Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, November 10, 2014

November 10, 2014

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, November 10, 2014 at the Brusly Town Hall.

Council Member Bourgeois 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 October 13, 2014, was made by Council Member Rhodes 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:
Mayor Normand presented the Council with a letter of substantial completion from Holden Architects for the new Police Headquarters. At the recommendation of Mayor Normand, a motion to accept substantial completion of the Police Headquarters, was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing none, a roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: André, Bourgeois, Rhodes, Richard, Neisler
Nays: None
Absent: None

Planning and Zoning Committee:
Upon the recommendation of Mayor Normand a motion to appoint Steve Guidry to the Planning & Zoning Commission was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Mayor Normand read aloud a Variance Request for Non-Compliance – Sec. 19.6 Servitude Encroachment for James Kimbrell at 2669 Orleans Quarters Dr. to build a fence. The Variance having been favorably recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission, a motion to approve with the condition that culverts be installed prior the construction of the fence, was made by Council Member Rhodes; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Finance Committee:
Mayor Normand presented the Council with a list of surplus items to be placed back on inventory at the request of the Police Department. A motion to approve the list was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Upon the recommendation of Mayor Normand a motion to approve the 2013/2014 Audit Compliance Questionnaire 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.

Personnel Committee:
Upon Mayor Normand’s recommendation a motion to hire John Devillier for the Full Time Maintenance Laborer position at the rate of $17.00 an hour, was made by Council Member Richard; seconded by Council Member André. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Recreation Committee: None

Governmental Affair Committee: None

Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None

Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances:
Mayor Normand read aloud Ordinance #9 of 2014, to amend Chapter 19 of the code of ordinances of the Town of Brusly, State of Louisiana, to incorporate amended zoning district map under section 19.22 map, specifically: re-zoning property located at 653 E. Main Street from C-1 (Light Commercial) to R-1 (Single-Family Residential) at the request of property owners James W. Sorrell & Laverne M. Sorrell. The Mayor opened the Public Hearing. Council Member Bourgeois stated that the property was originally residential. Council Member Neisler stated that since the property was 9 feet short of the frontage requirements for R-1 zoning, a variance would need to be granted. Hearing no further comments, the Mayor closed the public hearing and turned the matter over to the Council for consideration. Having been favorably recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission, a motion to approve with a variance granted on the frontage requirement of 80 feet to 71 feet, was made by Council Member Rhodes; seconded by Council Member Neisler. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Bourgeois, Neisler, Rhodes, Richard, André
Nays: None
Absent: None

Introduction of Ordinances: None

Resolutions and Commendations:
Mayor Normand read aloud Resolution 10 of 2014-DEQ Environmental Audit. A motion to approve was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Rhodes. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of October was given by Interim Chief Johnson. There were ten (10) wrecks, one (1) battery, one (1) disturbing the peace, one (1) burglary, four (4) alarms, three (3) assistance to other agencies, two (2) drug arrests, three (3) traffic arrests and seventeen (17) miscellaneous calls. For the month’s total, there were 42 calls, 26 citations and 34 violations.

Correspondence: None

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Normand thanked his staff for their help with the Police Station Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The Mayor gave a brief update on the Allene Street Culvert Project. Mayor Normand thanked Mayor Pro-Tem Rhodes for covering the duties of Mayor while he was away on vacation. The Mayor reported that 18 manholes had been repaired through funds received from the LGAP Grant.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
WBR Parish Council Member Kershaw thanked the citizens of Brusly for their support in renewing the tax millage for Drainage, Recreation and Library which was on the ballot for the November 4th election and gave an update on parish projects.

Announcements:
There will be a Veteran’s Day Reception Nov. 11th at 12:00 PM in the Town Hall Chambers.
There will be a Landmark & Heritage Plaque Ceremony Nov. 23rd at 3:00 PM in the Town Hall Chambers.
The Town Hall will be closed Nov. 27th & 28th in Observance of Thanksgiving.
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 6:58 PM.

____________________________ _________________________
Joey Normand, Mayor Debbie Berthelot, Town Clerk