MINUTES REGULAR MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN Monday May 8th, 2023

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MINUTES REGULAR MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN Monday May 8th, 2023

Postby City Clerk » Fri May 19, 2023 12:52 pm

CITY OF JEANERETTE JEANERETTE, LA
MINUTES REGULAR MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN Monday May 8th, 2023
Proceedings of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Jeanerette, State of Louisiana, at their Regular meeting held Monday May 8, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
Those present were: Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr., Alderman Clarence Clark, Alderwoman Charlene Moore, Alderman Garland Bourgeois, Alderman Ray Duplechain and Alderman Willie Ward. and City Attorney Lucretia Pecante
Members of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority led the prayer and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. determined that a quorum was present. – the Mayor welcomed the members of the Franklin/Jeanerette Alumni Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
5. Approval of Minutes of the Last Regular Meeting on April 10, 2023- Alderman Bourgeois moved and Alderman Clark seconded to approve, Motion carried by voice vote of all yea, no nay and no abstain.
6. Correspondence by Mayor – The Mayor stated that he had been meeting with students of the Jeanerette High School class of 2023 and discussing how local government works. He noted The Parish School board recognized St. Charles Elementary as a comeback school for high scores in the English Language Arts Program and Jeanerette Senior high was also recognized for superior testing in math.
7. Announcements by Mayor. – Thanked everyone who participated in National Day of Prayer-The City held their event in the plaza. On May 12, 2nd Harvest will hold their Mobile Market. The Tour Du Teche canoe race will be Saturday starting in Jeanerette and going to the Chitimacha boat dock. The seniors at Jeanerette High School will graduate on Monday May 15, 2023. On Memorial Day there will be a program at the pavilion by the veteran’s memorial. HB 2 currently contains additional funding for our sewer and water projects. The elevated tower is currently being refurbished. They are also working at the water plant, renovating the wells and replacing valves and piping.
8. Reports
A. Franklin/Jeanerette Alumni Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority regarding Red & White Day by Ms. Alexis Rack Chapter President- Ms. Rack described the are the club serves and told the board that they stand in solidarity with the City as it strives to improve the life of all of the citizens and noted that the group has worked together with the City on many common projects. The Club also works with the youth in Jeanerette through the teen clubs Delta Jams and Embody. The Teen Group President Ray Bell addressed the board to update the council. Ms. Alexis Rack then introduced the members to the council.
B. Personnel Committee: Report from May Regular Meeting. Present- Alderwoman Charlene Moore, Alderman Clarence Clark, Mayor Carol Bourgeois, Susan Colden City Clerk, and Treasurer Liz Verdun. The group reviewed a change to section 2-1006 Alderman Compensation to raise the amount to $600 from $425, and noted that the compensation has not changed since 1991. This Ordinance will be introduced at the next meeting. Alderman Clark mentioned that there should be a change to section 2-1004 Order of Business to specify time for public comment on agenda items. This change in Ordinance will also be introduced at the next meeting. Susan reported that there will be training on Americans with Disabilities Act. After a brief discussion on various updates, the meeting was adjourned.
C. Finance Committee Report from the May regular meeting. Present - Alderwoman Charlene Moore, Alderman Ray Duplechain, Treasurer Liz Verdun and City Clerk Susan Colden and Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. Utility Billing has 1934 customers with 27 new and 31 set inactive. 81 customers are using bank draft and 37 customers had payments on their account paid through SMILE. Payments were received from LWCC, quarterly Beer tax, phone franchise fees, and also from the parish for the Drainage and Mosquito fund. Collection of Utility payments is good. Sales tax is up almost 8.42% from last year. Bank balances are good. Cash Flow Projections were reviewed and it was noted that the transfer was needed from sales tax accounts to the General Fund to cover the payables that included the audit. The payables are inline. The P & L for period ending 3/31/2023 was available and % used should be at or under 75%. The revenues are at or above budget. The committee briefly reviewed the 23-24 Proposed Budget which will be introduced at the next meeting. With no other business to consider, the meeting was adjourned.
D. Public Works Committee Report and Safety Meeting from May Regular Meeting Present- Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr., Alderman Butch Bourgeois, City Clerk Susan Colden, Public Works Director Howard White, Supervisor Wade Tillman, Police Chief Vallot and Treasurer Liz Verdun and Fire Chief Sherry Landry. Chief Landry reported that hose and ladder testing went well. The department held a business meeting and in-house training. 601 was out of service from 4/12 through 4/22-computer module needed reprogramming. 1 member attended the weekend mini school at the Louisiana Fire & Emergency training academy-Reginald. The kitchen faucet at the central station was replaced-faucet was donated. The hot water tank isn’t working-waiting for plumber. On 5/1 a U-haul crashed into Collins Square 3 reported injuries, 2 families/apartments were affected. On 5/2 2 members did a courtesy walk-throughs in local businesses to check if exits were blocked, fire extinguishers up to date, and other safety concerns. The department had 80 calls, 10 auto aid, 22 medical in city, 9 fire alarm investigations, 5 power lines, 1 ATV accident, 4 trash fires, and 1 hazmat. Chief Vallot reported 151 total calls. There were 9 misdemeanors arrests, 5 felony arrests, 3 juvenile arrests and 17 citations issued. The poles for the cameras are installed and the power is in so the cameras should be installed next week. 3 officer’s attended ethnicity/diversity training in Chitimacha, 4 officers will be attending SFST classes in Lafayette. Wade Tillman reported 35 Dottie marking, grass was cut along 92 streets, trash was picked up on 4 streets. Potholes were filled on 10 areas, tree branches were cut and cleared. Water leaks were repaired in 4 areas and there were 12 sewer backups and trash bags were picked up every Monday on Main Street. Susan said that there will be online training for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This will be held in 3, 1 hour sessions and all employees will need to attend one session. With no other business to consider the meeting was adjourned.
E. Statewide Electric on Sewer and Water Operations-No one from Statewide was able to attend.
F. Christie Dunn of Wright, Moore, DeHart, Dupuis & Hutchinson LLC presenting the audit for year end 6/30/2022-This year the auditors issued an unmodified opinion on your financial statements which is a good opinion. This means your financial statements are stated fairly in all material respects. Ms. Dunn then told the board to tun to page 10, which shows the balance sheet of all of your funds. The General Fund had assets of a little over 2 million and liabilities of $900,000 so the equity, or fund balance is right at a million dollars. For the government wide statements, the City has 4.39 million in assets, and 1.25 million in liabilities so the total fund balances are right at 3 million dollars. So, the City is looking healthy. Ms. Dunn went on to overview some of the individual funds and their changes. Ms. Dunn then directed the board to page 81, where the auditor reported on the Cities’ internal controls. There were two findings on internal controls, two significant deficiencies, one material weakness and no compliance issues. Ms. Dunn then directed the board to review page 84. There were 3 findings this year. Finding number one was material adjustments to the financial statement. This was caused by the transition when the Treasurer left and the CPA firm took over and the changes in recording required the auditors to need to make some adjustments. Ms Dunn also said that with the new Treasurer in place and the changes in practice by the CPA this should not be an issue going forward. The second was a violation of the local government budget act. The city is required to amend our budget to stay within 5%. This happened when we budgeted to spend our ARPA funds and they were not spent. This was due to the project not starting as soon as projected. The final issue was a misuse of a fuel card. This issue was resolved before year end but it was required to be reported. For the Statewide agreed upon procedures there were a couple of exceptions, missing some policies, some of the bank reconciliations were not performed timely we did not include financial statement in some of the board minutes. The final report to apply the agree upon procedures to the fiscal administrators report, and no issues were found with that.
G. Van Synder-grant writing consultant-Their company has grant writing, proposal company, program management and a construction company. They are a Louisiana Company that is reaching out to smaller municipalities that do not have the staff to go after the grants to get the items they need. Van stated that the company is paid for by the administrative fee in the grant as they perform the program management.
H. USDA Programs Presentation by Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce President Reverend Wilfred Johnson There are programs through the USDA to assist residents. The first is direct home loans for low and very low-income persons. Next is a program for moderate income buyers which is a guaranteed loan. There is also a program for home repair for veterans and seniors. Ms Freyou will be there to helping folks get the grant. This event will be held at the Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce on May 18, starting a 5:30 pm.
9. A. Approve PPE#1 for the Elevated Storage Tank for $190,462.75, project 9327-04. On motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderman Clark to approve, Roll call vote
Yeas: Alderman Clark, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderman Duplechain, Alderman Ward
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
B. Approve Class B Off-Premise High and Low Content Liquor License for Nghia Nguyen for AM Grocery
On motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderman Clark to approve, Roll call vote
Yeas: Alderman Clark, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderman Duplechain, Alderman Ward
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
10. Proclamation
11. Resolution
New Business:
Resolution 5 of 2023 Adopt the 2023 Millage Rates
On motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderwoman Moore to approve, Roll call vote
Yeas: Alderman Clark, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderman Duplechain, Alderman Ward
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
Resolution 6 of 2023 To Grant the authority to the Mayor to sign and submit all necessary documents, appoint an administrative consultant, and to commit costs for the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant FY 2023 Clearance Program
On motion by Alderman Ward and second by Alderwoman Moore to approve, Roll call vote
Yeas: Alderman Clark, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderman Duplechain, Alderman Ward
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
12. Ordinances
A. Introduce Ordinance 2023-05A- An Ordinance Adopting the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget, On motion by Alderman Ward and second by Alderwoman Moore to introduce the Ordinance, motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderman Duplechain to amend the motion and table the Ordinance and have a special meeting to review the budget.
call vote
Yeas: Alderman Clark, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderman Duplechain,
Nay: Alderman Ward
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
B. Introduce Ordinance 2023-05B To Amend and Reenact Section 2-1004 Order of Business
On motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderman Bourgeois to approve, Roll call vote
Yeas: Alderman Clark, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderman Duplechain, Alderman Ward
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
C. Introduce Ordinance 2023-05C To Amend and Reenact Sections 2-1006 Compensation of the Aldermen
On motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderwoman Moore to approve, Roll call vote
Yeas: Alderman Clark, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Ward
Nay: Alderman Bourgeois, Alderman Duplechain,
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
D. Introduce Ordinance 2023-05D To Amend and Reenact Sections 2-2002 Compensation of the Mayor
On motion by Alderwoman Moore and second by Alderman Ward to approve, Roll call vote
Yeas: Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Ward
Nay: Alderman Clark, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderman Duplechain,
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Failed
13. Adjourn - On motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderwoman Moore to adjourn carried on voice vote of all yea, no nay and no abstain.






_______________/s/________________

Carol Bourgeois Jr., Mayor
ATTEST:





__________/s/_____________________
Susan Colden City Clerk

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