The Stockbridge City Council addressed two major financial matters at its November 24 workshop meeting.
A second reading of the proposed 2021 budget was held, with adoption of the budget expected next week. It was noted at the workshop that the budget has been reduced from the $15 million presented at the council retreat to $12.8 million. After an overview and extended discussion among council members, a public hearing was opened during which no one spoke. The final reading o the budget is scheduled for the council’s December 14 regular meeting.
Also at the workshop meeting, the council approved a $22 million bond measure for several capital projects now underway or in the planning stages. The motion specified that $14 million be allocated for the cultural arts center, $7 million for the completion of the amphitheater which has been under construction for several months, and $1 million for the master trail plan. It passed 3-1 with John Blount voting in opposition and LaKeisha Gantt absent from the meeting. The total cost of the amphitheater is reported to be around $20 million, and the money for the trail plan would supplement $3 million in grant funds being sought by the city.
In other business, a resolution regarding censure was passed. Elton Alexander, who has been censured by the council in the past, moved to proceed with establishing a policy in which the ethics board could only issue a censure after an official has due process, a fact-finding investigation, and a hearing that finds the official has violated the charter and/or committed a crime of moral turpitude. The motion passed 3-1 with Blount opposed. Alexander also motioned to amend the meeting agenda to have the censures issued against him be read by the city attorney, but that was later withdrawn.
The council voted to extend the contract with Charles Abbott & Associates for building permitting and inspection services through March 31, 2021. The cost is not to exceed a total of $100,000. The city will at the same time proceed with issuing a request for proposals regarding the same services going forward with plans to announce a bid award at the council’s March 8 regular meeting. Also at the November 24 meeting, the council voted to approve an RFP by Falcon Design for engineering consultant services as well as a separate measure to amend the city’s code of ordinances to add the economic development department.
