Monticello Council Approves Employee Raises

The Monticello City Council voted unanimously at their regular meeting Tuesday night to give all full-time city of Monticello employees a three percent pay raise. Councilpersons Katherine Alexander, Larry Thurman and Cornell Williams were those in attendance for the decision.

All employees will receive a raise except those who have a probationary status or who are part-time. Four employees including the city manager, city clerk, and two police department employees will receive a four percent raise because they are currently working below their pay grade.

The council discussed the proposed raises in a work session on October 10, and had to formally pass the intended raise during a regular meeting.

Councilwoman Alexander noted that she was unable to be at the work session on the 10th and voiced that while she was in favor of raises, she still “would like to see some kind of pay for performance integrated.

“I know it’s a big undertaking to restructure the entire raise-performance bit, but I still believe that is how it should be done.”

Mayor Bryan Standifer informed Mrs. Alexander on discussions during the work sessions saying, “I believe that’s what the council wants to be done in moving forward, but it’ll take six to 12 months, and a lot of commitment and work sessions in the coming months.”

The council also heard from Kenneth Kite, representing JAG Probation Services regarding being released from his contract during the October council meeting.

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Mr. Kite told the council that he and JAG had been working in and with the city since November 2006, and that there had always been a good working relationship. He said he had not received one complaint. He stated that JAG had brought in over $175,000 for the city. He said that he had closed 418 cases successfully and only 49 unsuccessfully.

He stated to the council that in May 2013 a probation officer filed a complaint about the A/C not working. He stated there were five formal complaints made to city officials and it was never fixed.

He also said that a light fixture had fallen below the office and there was wood falling from the ceiling. Mr. Kite said he had gone to the city manager, Tim Sweezey, and he also saw him in court.

During these encounters he was reassured that everything regarding his contract would be worked out. Mr. Kite said that he was before the council Tuesday because he had read in The Monticello News the JAG contract had been lost.

According to Mr. Kite he had 30 days to fix his violations, which included having a business at the registered address according to Peggy Billerman, city clerk.

According to members of the council, they heard the JAG services had been gone from their previous address in the city complex six months at the October meeting to which Mr. Kite said he had paid rent through September 1.

Mr. Kite also thought that to terminate a contract, it had to be done by the chief judge with the council’s approval.

“I want to keep a good working relationship with the city,” said Mr. Kite. “It’s been a good journey. I’d also like for my contract to be reinstated and done away with properly if that is what the council so chooses. But what I’d really like is to continue to serve the city.”

Mayor Standifer then thanked Mr. Kite for his service in the Marines and said “the council has the right to terminate your contract, and they did that at the last council meeting.

“The council voted to go with a new service which was introduced. The only way to reinstate your contract would be if the councilperson that made the motion, retracted that motion. As it stands now we have gone with a new service,” said the mayor.

The council then had questions for Mr. Kite and upon finding out some of the information above, and including the maintenance complaints were filed to Ms. Billerman (2), city maintenance dept. (2), and Bobby Norris, police chief.

Councilwoman Alexander then spoke and apologized to Mr. Kite saying that safety had been an issue, in addition to “this is not a way to do business.”

Councilman Thurman then asked that the decision about JAG be tabled for 30 days until more information could be sought, stating “this is a complete other scenario from what we were told in October. I’d like some time to look into this.”

Mr. Kite and JAG were originally to turn over all cases on November 30, and the mayor and council agreed to extend that date to December 31.

Mr. Sweezey informed the council that the entire decel land that will be added on Hwy. 212 West, in front of Piedmont Academy would be completely paid for by the Georgia Dept. of Transportation (GDOT). Russell Bennett with Bennett Contracting stated construction was slated to begin on the decel lane the week of Thanksgiving.

There was also some discussion during the police chief’s report on a community wide meeting for the residents in and around Mason Street. Chief Norris said the most widely communicated issues were overcrowding, and concerns with speeding automobiles, parking on both sides of the street and children playing in the road.

He presented remedies which included speed bumps, one way parking or making the road one way itself.

Mr. Sweezey told the chief he was opposed to the speed bumps, as once one city street has them “they’ll be up all over the city.” He was referring to other streets and citizens requesting speed bumps in other parts of the city.

Councilwoman Alexander asked the chief to look further into the speed bumps because she remembered wanting them once before and there was a problem with getting them on several streets.

Councilman Thurman asked the speed limit on the road and if there were any signs. Mr. Norris said 25 mph, but there was some debate between 25 and 15 mph according to Roberta Anderson. The chief said there were no speed limit signs.

“We need some signs and then you go and do what you’ve got to do as far as enforcement to start with,” said Mr. Thurman.

The chief then informed the council it was only him and one other officer during the day and “once the speeding call is received the person speeding is already gone by the time we get over there.”

The chief also told the council that the new car was ready. He also said he had hired Pat Kennedy as an administrative assistant, and commended her credentials and said she has been received well.

Also, leaving city hall is Crystal Griggs as she has been hired as county clerk and leisure services director in Butts County. Applications are being taken for her position.

Lathaydra Sands has been placed on a six month appointment in city hall. She was previously employed with the county public works department.

The council also approved an Ethics Board which has been in the works for months. They also learned of an emergency electrical issue at the water plant. The entire second level currently has no power. Yoder Electric has been chosen to repair the problems for approximately $7,200.