Town Meeting Minutes – September 2023

September 11, 2023
Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was called to order this date, September 11, 2023, at the Brusly Town Hall, at 6:30 p.m., by Mayor Pro Temp Bourgeois. Council Member Neisler led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Pro Temp Bourgeois called for a moment of silence in remembrance of the 9/11 tragedy. A roll call determined the following officials present:
Mayor Pro Temp:      Joanne Bourgeois
Council Members:    Rusty Daigle, Shane André, Don Neisler
Town Attorney:         Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Absent:                     Blake Tassin, Mayor Rhodes

Recognitions & Commendations:
Mayor Pro Temp Bourgeois recognized Amanda Gross Thies, incoming West Baton Rouge Clerk of Court, who reported that early voting will take place on September 30th to October 7th at two locations, the Registrar of Voters Office and the Brusly Utilities Office. Election Day will be October 14th. Also present was Corey Passantino, WBR Parish Registrar of Voters. Go to geauxvote.com for polling locations.

A motion to approve minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of August 14, 2023, changing Brusly High School student, Maci Williams to Brusly Middle School student, Maci Williams, was made by Council Member Daigle; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Pro Temp Bourgeois opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee:
Public Works Supervisor Shane Sarradet read the Public Works Report for the month of August. There were .7 inches of rainfall in the month; repaired catch basin on Gleason; 0 SACDA alarms; no “out of compliance” test result on the Sewer Treatment Facility; edged curb on E. & W. Main from levee to LaBauve Street; levee sidewalk was damaged but has been repaired; repaired sinkhole in Brusly Oaks; installed 2 Historical Markers (Woods Property & Blacktop Theater); made repairs to cell 3 grid at sewer pond; BHS Panther banners were installed along LA 1; American flags were erected for Labor Day & 9/11; no personnel incidents to report for maintenance department for the month of July.

Regular bulk trash will be picked up the week of September 11th; the extra trash pickup will be September 29th.

Planning and Zoning Committee: None

Finance Committee:
Mayor Pro Temp Bourgeois noted that the “Budget to Actual Comparison Report” for August, in the meeting packets, is available for Council Members to review.

Consideration for the renewal of the AME Flex Agreement was deferred until a later date.

Personnel Committee:
Upon the recommendation of Chief Lefeaux, a motion to hire Charles Evans as a full time police officer at the rate of $18.50 an hour starting, September 12, 2023, was made by Council Member Neisler; seconded by Council Member André. Mayor Pro Temp Bourgeois opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Recreation Committee: None

Police Committee: None

Governmental Affairs Committee:
There will be a Landmark & Heritage Meeting on October 17th at 6:30pm.

Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None

Hearing & Final Action on Ordinances:
Mayor Pro Temp Bourgeois read aloud and opened the public hearing for Ordinance 6 of 2023, to amend and reenact the Town of Brusly Code of Ordinances, Chapter 4 Alcohol Beverage Control, Sec. 4-11 Public drinking and possession of opened drinking containers prohibited, subsection (a). After some discussion about security and safety issues, the Mayor Pro Temp closed the public hearing and turned the matter over to the Council. A motion to table the Ordinance until security issues are addressed in the permitting process was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Pro Temp Bourgeois opened the floor for public comment. After hearing from the public, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Introduction of Ordinances:
Council Member Neisler introduced Ordinance 7 of 2023, rezoning request for 844 E. Main St.

Resolutions: None

Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of August was given by Chief Lefeaux. There was one (1) agency assist, two (2) alarms, two (2) assaults, one (1) civil incident, one (1) controlled substance, one (1) disturbance, one (1) DUI, two (2) family disturbances, one (1) harassment, one (1) medical, one (1) miscellaneous, six (6) no insurance tows, one (1) obstruct police, fifteen (15) traffic accidents, two (2) traffic problems, and one (1) welfare check. For the month, there were 39 total events, 185 total citations and 272 total violations.

Mayor’s Report: None

Remarks of Personal Privilege: None

Announcements:
Household hazardous Materials Collection Day is Saturday October 28th at Alexander Park , 8am to noon.

Council Member André made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:15p.m.

/s/Scot Rhodes, Mayor                                                  /s/Blaine Rabalais, Town Clerk