Town Meeting Minutes

September 12, 2016
Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, September 12, 2016, at the Brusly Town Hall, at 6:30 P.M. Council Member Rhodes led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:

Mayor:                            Joey Normand
Council Members:       Scot Rhodes, Joanne Bourgeois, Terry Richard, Shane Andrè, Don Neisler
Town Attorney:            Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Absent:                           None

A motion to approve the minutes of the town’s regular meeting of August 8, 2016, was made by Council Member Rhodes and seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee:
Council Member Neisler suggested that inspections be made at critical points during the installation of the trunk line of the sewer project. Following discussion regarding cost of inspections, among Council Members, and being reassured by Mayor Normand that no budget adjustment would be needed, it was determined to request said inspections.

Planning and Zoning Committee:
Mayor Normand presented the Final Plat of map showing the re-subdivision of the Janice L. Hebert, ET ALS Property into Lot JH-1 & JH-2 located in Section 56, T8S, R12E, Southeastern Land District, West of the Mississippi River, Town of Brusly, Parish of West Baton Rouge, State of LA for Ivy Thibodeaux, Jr. Having been favorably recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission, a motion to approve the plat was made by Council Member Neisler; seconded by Council Member Andrè. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Mayor Normand read aloud a Variance Request for Non-Compliance of Sec. 19.6 – Servitude Encroachment for Tyler J. Sprouse at 3345 Orleans Quarters Drive, to build a fence. A motion to approve was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Finance Committee:
Following a brief discussion and clarification by the town’s attorney on restrictions, a motion to approve the Beer & Liquor Permit applications for Pin High Cyber Golf, LLC was made by Council Member Andrè; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Upon the recommendation of Police Chief Lefeaux, a motion to purchase Police Evidence Management Software was made by Council Member Andrè; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Upon the recommendation of Mayor Normand, a motion to approve the 2015-2016 Audit Compliance Questionnaire was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Personnel Committee: None

Recreation Committee: None

Police Committee:
Upon the recommendation of Police Chief Jonathan Lefeaux, a motion to hire David Johnson as a full-time Police Officer at the rate of $17.50 an hour, starting September 13, 2016, was made by Council Member Neisler; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Governmental Affair Committee: None

Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None

Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances:
Mayor Normand read aloud Ordinance #9 of 2016, to amend and re-enact the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Brusly, Louisiana, Chapter 19 relative to the amendment and re-adoption of the official zoning map of the Town of Brusly. The Mayor opened the public hearing. Hearing no comments from the public, the Mayor turned the matter over to the Council for consideration. A motion to approve was made by Council Member Andrè; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Neisler, Rhodes, Richard, André, Bourgeois
Nays: None
Absent: None

Mayor Normand read aloud Ordinance #10 of 2016, to amend Chapter 19 of the code of ordinances of the Town of Brusly, State of Louisiana, to incorporate amended zoning district map under section 19.22 map, specifically, re-zoning property located at 653 E. Main Street from R-1 (Single-Family Residential) to C-1 (Light Commercial) at the request of property owners James W. Sorrell & Laverne M. Sorrell. The Mayor opened the public hearing. Hearing no further comments, the Mayor closed the public hearing and turned the matter over to the Council for consideration. Having been favorably recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission, a motion to approve was made by Council Member Neisler; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Rhodes, Richard, André, Bourgeois, Neisler
Nays: None
Absent: None

Introduction of Ordinances: None

Resolutions and Commendations:
Resolution #5 of 2016 to support the 1984 Sales Tax Distribution Calculation as presented was recommended by Mayor Normand. A motion to approve the resolution was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of August was given by Asst. Chief Southon. There were six (6) alarms, two (2) animal calls, two (2) assists to other departments, two (2) battery calls, one (1) civil complaint, one (1) damage to property call, one (1) death, four (4) disturbances, one (1) domestic, one (1) fraud call, six (6) miscellaneous calls, one (1) private property accident, one (1) suspicious vehicle, five (5) thefts, seven (7) traffic accidents, one (1) trespassing, and two (2) warrant arrests. For the month there were 71 total complaints, 284 citations, 366 violations and 25 no insurance tows.You can meet attorneys to know how to sue the truck driver in case of accidental injuries.

Correspondence:
Mayor Normand read aloud from a letter written by Steve & Terri Guidry thanking the Town of Brusly for awarding a Brusly Landmark Plaque to the Bourg House, their property at 203 N. Kirkland Drive.

Mayor’s Report: None

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Council Member Bourgeois thanked the staff for their help with the Landmark Plaque Ceremony which was held on August 14, 2016. She also extended the Town’s condolences to the family of Curtis Dupuy, Brusly’s Town Clerk from December 1972 through June 1980.

Announcements:
There will be a bid opening for the Street Overlay Project on September 21st at 10:00 A.M.
There will be a Landmark & Heritage meeting October 17th at 6:30 P.M.
Port Allen will hold its Centennial Celebration October 7th & 8th.

A motion was made by Council Member Andrè to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:52 P.M.
 /s/Joey Normand, Mayor                                                                                   /s/Debbie Berthelot, Town Clerk