Augusta Commissioners met on Nov. 30 and went through a flurry of business at the second to last meeting of the year.
Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden gave a brief presentation on his departmental policy overhaul, including forcible entry policy changes. Firefighters and EMTs can now force their way inside a private residence if they have a reasonable belief that someone inside a locked building is in danger or distress.
The former policy only allowed forcible entry if firefighters could directly see a distressed individual. If such an individual could not be visibly spotted, then firefighters had to wait on law enforcement to arrive.
The change was prompted by an incident that occurred on April 21 when Nichoel Gaither, 43, died while still holding her phone with a 911 operator on the other end. Augusta firefighters milled around her front yard waiting for a deputy to arrive so they could enter her home, according to the 911 recording. Gaither died that night of a coronary pulmonary embolism.
Burden told commissioners that he assembled a panel of fire chiefs from departments including Atlanta, Douglasville, Valdosta, Hinesville, Seminole County and Gainesville. The International Association of Fire Chiefs is also providing input on what Burden said is a cursory review of all fire department policies and procedures.
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According to Burden, the panel is now focused on diversity, equity and inclusion training.
“This training is geared to improving the department’s emotional intelligence as well as cultural intelligence. I believe this is important because it plants the seeds of understanding of value of our differences and embraces equality and inclusion and nurturing a better work culture,” Burden said.
The next phase, according to Burden, is to create a leadership academy specifically for women in the department to provide more equity and inclusion. District 8 Commissioner Brandon Garrett asked if such an academy might show some kind of favoritism toward women, and Burden responded that talking to people throughout the department brought to his attention the need for more inclusivity.
The Administrative Committee gave tentative approval to a “Mental Health Day” for all city employees as a stress reliever from having to work through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the official date is set for Dec. 22, Donald told commissioners that employees will actually have a 60 day window to schedule the day off so that the government doesn’t completely shut down.
“While the impact on residents and businesses has been mostly positive, staff members have acknowledged higher levels of stress due to a variety of pandemic-induced events (death, emergency response to positive cases, school closures, pandemic protocols, vaccination protocols, etc.),” City Administrator Odie Donald wrote in the committee agenda log.
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Donald told commissioners he was attempting to come up with an innovative solution to a widespread problem.
Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis agreed.
“For almost 24 months, we have battled an enemy we cannot see. We have lost friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors and loved ones,” Davis said.
Commissioners also gave the nod to allow the Human Resources Department to expand the employee incentive program to include an employee appreciation week to be held the week of Aug. 8, 2022 and an employee fun day, co-sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department, on Aug. 13.
District 7 Commissioner Sean Frantom playfully suggested the commission get involved in the employee fun day and provide a dunking booth. Garrett agreed and said, “The mayor volunteers.”
Human Resources will also institute an “Augusta Perks” program in which local businesses agree to provide special discounts and other perks to city employees.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
