Town Meeting Minutes – Monday, October 13, 2008

October 13, 2008

Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was held this date, October 13, 2008 at the Brusly Town Hall.

Council Member Andre’ led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:
Council Members: David Rodrigue, Ronda Perrault, Joanne Bourgeois,
Shane Andre’, Chris Kershaw
Town Attorney: Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Mayor: Joey Normand

Mayor Normand informed the audience that Major Thibaut, a candidate for State Representative, spoke during the Fire Protection Sub-District No. 2 meeting and would not be speaking at the Town meeting.

Auditor, Donald Deville, gave the 2007-2008 audit report; he stated that the Town had a clean report. A motion to accept the 2007-2008 audit report as stated was made by Council Member Kershaw and seconded by Council Member Perrault. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s Regular Meeting of September 8, 2008 was made by Council Member Bourgeois and seconded by Council Member Andre’. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee:
Mayor Normand recommended the Council accept the Spinks Construction bid of $69,530.00 on the Allene St. Drainage Project. A motion to accept was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Rodrigue. The motion passed unanimously. A motioned to authorize Mayor Normand to sign the Notice of Award and any contract documents was made by Council Member Andre’; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. Motion passed unanimously.

A motion to authorize Mayor Normand to enter into an agreement with GTC Mapping for mapping the sewer system with a cap of $2000.00 was made by Council Member Andre’; seconded by Council Member Perrault. The motion passed unanimously.

Planning and Zoning:
A variance by Aaron Daniel, 220 Gleason Street, requesting the construction of a fence on the drainage servitude area on the rear or south side of his property was favorably recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. A motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission was made by Council Member Kershaw; seconded by Council Member Perrault. The motion passed unanimously.

A variance request for a replacement mobile home older than five years made by Alonzo Cyrus, 539 Gwin Street, was favorably recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. It was noted that the replacement mobile home was better than the one destroyed by Hurricane Gustav. A motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Rodrigue. The motion passed unanimously.
Finance Committee: None

Personnel Committee:
Mayor Normand recommended the appointment of Wayne Delapasse as Maintenance Supervisor at $65,000.00 a year, starting October 27, 2008. A motion to approve was made by Council Member Andre’; seconded by Council Member Rodrigue. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, André, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None

Recreation Committee:
After some discussion, a motion to set the hours of Trick or Treat from 6:00pm – 8:00pm on October 31st was made by Council Member Perrault; seconded by Council Member Andre’. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, André, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None
Police Committee:
Chief Whaley recommended hiring Thomas Southon as an Officer at the rate of $11.50/hr., effective October 14, 2008. After some discussion and questions from Council Members, a motion to accept Chief Whaley’s recommendation to hire Thomas Southon was made by Council Member Kershaw; seconded by Council Member Perrault. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, André, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None
Grant Committee:
Council Member Bourgeois gave a brief update on the LGAP Grant.
Chief Whaley announced that he has been appointed to the Capital District Grant Executive Board.
Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None

Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances:
A motion to amend the agenda to take up Ordinance #12 of 2008, Prohibiting Hotels, Motels and Inns before Ordinance #11 of 2008, Hotel, Motel and Inn Classification and Definitions was made by Council Member Andre’; seconded by Council Member Bourgeois. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, André, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None

Ordinance # 12 – Prohibiting Hotels, Motels and Inns was read aloud and opened for Public Hearing by Mayor Normand. Hearing no comments, the Public Hearing was closed. After some discussion between the Council and the Mayor a motion to approve Ordinance #12, with the inclusion of Bed and Breakfast establishments, was made by Council Member Andre’; seconded by Council Member Perrault. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, André
Nays: Kershaw
Absent: None

Ordinance # 11 – Hotel, Motel and Inn Classification and Definitions was read aloud and opened for public hearing by Mayor Normand. There being no comments from the public, the Public Hearing was closed. After some discussion between the Council and the Mayor, a motion to adopt Ordinance #11 – Definitions only was made by Council Member Perrault, adding the definition of Bed and Breakfast; seconded by Council Member Rodrigue. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, André, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None

Ordinance # 13 – Cable Franchise Language, Re-lettering and Re-numbering was read aloud and opened for Public Hearing by Mayor Normand. Hearing no comments the Public Hearing was closed. A motion to approve Ordinance # 13 was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Kershaw. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Yeas: Rodrigue, Perrault, Bourgeois, André, Kershaw
Nays: None
Absent: None

Introduction of Ordinances:
Council Member Kershaw introduced an Ordinance to change Compensatory Time limit from 30 hours to 36 hours.

Resolutions and Commendations: None

Fire Department:
Fire Chief Alleman gave the Fire Chief’s report for September. There were twenty one (21) first aid calls inside the Town and forty two (42) outside of Town. There were no fire calls inside the Town and one (1) outside of Town. There were twenty four (24) false alarm investigations. There was one (1) grass fire. There was one (1) cancelled alarm. There were four (4) motor vehicle crashes and one (1) mutual aid call. The total calls for the month were ninety five (95). Total calls year to date are three hundred fifty six (356).

Police Department:
Report for the month of September was given by Chief Whaley. There were four (4) wrecks, nine (9) bench warrant arrests, one (1) damage to property, one (1) contributing to a juvenile, seven (7) theft, two (2) alarms, six (6) assists to other agencies, three (3) drug arrests, four (4) juvenile arrests, one (1) juvenile matter, twelve (12) traffic arrests and seventeen (17) miscellaneous calls. There were a total of 67 calls, 130 citations and 180 violations.

Correspondence:
Mayor Normand briefed the Council on Cox Communications correspondence received.

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Normand thanked the Town’s staff for their work during the Hurricane Debris Removal. The Mayor announced that the Town’s zoning is now available on the Assessor’s web site maps. Mayor Normand participated in few Senior Citizen functions including the kick off walk at Alexander Park. The Mayor attended a meeting with Don Cazayoux and several area Mayors. The Mayor also attended a meeting with West Side Women’s Club held at the Town Hall. Mayor Normand attended the annual Teachers Appreciation Ceremony at Brian’s Furniture. Mayor Normand welcomed Fire Chief Alleman back to work after his recent illness.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Council Member Andre’ encouraged everyone to get out and support the Brusly High School Football team.
Council Member Bourgeois announced the Town has received the State of Louisiana Historical Marker for St. James Square.

Announcements:
Landmark & heritage Commission Meeting – October 20th at 6:30 PM
Parish Council Meeting – October 23rd at 6:30 PM – Brusly Town Hall
Town Hall Closed November 11th – Veteran’s Day
Veteran’s Day Ceremony – Tuesday, November 11th at 12:00 noon
Allied Waste Brush Pick-up will resume second Monday of November

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 7:20 p.m.

_____________________ _______________________
Joey Normand, Mayor Debbie Berthelot, Town Clerk