CITY OF BERKELEY LAKE
4040 BERKELEY LAKE ROAD
BERKELEY LAKE, GEORGIA 30096
PUBLIC HEARING/COUNCIL MEETING
Full Minutes
October 17th, 2002
Those in attendance for the Public Hearing and Council Meeting were as follows:
Mayor – Lois Salter
Council Members: Frank Lombardi, Ken Massaroni, Delicia Reynolds, and David Steventon
Dick Carothers – City Attorney
Claire Grimes – City Clerk
Citizens Present - 3
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Salter called the meeting to order at 4043 Berkeley Lake Road.
PUBLIC HEARING
A Public Hearing was held in order for citizens to comment on the following: Ordinance Chapter 17 and the Insurance License Fee Ordinance. There were no citizens’ comments.
MAYORS BUDGET MESSAGE
The Mayor stated that for the first time in quite a while the City expects to spend more than it receives. “That is an intentional choice that we have made because we chose to lower taxes and maintain the same level of services by pulling money from our surplus.” The Mayor cautioned Council that she believes the City will be spending a good bit of money for Public Works in the next year. There are quite a few things that have been building up that need to be fixed in the next year. She stated that she and Marcie Zielazienski have been working on bids for some of the Public Works projects that Council will be hearing about at this meeting. The Mayor also stated that there was no money in the budget for the new City building because we are not far enough along to have a projected cost. The other issue of concern is the Kudzu problem in the City greenspace. There is really no way of knowing what it will cost at this time, but the Mayor feels strongly that this problem must be tackled.
CITIZENS’ COMMENTS
The following citizens made Comments:
Pam Williamson 3996 North Berkeley Lake Rd. – Pam stated that she has been hearing the discussions about a full time City Manager and she wanted to let Council know that she believes their time is better spent on the higher level decision making. Someone needs to be available to follow up on Council’s decisions. She stated that she fully supports the idea of a City Manager.
WORKING SESSION
Council had many questions to ask Marcie Zielazienski about her submittal on the various Public Works projects under consideration. Further information on these projects will be appearing on the City website and can be obtained in City Hall. Other issues discussed were the consideration of candidates for the Arbitration Board and to fill the vacancy for City Council.
MINUTES
The following corrections were suggested:
On the first page, Recognition is misspelled. Third page a period after the word unanimous. Fourth page a fourth of the way down the page, change “and” to “an”. On page five under Kudzu Issues change to the word first. On the last page under Citizens’ Comments, the word convenient is misspelled.
Council Member Lombardi motioned to approve the September Minutes as amended. Council Member Reynolds seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Council Member Reynolds moved to accept the Financial Report as filed. Council Member Massaroni seconded the motion and approval was unanimous.
Council Member Reynolds motioned to put $200,000 dollars into a CD at Peachtree Bank. Council Member Massaroni seconded the motion and approval was unanimous.
STAFF AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mayor Salter announced that she has received the following reports: BLEMA, Arbitration Board, Finance Affairs, Stormwater Management, Communications, OEO and Police Report. Council Member Steventon asked about the report from the OEO regarding the boat docks on the lake.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor announced that there is a young man in our City who is trying to become the first deaf Eagle Scout in our State. She asked the Council and citizens present for any ideas of City projects he could use as his Eagle project. There was much discussion, which included the City Park and planting trees in the greenspace. Council Member Steventon suggested that the Berkeley Lake Homeowners’ Association be contacted for help with replacing the picnic tables in the picnic area. The Scout could develop a template to be followed and produce replacements for many of the tables.
The Mayor also announced that Fall Earth Day is Saturday November 16th. Mr. Steventon has been able to locate a place to dispose of batteries. There will be a need for citizens to prove that they live in the City in order to use this service. There has been abuse by people living in some of the surrounding areas in the past. Council Member Steventon stated that he would be placing signs about Earth Day in various locations throughout the City and during various activities in the near future.
OLD BUSINESS
Ridge Road Drainage Issue
The Mayor stated that we are expecting bids back on this project and we are moving along on this project as fast as we can.
Berkeley Lake Conservancy
The Mayor stated that she has officially contacted Carol Hassell, who is the contact person for the Gwinnett County Open Land Trust, at Council’s request. Council suggested that the Conservancy committee should make the suggestion as to when there should be a Town Meeting in regards to the Gwinnett Open Land Trust. Council further suggested that the Conservancy committee report the status at the next Council meeting.
Policy on use of City Logo - Reynolds
Council Member Reynolds stated that she has prepared the policy and is open for Council suggestions. The Logo Policy is attached to these Minutes. Ken Massaroni expressed that he had reservations about some areas and will comment at the next meeting.
City Manager – Steventon
Council Member Steventon stated that his committee is still in the process of fine-tuning what the City needs before we begin to advertise.
Revision of Insurance License Fee Ordinance
Council Member Reynolds motioned to adopt the Revised Insurance License Fee Ordinance. Council Member Lombardi seconded the motion and approval was unanimous.
Expense Reimbursement Policy
Council Member Lombardi presented his final draft of the proposed Reimbursement Policy. Council commended Mr. Lombardi on a job well done. There was much discussion followed by final changes.
Council Member Lombardi motioned to accept the Expense Reimbursement Policy with corrections noted. Council Member Massaroni seconded the motion and approval was unanimous.
Ordinance Chapter 17, Septic Systems
Council Member Steventon presented the changes to the Ordinance, which was suggested by Council at the last Council meeting and at the Council Retreat. There was much discussion. Council Member Reynolds suggested that Council adopt a policy that states what is required for someone to become a registered contractor for septic system service in the City before we adopt the Ordinance that requires the citizens to use a registered person. Council Member Steventon will upload the proposed changes to the website.
Arakawa Transition
Council Member Massaroni stated that he would be meeting with Mr. Arakawa very soon and will be reporting to Council his findings.
Other
Council Member Reynolds asked Council Member Lombardi about the status of the computers in City Hall. Mr. Lombardi stated that he would continue to research the project and report his findings next month.
NEW BUSINESS
Staggered Terms for P&Z Members
There was much discussion about the findings from the researched Minutes, which revealed that the last adoption for P&Z terms was for three-year terms. Council Member Massaroni stated that he would research the schedule of appointees to the Commission and decide who should be coming off next. Then the City could get on a regular program of appointing new Commissioners according to the three-year schedule. Council Member Steventon suggested that research be done as to the criteria by which a Commissioner is nominated; specifically, should a commissioner reside in the City?
Annexation of the Ferrier Property
City Attorney Carothers explained the procedure necessary to annex the Ferrier property into the City.
Council Member Massaroni motioned to place the Annexation Ordinance on First Read. Council Member Reynolds seconded the motion and approval was unanimous.
Council Member Massaroni motioned to place on First Read the amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map to rezone this property from Gwinnett County’s classification M-1 to the City of Berkeley Lake’s R-100. Council Member Reynolds seconded the motion and approval was unanimous
Council Member Massaroni motioned to approve the Resolution to authorize the City Attorney to transmit to the County these zoning changes. Council Member Reynolds seconded the motion and approval was unanimous.
Website Usage
Council Member Reynolds announced that she has posted a message on the website that listed the number of visitors the website has had for the past year. There is a link to it on the Community page. There will also be a link to the most recently updated pages.
Miramont Backup Generator and Fencing
Council Member Massaroni stated that he has spoken to the County and asked what would happen if the Miramont backup generator went down. They are supposed to be looking into the issue and have not gotten back as yet. Mr. Massaroni further stated that in regards to the fencing problem along Ridge Rd. that he has spoken to the Homeowners’ Association in Miramont and they agree that there is a problem. Mr. Massaroni stated that he will be meeting with the President of the Association soon and will take to them the message that the fence should not come down unless it needs repair. There was much discussion. Mr. Massaroni stated that he does not believe that it would be the responsibility of the Homeowners’ Association to monitor the situation; monitoring the fence would be a City responsibility. He stated that he believes the Association will put a warning in their next newsletter.
City Hall Hours Change
The Mayor announced the proposed new City Hall hours which are as follows: Monday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Wednesday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Friday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. After discussion, Council agreed to the change.
Public Works Projects
Council Member Massaroni motioned to approve expenditure of up to $8,500 dollars for certain repairs to be made to the roads and sink holes in Miramont and the River Mansions catch basin cover as specified in the submission made by Ms. Zielazienski entitled Public Works projects for Council Consideration. Council Member Steventon seconded the motion and approval was unanimous.
Council Member Lombardi motioned to go ahead with the work on the walkway between 73 and 75 Lakeshore Drive at the cost of $2,363 dollars. Council Member Massaroni seconded the motion and approval was unanimous.
Budget 1st Read
Council Member Massaroni motioned to place the Mayor’s proposed budget on First Read. Council Member Reynolds seconded the motion and approval was unanimous.
Other
Council member Massaroni stated that he had received compliments on the new City Government page in the Reflections newsletter.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
The following citizens made comments:
Pam Williamson asked Attorney Carothers for an update of the action on 4016 N Berkeley Lake Road. Attorney Carothers stated that a hearing is pending in Municipal Court for next week.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER NEW BUSINESS, COUNCIL MEMBER STEVENTON MOTIONED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. COUNCIL MEMBER MASSARONI SECONDED THE MOTION AND APPROVAL WAS UNANIMOUS. THE COUNCIL MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:20 PM.
