Town Meeting Minutes – December 2019

December 9, 2019
Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was called to order this date, December 9, 2019, at the Brusly Town Hall, at 6:30 p.m. Council Member Bourgeois 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

Mayor Rhodes called for a moment of silence for recently deceased Robert “Bobby” Purnell who was the first African- American to serve on the Brusly Town Council. Mr. Purnell served from 1972 – 1992.

Recognitions & Commendations: None

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of November 11, 2019, as written, was made by Council Member Neisler and seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Finance Committee:
Margaret Pritchard of Baxley & Associates presented the 2018/2019 Audit report to the Council.
Upon completion of the Audit Report, a motion to accept the Audit was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council member André. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

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

Upon recommendation of Mayor Rhodes, a motion to approve Liquor Licenses for Athenos, Back Brusly Grocery LLC, JW Food Mart, Las Palmas, La. Bayou Bistro and Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar was made by Council Member Daigle; seconded by Council Member Neisler. 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 2.3 inches of rainfall in the month; no drainage issues reported or observed; 3 SCADA alarms sounded; one “out of compliance” test result was noted at the sewer treatment facility; one culvert program was completed on Ory Drive; 685’ of open ditch and culverts were cleaned on Allene Street; 260’ of open ditch and culverts were cleaned at the rear of Live Oak Dr.; one “no time lost” incident was recorded for the Maintenance Department.

Mayor Rhodes read aloud from the New Brusly High School Drainage Impact Study which included plans to utilize dry detention ponds, resulting in no adverse impact to neighboring developments. A photo was projected to show the path of sewage from the new high school to the sewer pond, via a force main installed parallel to Live Oak on the property of Oscar Denham. These comments were generated in response to concern from some Brusly residents regarding the issues.

Christmas decoration installation has begun.
Regular bulk trash will be picked up the week of December 9, 2019. The extra trash pickup will be Friday, December 27, 2019.

Planning and Zoning Committee: None
Recreation Committee: None
Personnel Committee:
Following a recommendation from Mayor Rhodes, a motion to approve the prepared 2020 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.

Upon the recommendation of Mayor Rhodes, a motion to move into Executive Session to discuss a litigation settlement was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. A roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas:              Bourgeois, Richard, André, Neisler, Daigle
Nays:             None
Absent:          None
The Council moved into executive session at 6:48 PM.

At 7:02 PM a motion to come out of executive session was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Richard. A roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas:         Richard, André, Neisler, Daigle, Bourgeois
Nays:        None
Absent:     None
As a result of Executive Session discussion and upon advice of Legal Counsel, a motion to authorize the Mayor to pay an invoice to RMI for a litigation settlement, was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Neisler. A roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas:          André, Neisler, Daigle, Bourgeois, Richard
Nays:         None
Absent:       None

Police Committee: None
Governmental Affairs Committee: None
Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None
Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances: None
Introduction of Ordinances: None
Resolutions: None

Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of November was given by SRO Jeremy Thompson. There were five (5) alarms, two (2) suspicious persons, one (1) violations of protective order, one (1) trespassing, seven (7) miscellaneous complaints, ten (10) disturbance calls, six (6) assist to other agencies, nine (9) no insurance tows, four (4) crash reports, one (1) criminal damage to property, two (2) 911 hang ups, two (2) unlock calls, four (4) traffic complaints, one (1) DWI, two (2) drug arrests, no thefts, two (2) battery calls, one (1) medical, one (1) physical inspection, one (1) warrant arrest and two (2) public assists. For the month, there were 64 total complaints, 258 total citations and 322 total violations.

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Rhodes reported that the US Government was now hiring personnel for the 2020 Census at a rate of $18.00 an hour. For more information, interested persons may access laworks.net or call (225)-687-0969.
Mayor Rhodes congratulated Town Clerk Blaine Rabalais on the 2018/2019 Audit results and for graduating the Clerk’s Institute.
The Mayor will be participating in interviews for WBR Parish Student of the Year.
Mayor Rhodes announced that he is investigating the reasons for the lowering of the Town’s fire rating and will report results to the Council.
Mayor Rhodes wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Council Member Bourgeois thanked the judges of the Veteran’s Day Essay Contest: Don Neisler; Rosa Stelly and Addie Crochet.

Council Member André thanked the other members of the Council for their really good service and a successful year.

Announcements:
All employees training will be Wednesday December 18th at 6:30 PM.
Planning & Zoning Meeting will be Wednesday December 18th at 6:30 PM.
Town Hall will be closed December 24th & 25th for Christmas.
Town Hall will be closed January 1st for New Year.

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 7:11 PM.

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