Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, May 14, 2007

May 14, 2007

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, May 14, 2007, at the Brusly Town Hall. Mayor Joey Normand called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Council Member Bourgeois 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 Andre’, Chris Kershaw
Town Attorney: Thomas Acosta, Jr.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s Regular Meeting of April 9, 2007 was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member Perrault; motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Council Member Bourgeois made a motion to amend the Agenda to take up item #11-A, Fire Department Report; seconded by Council Member Perrault. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works: Mayor Normand read aloud the bids received for the Allene Street Overlay. The lowest bidder was R.J. Daigle & Sons at $105,012; closely behind was F.G. Sullivan, Jr. with $105,300. Coastal Bridge Company submitted a bid of $140,000. The Mayor made a recommendation to accept the lowest bid of $105,012 from R.J. Daigle & Sons for the Allene Street Overlay. Council Member Andre’ made a motion to accept the lowest bid of $105,012 from R.J. Daigle and Sons to overlay Allene Street. The motion was seconded by Council Member Bourgeois and passed with a unanimous vote.
Mayor Normand made a recommendation to add North LaBauve to the Road Overlay scope this year because the contractor agreed to add that scope at the same rate as the competitive bid in the amount of $60,380 and due to the constant increase in construction cost. A motion was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member Rodrigue to accept the price of $60,380 to add the North LaBauve Overlay. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Planning and Zoning: None

Finance Committee: The Mayor presented his budget messages to the Council and informed the audience they could request any information not attached.

Personnel Committee: Mayor Normand made a recommendation to hire Mr. Donald Manuel immediately as a part-time grass cutter at an hourly rate of $10 contingent upon him passing a drug screening. Council Member Bourgeois made a motion to accept the recommendation to hire Mr. Donald Manuel immediately as a part-time grass cutter at an hourly rate of $10 an hour contingent upon him passing a drug screening; seconded by Council Member Kershaw. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Mayor Normand also made a recommendation to re-hire Ms. Elaine Barber as a part-time Administration Clerk at an hourly rate of $10. A motion was made to re-hire Ms. Elaine Barber as a part-time Administration Clerk, at an hourly rate of $10 an hour, by Council Member Andre’ and seconded by Council Member Rodrigue. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Recreation Committee: None

Police Committee: Chief Whaley made a recommendation to adopt the Police Department Code of Ethics. After a brief discussion, a motion was made by Council Member Kershaw to adopt the Police Departments Code of Ethics; seconded by Council Member Andre’. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
To fill the vacancy due to resignation of Officer Starnes a week ago, Chief Whaley made a recommendation to hire part-time Officer Joseph Anderson full-time. Officer Anderson will begin at an hourly rate of $9.15 an hour, starting immediately. He will be attending Basic training soon to become P.O.S.T certified. Council Member Perrault made a motion to hire Mr. Joseph Anderson as a full-time officer at an hourly rate of $9.15 starting immediately. The motion was seconded by Council Member Andre’ and passed with a unanimous vote.

Grant Committee: None
Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None

Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances: Mayor Normand opened a Public Hearing regarding Ordinance #2-Chapter 19 changes relative to Gated Communities, Mrs. Rosa Stelly asked a question about how theft will be handled in this community. There being no further comments from the audience, the hearing was closed and the matter was discussed by the Council. Attorney Thomas Acosta made a suggestion to number this section 19-20.1. A motion was made by Council Member Perrault; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois to accept Ordinance #2-Chapter 19 changes relative to Gated Communities. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
The Mayor opened a Public Hearing regarding Ordinance #2-Chapter 19 changes relative to Turnarounds for Fire Vehicles for Duplexes and Triplexes, hearing no comments from the audience, the Public Hearing was closed. Attorney Acosta made a suggestion to number this section 19-20.2. Council Member Andre’ made a motion to accept Ordinance #2-Chapter 19 changes relative to Turnarounds for Fire Vehicles for Duplexes and Triplexes; seconded by Council Member Kershaw and passed with a unanimous vote.
The Mayor opened a Public Hearing regarding Ordinance #2-Chapter 19 changes relative to Swimming Pool Definition; hearing no comments from the audience, the Public Hearing was closed. Council Member Bourgeois made a motion to table this section to a later date. The motion was seconded by Council Member Kershaw and passed with a unanimous vote.
The Mayor opened a Public Hearing regarding Ordinance #2-Chapter 19 changes relative to Detention Ponds; hearing no comments from the audience, the Public Hearing was closed. Council Member Andre’ made a motion to table this section to a later date. The motion was seconded by Council Member Rodrigue and passed with a unanimous vote.
The Mayor read aloud Ordinance #3-Budget Adjustments with an increase in income by $31,000 which includes a Capital District Grant and Sales Tax and $88,000 total adjustment in expenses which includes a new server, overlaying North LaBauve Street, Venzule drainage and police supplies and training. The total budget adjustments are $57,000. The Mayor opened the public hearing, following comments, the Public Hearing was closed. A motion was made by Council Member Bourgeois to accept the budget adjustments with the exception of the Maintenance/Streets and Drainage line item; seconded by Council Member Perrault. A roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, Andre’, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None
The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Council Member Perrault made a supplement motion to accept the Budget Adjustment line item Maintenance/Streets and Drainage; seconded by Council Member Andre’. A roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, Andre’
Nays: None
Abstaining: Kershaw, with comment that he lives on a street in the line item
Absent: None

Introduction of Ordinances: Council Member Rodrigue introduced the General Fund Budget.
Council Member Perrault introduced The Sewer System Budget.
Council Member Andre’ introduced Chapter 19-Wording Changes.
Council Member Bourgeois introduced Chapter 22-Nuisances.

Resolutions and Commendations: Resolution #3-Discontinue Collection of Ad Valorem Tax was accepted on a motion by Council Member Perrault; seconded by Council Member Kershaw Motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Fire Department: Assistant Fire Chief Hunts gave the Fire Chief’s Report for April. There were nine first aid calls outside the Town and five first aid calls inside the Town. There were no fires outside or inside the Town. There were six motor vehicle crashes outside Town and two motor vehicle crashes inside Town; two mutual aid call to Addis and three investigations. Total calls for the month were 32 and 135 calls for the year.

Police Department: Report for the month of April was given by Chief Whaley. He stated that there were four wrecks, 11 assistance to other agencies, 27 traffic arrests, two alarms, two thefts, one battery, one damage to property, one assault, one disturbing the peace, three bench warrants, and 19 miscellaneous calls. There were two juvenile matters, for a total of 75 calls and 473 citations for the month.

Correspondence: The Mayor received a congratulatory letter from the Chamber of Commerce regarding passage of the school tax and the Central Communications.

Mayor’s Report: He attended the Arbor Day Celebration at Lukeville Upper Elementary school along with Mr. Mahlon Doucett from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
Central Communications will be moving on the bottom floor of the Port building now occupied by the West Baton Rouge Chamber.

Remarks of Personal Privilege: Mrs. Rosa Stelly asked the Mayor if he received the Zachary citizens Plan Growth and Development article she sent to the Mayor and Council Members. She indicated a similar group had been formed in Brusly and they were working with Chief Whaley on nuisances.
Council Member Bourgeois announced that Mrs. Patricia Duncan from the State Department of Historic Preservation will be visiting the Brusly Middle School Gym on May 18th to photograph the building in preparation for the June 21st review meeting to consider placing the gym on the National Register of Historic Places. Dr. Robert Carriker, head of geography and history department at University of Louisiana Lafayette, visited Brusly on May 4th and encouraged members of the Historic District Study Committee to compile a booklet of photos and pertinent information on the historic homes.
Announcements: Town Hall will be closed on May 28th for Memorial Day.

A motion was made by Council Member Andre’ to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Perrault. The motion passed with a unanimous vote; the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
___________________ _________________________
Joey Normand, Mayor Debbie Berthelot, Town Clerk