Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
RECESS MEETING OF FEBRUARY 21, 2007
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 February 21, 2007. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Weaver, Dalgo, Denyer and Hagan were present. Also present were City Clerk Adrienne Howell and City Attorney John Edwards.
Alderman Denyer gave the invocation and Mayor Moran led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PROCLAMATION
Mayor Moran read a proclamation declaring March 3, 2007 as Arbor Day (Exhibit 3).
NEW BUSINESS
The Mayor presented a thank you letter from the Chamber of Commerce (Exhibit 4-a).
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Bill Tash, Parktown resident, requested that the lighting be restored at Lemoyne Park on Groveland.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of item (b) which was pulled by Alderman Denyer, item (l) which was pulled by Alderman Hagan, items (m), (n) and (o) which were pulled by Alderman Weaver and items (s) and (w) which were pulled by Alderman Lloyd.
Alderman Denyer pulled item (b) and requested that it be held for Executive Session.
Alderman Hagan pulled item (l) and objected to paying $5,000.00 for shredders even if it is to be paid from a grant. Motion was made by Alderman Weaver and seconded by Alderman Dalgo to authorize the purchase of seven shredders in the amount of $5,035.00 to be paid by the Building Grant. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Weaver, Dalgo and Denyer voting aye and Alderman Hagan voting nay.
Alderman Weaver pulled items (m), (n) and (o) and requested a clarification of the job duties which was given by Chief Hare. Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to approve items (m), (n) and (o).
Alderman Lloyd pulled item (s) and asked how many parking spaces are necessary for the project. Ms. Mohar replied that there will be two spaces for each residential unit but the number of spaces for the commercial portion has not been determined and will depend on the type of businesses that locate there. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to accept the Planning Commissions recommendation to approve sketch plat at 918 – 922 Porter Avenue.
Alderman Lloyd pulled item (w) and asked if the proposed hourly rate is consistent with other maintenance workers. The Parks Director said that the rate is higher for a typical maintenance employee but this individual is a licensed contractor and is highly skilled in the areas of carpentry, plumbing and electric. Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the employment of Harold Mayfield, Maintenance, hourly rate $14.95, effective February 22, 2007, pending successful completion of all pre-employment requirements.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to adopt the resolution pertaining to the Application of CDBG funding for planning purposes (Exhibit 7-a).
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to request permission from the Ocean Springs School District to allow Arbor Day and Earth Day activities on school property (Exhibit 7-b).
The Mayor gave an overview of the results of the Waterview Survey. Alderman Weaver said that a work session will be held with the Planning Commission to review the survey results and contemplate making a recommendation.
Fire
Chief Hare said that he has asked the City Attorney to review the lease for the National Guard Armory which was executed in 1959 and will report the findings at the next meeting.
Parks & Leisure Services
Parks Director Sean Campbell presented options for the Board to consider regarding the walking track at the Civic Center (Exhibit 7-e). It is currently covered with wood chips which costs approximately $10,000.00 per year to maintain. It could be covered with asphalt which would be a one time expense of approximately $20,000.00 or there is a rubber bonded mulch which could be used and would cost approximately $40,000.00 to $50,000.00 to install. There is also the possibility of placing a soft track around the perimeter of Freedom Field. Mr. Campbell is gathering quotes, will discuss with the Parks Board and bring back to the Board of Aldermen.
ALDERMAN’S FORUM
Alderman Gill said that he is not ready to discuss the Fort Bayou Estates decorative street signs.
Alderman Gill said that a bulkhead in the Diller ditch/drainway in Fort Bayou Estates collapsed in 2005. The adjacent homeowner is losing part of his yard in erosion and has hired an attorney. The City Engineer investigated the ditch/drainway and estimated that it would cost approximately $40,000.00 to repair. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to identify funds for the repair of the ditch/drainway and bring back a recommendation to the next board meeting.
Alderman Denyer requested permission to spend some of his Ward funds for landscaping and signage in Stark Bayou and Waters Edge and replace storm damaged signs throughout the Ward. Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize Alderman Denyer to spend the remainder of his Ward funds.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to approve a beautification project in Heron Bayou not to exceed the remainder of the budget in Ward 5 Capital Improvement fund.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to approve a beautification project at the entrance of Magnolia Bayou on Pabst Road from the Ward 5 Capital Improvement fund.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to erect street lights at 2506 Ridgewood Road and 599 Pine Hills Road.
Alderman Denyer said that a culvert near 599 Pine Hills Road was ruined by cement trucks that were installing a cellular tower and wants Cellular South to make the repair. Mr. Kaufman said to call Mr. Groue in the morning and he will take care of it.
Alderman Gill said that he would like to order ten decorative street signs out of his Capital Improvement fund. Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize the purchase of street signs not to exceed the remainder of his Capital Improvement fund.
Aldermen Dalgo and Denyer thanked Supervisor John McKay for the contribution to the purchase of signs and the Mayor said she would send him an appreciation letter on behalf of the Board.
Alderman Lloyd said that he would like to make Ocean Springs a walkable City where pedestrians have the right of way.
Alderman Denyer asked the Public Works Director to investigate the cost of having the bicycle path repainted and striped.
Alderman Lloyd asked who is responsible for the benches with advertisements on them. Alderman Gill said that a company in Biloxi owns the benches and handles the advertisement.
Alderman Lloyd asked Code Enforcement to investigate at 210 Mitchell Street.
Alderman Lloyd asked the City Attorney what the status is on the revision of the Broome property. Mr. Edwards said that he is working on an affidavit for various people to affirm that back in the 1970’s when the property was deeded to the City, it was discussed before the Parks Board that if the property was not going to be used by the City it would revert back to Mr. Broome.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the purchase of five copies of the International Building Code and Residential code to be given to each Building Inspector and one for the City information desk.
Alderman Hagan reported that he attended the 911 Commission meeting and the 911 and dispatch consolidation study did not have full support and has been disbanded.
Alderman Hagan said that an owner has been sited because he has erected a sign that is in violation of the Sign Ordinance and asked how this will be handled.
The Board agreed that current sign ordinance must be enforced. Alderman McDonnell asked the Assistant City Planner to review the sign ordinances of other cities.
ADDENDUM
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda of the Addendum.
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver and seconded by Alderman Lloyd to authorize the Mayor to submit the Biloxi Bay Bridge artwork proposal to MDOT. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Weaver, Dalgo and Denyer voting aye and Alderman Hagan voting nay.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer 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 Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss personnel issues in the Mayor’s Office and the Police Department and possible litigation regarding the Concerned Citizens.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver and seconded by Alderman Gill to approve item 6-b of the Consent Agenda with changes to the job description as described to the Mayor. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd and Weaver voting aye and Aldermen Dalgo, Denyer and Hagan voting nay.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to adjourn until 6:00 p.m. on March 6, 2007.
