Albany officials meet new management team members

ALBANY — Albany city commissioners met two new members of the city’s management team Tuesday when City Manager Sharon Subadan introduced recently hired Chief Information Officer Steven Carter and Human Resources Director Dwight Baker to the board.

The introductions came during the city’s joint work/business meeting.

In what was a brief session, the board approved a pair of alcohol licenses and a lump-sum worker’s compensation claim for former Albany Fire Department employee Riley Harrell Jr. The city agreed to a $150,000 payment with no Medicare set-aside benefits for Harrell.

Commissioners also agreed, 6-1, to approve an alcohol license application for Cove Sports Bar and Grill, which is set to open soon at the 2820 Meredyth Drive site of the former Lemon Grass restaurant. The commission also OK’d, by the same vote, a license transfer for the Akshar Food Mart at 326 S. Mock Road.

The board approved easements for storm sewer at the 1111 N. Westover Blvd. site of the new Cheddar’s restaurant and to build a bus shelter for medical patients at Nancy Lopez Lane adjacent to the Phoebe North complex.

Ward III City Commissioner B.J. Fletcher expressed concern over rumors that the Islamic Center of Albany planned to ask for a change in the restrictions placed on a proposed cemetery on land owned by the Islamic Center after officials with the group learned that the concrete vaults they agreed to use in burials are not required by the state or city.

The Islamic group had agreed to meet conditions that included the use of concrete vaults and minimum 6-foot burials before the Albany-Dougherty Planning Commission voted 7-1 last week to recommend approval of the cemetery.

“This is a hot topic, one I’ve been dealing with night and day for the last several weeks,” Fletcher said. “I’ve heard that (Islamic Center officials) want to change the conditions approved by Planning, and if that’s the case, I think we need to table the issue.”

Planning Services Director Paul Forgey assured Fletcher that the conditions for the cemetery have not changed.

“The only changes that can be made to conditions approved by the Planning Commission would be changes that you all make,” Forgey said.

The city is scheduled to hold a public hearing and vote on the cemetery, which would be located at 711 W. Highland Ave., if approved, at its Sept. 27 meeting.