Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Business Meeting - June 3, 2025
Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Business Meeting - June 3, 2025
The Clayton County Board of Commissioners held its regular business meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 6:00 PM, chaired by Vice Chair Gail Hambert due to the Chairwoman's absence. The meeting included emergency additions, a SPLOST discussion, public comments criticizing financial management, approval of a consent agenda, several budget amendments, and executive session for litigation.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of May 20, 2025.
- Approved renewal of Inland Marine Insurance, Public Officials Liability, and Excess Workers' Compensation insurance for July 1, 2025 – July 1, 2026.
- Approved contract amendment for River's Edge Greenway Trail (PSA #22-92A).
- Approved termination of contract for Short Term and Vacation Compliance Software (GSA #24-80).
- Approved sale of surplus personal property (#25-13).
- Approved award of RFP #25-14 for Zoning Rewrite Services (Community Development) — after a failed motion to table and a failed motion to move to regular agenda, the item remained on consent and was approved.
- Approved sole source award for Digital Transformation SaaS Justice Solution Software (SS#25-18) — see Discussion Items.
- Approved budget amendment 2-40 for Magistrate Court.
- Approved two Orders for Remission.
- Approved Resolution 2025-105 (inmate care agreement with GA Dept. of Corrections).
- Approved Resolution 2025-106 (Georgia Golden Olympics MOU) — tabled to July 1 meeting.
- Approved Resolution 2025-107 (MS4 Annual Report).
- Approved Resolution 2025-110 (Fire Dept. Medicaid supplemental payment).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Orlando Gooden (District 3) criticized the board for accusing the sheriff of mismanagement while approving large budget amendments. He called for elimination of the Office of Economic Development, a deputy COO, and an audit of the finance department.
- Mickey Garber yielded the floor.
- Timothy Vondell Jefferson claimed economic development efforts were being hampered by incompetent interim leadership and stated the county is in competition with Duluth for a fine-dining restaurant. He urged hiring qualified staff.
- Pat Bryant (Riverdale) thanked the board for senior services and suggested affordable summer activities for children to curb crime.
- Carol Yancey alleged wasteful spending on police overtime for the Chairwoman's personal use, questioned underspending on the sheriff's office, and demanded an independent forensic audit of multiple departments.
- Jean-Pierre Bourget (District 4) reported insights from the Aerotropolis Development Tour, advocating for a single point of contact for developers, a cross-departmental economic development task force, a property inventory, and an incremental development strategy.
Discussion Items
SPLOST Discussion (Emergency Item)
Chief Operating Officer Merkerson presented on the upcoming 2026 SPLOST referendum, requesting board direction on whether to include a Level 1 project (countywide capital projects such as jail/courthouse). The board consensus was to include Level 1 projects for the jail and courthouse. The discussion also covered a potential Sector 4 police precinct (not a Level 1 but could be in SPLOST). The board agreed to continue SPLOST discussion at the June 10 work session.
Item 9: Purchase of Digital Transformation SaaS Solution (DA's Office)
The DA explained the need for a unified software system (NICE Systems) to manage discovery, evidence retention, and translation. The five-year contract not to exceed $634,462 was approved unanimously.
Budget Amendment 2-41 ($19,555,903) – Countywide Departments
Interim CFO detailed the amendment covering salaries, benefits, litigation settlements, and other expenses to close the fiscal year. Commissioners questioned the large amount and lack of foresight. A motion to approve contingent on an outside independent audit failed. A subsequent motion to approve failed. The item was then moved to the June 17 meeting, with an added discussion at the June 10 work session. The motion to move passed (majority vote).
Budget Amendments 2-42 ($300,000) and 2-43 (Medical Fund)
Both were moved to the June 10 work session for discussion.
Emergency Budget Amendment 2-44 ($8,402,575) – Sheriff's Office
Requested due to delinquent food and medical invoices. Commissioner Allan motioned to approve $1.7 million for food and dietary; no second. Commissioner Davis motioned to approve $4 million for food and dietary and medical service fees; seconded and approved (with one abstention). The full amendment was not passed; only partial funding was approved.
Interim CFO Appointment
Angela Jackson was approved as interim CFO with an adjusted salary of $203,000 (total compensation $270,973). The board directed HR to restart the CFO recruitment process.
Other Items
- Resolution 2025-104 (Intergovernmental Agreement with Jonesboro for Groove on the Green) was moved to June 17.
- Resolution 2025-108 (Sports and Entertainment Council) was moved to the June 10 work session.
- Proclamation for National Homeownership Month was moved to June 17.
- Board appointment for the Library Board of Trustees: Ebony Michelle Brown was appointed to fill the unexpired term.
- Board appointment for the Community Service Board was held to June 17.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved as presented.
- Item 9 (DA Software): Approved unanimously.
- Budget Amendment 2-41: Failed to pass; moved to June 17 meeting with work session discussion on June 10.
- Budget Amendments 2-42 & 2-43: Moved to June 10 work session.
- Emergency Sheriff Funding (2-44): Partial approval — $4 million for food and medical services (motion by Commissioner Davis) passed with one abstention.
- Interim CFO: Approved.
- Library Board Appointment: Approved.
- Litigation Settlements: Two settlements approved in executive session: $360,000 for Robert Bryan vs. Clayton County and $40,000 for Cornelio Frederick vs. Clayton County et al.
- Next Steps: SPLOST discussion to continue June 10; budget amendments and other deferred items to be addressed at June 10 work session and June 17 meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Today is Tuesday, June 3rd, and the time is 6 p.m. I, as vice chair of the Fenton County Board of Commissioners, I will call our meeting into order. I do want to note for those who are not aware, our chairwoman is uh representing us out of town uh and will not be in attendance at tonight's meeting. Uh first to establish a quorum. I will do a quick roll call if I can get all the uh board members to announce uh their presence by saying either here or present. We'll start with district two. Commissioner Gail Hambert. Uh here Commissioner Tasha Allen present Commissioner Damont Davis. Present. All right. Thank you. And now we will have our invocation. I don't have the name of the thank you. Welcome. Thank you so much. I'm Pastor Russell from Mount Zion Baptist Church, right down the road from you guys. It's an honor to be here with you tonight. Let me pray. Please join me. Heavenly Father, we gather here today acknowledging that you are the giver of every good gift. God, the source of true wisdom. Your word tells us that if any one of us lack wisdom, we should ask you. God, we will give generally you will give us generously all without finding any fault in any one of us. And so Lord Mohammed asked tonight for your guidance during this meeting. God, we bless these commissioners with clarity of thought with the unity of spirit, with the deep sense of the responsibility for the people that they serve. God may they act justly, may they love mercy and God walk humbly with you. God as they carry out their duties in this county. God, yet we ask that your people we reign over every discussion. God, that fairness and truth would prevail in every decision. God, that compassion would be shown towards every citizen in this county. God, we thank you for the opportunity to serve for the freedom that we enjoy and for the trust that has been put on these leaders. God, may all that is done here today, may for the good of our community. God made it bring honor to you. God, we pray all this in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Attorney Reed, before we adopt the agenda, do we have any emergency items? Good evening, uh Madam Vice Chair and Board. Yes, two items. First is okay. The total amount is eight million four hundred and two thousand five hundred and seventy-five dollars. And this is a budget amendment for the sheriff's office. And it's broken down. Do you want me to take it separately or do you want me to Commissioner Hambert? Yes, I have a question on that. Yes.
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