Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, July 9, 2012

July 9, 2012

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, July 9, 2012 at the Brusly Town Hall.
Council Member Olinde led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:

Mayor: Joey Normand
Council Members: Thomas Olinde, Joanne Bourgeois, Landess Hebert, Don Neisler
Town Attorney: Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Absent: Shane André

Mayor Normand introduced Parish President Riley Berthelot and his assistant Jason Manola.
Jason Manola narrated a power point presentation on WBR Parish drainage problems and solutions to those problems. After the presentation, Mr. Manola answered questions from the public. After all questions were answered Mayor Normand expressed his appreciation to Riley Berthelot, Jason Manola and their staff for the wonderful job they do in the drainage department.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of June 11, 2012, was made by Council Member Hebert and seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s special meeting of June 14, 2012, was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member Olinde. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee:
Upon the Mayor’s recommendation, a motion to authorize Mayor Normand to sign an agreement to be included in the WBR Parish culvert purchase contract was made by Council Member Hebert; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments the motion passed unanimously.

Upon Mayor Normand’s recommendation, a motion to approve Orleans West Plan Change #1 was made by Council Member Neisler; seconded by Council Member Hebert. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments the motion passed unanimously.

Planning and Zoning Committee:
Upon the recommendation of the Planning & Zoning Commission a motion to grant the variance request for Non Compliance Sec. 19.32.1 Zoning District R-1- Minimum Width for Lot B-1-A-1: “Final Plat Showing the Re-subdivision of Property Designated as Lot A & Lot B-1-A of the Original Joe Tuminello Property into Lots B-1-A-1 & B-1-A-2 for Gordon & Richard Hebert” was made by Council Member Neisler; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments a roll call was had with the following results:
Yeas: Bourgeois, Neisler, Olinde
Nays: None
Absent: André
Recused: Hebert

Upon the recommendation of the Planning & Zoning Commission, a motion to grant the variance request for Non Compliance Sec. 19.32.1 Zoning District R-1- Minimum side setback for Lot B-1-A-1: “Final Plat Showing the Re-subdivision of Property Designated as Lot A & Lot B-1-A of the Original Joe Tuminello Property into Lots B-1-A-1 & B-1-A-2 for Gordon & Richard Hebert” was made by Council Member Olinde; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments a roll call was had with the following results:
Yeas: Neisler, Olinde, Bourgeois
Nays: None
Absent: André
Recused: Hebert

Upon the recommendation of the Planning & Zoning Commission, a motion to approve the “Final Plat Showing the Re-subdivision of Property Designated as Lot A & Lot B-1-A of the Original Joe Tuminello Property into Lots B-1-A-1 & B-1-A-2 for Gordon & Richard Hebert” was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Olinde. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments a roll call was had with the following results:
Yeas: Olinde, Bourgeois, Neisler
Nays: None
Absent: André
Recused: Hebert

A variance request by Adam & Desiree’ Pizzolato, 153 Oakbend Drive, to allow construction of a fence over the drainage servitude was favorably recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. A motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Olinde. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments the motion passed unanimously.

Upon Mayor Normand’s recommendation, a motion to approve the appointment of Patricia Gaudet as Planning & Zoning and Landmark & Heritage Secretary, retroactive to June 20, 2012 was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Olinde. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments the motion passed unanimously.

Finance Committee: None
Personnel Committee: None
Recreation Committee: None

Police Committee:
Bill Beatty of Growing Green presented his appeal of the nuisance violation of dust from his commercial establishment. Mr. Beatty described the steps he has taken to alleviate the dust problem which include the installation of a sprinkler system and the construction of a fence.
Mayor Normand opened the floor to public comment. Members of the community, Elton Higginbotham, Lucy Higginbotham and Monica Hebert expressed concerns about continued dust problem. They also asked questions about the Town’s Ordinances concerning types of fence materials and buffer zones surrounding commercial establishment. After a brief discussion by the Council a motion to deny the appeal was made by Council Member Olinde; seconded by Council Member Neisler. A roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Olinde, Neisler
Nays: None
Abstained: Bourgeois
Recused: Hebert
Absent: André
The appeal failed.

Council Member Shane André arrived at the meeting at 7:20pm.
Upon the recommendation of Police Chief Whaley, a motion to approve Cody Ash as a Reserve Officer contingent upon passing of the Matrix Test was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Olinde. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments the motion passed unanimously.

Upon the recommendation of Police Chief Whaley, a motion to approve Dylan Hood as a Reserve Officer contingent upon passing of the Matrix Test 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.

Governmental Affair Committee:
Upon the recommendation of Mayor Normand a motion to reappoint Addie Crochet to the Water Board was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Neisler. The Mayor opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments the motion passed unanimously.

Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None
Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances: None

Introduction of Ordinances:
Ordinance #7 of 2012 – Derelict Buildings was introduced by Council Member Hebert.
Ordinance #8 of 2012 – Chapter 19 Article A – General was introduced by Council Member Bourgeois.
Ordinance #6 of 2012 – Request: Re-Zoning from R-1 (Single-Family Residential) to B-1 (Transition) Property Designated as Lot A & Lot B-1-A of the original Joe Tuminello Property into Lots B-1-A-1 & B-1-A-2 for Gordon & Richard Hebert was introduced by Council Member Olinde.

Resolutions and Commendations: None

Fire Department Report:
Fire Chief Alleman gave the Fire Chief’s report for June. There were seventeen (17) first aid calls inside the Town and fifteen (15) outside of Town. There were no fires inside or outside of Town. There was one (1) vehicle fire and two (2) natural gas leaks. There were three (3) motor vehicle crashes and three (3) assists to other agencies. The total calls for the month were thirty-six (36). The total for the year is one hundred ninety-two (192).

Police Department Report:
Report for the month of June was given by Chief Whaley. There were six (6) wrecks, four (4) bench warrant arrests, one (1) battery, one (1) theft, one (1) alarm, three (3) assists to other agencies, one (1) juvenile matter, seven (7) traffic arrests and four (4) miscellaneous calls. For the month’s total, there were 28 calls, 109 citations and 135 violations.

Correspondence: None

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Normand attended the Town’s Annual Training Meeting in preparation of Hurricane Season. The Mayor also attended a CRPC meeting, the 80th birthday party for former Brusly Police Chief L.J. Berthelot and the LMA District meeting along with Council Member Bourgeois and Council Member Neisler. Mayor Normand gave a brief update on progress of Orleans West Subdivision. The Mayor attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for Deric’s Heating & Air.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Council Member Bourgeois attended a reception for Father Matt Dupré, and presented a certificate and a key on behalf of the Mayor and Council.

Mayor Normand announced there would be an unofficial committee made up of Council Member Neisler, Council Member Hebert, Wayne Delapasse and DeeDee Hayden to study bush pickup procedures and make improvement recommendations.

Announcements:
There will be a Landmark & Heritage Meeting July 16th at 6:30 pm, Town Hall Chambers.

A motion was made by Council Member Olinde to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Neisler. The motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM.

_____________________ _________________________
Joey Normand, Mayor Debbie Berthelot, Town Clerk