Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, October 10, 2005

October 10, 2005

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, October 10, 2005 at the Brusly Town Hall. Mayor Joey Normand called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.. Council Member Rodrigue led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:

Mayor: Joey Normand
Council Members: David Rodrigue, Ronda Perrault,
Chris Kershaw
Absent: Joanne Bourgeois, Shane Andre’
Town Attorney: Jamie Fontenot

Mr. Donald DeVille, CPA, gave his audit report for fiscal year 2004-2005. The audit report was good and one the Town officials and citizens want to see; the Town is in a strong financial position. A motion to approve the report of Mr. DeVille was made by Council Member Kershaw and seconded by Council Member Perrault and passed with all members present in favor.

Mayor Normand introduced Sheriff Mike Cazes who came to inform Town residents of the November 12, 2005 tax election. He asked for support on passing a 5 mill tax for ten years. This tax will be used only to offset salaries, purchase equipment and training. He explained that the cost to the taxpayer will be as follows: if a home is assessed at $100,000, the owner will pay $12.50 more per year; if a home is assessed at $150,000 the owner will pay an additional $37.50 per year.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s Regular Meeting of September 12, 2005, was made by Council Member Rodrigue, seconded by Council Member Perrault and passed with all members present in favor.

Public Works: Mayor Normand announced that one bid was received from Service Pump and Compressor to replace the Venzule Lift Station Pumps. Since the bid was within the budgeted amount and the pumps were compatible with those purchased last year, he recommended acceptance of the bid. Council Member Perrault made a motion to accept the bid of $28,775, seconded by Council Member Kershaw and passed with all members present in favor.
Planning and Zoning: The Zoning Commission recommended that the Town Council deny Mr. Landess Hebert’s request to rezone the property behind Brusly Café from R-1 to C-1. A motion was made by Council Member Kershaw to accept the Zoning Commission’s recommendation to deny Mr. Hebert’s request and seconded by Council Member Perrault. The motion passed with a roll call vote and had the following results:
Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: Bourgeois, Andre’
Recreation Committee: Trick-or-Treat will be held October 31, 2005 from 5:30 to 7:30. Motion to approve this date and time was made by Council Member Perrault and seconded by Council Member Rodrigue and passed with all members present in favor.
Police Committee: Chief Whaley, recommended hiring Charles Zalfen and Ryan Eidson as reserve officers, both of whom are volunteers for the Fire Department. A motion to approve Charles Zalfen as a reserve officer, who has passed the required psychological examination, was made by Council Member Perrault and seconded by Council Member Rodrigue and passed with all members present in favor. Council Member Kershaw made a motion to approve Ryan Eidson as a reserve officer contingent on his passing the required psychological examination and seconded by Council Member Perrault; motion passed with all members present in favor. Chief Whaley recommended hiring Erick Brown as a full-time officer. Mr. Brown, who has no law enforcement experience, has to take and pass the required psychological examination and will start at an hourly rate of $9.15. Council Member Kershaw did not want to approve hiring Mr. Erick Brown without Council Members Andre’ and Bourgeois being present. Mayor Normand recommended the matter be tabled until a special meeting can be called. Council Member Perrault made a motion to table the hiring of Mr. Brown until further notice; seconded by Council Member Kershaw and passed with all members present in favor.
Fire Department: Fire Chief Mike Alleman gave the Fire Chief’s Report for September 2005. There were 15 first aid calls inside the town and 16 first aid calls outside the town. There were no fire calls inside the town and four fire calls outside the town. There were 3 fire investigations and eight motor vehicle crashes. There were five mutual aids to Addis, and 17 public assists (hurricanes) resulting in 68 total calls for the month and 282 total calls for the year.
Police Department: Report for the month of September was given by Chief Whaley. He stated that there were two wrecks, one damage to property, two thefts, three burglaries, nine alarms, six assistances to other agencies, five 911 calls,1 traffic arrest, 20 miscellaneous calls, and two domestic calls for a total of 59 calls and 258 citations for the month of September.
Correspondence: The Mayor received a letter from the State Department of Health and Hospitals regarding the plumbing code. The Parish, who is responsible for all the Town’s building inspections, is abiding by the code, thus covering the Town.
Mayor’s Report: The estimated cost to repair the roof (made by the highest rated roofing contractor and company in Indianapolis) at the Police station and Maintenance barn after Hurricane Rita is $30,000.
Remarks of Personal Privilege: Fire Chief Mike Alleman thanked the town residents and the police department for a great job with clean-up.
Announcements: Trick-or-Treat will be October 31, 2005 from 5:30 to 7:30. Cemetery clean-up is on October 22, 2005. There will be a Veteran’s Day Ceremony November 11, 2005 at noon at the Town Hall.

A motion was made by Council Member Perrault to adjourn, seconded by Council Member Kershaw. The motion was passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting ended at 7:15 p.m.

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