Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, September 13, 2004

September 13, 2004

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, September 13th, 2004 at the Brusly Town Hall. Mayor Joey Normand called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., and requested that all electronic devices be turned off or silenced. Council Member Babin led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call by Town Clerk Jules Lefeaux determined the following officials present:

Mayor: Joey Normand
Council Members: Daryl Babin, Shane Andre’, Ronda Perrault,
Joanne Bourgeois, Chris Kershaw

Town Attorney: Jamie Fontenot

Mayor Joey Normand introduced Mr. Donald DeVille, CPA, who gave his audit report for fiscal year 2003-04. The Town’s accounting and audit report are in compliance with GASB 34, a new requirement. The audit report is good; the type the Town officials and citizens want to see. Fund balances for the Town of Brusly, including the Sewer System, are over $4 million, showing good, strong finances. Auditor DeVille explained the expense and income statements, which were generally better than budgeted. The Sewer Fund had a positive cash flow of $414, a result of the needed rate increase. He thanked Town Clerk Lefeaux for his help in the conversion, and Council Member Kershaw for reviewing the reports. A motion to approve the report of Auditor Deville was made by Council Member Kershaw, seconded by Council Member Perrault, and passed with no opposing votes.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s Regular Meeting of August 9, 2004 was made by Council Member Bourgeois, seconded by Council Member Babin, and passed with no opposing votes.

Public Works activities included advertising for culvert pipes in the newspaper for this year’s program. Minutes of the August 25th Planning and Zoning Committee meetings were reviewed. Mr. Leslie Crockett has resigned from the Committees, and a replacement will be named next month.

Finance Committee business was covered by the Audit Report.

Under Personnel Committee, a motion to appoint Mr. Jim Rills to the Board of Water Works District No. 2 (to replace Mr. Arlen Landry) was made by Council Member Bourgeois, seconded by Council Member Andre’, and passed with no opposing votes. Council Member Bourgeois proposed, and Mayor Normand recommended the following to be Members of the Tree Board (as per Ordinance #9 of 2003): Mr. Harvey Cavalier, Mr. John Toups, Ms. Babs Babin, and Ms. Jane Caillouet. A motion to appoint Mr. Harvey Cavalier and Ms. Jane Caillouet was made by Council Member Babin and seconded by Council Member Andre’. All Council Members voted in favor.

A motion to appoint Mr. John Toups was made by Council Member Andre’ and seconded by Council Member Perrault. A roll call vote by Town Clerk Lefeaux had the following result:

Yeas: Council Members Babin, Perrault, Bourgeois, Andre’
Nays: None
Abstaining: Council Member Kershaw

A motion to appoint Ms. Babs Babin was made by Council Member Perrault and seconded by Council Member Andre’. A roll call vote by Town Clerk Lefeaux had the following result:

Yeas: Council Members Perrault, Bourgeois, Andre’, Kershaw
Nays: None
Abstaining: Council Member Babin

The Grant Committee obtained a $900 grant from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Mayor Normand read the heading of Resolution No. 11, to establish the millage rate of ad valorem taxation at 1.92 mills on the dollar of assessed valuation of property. Following discussion, a vote was taken, and all five council members were in favor of the resolution.

Mayor Normand read the heading of Resolution No. 12, to “roll forward” or raise the millage rate of ad valorem taxation to 2.16 mills on the dollar of assessed valuation of property. This was the effective rate during the last four years in Brusly. Mayor Normand opened a public hearing on the proposed tax rate. Since there were no comments, he closed the public hearing. Following discussion, Mayor Normand requested a roll call vote, which had the following result:
Yeas: Council Members Babin, Perrault, Bourgeois, Andre’, Kershaw
Nays: None

Mayor Normand declared the resolution adopted.

The report of the Brusly Volunteer Fire Department was given by Fire Chief Mike Alleman. In August, there were 10 first aid calls in the Town and 9 first aid calls outside the Town. There were three fire calls in the town (including a false alarm at a school) and three fire calls outside the Town. There was one barge leaking chemical vapors, and two mutual aid calls answered. The total calls for the month of August 2004 was 28, and 214 calls for the year. Regarding Hurricane Ivan, Chief Alleman advised the Department was in Stage 4 of preparing for it. This includes making sure all generators are working. Chief Alleman invited all to the Fire Department hurricane meeting September 14th. The Sheriff’s Office usually provides inmates to fill sandbags. Five small generators are reserved for citizens who need electricity for medical equipment; families of persons with such needs are requested to call the Fire Department. Mayor Normand said he is researching barges with hazardous materials parking near Brusly.

Police Chief Emmett Worley gave the Police Department report for the month of August. He stated that there were five wrecks, 24 bench warrant arrests, one DWI arrest, one assault, one illegal discharge of a firearm, two damages to property, five disturbing the peace incidents, five thefts, two burglaries, 12 alarms (due to new buildings), 11 assistances to other agencies, three 911 calls, three drug arrests, four domestic calls, no juvenile matters, 31 traffic arrests, and 18 miscellaneous calls, for a total of 138 calls and 400 traffic citations issued. Town Clerk Lefeaux reported that collections of fines and bench warrant fees were about $20,000 above the budget at this time.

Mayor Normand gave the Mayor’s report for the month. Council Member Bourgeois was named “Public Official of the Year” by the Louisiana Association of Museums, in recognition of promoting historical values; she was applauded for this honor by citizens and officials present. The Mayor is working with B.F.I. to resolve why 50 people did not get the new garbage containers. Rules are being drafted by Council Members Bourgeois and Perrault regarding signs at the Brusly Oak Tree. Mayor Normand is discussing population data with Louisiana Tech. Changes are planned for voting places, but they will be the same as usual for September 18th. The Baton Rouge Business Report had an article reporting that the Town of Brusly employees had given more donations per person than any government in 9 parishes, and featured Campaign Coordinator Jules Lefeaux. Brusly was number one, Port Allen was fourth, and West Baton Rouge Parish Government was fifth. Cox Cable sent a letter regarding rates. Trinity Marine wrote a letter saying they plan to go out of business by December 20th, and a large layoff will result.

Under Remarks of Personal Privilege, the new parish communications tower was discussed; it should result in faster response by emergency personnel. Council Member Babin thanked Mr. Arlen Landry for his 42 years of service on the Water Board, and a strong round of applause was heard. Council Member Kershaw thanked the Fire Department for inviting him and other Brusly officials to their banquet. He also encouraged everyone to vote, in the same place they have voted for 10 years. Firefighter-Investigator Kenny Hunts thanked everyone who came to the 50th Anniversary ceremonies held August 15th, which included dedicating the Fireman Statue; the event was a big success. Council Member Perrault requested articles for the coming Newsletter.

Mayor Normand announced Election Day is September 18, 2004. Council Member Kershaw announced the Chamber Of Commerce Taste Fair to be held at the Community Center soon.

A motion was made by Council Member Babin to adjourn, seconded by Council Member Andre’. The motion was unopposed. The meeting ended at 7:51 p.m.

/S/ Joey Normand, Mayor /S/ Jules Lefeaux, Town Clerk