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Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, October 10, 2011

October 10, 2011

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, October 10, 2011 at the Brusly Town Hall.

Council Member Kershaw led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:

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

Auditor Donald Deville gave the 2010/2011 audit report, stating that the Town had a clean report with one finding for loaning out Town Property. A motion to accept the 2010/2011 audit report as presented was made by Council Member André and seconded by Council Member Olinde. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments Mayor Normand called for a roll call vote with the following results:
Yeas: Kershaw, Olinde, André, Bourgeois, Hebert
Nays: None
Abstaining: None

At the Mayor’s request a motion to amend the agenda to take up item B1 was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Olinde. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments Mayor Normand called for a roll call vote with the following results:
Yeas: Olinde, André, Bourgeois, Hebert, Kershaw
Nays: None
Abstaining: None

A motion to accept the Orleans West Preliminary Plat with conditions that the last right of away is hard surfaced to the property line and a 6’ wooden fence be put up the entire length of the property behind the cul-de-sac was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Kershaw. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment. The following people voiced concerns about drainage, cross street tie ins to Allene St, the condition of N. LaBauve St. and its ability to handle the increase in traffic, the schools’ capacity, children’s safety, crime rate and infrastructure:
Scott Rills Glen Adolph
Dixie Daigle Darien St. Cyr
Mark Tassin Joe Marin
Craig Daigle Wayne Broussard
Danette Dupont Mackie Comeaux
Rusty Daigle Wesley Atchinson
Mark Bernard Angela Adolf
Cheryl Ordeneaux
Kim Lemoine encouraged the public present to continue to come to the meetings so that they could stay informed about Town business.
Shawn Hima with Alvin Fairburn & Associates addressed some of the citizens’ concerns.
After hearing comments the Mayor called for a roll call vote with the following results:
Yeas: André, Bourgeois, Hebert, Kershaw
Nays: Olinde
Abstaining: None
Council Member Hebert left the meeting after the vote.

Mayor Normand gave a history of the development of Orleans Quarters Subdivision and listed the concerns expressed by the residents about Orleans West Subdivision. He also addressed the allegations that he, the Town Council and the Planning Commission had committed a criminal act of “collusion” and also “abrogated” their responsibility. He defended those in public service. He also assured the public that the earlier approved plat would be done to the code and all concerns identified by the public would be addressed.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of September 12, 2011, was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member Olinde. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee:
Mayor Normand opened the Derelict Building Condemnation Hearing of the building located at 1145 W. Main St. A motion to condemn was made by Council Member Olinde; seconded by Council Member André. Mayor Normand opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments a roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Bourgeois, Kershaw, Olinde, André
Nays: None
Absent: Hebert

Planning and Zoning Committee:
Upon Mayor Normand’s recommendation, a motion to appoint Ronda Perrault to the Planning & Zoning Commission was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Olinde. The motion passed unanimously.

Finance Committee: None

Personnel Committee:
Mayor Normand postponed the review of Elected Officials Salaries until Chief Whaley could be present.

Asst. Chief Johnson read aloud an email from Chief Whaley recommending two weeks suspension without pay for Officer Clay Bourg, along with written letters of apology to the School Board and Council, for insubordination, refusing to perform duties assigned. A motion to enact the Chief’s recommendation was made by Council Member Kershaw; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. A substitute motion to amend the suspension to one month and require Officer Bourg to sign a statement stating he will perform said duties in the future, with the condition of termination if he refuses, was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Olinde. A roll call vote was had on the substitute motion with the following results:
Yeas: Olinde, André
Nays: Kershaw, Bourgeois
Absent: Hebert
Mayor Normand cast the tie breaking vote of “yes” to pass the motion.

Recreation Committee:
A motion to authorize Mayor Normand to sign co-operative endeavors with WBR Parish School System, WBR Parish Government, Brusly Baseball Club, Panther Wrestling Club and WBR Parish Foundation was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Olinde. The motion passed unanimously.

Police Committee:
Sergeant Robertson recommended raising Part Time Officer Langlois’ pay to $15.00 hr. After some discussion a motion to increase Officer Langlois’ pay to $14.00 hr. was made by Council Member Olinde; seconded by Council Member Kershaw. A roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Kershaw, Olinde, Bourgeois
Nays: André
Absent: Hebert

A motion to not pay Officer Langlois back pay for the difference of his salary increase was made by Council Member Kershaw; seconded by Council Member Olinde. A roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Olinde, André, Bourgeois, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: Hebert

Governmental Affair Committee: None
Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None
Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances: None
Introduction of Ordinances:
Council Member André introduced an ordinance to amend Chapter 1.8(a)-Governing Authority, Salaries of Elected Officials; Mayor.
Council Member Olinde introduced an ordinance to amend Chapter 1.8(b)-Governing Authority, Salaries of Elected Officials; Council Members.
Council Member Bourgeois introduced an ordinance to amend Chapter 1.8(c)-Governing Authority, Salaries of Elected Officials; Chief of Police.
Council Member Kershaw introduced an ordinance to amend Chapter 27.10-General Provisions, Use of Municipal Vehicles.

Resolutions and Commendations: None
Fire Department Report:
Fire Chief Alleman gave the Fire Chief’s report for September. There were eight (8) first aid calls inside of Town and twelve (12) outside of Town. There was one (1) public assist out of Town. There was (1) fire call inside the Town and five (5) outside of Town. There were two (2) motor vehicle crashes inside of Town and two (2) outside of Town. The total calls for the month were thirty-one (31). The total for the year is two hundred forty-two (242).

Police Department Report:
Report for the month of September was given by Sgt. Robertson. There were six (6) wrecks, eight (8) bench warrant arrests, one (1) damage to property, three (3) thefts, four (4) burglaries, five (5) alarms, nine (9) assists to other agencies, two (2) juvenile matters, three (3) traffic arrests and fourteen (14) miscellaneous calls. For the month’s total, there were 55 calls, 83 citations and 98 violations.
Correspondence:
The Mayor received a Certificate of Appreciation for participating in the WBR Cancer Awareness Walk. Mayor Normand also received a Thank You note from Verizon for participating in their ribbon cutting ceremony.

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Normand informed the Council and Public that Attorney Acosta had sent a letter directing LA Bayou Bistro to cease and desist operations at the Mad Dog Saloon, located within the restaurant. The Mayor announced that WBR Parish will no longer distribute rat poison. Mayor Normand attended a Meet & Greet the Candidates at the monthly Chamber of Commerce Meeting and the CRPC Meeting in New Roads. Mayor Normand informed everyone that the Street Overlay Project had been given the “go ahead” as of October 10th and work would be starting within the next couple of weeks.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Council Member André thanked Mr. Fontenot and the entire Planning & Zoning Commission for the service to the community. André also thanked Mr. Kim Lemoine for his comments of encouragement to the public to continue to show up at the Council Meetings.

Council Member Bourgeois thanked the Office Staff, Mayor Normand and Council Members Hebert and Kershaw for their help in preparing for the BHS 100th Anniversary Photo Exhibit Program held at the WBR Parish Museum on October 8th.

Kim Lemoine announced that the Town Meeting recordings were on the Town’s website for everyone to hear and suggested that the Planning & Zoning Meeting recordings also be put on the website.

Announcements:
Landmark & Heritage Meeting will be held October 17th at 6:30 PM.
Election Day will be held on October 22nd.

A motion was made by Council Member André to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Kershaw. The motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:52 PM.

_____________________ _________________________
Joey Normand, Mayor Debbie Berthelot, Town Clerk

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