Harlem City Council agreed to transfer a waste contract, a franchise agreement and to suspend a fine for a homebuilder during its regular meeting Monday.
The matter of a waste contract on the council’s agenda was due its current waste management provider, Meridian Waste, being in the process of being bought out by Orion Waste Solutions. Mayor Roxanne Whitaker expressed concern regarding an amendment to the city’s contract with Meridian that would cause its fee to increase in 2022. City attorney Adam Nelson noted that the city’s contract anticipated the possibility of a buyout, and so a significant reason would be required to not continue the contract.
Nelson advised that a motion could be made to allow the mayor to sign a letter approving the contract transfer, authorized by the council, contingent on Orion’s agreement with the contract’s amendment. Mayor Pro tem John Thigpen made motion, seconded by Councilman Gregg Stokes. The council voted unanimously in favor of the transfer.
The council approved a franchise agreement with Comcast of Georgia. City clerk Leona Holley stated Comcast had informed her it had finished construction of lines for internet within Harlem’s city limits. She reassured Whitaker the line constructed would not be replacing lines already installed by WOW Internet.
The council voted to suspend a fine to Stanley Martin Companies associated with a notice of violation. Nelson counseled that suspending the fine rather than voting to rescind it would leave open the possibility of reissuing the fines should Stanley Martin be in violation again. Thigpen agreed and motioned for suspension rather than rescission. Councilman Daniel Bellavance seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Whitaker took time to acknowledge the Harlem Fire Department had raised over $2,500 to donate to Relay for Life in honor of cancer survivors Kim McCoy and Susan Camp.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
[adrotate banner=”51″]
