant targets activities in
the areas of housing, public facilities, and economic development, primarily benefiting low and moderate income residents.
City of Morrow, Georgia
Minutes of Regular Council Meeting
March 23, 2004
Page 2 of 4
For the Atlanta region, low and moderate income are defined as $45,200 for a two person home and $56,500 for a four person home. The grant application involves personal interviews, home inspections, cost estimates, case histories, and consideration of benefits for both the home occupants as well as the neighborhood. Senior citizens owning four homes in Morrow have been identified as meeting these criteria.
The grant which is to be submitted to the Department of Community Affairs does not require matching funds from the City. However, DCA does require a public hearing.
Mayor Millirons asked for any discussion or comments. There being none, he concluded the hearing at 7:37 p.m., and the meeting proceeded.
OLD BUSINESS:
None.
NEW BUSINESS:
Item 1:
Recognition of Dr.
Carlo: Recognition of Firefighter/Paramedic Patrick
Kelly who has returned to the Morrow Fire Department after serving one year
active duty in the National Guard as a flight medic on medical helicopters in
Texas[RA1] Musso for his 12 years as Medical
Director for the City of Morrow
Fire Chief David Wall praised Dr. Musso’s 12 influential years as Medical Director and expressed regrets that he will no longer hold that position.
He helped build the Morrow Fire Department to a point that they are able to continue as one of the best fire based EMS departments in the state. Dr. Musso achieved his goal of improving medical care for patients by
City of Morrow, Georgia
Minutes of Regular Council Meeting
March 23, 2004
Page 3 of 4
donating hundreds of hours of direct contact with the Paramedics which also resulted in better working relationships with the physicians in the emergency rooms. Among his may contributions were introducing new emergency drugs and treatments, revising and modernizing patient care protocols, and helping instruct emergency dispatchers. Through Dr. Musso’s challenge to raise the bar, the Fire Department kept its standards high which benefited all the patients assisted by our Paramedics and EMT’s.
Captain Jon Williams wished Dr. Musso the best with his new endeavors and presented him a bronze bust of a firefighter as a token of appreciation.
Dr. Musso reflected back to his first years as EMS Director, not only for Morrow, but for several ambulance services. Funding and medical direction were lacking in the municipal EMS systems. The Mayor and Council of the City of Morrow were progressive by bringing in good leadership such as David Wall and supporting him with a budget that enhanced EMS which has resulted in a state-of-the-art fire service.
Dr. Christopher Edens will now fill his position.
Mayor Millirons
introduced Mr. Kelly and told him how proud
everyone is of his dedication to the country,
and that we are glad to have him home.
Item 2: Parking
deck RFQ candidates presented by Sylvia Redic
Ms. Redic explained
the acronym RFQ means Request for Qualifications. The
process for the design phase of the parking deck located on
the Living Center Initiative property on Jonesboro Road was
initiated in early February. Five proposals were
submitted. The major concerns were
the firm’s experience, the design
time-line, the cost of the design, and meeting
the qualifications from
the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Ms. Redic gave a powerpoint
presentation detailing the five firms who
submitted RFQs with
Pond & Company being the one
chosen.
Councilman Huie
made a motion to approve the contract with Pond & Company, seconded by
Councilman Sorrow. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 3: Sylvia
Redic update on the Comprehensive Plan’s progress
Ms. Redic defined the Comprehensive Plan as a
document providing
a concise statement of objectives, policies, and guidelines for implementing
the city’s goals. It is
the foundation for the city’s
planning and will serve as a general guide for the Mayor and Council, Planning
and Zoning Board, City staff, and the citizens of Morrow. It is comprised of
eight general elements: population,
economic development,
natural and cultural
resources, community
facilities and services,
housing, land
use, intergovernmental
coordination, and transportation.
Four of the eight sections are complete, two are near completion, and two are in
the developmental stages. Ms. Redic is confident the June deadline of
submission to the Atlanta Regional Commission will
be met. One arm of the Plan is the Short Term Work Program which discusses the
City’s goals for the
next five years. Major
actions, their time frames, estimated costs and responsible party. Each
department has completed their portion and 90 %
of it has been entered into Plan Builder which is DCA’s tool for the comp
plan. By
end of March 100%.
Item 4: Update on
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety grant
presented by Sylvia Redic
In dec 2003
Morrow received award
from Governor’s office in the amount of
$16,000 targeted for the purchase of
a radar trailer. The trailer has
been received. Showed a picture. It
speaks to a growing and continuous concern for the public speeding through
residential areas. We intend to place it throughout the neighborhoods
periodically. Data
can be collected through
sophisticated instrumentation to show if it has
effect on speeding.
Mayor
- Sylvia great addition to
the staff of the City of Morrow. Relentless
worker, very capable and glad to have her.
Item 5: Approval
of Memorandum of Understand between Clayton College and State University Board
of Regents and the City of Morrow Pursuant to the Georgia Mutual Aid Act
Councilman Huie
made a motion to accept the memorandum and was
seconded by Councilman Slaton. The
vote to approve was unanimous.
Item 6: Resolution
2004-01 to enter into and
Intergovernmental Contract with Clayton County and the Clayton County
Development Authority for the construction of the hotel conference center
Councilman Sorrow
made a motion to accept the resolution, seconded by Councilman Slaton. The
vote was unanimous for approval.
Item COMMENTS:
Citizens - City resident Danny Rudd reported that Jim Morris, who
usually accompanies him to council meetings, had open heart surgery
City of Morrow, Georgia
Minutes of Regular Council Meeting
March 23, 2004
Page 4 of 4
with three bypasses. He is doing well. Mayor Millirons wished him well and looks forward to seeing him back at council meetings soon.
7: Resolution 2004-02 pledging the City of Morrow
to participate in the cost of operating and maintaining the rail line scheduled
to operate between Macon and Atlanta, starting in 2009 on an incremental basis
and beginning in full in 2011
Mayor
stated that
this pledge
says we
will help if needed. A
short fall is expected but he predicts the City
will not have to contribute funds after
state legislation is completed.
The
motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilman Sorrow and seconded by
Councilman Huie. The vote to approve was
unanimous.
The
governor has asked for an
audience with the Mayor’s
of the cities involved on Thursday of this week.
Morrow has been designated as the coordinator of booklet and
letter with each Mayor’s
signature pledging their support for their share for
the operation and maintenance of the future
commuter rail. He gave his appreciation to the City Hall staff
for putting together the presentation.
Item
8: Resolution 2004-03 imposing a Moratorium on the issuance of sign permits
for freestanding signs and billboards within the incorporated city limits of
Morrow, Georgia, for four (4) months; to provide for exceptions; to establish
and effective date;
and for other purposes
The
motion to adopt the resolution was
made by Council Huie and seconded by Councilman Sorrow. The vote
to approve was unanimous.
Item
9: Announcement: Due to no agenda items, the Planning and Zoning meeting of March
16, has been cancelled
City Manager – No comments
COMMENTS:
Citizens - None
City Manager – John Lampl
expressed his appreciation to Sylvia Redic, Joyce Bean, and Renee Abernathy for
their long hours of work over the past few weeks
Mayor and Council – No
commentsNo comments.
There was no further business; Mayor Jim Millirons adjourned the
meeting at 7:56 47 p.m.
_______________________________________________
JIM MILLIRONS, MAYOR
_______________________________________________
THOMAS J. LaPORTE, MAYOR PRO TEM
_______________________________________________
C. R. HUIE, COUNCILMAN
_______________________________________________
VIRLYN SLATON, COUNCILMAN
________________________________________________
CHARLES O. SORROW, COUNCILMAN
ATTEST:
________________________________
Renee
Abernathy, City ClerkILMAN
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Renee
Abernathy, City Clerk