The Hampton City Council voted unanimously at its May 12 regular meeting to approve a resolution creating a new policy for city employees regarding pandemic or similar illnesses. Titled the “policy on contagious symptoms and contagious conditions,” it was added to the city’s personnel policy effective immediately.

  “The city needs a policy regarding the staff’s response to pandemic or of flu-like illnesses like the one experienced during COVID-19,” according to a staff report. “The policy outlines specific steps the city takes to safeguard employees’ health and well-being during a flu pandemic, or similar illness, while ensuring the city’s ability to maintain essential operations and continue providing essential services to our citizens.”

  In other business, the council approved expanding the city’s ethics committee from five members to seven. The vote was 4-1 with Errol Mitchell voting against. The move was initiated because the committee members serving three-year terms was not commensurate with the number of elected officials serving four-year terms, according to a city staff report.

  Also approved by the council was a resolution establishing a night shift pay differential policy for the police department. Officers working between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. will receive an additional $1 per hour. It was approved unanimously.

  First readings were approved for two ordinances regarding utility services. Second readings and final approval of both measures will likely take place at the next council meeting.

  The first is an amendment to the city code to include electrical service and rates, as the code previously only mentioned water and sewer as city utilities for which the council sets rates. The second changes the city’s policy for nonpayment of utility services. The code previously gave the mayor sole discretion to determine the city’s response to nonpayment, but it was determined that the city manager and finance department staff should be involved in the administrative process for collection and the council should be involved in decisions on legal remedies for nonpayment.

  The council approved a resolution regarding a lease agreement with Henry County for use of city-owned property for an emergency communications tower. The county approved a measure earlier this year setting the stage for the construction of a cell tower at 233 Richard Petty Boulevard, and the Board of Commissioners approved the lease agreement at its May 5 regular meeting.

  The purpose of the move is to build a tower at a higher elevation to improve and expand coverage of the county’s public safety communications system, according to city and county documents. In lieu of a lease payment to the city, the county will assume all maintenance and operations costs for the facility.

  The council approved a resolution revising the Youth Council Committee’s meeting schedule for the 2019-2020 school year, adding the following dates: May 27, June 3, and June 19.

  Mayor Steve Hutchison was designated as Hampton’s voting delegate to represent the city at the Georgia Municipal Association’s 2020 Virtual Annual Convention Membership Business Meeting. The meeting will be held on Monday, June 29, at 8 a.m. via Zoom video conference.

  In response to a request for proposals (RFP) regarding banking services, the council confirmed the selection of Ameris Bank as the city’s official depository.