MINUTES REGULAR MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN Monday April 8th, 2024

[City Clerk]

CITY OF JEANERETTE JEANERETTE, LA
MINUTES REGULAR MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN Monday April 8th, 2024
Proceedings of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Jeanerette, State of Louisiana, at their Regular meeting place held Monday April 8th, 2024 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.
Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr led the prayer and Alderman Bourgeois led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. determined that a quorum was present.
5. Public Comments on items 6-13. No Comments
6. A. Approval of Minutes of the Last Regular Meeting March 11, 2024-On motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderwoman Simmons to approve carried on voice vote of all yea, no nay, no abstentions
B. Approval of Minutes of the Personnel and Policy Committee Meeting April 2, 2024- On motion by Alderwoman Clay and second by Alderman Bourgeois to approve carried on voice vote of all yea, no nay, no abstentions
C. Approval of Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting April 2, 2024- On motion by Alderwoman Clay and second by Alderman Bourgeois to approve carried on voice vote of all yea, no nay, no abstentions
D. Approval of Minutes of the Public Works and Safety April 2, 2024- On motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderwoman Simmons to approve carried on voice vote of all yea, no nay, no abstentions.
7. Correspondence by the Mayor-The Mayor expressed condolences to families of Donald Hensley, Juanita Faye August, and Larry Boutte.
8. Announcements by the Mayor-We will be observing the National Day of Prayer, May 2nd at 10 am, at the City Hall Plaza. On May 3 at 10 am will be the Grand Opening of the Mercantile building, (the old Arton’s building). The Creel’s had purchased it and renovated it. The Mayor thanked Aldermen Duplechain and Bourgeois as well as the public works director for reviewing the roads that are looked at for repair. The bids have been received and repairs will begin on Ira, Pellerin, Jennifer Ann, Cypemort streets. The changes at the sewer plant were also looked at. Work has started at the site of the grocery store, hopefully we will have a store by Christmas.
9 A. Update from Statewide Electric on Water and Sewer Operations -The representative was unable to attend.
9B. Update from Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero-Sheriff Romero spoke about the new building as well as officer staffing challenges and urged everyone to vote to approve the ¼% Sales Tax to be dedicated for Sheriff Operations. Mr. Romero stated he has lost 22 people since he took office. He is budgeted for 178 and he is down to 156 and the people has left for higher pay. So he needs this tax to have the wages stay competitive.
10. A. Approval of. Appointment to Historic Advisory Commission Mr. James Brent Blevins-Alderman Bourgeois offered motion to approve appointment 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. Awarding of bid for Phase II Road Improvement project, 9537-02, to bidder Glenn Lege Construction Inc, for the bid amount of $460,945.98-Mr. Nick Sonnier reviewed the bid and the budget where the City has $580,000. In total funding and the construction is $460,945.98 and the engineering, surveys, inspection and administration costs are $63,540 for a projected cost of $524,485.98 and leaves a contingency budget of $55,514.02. Mr Sonnier stated that it would be good to request an extension from Senator Allain on the use of those funds. The Mayor agreed. Alderwoman Clay offered motion to approve the bid 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
C. Approval of the attached PPE#8 to Frisco for Phase II of the Water Treatment Plant, in the amount of $34,534.79. Introduction by Nick Sonnier. Alderman Bourgeois offered motion to approve PPE#8 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. Update on Clearence Program Introduction by Nick Sonnier. The Mayor stated that Jacob Weaver and Jimmy Landry from the Iberia Parish Permitting office will be assisting the city for the inspection services required by the clearance program. There was a listing of the properties. Nick Sonnier stated that the first step is to write a letter to the homeowner and ask them if they wanted to participate in the program and have the home demolished as a free service, but still maintain ownership of the property. Then the letters that we get back that the owner wants to participate we will have those properties inspected to confirm they should be demolished. At our May council meeting Seller’s will present a Resolution listing all of the homes that want to participate in the program.
E. Update from Chief Dusty Vallot and Marshal Martin on Police Protection Chief Vallot reported that JPD responded to 93 calls 12 traffic stops, issued 4 citations and made 6 arrests. Marshal Martin reported they responded to 49 complaints 3 arrests 42 traffic stops, 2 citations and they have a warrant for the second suspect involved in the shooting on Lovett and third and it should be executed in a few days. Alderman Duplechain said he would like to change the wording on the expiration date of the contract to give the Marshal sometime after the meeting so they know if they are working the next day. The Mayor said he is getting calls to increase the visibility in the parks. After some discussion, Alderman Duplechain offered a motion to extend the current agreement until May 25, 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
F. Report from the Hiring Committee-Chief Vallot requested to dissolve the committee. On Motion by Alderwoman Clay second by Alderman Duplechain to dissolve the committee, roll call vote
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None,
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
G. Personnel and Policy Committee recommendation to approval of revision to Policy #13, Vacation Policy regarding firemen vacation policy. On motion by Alderman Bourgeois second by Alderwoman Clay to approve the revision, roll call vote
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None,
Abstain: None
Motion Carried

11.Proclamations-
12.Resolutions-
A. Adopt resolution 5 of 2024 granting the authority to the Mayor to sign and submit documents, appoint administrative consultant and engineer for the FY 2024 LCDBG Public Facilities Program, introduction by Nick Sonnier-On motion by Alderman Duplechain and 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
13. Ordinances
A.
14. Adjourn on motion by Alderman Duplechain and second by Alderwoman Simmons and a voice vote of all yea, no nay, no abstentions the meeting was adjourned.



___________/s/________________________
Carol Bourgeois Jr., Mayor
ATTEST:



___________/s/____________________
Susan Colden City Clerk