Meeting Minutes – May 2019

May 13, 2019
Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was called to order this date, May 13, 2019, 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: Scot Rhodes
Council Members: Rusty Daigle, Joanne Bourgeois, Shane André, Terry Richard, Don Neisler
Town Attorney: Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Absent: None

Recognitions & Commendations: Brusly High School Softball, Track, and Fishing Coaches and athletes on each team were recognized for winning State Championships in their respective categories.
Certificates for individual were given to the Coaches to be distributed.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of April 8, 2019, as written, was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Public Works Committee:
Mayor Rhodes read aloud the Public Works Report, as prepared by Public Works Supervisor Shane Sarradet, for the month of April. There were 9.7 inches of rainfall in the month; 1 Drainage issue on April 18 down Allene St. that day recorded 4.3 inches. Several SCADA Alarms for sewer system; Installed a wet well bypass at South LaBauve Lift Station No personnel incidents were reported in the Maintenance Department; no “out of compliance” test results were noted at the sewer treatment facility.

Regular bulk trash will be picked up the week of May 13, 2019. The extra trash pickup will be Friday, May 31, 2019.
After the recent large rain events, Mayor met with Public Works Supervisor and employees to review problem areas.
Council Member André made a motion to accept the low bid of $178,274.50 from Barrier Construction for the road overlay project, seconded by Council Member Neisler. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Finance Committee:
Mayor Rhodes noted that the “Budget to Actual Comparison Report” was included in the meeting packets for Council Members to review.
A motion was made by Council Member Neisler seconded by Council Member Richard, to give Mayor Rhodes the authority to sign a power pole use agreement with Entergy Louisiana. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.
The Mayor referred to his Budget Message, included in the meeting packet, for Council Members to review.

Planning and Zoning Committee: None
Recreation Committee: None
Personnel Committee: None
Police Committee: None
Governmental Affairs Committee: A motion was made by Council Member Bourgeois to award a Landmark Plaque to the home at 240 St. Mary St., now owned by Layne Morales; seconded by Council Member André. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Bourgeois to accept repayment of $235 for the lost Landmark Plaque previously awarded to the home at 1024 W. Main Street; seconded by Council Member Richard. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. (Note: original plaque is missing following extensive renovation of the home).
Council Member Bourgeois also reported that the Landmark Commission, at its April meeting, had recommended that the Town consider the name “La Place St. Jacques” for the recently purchased property near the intersection of Bourg Street and Kirkland Drive.
Council Member Bourgeois made a motion to name The Westside Journal as the Town of Brusly’s Official Journal; seconded by Council Member Daigle. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None
Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances: A motion was made by Council Member Daigle, seconded by Council Member Richard, to defer action on Ordinance 1 of 2019, Town General Funds Budget Adjustment for 2018-2019 Fiscal Year. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was taken with the following results
Yeas: Richard, Neisler, Daigle, André, Bourgeois
Nays: None
Absent: None

A motion was made by Council Member André, seconded by Council Member Neisler, to defer action on Ordinance 2 of 2019, Town Sewer Funds Budget Adjustment for 2018-2019 Fiscal Year. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was taken with the following results

Yeas: Richard, Neisler, Daigle, André, Bourgeois
Nays: None
Absent: None

Introduction of Ordinances: Council Member Bourgeois introduced Ordinance 4 of 2019 – General Funds 2019/2020 Budget.

Council Member Neisler introduced Ordinance 5 of 2019 – Sewer Funds 2019/2020 Budget.

Resolutions:
A motion was made by Council Member André, seconded by Council Member Daigle, to approve the DEQ Self Audit Resolution. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Daigle to approve the Resolution to declare a used police unit as surplus, and to then donate the Police Unit to the Town of Melville; seconded by Council Member Richard. Attorney Acosta advised that a Cooperative Endeavor agreement, which is necessary, has been drafted and signed. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Bourgeois to defer the collection of the Town’s Ad Valorem tax for 2019; seconded by Council Member Daigle. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Daigle to Appoint Baxley and Associates as Town Auditor for the 2018-2019 Fiscal year; seconded by Council Member André. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of March was given by Assistant Chief Southon. There were four (4) alarms, nine (9) warrant arrests, (1) Animal at Large, four (4) civil complaints, eight (8) miscellaneous complaints, four (4) disturbance calls, five (5) asst other agency, forty-four (44) no insurance tows, seven (7) crash reports, three (3) battery, three (3) unlock calls, four (4) traffic complaints, one (1) Fire, two (2) drug related calls, two (2) theft calls, one (1) Remaining after forbidden, two (2) medical calls, one (1) Trespassing and one (1) Criminal Mischief. For the month, there were 108 total complaints, 233 total citations and 334 total violations.

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Rhodes reported that House Bill 578, funding for the La 1/415 Connector will soon be on the House Agenda for a vote. The Mayor also gave Animal Control update following questions asked at last week’s meeting. Following a meeting with Parish Administration, the Mayor feels that there will be service than in the past, as confirmed by Parish Council Member Kershaw.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Jennifer Lamana, 2408 Allene Street, spoke to describe water in her home following the recent rain events and asked what the Town can do to help their drainage issues. Mayor Rhodes described past drainage problems with that property and some projects in that area which had attempted to correct those issues. He further stated that we will meet with the Town engineer and Parish personnel to seek ways to relieve the problems through future drainage plans.
Wendy Parrish, 512 Bourgeois Street, expressed concerns regarding drainage issues in Front Brusly, specifically near her property where water was within an inch of getting into her home. Mayor Rhodes explained that the Town will check her property for problems and continue to clean our ditches in the area.
Council Member Bourgeois, Chief Lefeaux and Assistant. Chief Southon attended the “Bridging the Gap” community forum session on April 30.

Announcements: None

A motion was made by Council Member Daigle to adjourn; seconded by Council Member André . Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:32 PM.

_____________________________ _____________________________
Scot Rhodes, Mayor Blaine Rabalais, Town Clerk