Town Meeting Minutes – December 2017

December 11, 2017
Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, December 11, 2017, 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 Andrè, Don Neisler
Town Attorney:            Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Absent:                          None

At the request of Mayor Rhodes, a motion to amend the Agenda to include consideration of Liquor License Renewals, under the Finance Committee, was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Richard. A roll call vote resulted in the following results:
Yeas:               Neisler, Daigle, Bourgeois, Richard, Andrè
Nays:               None
Absent:           None

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of November 13, 2017, was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member Daigle. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee:
Following the recommendation of Mayor Rhodes, a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of agreement with WBR Parish for culvert purchases was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Planning and Zoning Committee:
Mayor Rhodes presented the Subdivision plat of the 3.929 acre Tract of Land, Being the Rita Babin Tract into Lot 8 & Lot 9 Located in Section 16, Township 8 South, Range 12 East, Southeastern Land District, West of the Mississippi River, West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana for Rita Babin.
Council Member Bourgeois pointed out that in the General Notes of the plat, the title of the BVFD was incorrect. Following a brief discussion, a motion the approve the plat with the change of wording in General Notes to read “WBR Fire Protection District 1”, was made by Council Member Andrè; seconded by Council Member Neisler.
Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas:                     Daigle, Bourgeois, Richard, Andrè, Neisler
Nays:                     None
Absent:                 None
The motion passed.

Upon Mayor Rhodes recommendation, a motion to approve the Bryan Denham property Construction Plans, Lot 1 & 2 Located in Section 56, Township 7 South, Range 12 East, S.E. Land District, West of the Mississippi River, West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, was made by Council Member Andrè; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas:                  Bourgeois, Richard, André, Neisler, Daigle
Nays:                  None
Absent:              None

Finance Committee:
Mayor Rhodes referred Council Members to review the “Budget to Actual Comparison Report” which accompanied meeting packets.

Following discussion, a motion to authorize Mayor Rhodes to negotiate the purchase of the property near the intersection of Bourg St. and East Main St., with a purchase price cap of $110,000, was made by Council Member Andrè; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comments. Council Member Daigle expressed concern with purchasing the property above the appraised value. Council Member Andrè pointed out that the property has historical significance, being situated across from the original Town Square, (St. James Square), most of which is now behind the levee. Council Member Bourgeois added that the majority of the area could be a “green space” in front Brusly, with some parking to access the levee project. After hearing supportive comments from the audience for the purchase of the property, Mayor Rhodes asked for a roll call vote which resulted in the following results:
Yeas:              Richard, Andrè, Neisler, Bourgeois
Nays:             Daigle
Absent:          None

As recommended by Mayor Rhodes, a motion to approve Liquor Licenses for Athenos, Back Brusly Grocery LLC, JW Food Mart, Las Palmas and La. Bayou Bistro was made by Council Member Richard; seconded by Council Member Daigle. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Personnel Committee:
Following a recommendation from Mayor Rhodes, a motion to approve the prepared 2018 Holiday Schedule was made by Council Member Andrè; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Recreation Committee: None

Police Committee: None

Governmental Affairs Committee: None

Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None

Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances:
Mayor Rhodes read aloud Ordinance 5 of 2017, Chapter 19, the Re-zoning from R-2 (Single Family Residential) to C-1 (Commercial) of a portion of 4.408 AC M/L SEC 16 T8S R12E Rita Babin Subdivision for Rita Babin. Having been favorably recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission, a motion to approve was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Rhodes opened the public hearing. Hearing no comments from the public a roll call vote resulted in the following results:
Yeas:               Andrè, Neisler, Daigle, Bourgeois, Richard
Nays:              None
Absent:          None

No action was taken on Agenda item B under heading 7, “consider Ordinance 6 of 2017 – To amend Section 17.6 (d) to Change Speed Limit on West St. Francis Street.”

Introduction of Ordinances:
Council Member Richard introduced Ordinance 1 of 2018, Chapter 17.6 (d), to change the speed limit on West St. Francis Street from 45 mph to 35 mph, as recommended by the Chief of Police.

Resolutions and Commendations: None

Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of November was given by Asst. Chief Southon. There were six (6) alarms, nine (9) warrant arrests, four (4) assists to other agencies, one (1) civil complaint, eight (8) miscellaneous complaints, two (2) criminal damage to property, five (5) disturbance calls, one (1) public assist, 44 no insurance tows, two (2) suspicious person/vehicle calls, one (1) theft, four (4) unlock calls, nine (9) traffic complaints, one (1) assault and one (1) indecent behavior. For the month, there were 103 total complaints, 292 total citations and 489 total violations.

Correspondence: None

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Rhodes reported on the progress being made on the home at 429 Gwin Street, suggesting the Council extend the derelict hearing an additional three months.
Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Being the last meeting of the year, Council Member Andrè thanked the Police Department and the Planning & Zoning Commission for a good year. Andrè also thanked the public for their interest and attendance at the Town Council Meetings throughout the year.

Announcements:
Reflections of the Season at WBR Tourist Center will be held December 7th through December 23rd.
The Town Hall will be closed for Christmas on December 25th and 26th.
The Town Hall will be closed Monday January 1st for New Years.
The Town Committee meeting will be held Tuesday January 2nd at 6:30 pm.
The Landmark & Heritage meeting will be held January 22nd at 6:30 pm.

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 7:09 PM.

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