MINUTES REGULAR MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN Monday October 9th, 2023

[City Clerk]

CITY OF JEANERETTE JEANERETTE, LA
MINUTES REGULAR MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN Monday October 9th, 2023
Proceedings of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Jeanerette, State of Louisiana, at their Regular meeting held Monday October 9th , 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
Those present were: Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr., Alderwoman Mariah Clay, Alderwoman Charlene Moore, Alderman Garland Bourgeois, Alderwoman Christia Simmons, Alderman Ray Duplechain. and City Attorney Lucretia Pecantte.
The Bishop James Proctor led the prayer and Alderwoman Clay led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. determined that a quorum was present.
Alderwoman Simmons requests to have the agenda expanded to add Changes to Policy 3 as agenda item 10D.. Motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderwoman Moore, roll call vote
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
Alderwomen Clay motioned to expand the agenda to add item 14, Executive Session to address allegations from the Mayor, second by Alderman Duplechain, roll call vote
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
Alderman Duplechain made a motion to table Correspondence by Mayor items 7a-7d, because the correspondence was not in the packet, second by Alderman Bourgeois. roll call vote
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
Alderwoman Simmons motions to have the agenda expanded to add USDA Opportunities by Rev. Wilfred Johnson as agenda item 9C. second by Alderwoman Clay, roll call vote:
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
Alderwoman Simmons motions to have the agenda expanded to add LYFE Youth Program, Bishop James Proctor as agenda item 8A. second by Alderwoman Moore, roll call vote:
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
Alderwoman Simmons motions to have the agenda expanded to add Mr. Richard Hebert-Succession from City of Jeanerette as agenda item 10E second by Alderman Bourgeois, roll call vote:
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
Alderwoman Simmons motions to have the agenda expanded to add Mrs. Debra Bouie Community Policing Concerns as agenda item 5A second by Alderwoman Clay, roll call vote:
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore,
Nay: Alderman Bourgeois
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Failed
5. Public Comment on Agenda items 6-12- No comments
6.A. Approval of Minutes of the Last Regular Meeting September 11, 2023; on motion by Alderwoman Moore and second by Alderwoman Clay, voice vote of all yea, no nay and no abstain, motion carried.
B. Approval of Minutes of the Last Special Meeting September 14, 2023; correction noted for Alderman Bourgeois’ vote-he was absent and not voting nay. On motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderwoman Clay, voice vote of all yea, no nay and no abstain, motion carried.
C. Approval of Minutes of the Last Special Meeting September 26, 2023; on motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderwoman Simmons, voice vote of all yea, no nay and no abstain, motion carried.
D. Approval of Minutes of the Personnel and Policy Committee Meeting October 3rd 2023 on motion by Alderwoman Moore and second by Alderwoman Clay, voice vote of all yea, no nay and no abstain, motion carried.
E. Approval of Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting October 3rd 2023 on motion by Alderwoman Moore and second by Alderwoman Simmons, voice vote of all yea, no nay and no abstain, motion carried.
F. Approval of Minutes of the Public Works and Safety Meeting October 3rd 2023 on motion by Alderwoman Clay and second by Alderwoman Moore, voice vote of all yea, no nay and no abstain, motion carried.
7. Correspondence by the Mayor-none
8. Announcements by Mayor, The Mayor thanked everyone who attended the International French Bread Festival. The Mayor also recognized the funeral the past Saturday of the longest serving council member Charles “Charlie Brown” Williams and noted that the City will look at doing some kind of lasting memorial in the future. Also today is Columbus Day, especially with the backdrop of conflict in Israel. It is also National Hispanic Heritage month and the Mayor invited two newest residents, the Hernandez family Anthony and Savanah to come forward. On October 13, Second Harvest will be in New Iberia at Lighthouse Missionary Baptist Church at 9 am. On the USDA workshop for the grant applications will be on Oct 17 at Ward 8 at 6 pm. On October 21, the Stop the Violence Program at the Junior High Schol at West St Mary starting at 10 am.
8A Bishop Dr. James and Dr Ezora Proctor and addressing the LYFE Youth Program and other programs that they were able to obtain grants for in the past. The programs they have tried to work with provide guidance, education and methods and procedures to avoid problems and focus on bringing unity and peace. Bishop Proctor explained while they were approved for the LYFE Youth Program, they choose not to do it because they would have to work with new young people and they wanted to continue working with the current group to make a difference. They will be partnering with Louisiana Department of Health for there Well Spot program and the healthy benchmarks such as tobacco free, and limiting sugar intake. Dr Ezora Proctor then addressed diabetes prevention program developed by the CDC. This program is for people living with diabetes as well as helping loved ones who have it. This program will meet Wednesdays’ at 6:30’ at the church and it provides incentives for achieving healthy benchmarks for people in Iberia and St. Mary Parish.
9.Reports
A Update from Barry Segura of Statewide Electrical Services on Sewer and Water Operations Starting with the sewer plant, the new gate was installed. On the 11th. the new sludge pump was installed and then the City rented a bypass pump to remove the sludge from the contact chambers 1 & 2. Borel Lift station developed a short in the overhead wires from CLECO, that was repaired. On 9-20 Clarifier #2 was pumped out and was finished cleaning on 9-25. The pump at Domingue Lift station burnt and has to be sent to Teche Armature. We replaced the float at the Dominque station. Replaced a 2hp grinder pump on Georgia St. We changed all float switches at Borel lift station and changed the upper and lower sprockets on Clarifier #2. The building should be insulated in the next two weeks. They are getting quotes to get the drying bed #4 working. The contractors are working at the water plant, and they should be ready to bypass the softeners at the water plant this week. After the softeners are working, they will work on the filters one at a time. The next City-wide flush should be the week before Thanksgiving.
B. Update from Monica Duplantis on the Jeanerette Historic Advisory Commission- The Advisory Commission is doing really good and is getting organized again, the website is up, getting a phone number and PO box and the meetings will be announced in the paper monthly. The group will be selling the Christmas Ornaments again this year are featuring St. John’s the Evangelist Catholic Church and St. Paul UMC. Ms. Duplantis stated she was also on the Creole Fest committee and wanted to update the council on the beautification project that they are working on. The project will spend $12,000-$15,000 to plant ever green and holly trees in the current 3 x 5 spaces on main street to replace any dead crape myrtle trees and a decorative metal boarder will prevent cars from damaging the trees. There are currently six raised planters that are going in downtown, and two more are going in. There will be a give away of about thirty to forty crape myrtle trees to residents on a first come-first go basis. Volunteers will water and fertilize the planters and trees on Mainstreet. The group is requesting the City submit a letter of acknowledgement of this project and monies spent for tax purposes.
C. USDA Opportunities by Jessica Reyes, Ms. Reyes addressed 2 programs 504, which provides up to $10,000 grant to repair health and safety issues on the home for owners over the age of 62. Program 502 provides a low-cost loan under the age of 62 that have low income to purchase a home or to finish a project started under the 502 programs. On October 17, from 6-8pm at Ward 8 there will be a workshop to provide the applications and to help some residents fill out the applications.
10.Agenda Items
A. Sewer System Rehab (8227-15), approval of PPE#10 (Final) to Southern Constructors in the amount of $63,513.76. Alderman Duplechain motions to approval of PPE#10 second by Alderwoman Simmons, roll call vote:
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
B. Water System Upgrades – Phase 1 (9327-06), approval of PPE#4 to Lemoine Company in the amount of $141,528.15 Alderwoman Simmons motions to approval of PPE#4 second by Alderwoman Clay, roll call vote:
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
C. Water System Upgrades – Phase 2 (9327-07), approval of PPE#4 to Frisco in the amount of $38,019.00 15 Alderman Bourgeois motions to approval of PPE#4 second by Alderwoman Simmons, roll call vote:
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
D. Approval of changes to Policy 3 Pre-Employment Testing, Alderman Bourgeois motions to approval of changes to Policy 3 Pre-Employment Testing second by Alderwoman Simmons, with changes retroactive to July 12, 2021 roll call vote:
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
E. Richard and Candance Hebert regarding requesting Succession from the City of Jeanerette. Ms. Hebert said in 2021 they addressed the property taxes that they were being billed because in 2014 they did sign the annexation with the promise of getting water and sewer services. The sewer line stopped 90 feet from the property and Mayor Foulcard said the City was out of funding so the Hebert’s would have to pay to run the line and connect. So, they ended up having to pay to construct a private sewer plant. Since they have a private well and sewer system, they would like to change the annexation so they are no longer in the City limits. The Mayor reviewed the communications that have taken place. Attorney Pecantte stated that courts will not get involved in this matter, it is an Ordinance, just like the property is annexed the City would have to de-annex, and that the council would have to follow RS 33.172. Mr. Heert said he has heard about in Abbeville they offer a tax exempt to owners of properties that do not yet have services. Attorney Pecantte will see what they are doing. -

11. Proclamations-None

12. Resolutions-

13. Ordinances
A. Adopting Ordinance 2023-09 to Amend and Reenact Sections 3-2001, 3-2002, and 3-2005 Regarding Gas Franchise with Centerpoint Energy, Introduction by Mr. Jerry Pike. On motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderwoman Simmons to leave regular session and go into public hearing/meeting. Motion carried by voice/vote of all yea, no nay, no abstain, no absent. After no public comment on motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderwoman Moore to leave public hearing/meeting and return to regular session. On Motion to adopt Ordinance 2023-09 by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderwoman Moore. Roll call vote:
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
14.Executive Session-Allegations from the Mayor
Motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderwoman Moore to leave regular session and enter Executive Session. Motion carried by voice/vote of all yea, no nay, no abstain, no absent.
Motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderwoman Moore to leave Executive Session and return to regular session. Motion carried by voice/vote of all yea, no nay, no abstain, no absent.
15. Adjourn - On motion by Alderwoman Simmons and second by Alderman Duplechain 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