Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
RECESS MEETING OF DECEMBER 19, 2006
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 December 19, 2006. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Weaver, Denyer and Dalgo were present. Also present were City Clerk Adrienne Howell and City Attorney John Edwards. Alderman Hagan was absent.
Mayor Moran gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC MEETING
Carolyn Martin presented a public meeting regarding the USDA Grant Applications to address and invite public comment (Exhibit 3-a). All concerns were addressed with no environmental issues.
NEW BUSINESS
The Mayor explained that Matthew Langlinais will attend the next meeting to request a permit to operate a taxi service and the Taxi Board must convene to review his credentials (Exhibit 4-a). She asked for volunteers to serve on the Taxi Board.
Chief Belk introduced the new Police narcotics dog, Max, and his handler, Officer Bryan Wallace.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Travis and Alex Scharr announced that their band, the River Company will perform as the Un “Beatle”bles at the Mary C. O’Keefe Center on December 29, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. as a celebration of the opening of the music room at the center and invited everyone to attend.
Ms. Carol Jones, 4077 Groveland Road, expressed her opinion regarding a lack of cohesion among City leadership.
Mr. Warren Stram, 207 Cleveland Avenue, requested that the Board consider holding in abeyance all waterfront commercial development until the Waterview Ordinance is reconsidered.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of items (b), (f), (k) and (m) which were pulled by the Mayor.
The Mayor pulled items (b), (f), (k) and (m) and explained that she just learned today that some of the Department of Labor grant employees will be able to continue working under the program until their one year anniversary or the $24,000.00 allotment has been exhausted. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to continue the employment of the Department of Labor grant employees until the funds are exhausted with the intent that they will be considered for full time employment on the following dates contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment requirements:
December 28, 2006 – lateral transfer
Ashley Bearfield, Water Clerk, hourly rate $10.00 (Exhibit 6-f)
January 1, 2007
Kristen Holley, Administrative Assistant, hourly rate $12.00 (Exhibit 6-f)
Maureen Holley, Building Department Clerk, hourly rate $10.72 (Exhibit 6-m)
February 1, 2007
Jeana Taylor, Meter Reader, hourly rate $10.00 (Exhibit 6-f)
March 1, 2007
Carolyn Martin, Grants Coordinator, salary $37,000.00 (Exhibit 6-b)
Tom Kennedy, Computer Support Specialist, hourly rate $13.00 (Exhibit 6-f)
Roxanne Williams, Meter Reader, hourly rate $10.00 (Exhibit 6-f)
Drenetta Galloway, Public Works Clerk, hourly rate $10.72 (Exhibit 6-k)
Kristen Wujek, Planning Department Clerk, hourly rate $10.72 (Exhibit 6-m)
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize the waiver of rental fee of the Civic Center on February 3, 2007 for the OSHS Baseball Booster Club to promote the benefits and resources of the City (Exhibit 7-a).
Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to accept the resignation of Donovon Scruggs, Community Development & Planning Director, effective January 15, 2007 with regrets and authorize beginning the process to fill the vacancy (Exhibit 7-b).
The Mayor presented the CIAP project submittals listing and explained that the Jackson County Board of Supervisors removed the item submitted to purchase the Fayard property on the beach, however, the project has also been submitted to the state for a separate allocation of funding.
City Clerk
The City Clerk presented the Parks & Leisure Services Department Budget report which was requested at the last meeting and said in her opinion $500,000.00 can be set aside from the ending balance for recreation (Exhibit 7-d). Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to set aside $500,000.00 for capital improvement on all parks and recreation facilities this coming year.
The City Clerk presented a Telephone and Cell Phone report and recommendation (Exhibit 7-e). Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to accept the recommendation of the City Clerk for telephone and cell phone usage.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to accept the First Quarter Budget Report and spread upon the minutes (Exhibit 7-f).
Public Works
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to reskin and reinsulate the Shop Building for a cost of $10,056.28 (Exhibit 7-g).
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute the documents to extend the water line up Highway 57 from Highway 90 to Sunplex.
City Attorney
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to adopt the resolution for hospital expansion (Exhibit 7-h).
ADDENDUM
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell and seconded by Alderman Denyer to authorize Compton Engineering to prepare a traffic study in the Harbor area for $5,000.00. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd and Weaver voting aye and Aldermen Denyer and Dalgo voting nay (Exhibit A-1a).
ALDERMAN’S FORUM
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to request MDOT to add a right hand turning lane on Highway 90 going onto Bristol Boulevard.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to request Singing River Power to do a streetlight study on Ocean Springs Road from Highway 90 to Riley Road.
Alderman McDonnell asked the Parks Director to bring back by the end of January a list of what will be done in each park and the estimated costs.
Mr. Kaufman announced that the Christmas tree recycling program will begin next week.
Alderman Lloyd asked when the bids for Tree Removal on Private Property will be completed. Ms. Cox replied that the bids will be opened on December 29, 2006.
Alderman Weaver asked for an update on wet debris removal. Mr. Kaufman said that the Coast Guard is working on the project and it has been determined that clearing debris from the marshlands would do more harm than good.
Alderman Weaver said that the City spent $3,000.00 on Christmas decorations which is a small percentage of the total $22 million dollar budget. The purpose of the decorations is to dress up the town, participate in the Mainstreet Program and partner with the Chamber of Commerce to support our local businesses to increase the sales tax base.
Alderman Denyer thanked the Public Works Department for erecting signs in Stark Bayou.
Alderman Denyer said the traffic light at Hanley Road and Highway 90 is very dangerous. Chief Belk said that he has had conversations with MDOT about the intersection and that the next step is to stage the light in a four way configuration which should alleviate the problem.
Alderman Denyer asked Aaron Masters of Compton Engineering to find the study that was done on the development of a third lane on Government Street at Hanley Road.
The Mayor reported that $5,500.00 was spent on Christmas decorations of which $3,600.00 was paid for from her Capital Improvement Fund. Included in the expense was replacement of the flags on the highway which was $3,200.00.
The Mayor reported that the survey for residents of the Waterview District will be mailed this week and that the Concerned Citizens asked for one month to return the survey. She also said that the tree canopy height is being studied.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill 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 Weaver, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss personnel issues in the Police Department and the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to accept the resignation of Michael Crebassa from the Police Department (Exhibit 9-a).
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to adjourn until 6:00 p.m. on January 2, 2007.
