Town Meeting Minutes – September 2020

September 14, 2020
Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was called to order this date, September 14, 2020, at the Brusly Town Hall, at 6:30 p.m. Council Member Richard led the Pledge of Allegiance.  A roll call determined the following officials present:

Mayor                         Scot Rhodes
Council Members:         Rusty Daigle, Joanne Bourgeois, Terry Richard, Shane André, Don Neisler
Town Attorney:            Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Absent:                         None

Recognitions & Commendations: None

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of August 10, 2020, as written, was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member André. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee:
Mayor Rhodes read the Public Works Report, as prepared by Public Works Supervisor Shane Sarradet, for the month of August. There were 6.75 inches of rainfall in the month; no drainage issues; repaired washed out catch basins on N. LaBauve and Brusly Oaks; 2 SCADA alarms; 1 “out of compliance” test results on the Sewer Treatment Facility due to chlorine interruption; striping on Allene and Live Oak completed; flags were put up prior to Labor Day and through the weekend following 9/11; no personnel incidents to report for the Maintenance Department.

Regular bulk trash will be picked up the week of September 14, 2020. The extra trash pickup will be Friday, September 25, 2020.

Upon the Mayor’s recommendation, a motion to approve budgeted spending on a drainage study of the Venzule watershed area, was made by Council Member Richard; seconded by Council Member Daigle. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Planning and Zoning Committee:
Upon the recommendation of Mayor Rhodes, a motion to reappoint Jeff Travasos to the Planning & Zoning Commission, for a 7-year term, was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Finance Committee:
Mayor Rhodes noted that the “Budget to Actual Comparison Report” for August was included in the meeting packets for Council Members to review.

Upon Mayor Rhodes recommendation, and a brief discussion, a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign an Occupational License Tax Program contract with AVENU, through LaMATS, was made by Council Member Daigle; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Personnel Committee: None

Recreation Committee:
Upon the Mayor’s request, a motion to authorize Mayor Rhodes to sign an agreement with Tipton Associates to do a master plan for the River Road Park Project was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Police Committee: None

Governmental Affairs Committee:
Council Member Bourgeois announced that there is a tentative date of October 11, 2020, to have a Landmark Plaque Ceremony.

Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None

Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances: None

Introduction of Ordinances:
Council Member Daigle introduced Ordinance 5 of 2020, adopting & enacting a new code for the Town of Brusly.

Resolutions: None

Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of August was given by Assistant Chief Southon. There were twelve (12) alarms, two (2) suspicious persons, one (1) warrant arrest, two (2) unlocks, sixteen (16) miscellaneous complaints, six (6) disturbances, three (3) assist to other agencies, seven (7) no insurance tows, eight (8) crash reports, one (1) hit and run, one (1) contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, one (1) terrorizing, two (2) improper telephone communications, seven (7) thefts, three (3) welfare checks, two (2) medical, two (2) public assists, one (1) fire, and two (2) damage to property. For the month, there were 79 total complaints, 312 total citations and 388 total violations.

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Rhodes attended a meeting with the Parish President and other area Mayors during which they discussed the LA1 Southbound road overlay that will be starting soon and the 415 bypass preliminary plans. Mayor Rhodes reported that he and Attorney Acosta were researching the state requirements for paying a stipend to the Planning & Zoning Commissioners. Mayor Rhodes reported that workers from Corps of Engineers are gathering core samples of the levee to check for seepage.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Council Member Bourgeois suggested the Town put notices regarding the LA1 road overlay project on the Website to notify citizens of the project.

Council Member Neisler reported that Entergy is in the process of changing out meters in Town.

Mayor Rhodes attended the funeral of Maintenance Worker Robert Quatrevingt’s 18-month old son, the Mayor asked for all to keep the family in their prayers.

Announcements: None

A motion was made by Council Member André to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Richard. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:05 PM.

/s/Scot Rhodes, Mayor                                        /s/Blaine Rabalais, Town Clerk