Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
REGULAR MEETING OF DECEMBER 2, 2008
Be it remembered that the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Ocean Springs met in a Regular meeting at City Hall in the City of Ocean Springs at 6:00 p.m. on December 2, 2008. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Weaver, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan were present. Also present were City Clerk Shelly Ferguson and City Attorney John Edwards.
The Mayor gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to move Item 8-d to Public Comments.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to add the Addendum to the Agenda.
PROCLAMATIONS
The Mayor read a proclamation declaring the month of December, 2008, as Ocean Springs Fire Appreciation Month (Exhibit 3-a).
The Mayor presented a plaque from FEMA stating the City of Ocean Springs successfully participates in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System with a rating of 7 (Exhibit 3-b).
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Buzzy Bolton of Bolton, Lack & Furr presented the final floor plan for the Public Safety Facility. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to approve the final floor plan for the Public Safety Facility (Exhibit 4-a).
The Planning Director presented the plan for the front beach path. Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to finalize the bid specifications for the new lighting plan for the front beach path.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. James E. Ashley requested a building permit fee of $1.00 to rebuild his home at 102 Shearwater Drive damaged during Hurricane Katrina. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize a building permit fee of $1.00 at 102 Shearwater Drive. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to refund the building permit fee to Mr. James E. Ashley less $1.00 (Exhibit 5-a).
Ms. Patsy Wooten requested a building permit fee of $1.00 to rebuild her home at 1805 Kensington Avenue damaged during Hurricane Katrina. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to authorize a building permit fee of $1.00 at 1805 Kensington Avenue (Exhibit 5-b).
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Gill to authorize the Building Official to grant the $1.00 building permit fee to the owner of record as of August 29, 2005, on a case by case basis and to allow the property owner to appeal the Building Official’s decision to the Board of Aldermen. After further discussion, Alderman Dalgo withdraws his motion and Alderman Gill withdraws his second. The Building Official and City Attorney will make a recommendation concerning the $1.00 building permit fees at the next meeting on December 16, 2008.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to accept the recommendation of Human Resources/Risk Director to remain with the services of the Mississippi Municipal Service Company for liability insurance (Exhibit 8-d).
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of items (a) and (f) which were pulled by Alderman Lloyd and items (n) and (q) which were pulled by Alderman Weaver.
Alderman Lloyd pulled item (a) to ask what was the final cost for the wetlands credits. The Mayor advised that the final cost is $48,000.00. Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute the Agreement for Sale of Wetland Mitigation Credits (Exhibit 7-a).
Alderman Lloyd pulled item (a) for clarification on the budget amendments. The City Clerk advised it is a reduction in FHWA award per the bid opening from MDOT for the federal highway road repairs and to modify the budget for the bid amount. Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to accept the budget amendments (Exhibit 7-f).
Alderman Weaver pulled item (n) and asked what the replanting plan will be for the trees removed. Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to accept the tree committee report and the city will plant live oaks and cypress trees on site that will compensate for the size and number of the trees removed if there is space to do so.
Alderman Weaver pulled item (q) and clarified these were the only Katrina lighting repairs that FEMA would pay for and there are still lighting repairs that are non-Katrina related to be done. Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to approve final payment to BMT Electric in the amount of $4,986.82 for Hurricane Katrina repairs, ball field lighting phase II for Alice Street, Gay Lemon and Stephen Parker Fields (Exhibit 7-q).
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor
The Mayor presented a letter from Pascagoula Historic Preservation Commission to Eric Zala, of the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center, requesting the return of the “Singing River” mural. Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to not move the mural until the Board comes to a resolution. The City Attorney investigate further.
Human Resources/Risk
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Aldermen Denyer and unanimously carried to remove “Date Board Notified” from the Donated Leave Form (Exhibit 8-b).
The Human Resources Committee proposed setting a policy concerning all promotions and/or salary changes and adopting a Request Form for Employee Promotion to provide uniform information. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo and seconded by Alderman Lloyd to table item (8-c) to receive input from the department heads concerning the policy. Motion failed with Aldermen Gill, Lloyd and Dalgo voting aye and Aldermen Weaver, McDonnell, Denyer and Hagan voting nay. After further discussion, motion was made by Alderman Weaver to institute a new policy that when department heads recommend a promotion or change in benefit that they use new policy form, present it to the Human Resources Director and the department head will submit the new policy form for the agenda. Alderman Weaver withdrew her motion. After further discussion, motion was made by Alderman Dalgo and seconded by Alderman Hagan to table item (8-c) until the next meeting. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, Lloyd, Weaver, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan voting aye and Alderman McDonnell voting nay.
Public Works
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to authorize repair of the drainage issues on Bristol Boulevard not to exceed $50,000.00 (Exhibit 8-e).
Community Development & Planning
Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Weaver and unanimously carried to accept the recommendation of the Building Official to post notices on all remaining FEMA trailers and MEMA cottages to ask the residents to state their intentions of their rebuilding efforts.
City Attorney
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute contracts with AT&T Telecommunications and Cable One, funded by CDBG Round 1 Streetscape Project to bury utility lines.
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan and seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize $936.50 from Ward 6 Capital Improvement Account to repair the sprinkler system at Trentwood Subdivision. Motion carried with Alderman Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan voting aye and Alderman Weaver voting nay.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan and seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to send a letter to the power company to install street lights at corners of Carolyn Drive and Hilltop Drive. Motion carried with Alderman Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan voting aye and Alderman Weaver voting nay.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to draft a resolution and send it to the legislators in Jackson County and the Jackson County Board of Supervisors endorsing a substantial increase in homestead exemption and a proportionate increase for senior citizens in homestead exemption.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to draft a resolution and send it to the legislators in Jackson County and the Jackson County Board of Supervisors to create legislation to allow the local county tax assessors to make adjustments to the evaluations based on the economic decisions that are made.
Alderman Gill asked the Mayor to send a letter to MDOT requesting them to repair the button at the pedestrian crosswalk at Bristol Boulevard and Highway 90 and also to re-stripe the pedestrian crosswalk.
Alderman Weaver asked if anyone had comments concerning the comprehensive plan to send them to the Planning Commission and Zoning and Adjustment Board so that they can move forward to release the draft comprehensive plan to the public.
Alderman Weaver announced that the Finance Committee will meet on Friday, December 5th at 9:00 a.m. concerning tax receipts, employment numbers by department and hiring an in-house civil engineer.
Alderman Weaver asked if the Human Resources Committee has made a decision about how the step program will work. She advised that the Finance Committee needs to know if the city will be using the step program. The Human Resources Director advised that a proposal will be submitted to the Finance Committee.
Alderman Denyer asked the Public Works Director what could be done to repair Halstead Road. The Public Works Director advised that he will obtain a cost estimate to mill the road and lay a smooth surface.
Alderman Denyer asked the Planning Director about lights at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center. He said there are no lights on at night and asked about putting up solar lighting.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize up to $1,000.00 from Ward 4 Capital Improvement Account for lighting at the entrance at Stark Bayou Subdivision.
Alderman Dalgo asked the Police Chief to move his speed sign to Cabilbo for east bound traffic and to obtain a traffic count.
Alderman Dalgo advised that he is proposing to reduce the speed limit in Bienville Subdivision to 21 mph. He will get a consensus of the neighborhood.
Alderman Hagan asked about vacancies on the taxi board and a term expiration on the civil service board. The Public Information Officer will issue a press release announcing that applications will be accepted for the openings on the cemetery board and the civil service board.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to accept the resignation of Patrolman Jimmy Smith, effective November 28, 2008. Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize to begin the process to fill the vacancy.
The Mayor asked the Board to make comments about the new flag.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to recess until 6:00 p.m. on December 16, 2008.
Meeting ended at 9:13 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor
