Skip to content

Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, January 12, 2015

January 12, 2015

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, January 12, 2015 at the Brusly Town Hall.
Council Member André led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:

Mayor: Joey Normand
Council Members: Scot Rhodes, Joanne Bourgeois, Terry Richard, Shane André, Don Neisler
Town Attorney: Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Absent: None

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of December 8, 2014, was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member Rhodes. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee:
A motion to approve the design presented by Mayor Normand, for a new sign at the entrance to Town limits was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Richard. The Mayor opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Upon the request of Mayor Normand, a motion to amend the agenda, to include consideration of Police Station Project change order #5, was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. A roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: André, Bourgeois, Neisler, Rhodes, Richard
Nays: None
Absent: None
Upon the recommendation of the Mayor, a motion to approve change order #5 of the Police Station Project in the amount of $35,007.58 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 with a unanimous vote.

Planning and Zoning Committee:
Mayor Normand read aloud a Variance Request from DAGR, LLC for Non-Compliance – Sec. 19.18 (f) Utilities, (1) Water & (2) Gas on size requirements for mains to be installed for Orleans West Subdivision 2nd Filing. Upon advice from WBRP Natural Gas & Water Systems recommending two inch water lines rather than the Town’s Ordinance requirement of eight inch lines, and one inch gas lines instead of four inch lines; also having been favorably recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission, a motion to approve the variance was made by Council Member André. The motion was seconded by Council Member Richard. The Mayor opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Bourgeois, Neisler, Rhodes, Richard, André
Nays: None
Absent: None

Finance Committee:
Upon the recommendation of Chief Lefeaux, a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign a GPS contract with Mobile Monitoring, was made by Council Member Richard; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments the motion passed unanimously.

Personnel Committee:
Upon Mayor Normand’s recommendation, a motion to adopt the revised employee personnel manual, as presented, was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments the motion passed unanimously.

Recreation Committee: None

Police Committee:
Chief Lefeaux made a recommendation to hire Gwen Cacioppo as a Police Officer with the rank of Corporal, at the rate of $17.00 an hour, retroactive from December 22, 2014. Chief Lefeaux explained that Ms Cacioppo was POST Certified and met all other certification requirements. A motion to approve the recommendation was made by Council Member Richard; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Upon the recommendation of Chief Lefeaux, a motion to promote Thomas Southon to the rank of Captain with the pay rate of $19.59 an hour, effective January 12, 2015, was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member André. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Upon the recommendation of Chief Lefeaux, a motion to increase the pay rate of Officer Kasey Parault to $16.60 an hour, effective January 12, 2015, was made by Council Member Richard; seconded by Council Member André. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Governmental Affair Committee:
Council Member Bourgeois noted that during discussion at the October meeting of the Landmark & Heritage Commission, Chairman Jim Rills reminded the members that the Commission only recommends actions to the Town Council; the Council then votes on the matters.

Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None

Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances:
A motion to table Ordinance 1 of 2015 – Chapter 4, Personnel was made by Council Member Rhodes; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Introduction of Ordinances:
Council Member André introduced Ordinance 2 of 2015 – 2014/2015 Budget Adjustments – Town.
Council Member Neisler introduced Ordinance 3 of 2015 – 2014/2015 Budget Adjustment – Sewer.

Resolutions and Commendations: None

Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of December was given by Chief Lefeaux. There were eight (8) wrecks and two (2) alarms. There were three (3) calls for assistance from other agencies, one (1) juvenile matter, thirteen (13) traffic arrests and sixteen (16) miscellaneous calls. For the month’s total, there were 43 calls, 183 citations and 227 violations.

Chief Lefeaux announced that Officer Ned Robertson would be retiring from the Brusly Police Department in the month of April.

Correspondence: None

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Normand thanked Council Member Bourgeois for organizing the Arbor Day Ceremony which was held December 11, 2014. Mayor Normand reported on maintenance which had been done around Town. The Mayor took part on the committee that judged the Student of the Year.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Council Member Bourgeois reported on the Arbor Day ceremony at Alexander Park on December 11, 2014 when four golden rain trees were planted. Wayne Delapasse, Maintenance Supervisor led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the Arbor Day Proclamation read by Mayor Normand. Sheila Goins, Keep WBR Beautiful Board Member, read the poem “Trees,” by Harry Behn. Comments were given by Mary Delapasse, outgoing Executive Director of Keep WBR Beautiful, Clara Olinde, WBR Parks & Recreation, and Council Member Bourgeois. Thanks were given to all Maintenance Staff, Town Clerk Debbie Berthelot, and to Patricia Thibodaux who coordinates administrative requirements for maintaining “Tree City” designation for the Town.

Announcements:
The Town Hall will be closed January 19, 2015 in observance of Civil Rights Day.
The Landmark & Heritage Commission meeting will be held January 26, 2015 at 6:30 PM.

A motion was made by Council Member André to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:55 PM.

/s/Joey Normand, Mayor /s/Debbie Berthelot, Town Clerk

Back To Top