Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, January 12, 2009

January 12, 2009

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, January 12, 2009 at the Brusly Town Hall.

Council Member Bourgeois led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:

Council Members: Thomas Olinde, Joanne Bourgeois, Landess Hebert,
Shane Andre’, Chris Kershaw
Town Attorney: Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Mayor: Joey Normand

Mayor Normand invited nominations for Mayor Tempore. Council Member Bourgeois was nominated for Mayor Tempore by Council Member Kershaw; seconded by Council Member André.. The appointment was passed with a unanimous vote.

Mayor Normand recommended appointment of Debbie Berthelot for the position of Town Clerk. A motion to approve was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Hebert. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Mayor Normand recommended appointment of Thomas Acosta, Jr. for the position of Town Attorney. A motion to approve was made by Council Member AndréAndre’; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Mayor Normand read the following list of his recommendations for assignment of committee members and chairpersons:
Committees
Finance
Chairperson: Chris “Fish” Kershaw
Members: Thomas Olinde
Landess Hebert
Public Works
Chair: Shane Andre’
Members: Landess Hebert
Joanne Bourgeois
Recreation
Chair: Shane Andre’
Members: Joanne Bourgeois
Thomas Olinde
Police
Chair: Thomas Olinde
Members: Landess Hebert
Joanne Bourgeois
Personnel
Chair: Landess Hebert
Members: Chris “Fish” Kershaw
Joanne Bourgeois
Governmental Affairs
Chair: Joanne Bourgeois
Members: Chris “Fish” Kershaw
Shane Andre’
Planning and Zoning
Chair: Chris “Fish” Kershaw
Members: Thomas Olinde
Shane Andre’
Council Member André made the motion to approve theThe written list as presentedwas approved upon a motion by Council Member Andre’; seconded by Council Member Olinde. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s Regular Meeting of December 8, 2008 was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member André.Andre’. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee: None

Planning and Zoning:
Mayor Normand recommended the appointment of Council Member Hebert and Council Member Olinde to fill the two vacancies on the Board of Adjustments. A motion to approve was made by Council Member AndréAndre’; seconded by Council Member Kershaw. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Finance Committee: None

Personnel Committee: None

Recreation Committee: None

Police Committee:
Chief Whaley recommended Darren Hernandez for the position of Auxiliary Police Officer. A motion to approve was made by Council Member AndréAndre’; seconded by Council Member Olinde. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Chief Whaley recommended Travis Anderson for the position of Auxiliary Police Officer. A motion to approve was made by Council Member Olinde; seconded by Council Member Kershaw. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Chief Whaley recommended Brett Cavalier for the position of Auxiliary Police Officer. A motion to approve was made by Council Member AndréAndre’; seconded by Council Member Olinde. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Grant Committee:
Council Member Bourgeois gave an update on the sales of Brusly Landmark books. $3,408.00 has been collected to date for book sales.& Heritage Books. The total book sales to date equal $3,408.00.
Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None

Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances: None

Introduction of Ordinances:
Council Member Bourgeois introduced an ordinance to amend and re-enact Chapter 19.

Resolutions and Commendations:
Resolution #1 of 2009 to Authorize the Removal of an Abandoned Motor Vehicle at 239 Anita St. was recommended by Attorney Thomas Acosta Jr. The motion to authorize was made by Council Member AndréAndre’; seconded by Council Member Hebert. A roll count vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: André;Andre’, Bourgeois, Hebert, Kershaw, Olinde
Nays: None
Absent: None
Resolution #2 of 2009 to Authorize the Removal of Abandoned Motor Vehicles now located in the rear of 150 E. St. Francis St. was recommended by Attorney Thomas Acosta Jr. The motion to authorize was made by Council Member AndréAndre’; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. A roll count vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Bourgeois, Hebert, Kershaw, Olinde, AndréAndre’
Nays: None
Absent: None

Fire Department:
Fire Chief Alleman gave the Fire Chief’s report for December. There were nine (9) first aid calls inside the Town and seven (7) outside of Town. There were no fire calls inside or outside the Town. There were five (5) false alarm investigations. There was one (1) bagass fire and one (1) trash fire. There were four (4) motor vehicle crashes and two (2) mutual aid calls. The total calls for the month were twenty nine (29). Total calls year to date are four hundred fifty six (456).

Police Department:
Report for the month of was given by Chief Whaley. There were six (6) wrecks, nine (9) bench warrant arrests, five (5) battery, four (4) damage to property, three (3) disturbing the peace, three (3) thefts, one alarm, nine (9) assists to other agencies, two (2) juvenile matters, nine (9) traffic arrests, eighteen (18) miscellaneous calls and one (1) Domestic call. There were a total of 61 calls, 97 citations and 139 violations.

Correspondence:
Mayor Normand read aloud a letter from the WBR Water Board Dist. #2 concerning the office hours available for calls on reconnections, with the recommendation that Water District personnel not be contacted at home regarding
disconnection concerns.

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Normand attended a breakfast given by the Chamber of Commerce with the discussion topic of the status of WBR Parish Schools. The Mayor gave a summary of a phone call he made to the Levee Board requesting information on the elevation of the levee today compared to when it was built. Mayor Normand received a letter from the ethics commission dropping the ethics charge made against him concerning his involvement in obtaining information on the occupancy of a residence in the Town of Brusly. The Mayor reported on the investigation into stolen diesel fuel from the Town of Brusly during the Hurricane Gustav disaster. No charges were brought against anyone and the case was closed. Mayor Normand read aloud from a 1934 newspaper article from Marksville reporting on the problems the city was having with citizens removing unsightly weeds and garbage from their property.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Fire Chief Alleman complimented the Citizens of the Town of Brusly for following the Town’s fireworks and burn ordinances during the Holiday season. Due to compliance with the ordinances, Chief Alleman reported only one fireworks related call outside the Town limits.
As a result of a citizen’sCitizen’s request for consideration of an ordinance banningfor horses in the Town, a discussion was held amongbetween the Mayor, Council Members and citizensCitizens concerning horses in the Town of Brusly.

Announcements:
Town Hall Closed – -January 19th-Civil Rights Day
Town of Brusly Landmark & Heritage Commission meeting Monday, January 26th at 6:30 p.m.

A motion was made by Council Member AndréAndre’ to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Olinde. The motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

_____________________ _______________________
Joey Normand, Mayor Debbie Berthelot, Town Clerk