MINUTES REGULAR MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN Monday April 10, 2023

[City Clerk]

CITY OF JEANERETTE JEANERETTE, LA
MINUTES REGULAR MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN Monday April 10, 2023
Proceedings of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Jeanerette, State of Louisiana, at their Regular meeting held Monday April 10, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
Those present were: Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr., Alderman Clarence Clark, Alderwoman Charlene Moore, Alderman Garland Bourgeois, Alderman and Alderman Willie Ward. Alderman Ray Duplechain was absent and City Attorney Lucretia Pecante
Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr.. led in prayer and Alderman Ward led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. determined that a quorum was present. –
5. Approval of Minutes of the Last Regular Meeting on March 13, 2023- Alderwoman Moore moved and Alderman Bourgeois seconded to approve, Motion carried by voice vote of all yea, no nay and no abstain.
6. Correspondence by Mayor –The Mayor thanked everyone for re-electing him to another term. He then introduced his new bride, Mrs. Margaret Olivier Bourgeois. The Mayor then addressed the Proclamation by the Governor’s office for the 55th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Law declared April as Fair Housing Month. On May 20th there will be a Suicide Prevention March that is being sponsored under the leadership of Reverend Felton Hogan.
7. Announcements by Mayor. – The Mayor offered condolences to Mr. Bert Grace at the passing of his mother Miss Cindy Grace, and also to City Employee Jessica Reyes at the passing of her sister, Anastacia Reyes Jack. Finally, the TECHE Project has received the trash cans that were requested in the grant application and they will be delivered to the Jeanerette paddle trail area in City Park this week.
8. Reports
A. Personnel Committee: Report from April Regular Meeting. Present- Alderwoman Charlene Moore, Alderman Clarence Clark, Susan Colden City Clerk, and Treasurer Liz Verdun, also present were Tia Simmons, Mariah Clay and Derrick Wells. The group reviewed a checklist and incident report and noted some changes that need to be made. There were comments to also have an on-scene form and to have a way to record if the person refuses medical attention and procedures for screenings. The group also briefly discussed if there should be a policy for damage resulting from employee negligence. The changes suggested will be reviewed next month. Alderman Clark also discussed Policy 3, Pre-employment screening. He noted that not all the areas in the policy are being followed in practice and after a discussion the committee felt that the policy should stay as written and all screenings in the policy should be performed. After a brief discussion on various updates, the meeting was adjourned.
B. Finance Committee Report from April Regular Meeting -. Present - Alderwoman Charlene Moore, Alderman Ray Duplechain, Treasurer Liz Verdun and City Clerk Susan Colden and Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. also present were Tia Simmons, Mariah Clay and Derrick Wells. Utility Billing has 1934 customers with 17 new and 24 set inactive. Collection of Utility payments is good. Sales tax is up almost 36% from last year and up from last month. Letters reminding everyone of outstanding taxes, Occupational license and Backflow permits were sent and payments are coming in. Bank balances are good. Cash Flow Projections were reviewed and it was noted that the transfer was needed from the Ad Valorem account to the General Fund. The payables are inline and some ARPA projects for the repairs at the Fire station, Airpack, and Asphalt projects. 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 reviewed the P & L and some questions were made regarding balances versus accounting entries. It was noted that the bank reconciliations were not yet completed. With no other business to consider, the meeting was adjourned.
C. Public Works Committee Report and Safety Meeting from April Regular Meeting Present- Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr., Alderman Butch Bourgeois, Alderman Wille (Poochie Ward, City Clerk Susan Colden, Public Works Director Howard White, Supervisor Wade Tillman, Police Chief Vallot and Treasurer Liz Verdun. Also present were Tia Simmons, Mariah Clay and Derrick Wells. Fire Chief Sherry Landry was responding to a structure fire. Wade Tillman reported 30 Dottie marking, called out to 1 sewer backup and water leak. Grass was cut at 43 locations, cleared 5 ditches of trash and 2 areas by roadway, repaired 6 water leaks and 12 sewer backups cleared one roadkill and changed trash bags every Monday. Wade and Howard will be attending LRWA 32 hour water systems training April 12 & 13 in Abbeville. Chief Vallot reported 158 total calls. There were 0 shootings, 7 misdemeanors arrests, 5 felony arrests, 6 juvenile arrests and 25 citations issued. The poles for the cameras are being installed this week and the cameras should be installed next week. Susan said that there will be online training for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This will be held in 3 1 our sessions and all employees will need to attend one session. With no other business to consider the meeting was adjourned.
D Statewide Electric on Sewer and Water Operations by Neal Swain-they have been preparing to take the tower out of service and supply the water from the ground storage tanks. All of the auto flushers have been removed to conserve water and the routine flushing will discontinue unless there is a problem area. The cleaning, repair and painting of the water tower will take about 3-4 months. The Mayor stated that this project is a major step in the improvement of our water system. Mr. Swain agreed and also pointed out that there will be 3 pop-off pressure relief valves, one at the plant, another by Chaney, and one at 4th and Ira. Since the service pumps have to run continuously the valves to open if the pressure in the line exceeds a set pressure. Alderman Clark asked Mr. Swain for the best practices to follow if there is a fire. Mr. Swain said there is a second service pump that can be activated if an emergency demands additional water pressure. On the sewer side, the sewer plant remodeling is still ongoing. There is also an issue with the Pellerin Lift station, the pumps are dated from 1998 and one is limping along and the other is out of service. Need at least one to be replaced soon. The transfer pump for the sewer plant has been ordered. The build-up of the rags and sludge was sucked out, the lines from the aerators to the clarifiers were jetted out, Alderwomen Moore asked about the sample results and Neal said that the test results are so far good, but when the heat comes that could change. The Mayor stated that the City is looking at switching using wetland assimilation to treat the sewage. The money to pay for this system will be coming from a water sector grant.
9. A. -Request Authorization to readvertise for bids for the Love LA Outdoors Program City Park and King Joseph Recreational Center Park Improvements – Contract B Playground Equipment and Site Amenities Project. On motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderwoman Moore to approve, Roll call vote
Yeas: Alderman Clark, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderman Ward
Nay: None
Absent: Alderman Duplechain
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
B. Approval of PPE#2 For $2,922.60 to Southern Constructors, LLC for water improvements along LA Highway 671 (Canal Street) project 7048-56
On motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderwoman Moore to approve, Roll call vote
Yeas: Alderman Clark, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderman Ward
Nay: None
Absent: Alderman Duplechain
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
C. Approval of PPE#1 for $12,689.15 to Lemoine Company LLC for the Water Treatment Plant Phase 1 project 9327-06
On motion by Alderman Bourgeois and second by Alderman Clark to approve, Roll call vote
Yeas: Alderman Clark, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderman Ward
Nay: None
Absent: Alderman Duplechain
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
10. Proclamation
11. Resolution
Resolution 4 of 2023 To Authorize the Mayor to Sign and Submit documents and adopt procedures in connection with the Water Sector Program for Sewer Improvements, Question by Alderman Clark if this cause a rate increase or if it was to strictly submit paperwork the Mayor said it was strictly to submit paperwork. On motion by Alderman Clark and second by Alderman Ward to approve, Roll call vote
Yeas: Alderman Clark, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderman Ward
Nay: None
Absent: Alderman Duplechain,
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
12. Ordinances
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.






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Carol Bourgeois Jr., Mayor
ATTEST:





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Susan Colden City Clerk