Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, May 12, 2008

May 12, 2008

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, May 12, 2008 at the Brusly Town Hall.

Council Member Perrault led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:

Mayor: Joey Normand
Council Members: David Rodrigue, Ronda Perrault, Joanne Bourgeois,
Shane André, Chris Kershaw
Town Attorney: Thomas Acosta, Jr.
A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of April 14, 2008, with the correction of the spelling of Crockett, was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member André. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee:
Upon Mayor Normand’s recommendation, a motion to reject the bid received for street overlays was made by Council Member Perrault and seconded by Council Member Rodrigue. Motion passed unanimously.

Planning and Zoning:
Upon Mayor Normand’s recommendation, a motion to reappoint Steve Perkins to the Planning & Zoning Commission for a seven year term was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member André. The motion passed unanimously.

A request by Charles Bezet, Sr. for re-subdivision of Lot 42, Allene Subdivision and Lot 2-A, J C Bezet Sr. property into Lots 42-A-1 & 42-A-2 was favorably recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. A motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Perrault. The motion passed unanimously.

Finance Committee:
Mayor Normand presented the 2008-2009 General Fund and Sewer Budget Messages, in writing, to Council Members. The Budget will be discussed at the June 2nd Committee Meeting.

Personnel Committee: None

Recreation Committee:
Council Member Bourgeois announced that there was a short Tree Ceremony for Arbor Day on April 17th on the site of what remains of St. James Square.

Council Member Bourgeois announced that the Landmark and Heritage Committee recommended the following properties to receive Town of Brusly Landmark Plaques:

Ora H. “Catherine” Blanchard “Catherine Blanchard Home” 219 North LaBauve Street
Rita Babin “Cazenave Home” 740 Bourgeois Street
Union Baptist Church “Union Baptist Church” 743 Gwin Street
John & Helen Gossman “J. Harvey Blanchard, Jr. Home” 723 E. St. Francis Street
Myrtle LaBauve “Norwood LaBauve Home” 131 St. Mark Street
Ronald & Babs Babin “Stuart Bourgeois House” 244 Julian Street
Ethel Mouch “Mouch Home” 610 S. Kirkland Drive
Maynette M. Milazzo “Riley Allain Home” 733 E. Main Street
Steve & Terry Guidry “Mandart House” 227 N. Kirkland Drive
Heirs of Henry Soniat “Soniat Home” 610 Gwin Street
Jane Hebert Caillouet “The Old Dance Hall” 106 N. LaBauve Street
Thomas & Jeanette Blanchard 833 E. Main Street
“Redmen Hall/David Blanchard Home”
WBR Parish School Board “Brusly Middle School Campus” 601 N. Kirkland Street
John & Marianne Berthelot “Heno Hebert Home” 546 E. Main Street

A motion to approve the Landmark Plaque recipients was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Perrault. The motion passed unanimously.

Police Committee: None
Grant Committee: None
Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None

Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances: None

Introduction of Ordinances:
Council Member Perrault introduced an Ordinance for the 2007-2008 Town Budget adjustments. Council Member André introduced an Ordinance for the 2008-2009 General Fund Budget. Council Member Bourgeois introduced an Ordinance for the 2008-2009 Sewer System Budget.

Resolutions and Commendations:
Resolution #5 to “Urge the Parish of West Baton Rouge to publicly support all efforts to bid on the 5th Congrè Mondial Acadien” was accepted unanimously upon a motion by Council Member André with a second by Council Member Perrault.

A motion to present certificates of appreciation to Rod Prejean, Joe Mancuso, Carroll Fontenot, Charles Delapasse, Gerald Mabile and Harold Babin for their assistance with the CRPC dinner was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Kershaw. The motion passed unanimously.

Fire Department Report:
Fire Chief Alleman gave the Fire Chief’s report for March. There were six (6) first aid calls inside the Town and nine (9) outside of Town. There were no fire calls inside or outside the Town. There was one (1) false alarm investigation. There were two (2) motor vehicle crashes and two (2) mutual aids to Addis. The total calls for the month was twenty one (21). Total calls year to date is one hundred eighteen (118).

Police Department Report:
Report for the month of March was given by Officer O’Brien. There were four (4) wrecks, nine (9) bench warrant arrests, one (1) assault, three (3) damage to property, three (3) thefts, eleven (11) assists to other agencies, three juvenile matters, twelve (12) traffic arrests and twenty three (23) miscellaneous calls. There was a total of 85 calls, 308 citations and 243 violations.
Correspondence: None

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Normand reported on the Education Committee Meeting of the Chamber which was held at Port Allen High School. He described several positive changes that have been implemented at Port Allen High School. Mayor Normand received assurance that the Levee Board was responsible for ensuring that the levees within the Town of Brusly’s limits are FEMA Certified. Mayor Normand attended the Relay for Life, a Brusly High Wrestling Ceremony, Legislature Chamber Hearings on Bill 1050, a 911 meeting with the EOC director, a WBR Chamber meeting about the proposed loop and Port Allen High’s Awards Day Ceremony. Mayor Normand gave updates on the Allene Street drainage and River Mill Reserve projects. Mayor Normand also attended the Chamber’s Business Expo and a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Safety Council. He also taught two Civics classes at Brusly High School during April.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Attorney Acosta announced that effective May 12, 2008, after 30 years of service, the maximum allowed, he is being assigned to Retired Army Reserve status.

Council Member Bourgeois announced that the public is invited to the Brusly Gym Ceremony being held May 17th. Members of the audience recognized Council Member Bourgeois and Marianne Berthelot for work done on getting the Brusly Gym listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Announcements:
Celebration in Honor of Original Brusly Gym being listed on National Register of Historic Places May 17 at 3:00 PM
Awarding Town of Brusly Landmark Plaques – May 17th at 3:30 PM at the Town Hall
Clean up at St. John the Baptist Graveyard, May 24 at 7:30 AM
Town Hall Closed May 26, 2008 for Memorial Day

Mayor Normand requested that the Council go into Executive Session to discuss a legal matter. Council Member Bourgeois made a motion, seconded by Council Member André to go into Executive Session. Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

A motion was made by Council Bourgeois to end the Executive Session; seconded by Council Member Perrault. Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

A motion was made by Council Member André to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Perrault. The motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m.

_____________________ _________________________
Joey Normand, Mayor Debbie Berthelot, Town Clerk