Would Cooks Keep in Order Housing?

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - UPDATE 7/21/2015: Hawthorne Welcher, Jr, was selected as Director of the Augusta Richmond County Housing and Community Development with a salary of $100.000. 

Among the four finalists to lead Housing and Community Development, Robert Cooks, perhaps is the most controversial one. The former/still President & CEO of Augusta Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (ANIC), Cooks, has being for decades with ANIC a not very successful enterprise for Richmond County taxpayers. He also was chair at the Planning Commission and apparently very close to former director Chester Wheeler. The Commission could finalize the hiring of his replacement this month. 

Commission Meeting Agenda - Commission Chamber - 7/7/2015 - 2:00 PM
                                                       (WATCH THE SESSION)

INVOCATION:

Rev. Dr. Charles E. Goodman, Jr., Pastor, Tabernacle Baptist Church

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Five (5) minute time limit per delegation 

DELEGATIONS

A.

Dr. Clark

RE:  Abandoned property at 1409 Steiner Avenue.

(Requested by Commissioner Fennoy)

B.

Mr. Moses Todd

RE:  Environmental audits and liabilities

C.

Ms. Debby Kalliokoski

RE:  Communities in Schools Augusta

D.

Mr. Jimmy Smith

RE:  Upcoming SPLOST

(Requested by Commissioner Guilfoyle)

CONSENT AGENDA

(Items 1-5)

PLANNING

1.

ZA-R-239 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance by amending Section 28-B-8 (Signs – Freestanding Signs) by amending the permitted sign surface area, height and illumination provisions in P-1 (Professional) Zones. (Approved by Commission June 16, 2015 - second reading)

2.

ZA-R-240 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance by amending Section 4-2 (Off-Street Parking Requirements) by amending the Section to include an allowance for providing compact parking spaces. (Approved by Commission June 16, 2015 - second reading) 

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

3.

Motion to approve the minutes of the regular commission meeting held on June 16, 2015.

APPOINTMENT(S)

4.

Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Roy Simkins to the Tree Commission representing District 4.  (Requested by Commissioner Sias)

5.

Motion to approve the reappointment of Ms. JoAnn Cook to a new term on the Department of Family and Children Services Board. (Requested by the Dept. of Family and Children Services)

****END CONSENT AGENDA****

(Items 6-14)

PUBLIC SERVICES

6.

Approve Change Order #16 on the new IT Building in the amount of $36,462.34 for removal and replacement of unsuitable soils discovered during construction of the new drive between the IT building and the Law/Engineering Building.

7.

Approve Change Order #33 for the Municipal Building Renovations project in the amount of $89,947.27 with Turner Construction Company for modifications to the space behind the Commission Chambers for use as a courtroom when needed.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

8.

Update on the disparity study.  (Requested by Commissioner M. Williams)

9.

Update on the hiring of the Housing and Community Development Director.  (Requested by Commissioner M. Williams)  

The list of finalists to replace Chester Wheeler includes: Interim Director Hawthorne Welcher Jr.; Akron, Ohio, Housing and Community Services Administrator Thomas Tatum; former Boulder, Colo., Homeownership Program Manager Bonita Scarlett-Logan; and former Augusta Neigh­bor­hood Improvement Corp. (ANIC) Executive Director Robert Cooks.

Story run in 2010: Charities may lose $300.000

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Augusta Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (ANIC) was established in 1999 with a mission to revitalize the inner city neighborhoods of Augusta by creating affordable housing for low to moderate-income families while engaging the private and public sectors. 

The 1982 Master Plan recommended the development of a non-profit neighborhood corporation, and ANIC became that corporation. ANIC was started with public (city and state) and private support. ANIC was created by then Mayor Bob Young, Augusta Tomorrow Executive Director and former Mayor DeVaney and then Senator Charles Walker. The initial board included many members of Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. Bank of America provided the initial seed money for ANIC until city and state monies became available.
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PUBLIC SAFETY

10.

Motion to approve acceptance of the 2015 Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) Juvenile Justice Grant Award in the amount of $295,000.00. 

11.

Approve a request to release the following items to all retiring firefighters with at least 25 years of continuous service with the City of Augusta Fire Department and/or they are medically retiring due to an on the job injury acquired while working for the City of Augusta Fire Department:  Service Helmet (for sentimental reasons) and Badges and Class A Dress Uniform (for burial purposes).  (Requested by Commissioner Guilfoyle)

FINANCE

12.

Receive as information the results of the 2014 financial audit.

ENGINEERING SERVICES 

13.

Approve proposed Amendment to Stormwater Ordinance.  (Tabled by the Commission in meeting June 2, 2015)
(It was approved as part of the FY 2015 budget last year by the Commission that on July 7, 2015, didn't have the necessary 6 votes to pass. It failed to be approved by 5-3 votes)

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LEGAL MEETING

A. Pending and Potential Litigation.

B. Real Estate.

C. Personnel.

14.

Motion to approve execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia's Open Meeting Act.