Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, May 11, 2015

May 11, 2015

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, May 11, 2015, at the Brusly Town Hall, at 6:30 p.m. Council Member Andrè 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 April 13, 2015, was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee: None

Planning and Zoning Committee:
Mayor Normand read aloud a Variance Request for Non-Compliance – Sec. 19.31.1 R-1 Single Family Residential, minimum lot width from 80 feet to 60 feet for Dane & Bonnie D’Armond at 501 N. LaBauve Ave. The Variance having been approved by the Board of Adjustments and favorably recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission, a motion to approve was made by Council Member Rhodes; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Normand opposed the variance because it reduced the remaining lot to only 40 feet of buildable width and the 15 foot side setback retained by the subdivider was excessive and unnecessary. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. After a brief discussion, a roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Rhodes, Richard, Bourgeois, Neisler
Nays: André
Absent: None

Mayor Normand presented the Final Plat of Map Showing Re-Subdivision of Tract A (501 N. LaBauve Ave.) into Tracts A-1 & A-2 Located in Section 55, T-8-S, R-12-E Southeastern Land District West of the Mississippi River Town of Brusly West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana for Dane & Bonnie D’Armond.
A motion to approve the subdivision as presented was made by Council Member Rhodes; seconded by Council Member Richard. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a majority vote, Council Member Andrè voting nay.

Mayor Normand read aloud a Variance Request for Non-Compliance – Sec. 19.6 Servitude Encroachment for Ryder Simoneaux at 2670 Orleans Quarters Dr. to build a patio. The Variance having been favorably recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission, a motion to approve was made by Council Member Andrè; seconded by Council Member Niesler. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Mayor Normand read aloud a Variance Request for Non-Compliance – Sec. 19.6 Servitude Encroachment for Tina Genusa at 3324 Orleans Quarters Dr. to build a patio. The Variance having been favorably recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission, a motion to approve was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Andrè. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Finance Committee:
Mayor Normand presented his 2015/2016 Town & Sewer budget messages to Council Members.

Personnel Committee: None
Recreation Committee: None
Police Committee: None

Governmental Affair Committee:
Council Member Bourgeois reported there was not a quorum at the April Landmark & Heritage Meeting. She also stated that pending applications will be addressed at the July 20th meeting of the Commission.

A motion to appoint the West Side Journal as the Official Journal of the Town was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comment, the motion passed unanimously.

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

Introduction of Ordinances:
Council Member Andrè introduced Ordinance __ of 2015 – General Funds 2015/2016 Budget.
Council Member Bourgeois introduced Ordinance __ of 2015 – Sewer 2015/2016 Budget.

Resolutions and Commendations:
Resolution __ of 2015- A motion to Discontinue Collection of Ad Valorem Taxes for the Year 2015 was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comment, the motion passed unanimously.

Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of April was given by Chief Lefeaux. There was one (1) 911 hang-up call, twenty-three (23) alarms, two (2) assists to other agencies, one (1) burglary, one (1) area check, two (2) damage to property, one (1) disturbance, one (1) fire call, one (1) fraud call, one (1) juvenile referral, one (1) private lot accident, one (1) suspicious person call, one (1) suspicious vehicle call, one (1) theft, six (6) traffic accidents, one (1) traffic complaint, twenty-six (26) traffic stop arrests and one (1) warrant arrest. For the month’s total, there were 72 calls, 330 citations, 433 violations, 16 insurance tows and 10 driving under suspension arrests.

Correspondence: None

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Normand gave brief updates the Police Station and Street Overlay Projects. The Mayor also reported on damage from the storm and maintenance projects around town. Mayor Normand announced that he requested a quote to stripe West St. Francis Street having received requests from citizens. The Mayor received a quote of $2,472 from Barber Brothers Construction. Mayor Normand reported that the Addis and Brusly Fire Departments have merged their fire calls and are working together. He also reported that the coffee shop being constructed on Oak Plaza Drives should be operating by early June.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
WBR Parish Council Member Kershaw gave a brief update on Parish projects.

Announcements:
The Town Hall will be closed May 25th in observance of Memorial Day.

A motion was made by Council Member Richard to adjourn; seconded by Council Member André. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:06 PM.

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