March 11, 2024 Town of Brusly Brusly, Louisiana The regular meeting of the Town of…
Town Meeting Minutes – December 2020
December 14, 2020
Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana
The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was called to order this date, December 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:
Mayor Rhodes presented 1st Place ,2019 LMA Community Achievement Award Plaques to each Council Members for the Town’s Bike Share Program. Mayor Rhodes thanked the Council for their support of the program.
Mayor Rhodes presented a Service Award Plaque to Council Member Richard in appreciation for his dedicated service to the Town of Brusly from 2013 to 2020. Council Member Richard thanked Mayor Rhodes and the Council for allowing him to serve with them for the last 8 years and also thanked the citizens of the Town of Brusly for allowing him to serve this wonderful community. Council Member Richard thanked the Police Department for doing a wonderful job during his time serving on the Police Committee. Richard also thanked Council Members, Attorney Acosta, Town Clerk Rabalais and the Town Hall Staff for all their help and support during his 8 years of service.
A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of November 9, 2020, as written, was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Daigle. 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 November was included in the meeting packets for Council Members to review.
Margaret Pritchard of Baxley & Associates presented the 2019/2020 Audit report to the Council.
Upon completion of the Audit Report, a motion to accept the Audit was made by Council Member Neisler; seconded by Council member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Upon recommendation of Mayor Rhodes, a motion to approve Liquor Licenses for the following businesses: Athenos, Back Brusly Grocery Oaks LLC; JW Food Mart; Lit Pizza; La. Bayou Bistro; Rio Cantina and Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar, was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Daigle. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Upon the recommendation of Assistant Chief Southon, a motion to approve the Police Report Management software contract with E-Force, having a startup cost of $30,486.71 and annual cost of $4,573.01, increasing 2% a year for 5 years, was made by Council Member Richard; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Public Works Committee:
Mayor Rhodes read the Public Works Report, as prepared by Public Works Supervisor Shane Sarradet, for the month of November. There were 4.4 inches of rainfall in the month; no drainage issues; 4 SCADA alarms; 0 “out of compliance” test result on the Sewer Treatment Facility;1 culvert program completed; a catch basin installed at St. James triangle; took delivery on new Town truck; 4 nuisance letters went out; 2 Landmark Plaques were installed on Lee Dr; Flags were taken down and Christmas decorations are being put in place.
Regular bulk trash will be picked up the week of December 9, 2020. The extra trash pickup TBD.
Planning and Zoning Committee:
Mayor Rhodes read aloud the variance request of Ricky Tullier Sr. at 229 Hebert St. for non-compliance of Sec. 19.31.1 Zoning District R-1 Rear Setback, to reduce the setback from10’ to 5’ to build an accessory structure. Having presented the original signed letter of no objection from the adjoining neighbor and having been unanimously recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission, a motion to approve the variance was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Mayor Rhodes opened the Public Hearing for the Preliminary Plat Showing Survey & Subdivision of Lots 7-B & 8, being the Rita Babin Property, into Lots 8-A through 8-K located in Sec. 16, T-8-S, R-12-E, Southeast Land District, West of the Mississippi River, Town of Brusly, Parish of West Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana for Francois J. Boulanger. Mr. Boulanger described his plans for the property to the Council. Mr. Boulanger also explained the plan for drainage of the property. Upon the recommendation of Mayor Rhodes, a motion to approve the plat with the conditions that a15’ maintenance servitude be added to the plat and Owen & White approve the drainage study of the property, 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.
Mayor Rhodes presented a proposed cooperative endeavor agreement with West Baton Rouge Parish for permitting and inspections. Following discussion, it was determined that further research is needed in order to address the process.
Personnel Committee:
Following a recommendation from Mayor Rhodes, a motion to approve the prepared 2021 Holiday Schedule was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Recreation Committee:
Mayor Rhodes requested authorization to sign a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with WBR Parish School Board for the purpose of allocating budgeted recreational funds, as previously approved by the Town Council in the 2020-2021 Budget. A motion to approve was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Neisler. The Mayor opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Upon the recommendation of Mayor Rhodes, Council Member André offered a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign a contract with Premier Geotech in the amount of $4,630.00 for a geotechnical engineering study of subsurface materials at the Trailhead Park Project site. Council Member Bourgeois seconded the motion. The Mayor opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Police Committee: None
Governmental Affairs Committee:
There will be a Landmark & Heritage meeting January 25, 2021, at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall Chambers.
Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None
Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances: None
Introduction of Ordinances:
Council Member Bourgeois made a motion to amend the agenda to change the wording for item 9-A to Ordinance 1 of 2021 Rezoning of 653 E. Main; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the public hearing. Hearing no comments, Mayor Rhodes closed the public hearing. A roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas Daigle, Bourgeois, Richard, André, Neisler
Nays None
Absent None
Council Member Bourgeois introduced ordinance 1 of 2021 to rezone 653 E. Main St.
Resolutions:
Resolution 4 of 2020, to declare surplus the attached list of items for sale to the highest bidder at public auction or disposal, was recommended by Mayor Rhodes. A motion to approve was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Daigle. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of November was given by Assistant Chief Southon. There were ten (10) alarms, two (2) suspicious persons, fourteen (14) truancy investigations, one (1) hit and run, ten (10) miscellaneous complaints, seven (7) disturbances, thirteen (13) no insurance tows, nine (9) crash reports, three (3) medical, one (1) missing person, four (4) vehicle unlocks, one (1) drug related, one (1) identity theft and nine (9) public assists. For the month, there were 85 total complaints, 241 total citations and 325 total violations. Assistant Chief Southon thanked Council Member Richard for his many years of service.
Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Rhodes announced that the inauguration of the Town’s elected officials will be held at the January 4, 2021 Committee Meeting.
The Mayor reported that sales tax revenue was up for the month of November. Mayor Rhodes attended a zoom Vaccine Meeting with Homeland Security and learned that the Parish has not received any Vaccines yet but expect to receive them soon.
Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Council Member Bourgeois thanked Mr. Richard for his support, his common sense and his dedication during his time serving as a Council Member for the Town of Brusly. Council Members André, Neisler and Daigle also thanked Council Member Richard for his service.
Announcements:
The Town Hall will be closed December 24th, 25th and January 1st for the Holidays.
A motion was made by Council Member Richard to adjourn; seconded by Council Member André. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 PM.
/s/Scot Rhodes, Mayor /s/Blaine Rabalais, Town Clerk
