Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, October 12, 2009

October 12, 2009

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, October 12, 2009 at the Brusly Town Hall. Council Member Olinde 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 2008/2009 audit report; stating that the Town had a clean report. A motion to accept the 2008/2009 audit report as stated was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member Olinde. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of September 14, 2009, was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Olinde. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Public Works Committee:
Mayor Normand asked the Council to consider reimbursing WBR Parish for the April storm debris pickup. Council Member Kershaw motioned to reimburse the parish the full $38,261.00; seconded by Council Member Hebert. A roll call vote was had with the following results.
Yeas: André, Bourgeois, Hebert, Kershaw, Olinde
Nays: None
Absent: None
The motion to reimburse WBR Parish passed.

Planning and Zoning Committee: None

Finance Committee:
A motion to authorize the Mayor to sign the Advanced Public Safety contract in the amount of $10,000 for a handheld ticketing system was made by Council Member Kershaw; seconded by Council Member Hebert.
A roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Bourgeois, Hebert, Kershaw, Olinde, André
Nays: None
Absent: None
Authorization to sign the contract was granted.

Personnel Committee: None

Recreation Committee:
After some discussion, a motion to set the hours of Trick or Treat from 5:30pm – 6:30pm on October 31st was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Olinde. The motion passed unanimously.

Police Committee:
Police Chief Whaley recommended hiring Edward Guidry at $11.15 hour, effective October 12, 2009 with a six (6) month probation period. A motion to accept the recommendation was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Kershaw. A roll call vote was had with the following result:
Yeas: Hebert, Kershaw, Olinde, André, Bourgeois
Nays: None
Absent: None

Governmental Affair Committee: None

Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None

Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances:
The Mayor read aloud Ordinance #6 of 2009, Chapter 22 Article IV and V -Nuisances, relative to Derelict Buildings, Condemnations and Demolitions. The Mayor opened the Public Hearing. After a short discussion, the Public Hearing was closed and the Council discussed it for consideration. Following discussion, Council Member Kershaw made a motion to adopt Ordinance #6 of 2009 with the amendment of the word “vacant” added to Sec. 22.28, meaning that only vacant building could be considered for a declaration as derelict; the motion failed for a lack of a second. A motion was made by Council Member André to approve Ordinance #6 of 2009 as written; seconded by Council Member Olinde. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Olinde, André, Hebert
Nays: *Kershaw
Abstaining: Bourgeois
Absent: None
*Council Member Kershaw had the following statement, “No with the following statement that the ordinance as is I’m okay with but I still do not think we should have the right to take somebody’s house because it’s substandard.”
The motion to approve passed.

The Mayor read aloud Ordinance #7 of 2009, Section 19-8, regarding drainage, road construction, improvements and maintenance, and the number of lots allowed. The Mayor opened the Public Hearing. After a short discussion, the Public Hearing was closed and the Council discussed it for consideration. A motion to table was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Olinde, André, Bourgeois, Hebert, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None
The motion to table passed.

Introduction of Ordinances: None

Resolutions and Commendations:
Resolution #11 of 2009- Authorizing the Town to apply for the LGAP Grant was recommended by Mayor Normand. A motion to adopt was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Olinde. The motion passed unanimously.

Resolution #12 of 2009- Authorizing the Mayor to apply for the Capital Outlay Grant with matching funds of up to 10% was recommended by Mayor Normand. A motion to adopt was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Olinde. A roll count vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: André, Bourgeois, Hebert, Kershaw, Olinde
Nays: None
Absent: None
The motion to adopt passed.

Fire Department Report:
Fire Chief Alleman gave the Fire Chief’s report for September. There were sixteen (16) first aid calls inside the Town and fourteen (14) outside of Town. There were no fire calls inside the town or outside the Town. There was one (1) false alarm investigation. There were three (3) motor vehicle crashes, one (1) trash fire, one (1) natural gas leak, and one (1) pipeline rupture. There were three (3) mutual aid calls. The total calls for the month were forty (40). Total calls year to date are two hundred ninety (290).

Police Department Report:
Report for the month of September was given by Chief Whaley. There were four (4) wrecks, fourteen (14) bench warrant arrests, one (1) damage to property, one (1) theft, seven (7) alarms, ten (10) assists to other agencies, four (4) juvenile matters, ten (10) traffic arrests and thirty (30) miscellaneous calls. For the month’s total, there were 81 calls, 258 citations and 331 violations.
Correspondence: None

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Normand gave a brief update on the culverts being installed around town. The Mayor attended an accreditation reception for the WBR Museum, the Teachers of the Year ceremony and a Senior Spirit Barbeque. Mayor Normand spoke at the State of the Parish Address which was held at Bayou Bistro.
The Mayor commended and thanked Debbie Berthelot and staff for the Town receiving a clean audit.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
A member of the audience commended the maintenance department for the upkeep of grass cutting around town and requested the gratings on catch basins be kept cleared as well.
Chief Whaley recommended the Town & Police Employee Manuals be updated.
Mayor Normand expressed the importance of cooperation between the Town and the Parish. The Mayor thanked all Parish Officials for the excellent working relationship between Town and Parish.

Announcements:
Louisiana Book Festival Oct. 17th – State Capital Grounds, Council Member Bourgeois presented directions for parking and exhibit locations.
Landmark & Heritage Meeting Oct. 19 at 6:30PM
Veteran’s Day Ceremony Wed. Nov. 11 at 12 noon

A motion was made by Council Member André to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Olinde. The motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:22 PM.

_____________________ _________________________
Joey Normand, Mayor Debbie Berthelot, Town Clerk