Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
RECESS MEETING OF AUGUST 18, 2009
Be it remembered that the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Ocean Springs met in a Recess meeting at City Hall in the City of Ocean Springs at 6:00 p.m. on August 18, 2009. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Ross, Gill, McDonnell, Cody, Denyer and Hagan were present. Also present were City Clerk Shelly Ferguson and City Attorney John Edwards. Alderman Dalgo was absent.
Alderman Cody led the invocation and the Mayor led Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATION
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to accept the school district budget (Exhibit 3-a).
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to add the Addendum to the Agenda.
OLD BUSINESS
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the Lease Purchase for the ballfield lighting for the Highway 57 Sports Complex and authorize Mayor to execute Contracts with Miller Co., Inc. and Musco Lighting, pending legal approval (Exhibit 4-a).
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Herb Moore and Ms. Michelle Hale reported $15,306.00 was raised during the Ocean Springs Renaissance Fair to go to outreach programs including the Boys and Girls Club of Ocean Springs and the Lord is My Help. They expressed their appreciation for the use of Freedom Field and the help from the Parks and Leisure Services, Public Works and Police Departments. They asked for the use of Freedom Field for May 1st and 2nd, 2010.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to accept the donation of the power panel located at Freedom Field with reservation that it would be available for use each year at the Renaissance Festival and turn it over to Public Works Department.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. John Flowers spoke on behalf of the Ocean Springs Police Department concerning the budget and salaries and asked for a fair pay scale.
Mr. Calvin Dukes presented a memo to the Board for their consideration and review.
Mr. Gary Capehart, 1221 Londonderry, spoke concerning an ongoing drainage problem with the easement located behind his property which is causing a 12’ deep by 30’-40’ long sinkhole.
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to authorize the emergency repairs for the Londonderry drainage project in the amount of $166,250.00 and amend the budget accordingly and when the proposed general obligation bond for drainage repairs is made, this amount will be allocated as part of Ward 1’s drainage budget.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of item (t) and to move item (q) to Police Department Consent.
Alderman Ross pulled item (t) to recuse himself from the vote. Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to accept Historic Preservation Commissions recommendation to approve to demolish structure at 524 Jackson Avenue. Alderman Ross recused himself from the vote (Exhibit 7-t).
OLD BUSINESS – Addendum
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to approve the request for a time extension of nine (9) calendar days for Fort Maurepas Park (Exhibit A-2a).
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor:
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 2 to Right of Way Permit #RW5320-5-9045 with the National Park Service (Exhibit 8-c).
Human Resources/Risk Management:
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize the health insurance deductible for FY2009-2010 be increased to $1,000.00 per person (Exhibit 8-a).
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to become a Tobacco-Free Workplace in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi effective October 1, 2009 (Exhibit 8-b).
Public Works:
The Public Works Director reported Jackson County Board of Supervisors has the permit to replenish the sand on Front Beach and East Beach and work could begin as early as next week.
ALDERMEN’S FORUM – Addendum
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize $4,284.90 from Ward 3 Capital Improvement Account for Change Order No. 3 for Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center for additional wiring, control panels, shut off for new Captive-Aire hoods (Exhibit A-3a).
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to authorize the balance of the Ward 3 Capital Improvement Account for decorative street signs in Ward 3.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to create a set of guidelines made up of realistic goals to be obtained by an Economic Development Council made up of five (5) members who reside within the city limits and present the guidelines to the Board at the September 15th Board meeting. The guidelines will be created by the Mayor, Aldermen and department heads.
Alderman Gill asked about paving Highway 90. The Mayor advised she spoke to Kelly Castleberry with the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the City is ranked No. 10 out of 20 stretches of highway for the paving of Highway 90. He stated MDOT would pave the Hanshaw Road and Highway 90 intersection and they would assess the crosswalks.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor and the Public Works Director to apply for any and all Pat Harrison Waterway District grants whenever possible.
Alderman Ross suggested each Alderman rank their top 3 drainage projects in their ward.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer and seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the City Engineer obtain an estimate for Monster Ditch #1. The Assistant Public Works Director advised his department should determine what needs to be done to the ditch before an estimate is obtained and this could be done in-house. After further discussion, Alderman Denyer withdraws his motion and Alderman Hagan withdraws his second.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize the City Engineer and City Attorney to determine if the walkway in front of Fort Maurepas Park conforms with the 20 mph speed limit on Front Beach Drive the way it was built.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to appoint Keith Zirlott to the Parks Advisory Board to fill one (1) of the two (2) vacant positions created by resolution dated June 17, 2008.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to appoint Allen Vermeulen, II to the Parks Advisory Board.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize up to $500.00 from Ward 5 Capital Improvement Account for improvements to the entrance of Bienville Homeowners Association.
Alderman Denyer asked if the budget improves, could the Capital Improvement Accounts for the Aldermen be increased.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize the striping of the crosswalk from the Ocean Springs Library to the parking lot.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to waive the rental fees of the Ocean Springs Community Center for the event associated with the Southeastern Association of Stated Highway and Transportation Officials (SASHTO) on August 29, 2009.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to go into closed session to determine the necessity of going into executive session.
The City Clerk returned to the meeting and announced that a motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss personnel in the Planning Department, Police Department, Fire Department and Parks and Leisure Services Department.
The City Attorney, John Edwards, exited executive session and asked the City Clerk to call Lee Leonard. The City Clerk called twice. Lee Leonard was not present.
The City Attorney, John Edwards, exited executive session and asked the City Clerk to call Ronald Farr. The City Clerk called twice. Ronald Farr was not present.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to accept the recommendation of the Parks and Leisure Services Director to terminate John Kerry and authorize to begin process to fill the vacancy.
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to accept the recommendation of the Deputy Police Chief of three (3) days suspension without pay of a patrolman.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to reduce to one (1) Planning Clerk, effective the end of the pay period on August 21, 2009.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize the payout of any leave accumulated from the terminated position in the Planning Department.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to accept the recommendations of the Fire Chief with regard to the discipline of the individual presented holding the position of Firefighter I.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to accept the recommendations of the Fire Chief with regard to the discipline of the individual presented holding the position of probationary Lieutenant.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to recess until 5:30 p.m. on August 24, 2009.
Meeting ended at 10:32 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor
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