CITY OF BERKELEY LAKE, GA

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
August 26, 1999

Present: Mayor Cooke, Council Members Arakawa, Goff, Kitchens, Levinson and Ruys
              City Attorney Carothers, and Mr. Claude Mason, Esq.
              1 Citizen

The Mayor called the meeting to order at approx. 8:50 a.m., in the City Hall.

She introduced Mr. Mason to those on the Council who had not yet met him, and stated that he has been brought in to check into the availability and price of land adjacent to the City's Greenspace on PIB, and land on PIB adjacent to Berkeley Commons and Berkeley Walk, and any land on our side of PIB that Tull Metals might want to donate to the City.

Mr. Levinson moved, seconded by Mr. Kitchens, to pass a resolution of the Mayor and Council to authorize the Mayor to retain the services of Claude Mason, attorney at law, for the purpose of performing services related to the possible acquisition of real estate. Vote in favor was unanimous.

Mr. Levinson moved and Mr. Kitchens seconded to enter into executive session to discuss real estate acquisition and personnel issues. Vote in favor was unanimous.

After Council came out of executive session Mr. Levinson moved and Mr. Kitchens seconded that the City resolve to become a Tree City U.S.A. Vote in favor passed unanimously.

Mayor Cooke reviewed the coverage the City would have for forthcoming significant events:
          Registration of Candidates for City Office - Heather Ware
          Elections - Marcie Zielazienski, Superintendent
                           Anne Mayton, Poll Manager
          Next Council Meeting and Minutes - Cynthia Colgan

Discussion ensued regarding the August Council Meeting Minutes and the official summary of actions taken, and how much should be included on the minutes, etc. Mr Goff stated that he thought the minutes should include what individuals said at the meeting and that tapes of the meetings should be kept indefinitely. Mr. Levinson said that he'd like to see the City get recording equipment with at least three microphones, so that we can get better recording quality.

Regarding advertising for a new City Clerk, the Council agreed that any final choice should wait until after the elections and that the new council and mayor participate in the decision, or they could make the official determination in January, after they take office.

Mrs. Ruys asked if the City could run that long without a City Clerk and Mr. Carothers advised that he thought it could. There are certain things that the City Clerk attests to that can be attested to later, and he can attest to the Mayor's signature on resolutions. He further stated that if something comes up that has to have a City Clerk attestation, the Council can appoint someone to do it. He thinks a new Clerk should be appointed as soon as practicable, but understands that, with the elections coming up, the City can get by for a few months.

Discussion ensued regarding who can help and what to include in the minutes regarding specific motions. Mr. Carothers said that he thought a reference to what the motion is about should be in the minutes, as well as who moved and seconded it.

Mr. Levinson suggested that each Council Member put into writing any motion they want to make and hand it to the person taking the minutes. Also, that we hire a temp for the Council Meetings and to do the minutes. Council Members voiced general agreement with these suggestions.

Mayor Cooke clarified that all were in agreement that we will wait to let the new council and mayor hire the new City Clerk, and well get by as best we can, hiring a temporary as need be, in the meantime. Along with this, the Council requested that the Mayor ask Marcie Zielazienski if she would take the minutes for the next few Council Meetings. Further, it appeared to be the consensus of Council that the City advertise for a new City Clerk later in the fall, perhaps the end of October or in November, so that the City Clerk can be "ready to go" and sworn in in January.

Finally, the Mayor made a statement clarifying a particular misunderstanding between her and the former City Clerk.

Mr. Levinson moved and Mr. Kitchens seconded to adjourn.

Mr. Arakawa added that he and Bob Flaherty are reviewing putting in speed humps and other alternative options for increasing safety on the City's streets, particularly along Lakeshore.

The Council spontaneously agreed to adjourn at 10:25 a.m.