The Hampton City Council met twice in the first two weeks of 2021.

  The annual organizational meeting took place January 5 and consisted mainly of regular appointments to various positions. Council member Marty Meeks was reappointed mayor pro tem for 2021, and all other appointees from the previous year are set to continue in their roles. Those include city clerk Melissa Brooks, city attorney L’Erin Wiggins, prosecutor Otanya Clark, municipal judge Wayne Jernigan, and associate judge Matthew McCord.

  All of these appointments were approved unanimously, and the appointees present were sworn in by Henry County Probate Judge Kelley Powell.

  There was one amendment to the meeting agenda, after which Mayor Steve Hutchison was authorized to appoint members to the Youth Council Committee. Meeks and fellow council member Stephanie Bode will continue to serve on that committee.

  The council returned to the Depot January 12 to conduct regular business. Among those items was passage of a resolution publishing qualifying fees and setting qualifying dates for the upcoming November 2 municipal election.

  The mayor’s seat will be on the ballot along with three at-large council seats. The qualifying fee is $324 for mayoral candidates and $252 for council candidates, based on three percent of each position’s salary. Qualifying begins August 16 at 8:30 a.m. and ends August 20 at 4:30 p.m.

  In other business, the council considered multiple agenda items regarding the Main Street program. A resolution was approved amending the Main Street Advisory Board by removing representation of the Henry County Zoning Advisory Board and adding a staff member from the city’s community development department. Two Advisory Board members were reappointed – Ernest Lee Jackson for three years, Jeannie Hill for two years – while the council also appointed two new members, Michael Woodcock for two years and Marsha Jones for three years. Action on a proposed resolution to expand the boundaries of the Main Street District was postponed so that the Advisory Board can consider additional areas.

  The council members approved an ordinance allowing themselves eligibility for the city’s employee retirement plan. Hampton’s Employees Benefit System Defined Benefit Retirement Plan was amended to allow participation by the mayor and council members should they choose to do so. According to a city staff report, those who participate can receive $25 per month for each year of service once they reach 65 years of age.

  An amendment to the city’s stormwater ordinance was approved. According to a city staff report, the updates were necessary to adhere to new Georgia Environmental Protection Division requirements which pertain to new regulatory details about runoff reduction, requiring more stringent analysis of certain changes after storm events.

  The council approved proposed drawings for the Youth Council’s art project at McBrayer Park as well as the 2021 meeting schedule. Members will continue to convene on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Hampton Train Depot, as has been the practice for a number of years.