Monday May 10, 2021 MINUTES REGULAR MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Meeting Minutes from Past Meetings
City Clerk
Site Admin
Posts: 251
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2018 12:54 pm

Monday May 10, 2021 MINUTES REGULAR MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Postby City Clerk » Fri May 21, 2021 7:02 am

CITY OF JEANERETTE JEANERETTE, LA
MINUTES REGULAR MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN Monday May 10, 2021
Proceedings of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Jeanerette, State of Louisiana, at their regular meeting held Monday May 10, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
Those present were: Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr., Alderman Clarence Clark, Alderwoman Charlene Moore, Aldermen Garland Bourgeois, Alderman Willie Ward and Louis Lancon, Also present: City Clerk Susan Colden, Treasurer Catherine Roy, Chief Dusty Vallot, and City Attorney Lucretia Pecantte.
Alderman Butch Bourgeois led in prayer and Alderman Ward led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. determined that a quorum was present.
5. Alderman Bourgeois moved and Alderman Clark seconded to approve Minutes of the Last Regular Meeting April 12th, 2021 with all necessary corrections. Motion carried of voice vote of all yea, no abstain and no absent.
6 & 7. Correspondence and Announcements by the Mayor: The Mayor expressed condolences to several families who have lost loved ones in the last few weeks including Ms. Leslie B. Edwards; Alderman Clark has lost his aunt Ms. Marian Tate Drexler of Jeanerette and his cousin Brian Gibson Jr. of Baldwin. There will be an event at our new kayak dock, Chitimacha on the Teche, part of the Tour du Teche race for kayaks, canoes, pirogues from Jeanerette City Park to Chitimacha boat ramp in Charenton on Saturday May 15, the race starts at 10 am. The City has had a staff meeting concerning emergency preparedness and the City will be hosting a disaster preparedness program for the community in conjunction with Jeanerette United at the Ward 8 Recreation Center on May 20, 6-8 pm. The program will be hosted by Rev Zack Mitchell who is the chair of the CERT’s group. Everyone is encouraged to attend. On June 1, the City will be hosting the first spring cleaning day from 8 am-2 pm at the back of the Jeanerette Police Department Station and residents should enter from Druilhet. Residents may bring household bulk waste items, such as loose brush, cardboard, furniture, wooden and metal materials. Do NOT BRING house-hold appliances, tires, batteries, motor oil or any hazardous or flammable items. Residents must bring valid ID showing proof of Jeanerette residency. Another item May is Mental Health Awareness Month, one way to help is to visit www.beethe1tohelpsomeone.com for information, to become a neighborhood mental health first aider. Update about the food distribution that the City has been participating in conjunction with the US Department of Agriculture and the First Church of God in Christ has been going very well. One more distribution left, this program has distributed tons of food and milk. The Mayor thanked Aldermen Bourgeois and Lancon for their help and Alderman Clark who sent some personnel and also especially to our City workers have done a marvelous job helping distribute the food to the needy.
8A Report from the Thursday, May 4, 2021 City of Policy and Personnel Committee Meeting Present-Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr., Susan Colden City Clerk, Alderman Clarence Clark, and Alderwoman Charlene Moore. The committee reviewed Policy 10 City Holidays. The committee changed the scope from full time employees to all employees and clarified that all shift workers receive time and a half if they work during a holiday. This policy will be available for the Board of Aldermen to review and vote on. Then Alderman Clark suggested the City use a unified fingerprint clocking system which is offered by our current time clock vendor. The committee liked the idea and the City Clerk will gather more information. Alderman Clark also suggested that the Mayor’s position be returned to a full time position now that the fiscal administrator is no longer here. There was some discussion and item will be offered to the Finance committee for input. The committee also reviewed Policy 15 Military Leave and the effect that the Department of Defense’s regulation 1002.85 has on it. Currently the City requires 30 days’ notice in writing, but the regulation states that “the employee’s notice to the employer may be either verbal or written and does not follow any particular format.” It was noted that section 3a does provide the Mayor with the authority to make an exception. It was recommended that any verbal notice given be documented by the supervisor and submitted. With no other business to consider the meeting was adjourned.
8B. Report from the Wednesday May 5, 2021 City of Jeanerette Finance Committee Meeting Present- Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr., Treasurer Catherine Roy, City Clerk Susan Colden, and Alderwoman Charlene Moore and Alderman Louis Lancon. Also present was Calvin Bodin, Judge LeGros and Marshal Fernest Martin. Sales Tax is down compared to last year and with the business climate in Jeanerette it was noted that this trend probably will continue. The Utility payments are on par, and we received the drainage money from the parish. The cash flow is within projections but lower due to the 3 payrolls in April. The P & L is at 84%, collections for Ad Valorem is at 98.3% which the committee noted was a good percentage. Eighty-Four properties were on the list for tax sale publication, 24 are mobile homes and 10 are personal property. The revenue is good, not increasing but at this time, not decreasing. The expenses were reviewed and fire department is higher and administration is down, police is up slightly and the Marshal, and Court are within projections. Drainage money from the parish was higher than expected and hopefully more work can be done clearing ditches. The group discussed the uncertainty with some of the funds coming from the government-there is very little information on how it can be used. And the group felt that the City needs to build fund balances for matches of future projects. The 2020-21 Amendments and 2021-22 Budget was presented and discussed. There is an overstatement in the utility account due to a billing error. Judge LeGros spoke on the funding from the court and reimbursements to the City. The Judge’s salary and the Marshal were discussed as well as the Mayor’s. The Committee is recommending an increase to the Judge’s salary of $200 per month and Marshal of $100 per pay period and Mayor of $150 per pay period. With no other business to consider the meeting was adjourned. Alderman asked why there was not a payroll adjustment for the prosecutor, and Alderman Lancon stated that the Judge did not request anything for him. Alderman Clark questioned if the increase was due to an increase in workload from the City or was it from the Ward and Alderman Lancon explained that the Judge’s salary must be paid for by the City and that he cannot adjust his wage nor the Marshal’s wage and that there has not been an adjustment since 2009. Alderman Clark would prefer to raise the dispatchers. Alderman Lancon explained that this was sustainable and if there is any other adjustments that the board can review and recommend changes prior to next meeting so the Treasurer can run the numbers to see if the requests are sustainable. After a discussion the Mayor will gather funding information from the Parish.
8C. Report from the Thursday, May 6, 2021 City of Jeanerette Public Works and Safety Committee Meeting Present-Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr., Susan Colden City Clerk, Alderman Butch Bourgeois, Fire Chief Sherry Landry, Public Works Director Howard White, Wade Tillman and Chief Dusty Vallot. Chief Landry reported the department responded to 80 calls in April, 73 in City and 7 auto aid. Unit E601 had new front tires installed and the Dodge (Chief’s unit) is having the emergency lighting installed. The doors at the MLK station and the Church station are waiting for repairs. The preventative maintenance was performed on the emergency lights and some will need to be replaced. The fire extinguishers are due for inspection and the Mayor requested the Chief get a second bid for the inspection. The annual pump test is due and the Chief is waiting for a quote. With hurricane season coming up the Chief is trying to order 2,000 sandbags as well as getting the chainsaws serviced. The Chief completed an autism/disability class and the department hosted a LSU class May 4th, a multi-company training on PPE. Chief Vallot reported the department responded to 198 calls in April and 74 so far in May. There were 9 citations in April and 11 in May with arrests of 2 juvenile, 3 for misdemeanors and 4 felonies. There was an inspection of the jail by the State and the jail passed. There are 2 new hires in the police department and the Chief is looking at hiring another person in the dispatch area. The committee discussed the problems of young person’s riding 4 wheelers in town and hopefully the parents can be located. The department is going to be enforcing expired license tags. Wade Tillman reported the projects completed by Public Works for the month of April consisted of water leak repairs, tree & trash removal, repairing potholes, cutting grass and cleaning drainage ditches. Director Howard White showed the group a culvert cleaner and it was agreed to look into it further. The group also discussed replacing the tractor with the side boom and the zero turn lawnmower. Public works will create a list of ditches to spray. Colt is picking up the waste tires from public works and some old material from public works and the police department will be scrapped. Ms. Roy said all departments will be requested to update their inventory lists. June 1 there will be a bulk waste drop off behind the police department for the public. No hazardous items or appliances will be accepted, and the public will enter at the Druilhet Street. With no other business to consider the meeting was adjourned. Alderman Ward questioned the waste tire collection of Public Works and Public Works Director Howard answered and addressed the drainage cleaning device that the City is looking at purchasing. Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. stated the overhead door at the MLK station was repaired.
8D. Statewide Electric on Sewer and Water Operations Neal Swain: Sewer Rehabilitation project is going well and at the St. Nicholas Station they are just waiting on CLECO to upgrade the electrical. At HonIron the contractor has started construction of the building, at Main Station they have the third pump installed and waiting on the electrical component. There was a lot of rain in the month of April and the system filled up for a few days. Alderman Clark asked when the contractor went down Church Street and Druilhet are they gonna repair the road or does the City have to repair? Mr. Sellers stated the contractor will repair at the end of the project, it will be part of the punch list. On the water side things continue to improve and we passed our quarterly samples from LDH, and the nitrification samples from Musso. The water plant has not received a written complaint in 6 months, there has been some small issues but nothing major. The Mayor said that the residents need to remember to flush their hot water tanks to reduce sediment buildup. The work on sandblasting and painting the wells should begin soon, the contractor has the equipment in place. At Main Station the contractor will be replacing the automatic transfer switch. Alderman Clark asked Mr. Sellers when the project will start to install the new water line beneath the railroad on Hubertville road. Mr Sellers said as soon as we receive the permit we should be ready to start and the permit should come any day now.
8E. Update from on Healthy Iberia Coalition on the Little Pantry. Ms Marti Harrell said the mission of the group is to improve the health and quality of life of Iberia Parish citizens by mobilizing through community systems, policy and environmental changes just to help folks fill the gap. The Little pantry is similar to the Little Library where folks can donate non-perishable food paper products and hygiene items or take what they need at any time without needing to fill out any paperwork. The 19 pantries have been constructed by the students of West Gate high school New Iberia Senior High the Career Center and inmates of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office and will be placed at Parish Libraries and anywhere else the community feels would be a good location. This project is funded by a partnership from United Way of Iberia through a grant from the Healthy Louisiana Communities Coalition and Well Ahead Louisiana. The group is also seeking sponsorships. The group is looking for permission to install a Little Pantry on the grounds of City Hall or at another location that the Board feels is best. The goal is for every citizen to benefit from this pantry. Motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderman Lancon to expand agenda 9C Placement of the Little Pantry on City Property. Motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderman Lancon to allow the Little Free Pantry located on public property in Jeanerette on voice vote of all yea with no abstain or nay.
8F. Update from Purvis Morrison of M & M Associates on current Legislative activity, Mr. Morrison reviewed his background and how he could help advocate for the City of Jeanerette to obtain grants and economic development projects. After a brief discussion Mr. Morrison promised to send additional information on how the City could contract for his services.
8G. Update on Head Start Program at former Jeanerette Elementary; Representative was unable to attend but they will attend in June meeting.
9. Agenda Items
A. Changes to Policy 10, City Holidays; Introduction by Alderman Clark. Motion by Alderman Lancon and second by Alderman Clark to allow the changes in Policy 10. Roll call as follows
Yea: Aldermen Lancon, Ward, Bourgeois, Clark and Alderwoman Moore
Nay:None
Abstain: None
Absence: None
Motion passed.
B. Request Letters of Intent for Permitting, Planning & Zoning Board Member, term ending June 26, 2025. The Aldermen agreed to review letters of intent next meeting.
C. Placement of the Library on City Property. Motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderman Lancon to allow the Little Free Pantry to be located on public property in Jeanerette passed on voice vote of all yea with no abstain or nay.
10. Proclamations
11.New Business
1. OPEN PUBLIC HEARING
Motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderwoman Moore to enter Public Hearing
Roll call as follows
Yea: Aldermen Lancon, Ward, Bourgeois, Clark and Alderwoman Moore
Nay: None
Abstain: None
Absence: None
Motion passed.
Treasurer Catherine Roy provided a brief introduction on the adjusted millage rates. This roll forward would go from our Adjusted Rate to our Adjusted Maximum rate because property values increased in Jeanerette. Not all properties increase, some decreased but some larger properties had a significant increase and also some larger properties had a significant decrease due to closure. The current millage rate is 37.41 and the finance committee is suggesting to roll forward to the Adjusted Maximum rate of 38.03. This will with represent a $3.00 increase on a $45,000 property. Even though the roll forward would only generate $10,000 if the City doesn’t Roll Forward then it loses that Adjusted Maximum rate.
2. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING
Motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderman Ward to close Public Hearing and return to regular session. Motion carried of voice vote of all yea, no abstain and no absent.
A. Resolution 5: Adopt the Adjusted Millage Rates
Motion by Alderman Lancon and second by Alderman Clark to Adopt the Adjusted Millage Rates
Yea: Aldermen Lancon, Ward, Bourgeois, Clark and Alderwoman Moore
Nay: None
Abstain: None
Absence: None
Motion passed.
B. Resolution 6: Set forth and adopt the Adjusted Millage Rates and Roll Forward to increase Millage Rates not exceeding the Maximum Authorized Rates
Motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderman Clark to Adopt the Adjusted Millage Rates
Yea: Aldermen Lancon, Ward, Bourgeois, Clark and Alderwoman Moore
Nay: None
Abstain: None
Absence: None
Motion passed.

12. Ordinances
A. Adopt Ordinance 2021-04A Changes to Ordinance Sec. 6-3005. - Composition, membership, and vacancies. Jeanerette Historic Districts
Motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderman Clark to leave regular session and enter public meeting. Motion carried of voice vote of all yea, no abstain and no absent. Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. introduced the Ordinance.
Motion by Alderman Lancon and second by Alderman Clark to leave public session and enter regular session. Motion carried of voice vote of all yea, no abstain and no absent.
Motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderman Bourgeois to Adopt Ordinance 2021-04A Changes to Ordinance Sec. 6-3005. - Composition, membership, and vacancies. Jeanerette Historic Districts; Roll Call vote
Yea: Aldermen Lancon, Ward, Bourgeois, Clark and Alderwoman Moore
Nay: None
Abstain: None
Absence: None
Motion passed.
B. Introduce Ordinance 2021-05A An Ordinance Adopting the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget
Finance Committee chair Alderman Lancon provided a brief introduction. Motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderman Ward to Introduce Ordinance 2021-05A An Ordinance Adopting the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget; Motion carried of voice vote of four Yea, one Nay no abstain and no absent.
C. Introduce Ordinance 2021-05B An Ordinance Amending the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Budget
Finance Committee chair Alderman Lancon provided a brief introduction. Motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderman Ward to Introduce Ordinance 2021-05B An Ordinance Amending the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Budget; Motion carried of voice vote of all Yea, no Nay no Abstain and no Absent.
13. Executive Session
Insurance Claims regarding sewer system
Motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderwoman Moore to leave regular session and enter executive session
Motion by Alderman Lancon and second by Alderman Bourgeois to leave executive session and return to regular session
14.Adjourn There being no further business to bring before the Board of Aldermen, motion by Alderman Lancon and second by Alderman Clark to adjourn the meeting carried with a voice vote of all yea.



________________/s/__________________

Carol Bourgeois Jr., Mayor
ATTEST:



____________/s/_________________
Susan Colden
City Clerk

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests