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Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, June 11, 2007

June 11, 2007

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, June 11, 2007, at the Brusly Town Hall. Mayor Joey Normand called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Council Member Bourgeois led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:
Mayor: Joey Normand
Council Members: David Rodrigue, Ronda Perrault,
Joanne Bourgeois, Shane Andre’, Chris Kershaw
Town Attorney: Thomas Acosta, Jr.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s Regular Meeting of May 14, 2007 was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member Perrault; motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works: None

Planning and Zoning: None

Finance Committee: None

Recreation Committee: None

Police Committee: None

Grant Committee: None
Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None

Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances: Mayor Normand read aloud and opened a Public Hearing regarding Ordinance #2-Chapter 19 changes relative to Detention Ponds. Mr. George “Skipper” Grady commented on wording in the Ordinance. There being no further comments from the audience, the hearing was closed and the matter was discussed by the Council. Council Member Kershaw suggested that there be a change in the minimum requirement when a determination on a detention pond should be installed from a half acre (1/2) of land to one (1) acre of land. A motion was made by Council Member Kershaw to adopt Ordinance #2-Detention Ponds with the change from one half (1/2) acre to one (1) acre; seconded by Council Member Andre’. A roll call vote was had with the following:

Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, Andre’, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None
The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Mayor Normand made a recommendation to leave the Swimming Pool Definition as it reads. Council Member Kershaw made a motion to leave the Swimming Pool Definition as it reads. The motion was seconded by Council Member Andre’. A roll call vote was had with the following results:

Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, Andre’, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None
The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Mayor Normand pointed out some changes that were made to the proposed Town Budget before opening the public hearing. The Mayor read aloud and opened the public hearing regarding Ordinance #4-Budget Appropriations for the Town. Mr. Grady requested the Council consider paving Blanchard Street. Hearing no further comments from the audience, the hearing was closed and the matter was discussed by the Council. The Mayor re-opened the public hearing to discuss the Police pay raises request. There were no comments from the public therefore, the public hearing was closed. Council Member Bourgeois expressed that she had no problem approving his request, but that the clerical worker should receive a six (6%) percent raise being given to Town office staff per the Mayor’s request.
She also asked if the salary for Inspector should be included since the Chief is now performing those duties. Council Member Kershaw made a motion to approve Ordinance #4-Budget Appropriations with all the following changes: adding $7,000 to Grants-Homeland Security, adding $3,000 to Police Equipment Purchases, subtracting $2,500 from Police Supplies, subtracting $5,000 from Maintenance Supplies, adding $3,000 to Maintenance Equipment Purchases, subtracting $5,000 from Administration Benefits, and subtracting $2,400 from Administration Office Machines, adding $4,000 to Administration Equipment Purchases, grants the salaries for the Police Department per the Chief’s request with the exception of the salary for Inspector being removed and add $4,800 for a potential raise for the Mayor. The motion was seconded by Council Member Andre’.
A roll call vote was had with the following:

Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Andre’, Kershaw
Nays: Bourgeois
Absent: None
The motion passed with four in favor and one opposed.

Mayor Normand read aloud and opened a Public Hearing regarding Ordinance #5-Budget Appropriations for the Sewer System. There were no comments heard from the public so the public hearing was closed and after a brief discussion between the Council a motion was made Council Member Perrault.
The motion to approve Ordinance #2-Budget Appropriations for the Sewer System was seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. A roll call vote was had with the following:

Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, Andre’, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None
The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

The Mayor read aloud and opened the public hearing on Ordinance #6-Renumbering and Wording Clarifications. There was a lengthy discussion regarding Wording Clarifications addressing some fears of certain residents. The public hearing was closed and the meeting was turned over to the Council for further discussion. Council Member Bourgeois stated that there is no intent to put hardship on any residential property with the proposed wording. Council Member Andre’ made a motion to approve Ordinance #6- Wording Clarifications; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. A roll call vote was had with the following:

Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, Andre’, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None
The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Council Member Perrault made a motion to adhere to the Mayor’s recommendation to vote against renumbering Chapter 19 in the Ordinance. The motion was seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. A roll call vote was had with the following:

Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, Andre’, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None
The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

The Mayor read aloud and a public hearing was opened to discuss Ordinance #7-Grass Cutting Notices. There were comments heard from Mr. Carroll Fontenot expressing that everyone within the Town limits should abide by the ordinance of cutting their grass if it exceeds 12 inches. Mr. Darrel Jones commented that he was disappointed since the Ordinance was not upheld in a previous case. Mr. Grady stated that the Council should abide by the Town’s Ordinance and State Statues. A motion to approve Ordinance #7-Grass Cutting Notices was made by Council Member Perrault and seconded by Council Member Kershaw. A roll call vote was had with the following:

Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, Andre’, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None
The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Introduction of Ordinances: Council Member Andre’ introduced an Ordinance to increase the Chief of Police salary from $36,000 to $40,000 a year.
Council Member Andre’ introduced an Ordinance to increase the Mayor’s salary from $1,600 a month to $2,000 a month.

Resolutions and Commendations: A motion to accept Resolution #5-Authorizing the Mayor to purchase three portable Astro Digital Police Radios was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member Perrault. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Council Member Bourgeois made a motion to name the West Side Journal as the Town Official Journal. The motion was seconded by Council Member Andre’ and passed with a unanimous vote.

Fire Department: Fire Chief Alleman gave the report for May. There were 14 first aid calls outside the Town and eight first aid calls inside the Town. There were no fires outside or inside the Town. There were three investigations inside the Town and two trash fires. There were two motor vehicle crashes outside Town and four motor vehicle crashes inside Town; seven mutual aid call to Addis and three investigations. Total calls for the month were 41 and 176 calls for the year.

Police Department: Report for the month of May was given by Chief Whaley. He stated that there were eight wrecks, 11 assistance to other agencies, 23 traffic arrests, two alarms, two thefts, two damage to property, two disturbing the peace, two bench warrants, one domestic call, one 911 call and 20 miscellaneous calls. There were 12 juvenile matters, for a total of 84 calls and 439 citations for the month.

Correspondence: The Mayor shared a letter from a young lady who is incarcerated and was conscientious enough to write him a letter expressing her desire to take care of her traffic ticket.

Mayor’s Report: He received information on grants that the Town is eligible to receive. He gathered some information for an Engineering firm to do a drainage study on the end of Allene Street.

Remarks of Personal Privilege: Council Member Bourgeois reminded those present of the June 21st State Review Meeting date to consider placing the Brusly Middle School Gym on the National Register of Historic Places. She also stated that the responsible parties will be reminded
to put up the American flags on LA Highway I for July 4th.

Announcements: Town Hall will be closed on July 4th for Independence Day.

A motion was made by Council Member Perrault to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Andre’. The motion passed with a unanimous vote; the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

___________________ _________________________
Joey Normand, Mayor Debbie Berthelot, Town Clerk

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