Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, January 11, 2016

January 11, 2016
Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, January 11, 2016, at the Brusly Town Hall, at 6:30 p.m. Council Member Neisler led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:

Mayor: Joey Normand
Council Members: Scot Rhodes, Joanne Bourgeois, Terry Richard, Shane Andrè, Don Neisler
Town Attorney: Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Absent: None

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of December 14, 2015, was made by Council Member Andrè and seconded by Council Member Rhodes. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee: None
Planning and Zoning Committee:
Mayor Normand read aloud a Variance Request for Non-Compliance – Sec. 19.6 Servitude Encroachment for Lisa Tripode Morris at 3487 Orleans Quarters Dr. to build a fence and patio. The Variance having been favorably recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission, a motion to approve was made by Council Member Andrè; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Finance Committee:
A motion to approve Liquor Licenses for Athenos, Back Brusly Grocery, JW Food Mart, Las Palmas, and Louisiana Bayou Bistro Restaurant was made by Council Member Rhodes; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

At the request of Mayor Normand, a motion to amend the agenda to take up item 9.A of the agenda was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments the motion passed unanimously.
Resolutions and Commendations:
Upon the request of Mayor Normand a motion to approve Resolution #1 of 2016 – Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 2015, to authorize the Town’s consultant to take the next step in refinancing the sewer bonds, was made by Council Member Rhodes; seconded by Council Member Neisler. The Mayor opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Personnel Committee:
Returning to the regular order of the agenda Mayor Normand read aloud item 5.D.1, the Employment/Leave status of Officer Kasey Parault Townsend. At the request of Police Chief Lefeaux, a motion to move to Executive Session to discuss the status of Officer Townsend was made by Council Member Neisler; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Neisler, Rhodes, Richard, Andrè, Bourgeois
Nays: None
Absent: None
The Council retired to Executive Session at 6:36 PM.

At 6:50 PM, a motion was made to come out of Executive Session by Council Member Andrè; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Rhodes, Richard, Andrè, Bourgeois, Neisler
Nays: None
Absent: None
Chief Lefeaux made a recommendation to terminate employment of Officer Parault Townsend. Council Member Neisler made a motion to accept Chief Lefeaux’s recommendation; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Richard, Andrè, Bourgeois, Neisler, Rhodes
Nays: None
Absent: None
Recreation Committee: None
Police Committee:
Police Chief Lefeaux reported that he had received several complaints of excessive speeding on Ory Dr. Chief Lefeaux recommended that the Town purchase a speed zone sign with digital display of that reads the speed of oncoming vehicles to place on Ory Dr.
Governmental Affair Committee:
Council Member Bourgeois reported that the Historical Sign at the Back Brusly Oak Tree had been damaged beyond repair when a large limb from the tree fell during a recent storm. Ms. Bourgeois also reported that a new sign, at a cost of $1900.00, will be ordered to replace the damaged sign.
Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None
Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances: None
Introduction of Ordinances: None
Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of December was given by Sgt. Jeremy Thompson. There were five (5) alarms, one (1) dog bite call, eight (8) assists to other agencies, one (1) assist person call, two (2) damage to property, six (6) disturbances, one (1) domestic call, one (1) fire call, three (3) information calls, one (1) noise complaint, two (2) open doors, two (2) private property vehicle accidents, one (1) roadway obstruction, one (1) shots fired call, two (2) suspicious person calls, two (2) thefts, eight (8) traffic accidents, twenty (20) traffic stops (arrest or tow), five (5) warrant arrests, two (2) driving under suspensions and seventeen (17) no insurance tows. For the month there were 204 citations, 267 violations and a total of 72 complaints received.
Correspondence: None
Mayor’s Report: None
Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Council Member Bourgeois reported that the Town had been designated as a Tree City for 2015. Ms. Bourgeois also reported that there was a new Historical Marker, located next to the Town Hall driveway closest to the bank, which had been sponsored and paid for by Ms. Virgie Dickerson in honor of her father who was a Monford Point Marine.

Mayor Normand read aloud the following:
“For the last few months I have tried to make my intentions clear as it relates to my running for a fifth term. In most cases, my pronouncement has been greeted with skepticism. I attribute this to my having said something similar in the past only to be convinced to run again.

Let me make this clear and official; I will not under any circumstances be a candidate for Mayor of the Town of Brusly.

I am taking this unusual step by announcing this at the January Council meeting for several reasons.

1) By removing myself as a potential candidate, other potential candidates will be less hesitant to pursue this office.
2) I am a person who needs something to fix. By the end of this term, the Town of Brusly will have no major projects or issues to carry over into next term. There will be nothing to fix.
3) I have developed a great staff, at all levels of our organization, of well-trained and highly motivated people who will continue to do a great job for whomever is Mayor.
4) Sixteen years is surely enough and probably too much.”
Announcements:
The Town Hall will be closed Jan. 18, 2016 in Observance of Civil Rights Day.
The Landmark & Heritage Meeting will be January 25, 2016 at 6:30 PM.
The Addis Mardi Gras Parade will be Jan. 31, 2016 at 1:00 PM.

A motion was made by Council Member Andrè to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:08 PM.

____________________________ _________________________
Joey Normand, Mayor Debbie Berthelot, Town Clerk