Local & State Headlines

Sign ordinance vote tabled

• A vote on a new city sign ordinance won’t happen until at least May 20.

Barbara Rivera Holmes

ALBANY — Albany City Commissioners tabled action Tuesday on a comprehensive sign ordinance that has been heavily debated in previous meetings.

Commissioner Bob Langstaff made the motion, stating during the board’s 6 p.m. briefing that, “Not everyone had a chance to see the final document. ... I’d rather do it right than do it wrong (now).”

In order to “hash out the details of what everyone wants” in the sign ordinance, Langstaff has met with two commissioners but still has another pair with whom to meet.

The matter was tabled until the commission’s May 20 meeting.

Commissioners also tabled a vote on a joint city/county resolution regarding the Historic Preservation Commission.

The board approved several alcohol licenses during its 8 p.m. meeting: A one-day license for the Albany Human Society and licenses for Rumors at 312 Thornton Drive; Triple Diamond Lounge at 1009 E. Clark Ave.; 21 & Above Package at 1011 E. Clark Ave.; and Japan Express at 1905 S. Madison St. The commission also OK’d alcohol license transfers for Downtown Live from 242 W. Broad Ave. to 2524 Dawson Road Suite A, and from Woodrow Purvis of Blackbeard’s (2209 N. Slappey Blvd.) to Randall Carr and Russell Davis.

The commission denied an alcohol license for Marco’s Grocery at 715 S. Madison St.

Utilizing funds from the fifth special tax, the commission approved a $199,715 bid from Oxford Construction Co. for the Albany/Newton Road access. It also approved $69,148 for two tractors from Albany Tractor Co.

Commissioners adopted several resolutions, including adopting the Transit Development Plan, the fiscal year 2009 action plan and budget for community development and imposed a moratorium on sign permits for signs utilizing light emitting diode (LED) technology.

Earlier in the evening, the Albany/Dougherty County planning and development services department asked commissioners for $63,476 more in fiscal year 2009 ($1.52 million) than in fiscal year 2008 ($1.46 million). City Manager Al Lott said the funds would primarily be used for a geographic information systems (GIS) license.

The engineering department, which has three divisions, asked commissioners for $257,756 more in the fiscal period that starts July 1 than for FY 2008, which ends June 30. The funding request is for extra personnel and street light maintenance.

The human resources department presented to commissioners an FY ’09 budget of $1.87 million, as compared with an FY ’08 budget of $2.45 million, a decrease of $580,000.

The commission must adopt the city budget by June 30.

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