March 11, 2024 Town of Brusly Brusly, Louisiana The regular meeting of the Town of…
Town Meeting Minutes – November 2021
November 8, 2021
Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana
The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was called to order this date, November 8, 2021, at the Brusly Town Hall, at 6:30 p.m. Council Member Neisler led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:
Mayor Pro-Tem Joanne Bourgeois
Council Members: Rusty Daigle, Shane André, Don Neisler
Town Attorney: Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Absent: Blake Tassin, Mayor Scot Rhodes
Recognitions & Commendations: None
A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of October 11, 2021, was made by Council Member Daigle; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Pro-Tem Bourgeois opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.
A motion to amend the Agenda to place item 13A at this point in the Agenda was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Pro-Tem Bourgeois opened the floor for public comments. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Neisler, Bourgeois, André, Daigle
Nays: None
Absent: Tassin
Interim Fire Chief Charles Stephens gave a brief update on WBR Fire District 1 projects. Chief Stephens offered to answer any questions. Mr. Carroll Fontenot questioned how many fire trucks were stationed within the city limits of Brusly. Chief Stephens explained that there were no trucks stationed directly within the city limits of Brusly, but the trucks stationed at the Antonio Road Station and the Addis Station respond to calls within the Brusly city limits. Responding to questions posed by citizens, Fire Chief Stephens explained fire rating criteria.
Public Works Committee:
Mayor Pro-Tem Bourgeois read the Public Works Report, as prepared by Public Works Supervisor Shane Sarradet, for the month of October. There were 3.6 inches of rainfall in the month; no drainage problems were reported; 1 SCADA alarm; zero “out of compliance” test results on the Sewer Treatment Facility; E. Main sidewalk was edged; bypass was installed at Bourgeois pump station; roadside ditch was graded by the intersection of E. St. Francis and S. Vaughan, culverts were cleaned; no incidents to report for the Maintenance Department for the month of October; initial construction on St. James Square Park has begun.
Flags will be put out November 8th and will fly through Thanksgiving.
Regular bulk trash will be picked up the week of November 8th. The extra trash pickup will be November 26th. Christmas decoration installation will begin the week after Thanksgiving.
Finance Committee:
Mayor Pro-Tem noted that the “Budget to Actual Comparison Report” for October, in the meeting packets, is available for Council Members to review.
Planning and Zoning Committee:
Personnel Committee:
Upon the recommendation of Police Chief Lefeaux, a motion to hire Stephen Thomas as a full-time Officer, retroactive October 26th at the rate of $16.50 an hour, was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Pro-Tem opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Recreation Committee: None
Police Committee:
Assistant Chief Southon presented the Council with a brief explanation regarding the Flock License Plate Camera System works, recommending approval of the system. Following discussion, a motion to approve signing a contract with Flock, contingent upon the contract being reviewed by the Police Committee, Attorney Acosta, Police Chief Lefeaux and Assistant Chief Southon, was made by Council Member Daigle; seconded by Council Member André. Mayor Pro-Tem opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas: Daigle, Bourgeois, André, Neisler
Nays: None
Absent: Tassin
Upon the recommendation of Assistant Chief Southon, a motion to sign a contract with DigiTicket handheld ticket system was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Pro-Tem opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Governmental Affairs Committee:
Council Member Joanne Bourgeois narrated a slide presentation accompanying Landmark Plaque applications for the following homes:
- 244 First St. – built in 1960 (currently owned by Lois Crockett Hilley);
- 440 W. Main St. – built in 1968 (currently owned by Claudette Purnell);
- 116 Lee Dr. – built in 1963 (currently owned by James L. & Debbie T. Keith)
Having been recommended by the Landmark & Heritage Commission, a motion to award Landmark Plaques to these homes was made by Council Member Neisler; seconded by Council Member Daigle. Mayor Pro-Tem opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Council Member Daigle made a motion to name The Westside Journal as the Town of Brusly’s Official Journal; seconded by Council Member André. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None
Hearing & Final Action on Ordinance:
Ordinance 13 of 2021, to amend and reenact the Town of Brusly Code of Ordinances, Chapter 16 – Licensing, Regulations, and Taxation, Article II – Amusements to add: Section 16-34. Events on Town-owned Property was read aloud and opened for Public Hearing by Mayor Pro-Tem Bourgeois. Hearing no comments from the public, Mayor Pro-Tem directed the issue to the Council for consideration. After closing the Public Hearing, a motion to adopt Ordinance 13 of 2021, with changes as discussed, was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Neisler. A roll call vote was had with the following result:
Yeas: Bourgeois, André, Neisler, Daigle
Nays: None
Absent: Tassin
Introduction of Ordinances: None
Resolutions: None
Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of October was given by Assistant Chief Southon. There was one (1) agency assist, three (3) alarms, two (2) animal problems, one (1) assault, one (1) burglary, two (2) civil incidents, one (1) controlled substance, one (1) damaged property, two (12) deaths, five (5) disturbances, one (1) fire, three (3) fraud, two (2) juvenile problems, one (1) medical, fifteen (15) no insurance tows, six (6) suspicious, two (2) thefts, eight (8) traffic accidents, four (4) traffic problems, three (3) unlocks, one (1) warrant and three (3) welfare checks. For the month, there were 68 total events, 289 total citations and 369 total violations.
Assistant Chief Tom Southon presented Council Members with cost estimates for License Plate Readers in consideration of future purchase.
Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Pro-Tem Bourgeois gave a brief update on the progress being made on the St. James Square Park. Bourgeois reported that Mayor Rhodes met with Parish President Berthelot, the Venzule Drainage Project being one topic of conversation. The Parish is willing to help with the project.
Remarks of Personal Privilege:
WBR Parish Council Member Chris Kershaw gave a brief update on Parish projects.
Mayor Pro-Tem Bourgeois thanked Martha & Arielle Mitchel and Sandra Vidrine for decorating the Town Hall foyer tree for Veteran’s Day.
Council Member André reported that the Brusly High Football team is in the playoffs.
Announcements:
Veteran’s Day Breakfast will be Thursday, November 11th at 8:30 am at the Brusly Town Hall.
The St. James Square Park Groundbreaking Ceremony will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, November 16th.
There will be an Arbor Day Ceremony Tuesday, November 16th at the Town Hall, following the groundbreaking.
Town Hall will be closed for Thanksgiving November 25th & 26th.
A motion was made by Council Member André to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Daigle. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
/s/Scot Rhodes, Mayor /s/Blaine Rabalais, Town Clerk
