Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 2, 2010
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 February 2, 2010. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Ross, Gill, McDonnell, Cody, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan were present. Also present were City Clerk Shelly Ferguson and City Attorney John Edwards.
Alderman Cody gave the invocation and the Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATION
Mayor Moran made a check presentation to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in the amount of $500.00 to promote the resources of the City. The Ocean Springs Relay for Life will be held on April 30, 2010, beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Ocean Springs Greyhound Stadium.
OLD BUSINESS
Supervisor John McKay advised the City that the Jackson County Board of Supervisors would participate in the City’s endeavors to purchase the Pine Grove Water System after the legalities are worked out.
Supervisor McKay asked the City to participate financially in a traffic study at the intersection of Old Spanish Trail and Highway 57 and also Highway 90 and Highway 57. He stated the traffic study is necessary to apply for grant funding for traffic controls at the intersection where the school will be built and additional traffic controls at Highway 57. The traffic study will also provide documentation to be able to install the crossing arms at the railroad tracks. Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize up to $5,000.00 for a traffic study at the intersection of Old Spanish Trail and Highway 57 and also Highway 90 and Highway 57 and amend the budget accordingly.
Supervisor McKay explained the road paving procedures used by the County for paving roads in the City. He asked for a prioritized road paving list. Supervisor McKay stated he or Supervisor Broadnax will then drive the prioritized roads with the Public Works Director and the Alderman for that particular ward to make a determination of which roads need paving.
Supervisor McKay advised the school project on Beachview and the middle school would start sometime in March and the Ocean Springs Road project would begin soon.
The Mayor provided the Drainage and Infrastructure recommended projects. She stated the City Engineers will advise which projects can be done in-house, which are grant funded and which will have to go out to bid. Once that information is provided to the Drainage and Infrastructure Committee, she will ask the Board to rank the drainage projects (Exhibit 4-c).
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize additional electrical work at Highway 57 Sports Complex originally planned to be done in Phase 3 with work to be done by Miller Co., Inc. in the amount of $35,375.00 (Exhibit 4-d).
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Henry Furr presented the Halstead Street Tennis Court pavilion preliminary design. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to accept the preliminary design of the Halstead Street Tennis Court pavilion (Exhibit 5-a).
Mr. Bryant Klein, owner of Legs, Fins and More Pet Shop, asked for clarification of Municipal Code Section 5-12. – Ferocious, vicious or dangerous animals prohibited. He stated he desires to open a pet shop in Ocean Springs and would be selling exotic animals. The Mayor asked Mr. Klein to meet with her, the Planning Director and the Police Chief regarding this matter. She further stated the City will be looking at revising this Ordinance (Exhibit 5-b).
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to place the Cruisin’ the Coast event on October 7, 8, and 9, 2010 calendar for the City of Ocean Springs.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to appoint Michelle Smith to the Ocean Springs School Board, term expiring February 28, 2015.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ms. Mary Marr Beckman, 1209 Cove Avenue, stated the house located on Cove Avenue was still standing and asked for a status on the demolition. Alderman McDonnell advised the property has indicated he was going to demolish the house. He asked the Planning Director to come back with an update on this matter. She also expressed her concern that residents were moving out of the City due to the increase in property taxes and insurance. Alderman Denyer explained the City had reduced the millage for property taxes. Alderman McDonnell advised Ms. Beckman to address the County and the School District to voice her concerns concerning the increase in taxes.
Alderman Dalgo left the meeting.
Mr. Bernie Bodmer stated he moved here from Illinois but would not have moved in the City had he known how high the wind and hail insurance premiums.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to accept the Consent Agenda with exception of item (i) which was pulled by Alderman Hagan.
Alderman Hagan asked for the salary range for this position. The Planning Director stated it was $30,000.00 – $35,000.00. Alderman Hagan further asked why he was offered $35,000.00. The Planning Director advised this person was a candidate for the inspector position and he has the qualifications and certifications that exceed a Code Enforcement Officer and he could move to the inspector position if there was an opening. Motion was made by Hagan, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize employment of William Hibberts as Code Enforcement official, $35,000.00 annual, six-month probationary period, pending successful completion of all pre-employment requirements (Exhibit 7-i).
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor:
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to accept the recommendation of the Police Chief and not remove the stop signs at Old Spanish Trail and Fountainbleau Road (Exhibit 8-a).
The Mayor announced Kristin Holley received a scholarship for 2010 from the Mississippi Economic Development Council in the amount of $1,320.00 to attend the Economic Development Institute (Exhibit 8-b).
City Attorney:
Motion was made by Alderman Cody and seconded by Alderman McDonnell to adopt Ordinance No. 2010-02 AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE NO. 13-1976 REZONING PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED FROM R-2 TO C-2 (Exhibit 8-c). The motion passed with a roll call vote as follows:
Alderman Ross Voted Aye
Alderman Gill Voted Aye
Alderman McDonnell Voted Aye
Alderman Cody Voted Aye
Alderman Denyer Voting Aye
Alderman Dalgo Voting Absent
Alderman Hagan Voting Aye
Motion was made by Alderman Cody and seconded by Alderman McDonnell to adopt Ordinance No. 2010-03 AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE NO. 5-1963 TO RECONSTITUTE THE COMPOSITION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO EIGHT (8) MEMBERS (Exhibit A-2a). The motion passed with a roll call vote as follows:
Alderman Ross Voted Aye
Alderman Gill Voted Aye
Alderman McDonnell Voted Aye
Alderman Cody Voted Aye
Alderman Denyer Voting Aye
Alderman Dalgo Voting Absent
Alderman Hagan Voting Aye
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize up to $236.00 from Ward 5 Capital Improvement Account for Magnolia Bayou Subdivision.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to contact Mississippi Power Company to request them to run electricity from the existing street light at entrance of Ashley Place to the entrance sign.
Alderman Denyer advised the Parks and Leisure Services Department about skate boarders at the Fort Maurepas Park.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to waive his monthly Alderman’s salary until December, 2010 to be placed in Ward 4 Capital Improvement Account.
Motion was made by Alderman Ross, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize up to $500.00 each from Alderman at Large Capital Improvement Account and Wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 Capital Improvement Account to promote the resources of the City at the 1699 celebration.
The Mayor announced the State of the City Address will be on February 26th at 5:30 p.m. at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center and an open house and reception of the new Culinary Arts Café.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize up to $825.00 from Ward 1 Capital Improvement Account for a water fountain at Fort Bayou Children’s Park.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to authorize up to $400.00 from Ward 1 Capital Improvement Account for repairs to Fort Bayou entrance sign.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, 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 Denyer, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss potential litigation in construction; potential litigation in Federal Court; potential litigation in Chancery Court and personnel in the Planning Department and potential litigation that falls under Mississippi Tort Claims Act.
Motion was made by Alderman Ross, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to accept the recommendation of Human Resource and the Planning Directors to begin salary of $45,000.00 beginning November 21, 2010, for Deputy Building Official, Michael Watkins, and waive six-month probationary period.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to make a policy that no employment or salary will be offered until a form is created and signed by the Human Resource Director and the Mayor for any position with the City of Ocean Springs approving the offer to be extended.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to recess until 6:00 p.m. on January 17, 2010.
Meeting ended at 10:40 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor
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