Town Meeting Minutes – June 2025

June 9, 2025
Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was called to order this date, June 9, 2025, at the Brusly Town Hall, at 6:30 p.m., by Mayor Rhodes. Council Member Tassin led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:
Mayor: Scot Rhodes
Council Members: Rusty Daigle, Blake Tassin, Mike Chustz, Chris Kershaw
Town Attorney: Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Absent: Sheri Young

Recognitions & Commendations:
At the direction of Mayor Rhodes, Council Member Chustz, also the head of WBR Parish EMS, recognized and thanked Breanne & Kameron Leblanc for stopping and assisting a fallen neighbor while passing by.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of May 12, 2025, was made by Council Member Chustz; seconded by Council Member Tassin. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee:
Mayor Rhodes read the Public Works Report for the month of May, prepared by Public Works Supervisor Shane Sarradet. There were 7.5 inches of rainfall in the month; 1 SCADA alarm at our wastewater lift stations; 0 “Out of Compliance” test results at our Sewer Treatment Facility; 1 pump was pulled, cleaned and will be reinstalled at Brusly Oaks Station; 1 ARV was repaired on Force Main to lagoon; Several catch basin washouts were repaired in Brusly Oaks Subdivision and the end of River Mill Dr.; Street repairs on Live Oak. (2 potholes were filled); New plants were installed at St. James Park; Lemna Boat was inspected by the Town of Morganza and will be picked up in June; One electronic speed sign on Orleans Quarters has been repaired; Flags on LA 1 will continue to fly through July 4th.
Waste Pro roadside debris pickup is scheduled for the week of June 9th.

Mayor Rhodes opened the public hearing to Consider Derelict property on South side of 165 Anita St. and invited the owner, Ms. Normique Butler to speak. After discussion a motion to declare the property derelict and revisit the issue in 90 days to assess removal progress, was made by Council Member Chustz; seconded by Council Member Daigle. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was had with the following results.
Yeas: Daigle, Tassin, Chustz
Nays: Kershaw
Absent: Young

Planning and Zoning Committee: None

Finance Committee:
Mayor Rhodes noted that the “Budget to Actual Comparison Report” for May, in the meeting packets, is available for Council Members to review.

A motion to move item b. Consider Authorizing the Mayor to sign Service Agreements for Technology Services, to after Hearing & Final Action on Ordinances, was made by Council Member Tassin; seconded by Council Member Daigle. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was had with the following results.
Yeas: Tassin, Chustz, Kershaw, Daigle
Nays: None
Absent: Young

Personnel Committee:
Upon the recommendation of Police Chief Lefeaux, a motion to hire Walker Riley III as a full-time police officer at the rate of $22.51 an hour, retroactive to May 17, 2025 was made by Council Member Kershaw; seconded by Council Member Chustz. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Upon the recommendation of Police Chief Lefeaux, a motion to hire Corey Miller as a full-time police officer at the rate of $22.51 an hour, retroactive to June 1, 2025 was made by Council Member Tassin; seconded by Council Member Chustz. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Mayor Rhodes read aloud from a statement written by Police Chief Lefeaux giving Assistant Chief Southon authority to act on his behalf on the matter of proposed hiring & termination of officers, limited to June 9, 2025. Mayor Rhodes reported that Chief Lefeaux was in the hospital.

Assistant Police Chief Southon, speaking on behalf of Police Chief Lefeaux recommended the termination of Sergeant Jordan Zachary on the grounds that Sergeant Zachary violated numerous Town policies and procedures. After Asst. Chief Southon summarized the infractions, Julie Quin, representing Sergeant Zachary, gave a brief statement denying the allegations and stated there were no grounds for termination. Upon the recommendation of Chief Lefeaux, a motion to terminate Sergeant Zachary effective June 9, 2025, was made by Council Member Daigle; seconded by Council Member Tassin. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was had with the following results.
Yeas: Chustz, Kershaw, Daigle, Tassin,
Nays: None
Absent: Young

Recreation Committee: None
Police Committee: None
Governmental Affairs Committee: None
Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None
Hearing & Final Action on Ordinances:
Ordinance 2 of 2025, to amend the appropriations Ordinance of 2024-2025; to provide relative to appropriations for the income and expenses of the Town, was read aloud and opened for Public Hearing by Mayor Rhodes. Hearing no comments from the public, Mayor Rhodes directed the issue to the Council for consideration. A motion to adopt Ordinance 2 of 2025, as discussed, was made by Council Member Kershaw; seconded by Council Member Chustz. A roll call vote was had with the following result:
Yeas: Kershaw, Daigle, Tassin, Chustz
Nays: None
Absent: Young

Ordinance 3 of 2025, to amend the appropriations Ordinance of 2024-2025; to provide relative to appropriations for the income and expenses of the Sewer, was read aloud and opened for Public Hearing by Mayor Rhodes. Hearing no comments from the public, Mayor Rhodes directed the issue to the Council for consideration. A motion to adopt Ordinance 3 of 2025, as discussed, was made by Council Member Tassin; seconded by Council Member Daigle. A roll call vote was had with the following result:
Yeas: Daigle, Tassin, Chustz, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: Young

Ordinance 4 of 2025,
Mayor Rhodes read aloud Ordinance 4 of 2025, to make appropriations for the expenses of the Town of Brusly for 2025-2026 and to provide relative to the expenditure of said appropriations. Mayor Rhodes opened the public hearing. After the discussion, the Mayor closed the public hearing and directed the matter to the Council. Council Member Kershaw moved to approve the Budget; seconded by Council Member Chustz. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Tassin, Chustz, Kershaw, Daigle
Nays: None
Absent: Young

Ordinance 5 of 2025, to make appropriations for the expenses of the Town of Brusly Sewer System for 2025-2026 and to provide relative to the expenditure of said appropriations, was read aloud and opened for Public Hearing by Mayor Rhodes. Hearing no comments from the public, Mayor Rhodes directed the issue to the Council for consideration. A motion to adopt Ordinance 5 of 2025 was made by Council Member Tassin; seconded by Council Member Chustz. A roll call vote was had with the following result:
Yeas: Chustz, Kershaw, Daigle, Tassin
Nays: None
Absent: Young

Upon the recommendation of Mayor Rhodes, a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign a contract with AME for IT services, was made by Council Member Chustz; seconded by Council Member Tassin. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Upon the recommendation of Mayor Rhodes, a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign a contract with Ring Central for telephone services, was made by Council Member Chustz; seconded by Council Member Kershaw. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Upon the recommendation of Mayor Rhodes, a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign a contract with AT&T Network integration Services managed by FatPipe Router Service for internet service, was made by Council Member Tassin; seconded by Council Member Chustz. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Introduction of Ordinances: None
Resolutions: None
Police Department Report:
The Police Department Report for the month of May was given by Assist. Chief Southon. There were ten (10) agency assist, five (5) alarms, two (2) assaults, one (1) crime prevention, two (2) damage to property, one (1) death, ten (10) disturbances, one (1) harassment, three (3) juvenile problems, twelve (12) medical, two (2) mental subjects, one (1) no insurance tow, four (4) ordinance violations, one (1) other crimes against person, two (2) property watch, one (1) public peace, four (4) public services, one (1) security check, five (5) suspicious, nine (9) traffic accidents, eight (8) traffic problems, four (4) unlocks, five (5) warrants and three (3) welfare checks. For the month, there were 97 total events, 131 total citations and 163 total violations.

There were 2 stolen vehicles, 4 stolen plates and 4 warrants alerted by the Flock System.

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Rhodes gave a brief update on the Sewer Pond Cover project. Mayor Rhodes announced that there will be the LMA District H meeting held in Addis on June 17th.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Ms. Tammy Martin of the WBR Parish Library gave a brief outline of activities that will be held this summer at the South Branch of the WBR Parish Library.

Announcements:
Town Hall will be closed for Independence Day, Friday, July 4, 2025.

Council Member Tassin made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Chustz. Hearng no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting was adjourned at 7:53 pm.

________________________ _________________________
Scot Rhodes, Mayor Blaine Rabalais, Town Clerk