| Minutes – February 7, 2008 6:00PM

Aldermen Minutes

MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS

RECESS MEETING OF FEBRUARY 7, 2008

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 7, 2008. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Weaver, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan were present. Alderman Lloyd and the City Attorney John Edwards were absent. Also present was City Clerk Shelly Ferguson.

The Mayor gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

OLD BUSINESS

The Mayor presented a letter sent to MDOT concerning requests from the City for them to consider (Exhibit 3-a).

The Assistant Director of Operations and Maintenance of Public Works presented a cost estimate for the Clay Boyd Park access road. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the City Engineer and the Public Works Department to see what work could be done in-house to minimize the costs (Exhibit 3-b).

Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the Public Works Department to begin work on the Elephant Walk project (Exhibit 3-c).

The Community Development Director explained the area variance ordinance. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell and seconded by Alderman Dalgo to change the wording in Sections (2)(B) and (3)(B) to read “one of the following:” and present to the Planning Commission for their review. After further discussion, Alderman McDonnell withdrew his motion and Alderman Dalgo withdrew his second. The Community Development Director was authorized to draft a Memo explaining all of the options regarding the area variance ordinance (Exhibit 3-d).

NEW BUSINESS

Sam Tootle with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bike Fest explained the motorcycle festival for all bike enthusiasts to be held July 1-5, 2008, from Louisiana to Alabama including all three coastal counties and requested the use of the Ocean Springs Civic Center parking lot. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer, and unanimously carried to provide a site plan, hours of operation, address restroom and trash facilities, security and provide insurance to the Director of Facilities (Exhibit 4-a).

Ms. Edith Williams, 1206 Robinson Road, asked why her request for a MEMA cottage application was denied. The Building Official explained that she did not have a valid building permit in effect and proof of ownership of the property (Exhibit 4-b).

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mr. Jeff Absher, as a member of the Ocean Springs Elks, has been helping the 1699 Historical Committee. He asked the City for help in replacing the Indian village and supplies for the 1699 re-enactment of the D’Iberville Landing. He stated he will come forward at a later date with a formal request.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with exception of item (c) which was pulled by Alderman Hagan, item (l) which was pulled by the Police Chief, item (x) which was pulled by the City Attorney and item (dd) which was pulled by the Mayor.

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to correct the Minutes of January 16, 2008 and asked to make the following correction under Consent Agenda: Motion carried with Alderman McDonnell, Denyer and Hagan “voting aye” and Alderman Weaver and Lloyd voting nay.

The Police Chief pulled item (l) and asked that the effective employment date be February 8, 2008. Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize employment of Aaron D. Keebler, Dispatcher, at $10.72, effective February 8, 2008, pending successful completion of all pre-employment requirements (Exhibit 6-l).

The City Attorney pulled item (x). Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to table item (6-x) until February 19, 2008, for inspection by the Building Official prior to that date.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Mayor

Motion was made by McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to appoint Dr. Sharon Walker to the Ocean Springs School Board, term ending February 28, 2013.

The City Attorney asked for time to research whether or not the Mayor’s Veto was presented within the ten (10) day period. The City Attorney will present his findings at the February 19, 2008, Board meeting (Exhibit 7-b).

Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Weaver and unanimously carried to purchase seventeen (17) plaques to be placed by memorial trees honoring prominent community volunteers from special projects line item from Community Development budget (Exhibit 7-c).

City Clerk

The City Clerk explained that she and the Public Works Director were revising the water reconnections policy. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to table this matter until a new policy is presented (Exhibit 7-d).

Risk Manager/HR

Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to authorize insurance coverage for the Police Department trailer for a commercial property coverage and amend the budget accordingly (Exhibit 7-e).

Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill to authorize insurance coverage for the Armory and accessory buildings for commercial property coverage, amend the budget accordingly, and to table the windstorm coverage to be discussed at the next meeting. Motion carried with Alderman Gill, McDonnell, Weaver, Denyer and Hagan voting aye and Alderman Dalgo voting nay.

Public Works

The Assistant Director of Operations and Maintenance of Public Works gave an update for work to be done in-house on the drainage improvements and the relocation of the water from the well house at the Halstead Tennis Courts site (Exhibit 7-f).

Parks and Leisure Services

The Grants Administrator gave an update on the Hanley Road Toddler Park (Exhibit 7-g).

The Parks and Leisure Director gave an update on the various projects ongoing for the Parks and Leisure Services Department (Exhibit 7-h).

Facilities

The Mayor presented a draft of the Catering Use Agreement and Facility Use Agreement regarding the Ocean Springs Community Center (Exhibit 7-i).

Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to send the letter from Chip Turman to the Walter Anderson Museum of Art Board of Directors asking them to research and investigate this matter and report their findings (Exhibit 7-k).

Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to appoint James Hagan, Matt McDonnell and John Gill to the committee to meet with the Walter Anderson Museum of Art Board of Directors.

Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to adopt the revised Civic Center Rental Agreement (Exhibit 7-j).

ALDERMEN’S FORUM

Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to advertise the resources of the city in the amount of $500.00 at the Special Olympics Golf Tournament (Exhibit 8-b).

Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan, and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to schedule a public hearing regarding the Salt Dome issue at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center.

Alderman McDonnell asked for an update on Richard Dickson Day. The Executive Assistant advised that Mr. Dickson’s father would contact the City to schedule this for a later date.

Alderman McDonnell asked the Police Chief to coordinate with the Mayor’s Executive Assistant to address law enforcement issue regarding the use of a City facility to co-host a one day course in Human Trafficking on March 27, 2008.

Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize up to $6,000.00 from the Ward 2 Capital Improvements Account for capital improvements on the drainage project at Church Street.

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Gill, and unanimously carried to authorize the purchase of 3 computers not to exceed $3,000.00 from Ward 1 and Ward 2 Capital Improvement Accounts for capital improvements at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center for the computer classes.

Alderman Dalgo asked for costs estimates for laptops to be used by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen during the board meetings.

Alderman Weaver asked that an e-mail be forwarded to Kelly Castleberry, representative of MDOT, concerning the problems with closing the road with no warning to the public and the silting and runoff from the bridge overpass construction project.

Alderman Weaver asked the Mayor to schedule a public meeting with the Ocean Springs School Board to discuss the high school proposal; their upcoming election for the bond issue and the location of the new school.

Alderman Denyer asked when the paving of Halstead Road and East Beach Drive would begin.

Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize $1,500.00 of the total $3,000.00 from the Ward 1 Capital Improvements Account for computers for the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center.

Alderman Hagan announced that the May Festival would be held on May 10th.

Alderman Hagan announced that the March 18th Mayor and Board of Alderman meeting will be held at the Ocean Springs Civic Center.

Alderman Hagan asked that the Presidential Election on March 11, 2008, be posted on our website to include where the voters can vote.

Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Hagan, and unanimously carried to send out the insurance survey form to be filled out and returned by the citizens of the City of Ocean Springs.

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell, and unanimously carried to send up to 2 newsletters in the amount of $8,000.00 to the citizens of Ocean Springs and to amend the budget accordingly.

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to recess until 6:00 p.m. on February 19, 2008.

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City Clerk Mayor

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