Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
RECESS MEETING OF JANUARY 20, 2009
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 January 20, 2009. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Weaver, Denyer and Dalgo were present. Also present were City Clerk Shelly Ferguson and City Attorney John Edwards. Alderman Hagan was absent.
Alderman Weaver gave the invocation and the Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Christian Preus, landscape architect working with Brown and Mitchell, gave a power point presentation on the Front Beach path design. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell and seconded by Alderman Dalgo to authorize to proceed to present the plan to the Jackson County Board of Supervisors and upon their willingness to continue to entertain discussion and then proceed to request permission to build temporary demonstration strip of path near harbor and present to Secretary of State, Department of Marine Resources, ACOE, WSFWS and the landowners. Alderman McDonnell withdraws his motion and Alderman Dalgo withdraws his second to the motion. Motion is made by Alderman McDonnell and seconded by Alderman Weaver to authorize the Mayor to schedule a meeting with Supervisor Brodnax and Supervisor McKay, Aldermen Weaver and McDonnell, Mayor Moran, the Planning Director, and the Assistant Public Works Director to present plan on the Front Beach path design. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Weaver, Denyer and Dalgo voting aye and Alderman Lloyd voting nay (Exhibit 3-a).
Mr. Bruce Tolar presented the updated plans on Gay Lemon Multipurpose Recreation Center. Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Weaver and unanimously carried to accept the concept of the plans for the building (Exhibit 3-b).
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. Perry Guice, 1405 Middle Avenue, asked if the Board had made a decision concerning whether or not he would be allowed to keep a MEMA cottage in his yard.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Weaver and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of item (n) which was pulled by Alderman Denyer.
Alderman Denyer pulled item (n) for clarification concerning the salary. The Planning Director advised that ½ of the salary his paid by a grant. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize employment of Murville Alleman, Jr., City Arborist, annual salary $42,000.00, effective January 30, 2009, pending successful completion of all pre-employment requirements for the length of the grant (Exhibit 5-n).
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor:
The Mayor informed the Board the 2009 Community Hurricane Preparedness Symposium is currently being planned by the City of Ocean Springs in coordination with Jackson County, USM Gulf Coast Research Lab and other Emergency Management agencies and partners. The proposed date is Saturday, May 30, 2009, at the USM Gulf Coast Research Lab campus (Exhibit 6-a).
The Mayor asked for input for future projects for Preserve America grant funding (Exhibit 6-b).
The Mayor proposed to the Board to hire a professional to assess salaries, business efficiency, and reduction in costs to save the city money and other organizational needs. The Mayor will submit background information and a proposal at the next meeting.
Community Development & Planning:
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Weaver and unanimously carried to accept the Community Development and Planning Department recommendation to approve 20% fence height variance at 922 Porter (Exhibit 6-d).
Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to accept the Community Development and Planning Department recommendation to approve side yard setback variance at 3 Schooner Drive (Exhibit 6-e).
City Attorney:
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer and seconded by Alderman Gill to adopt Ordinance No. 2009-03 AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE NO. 13-1976 REZONING PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED FROM C-3 TO R-4 (Exhibit 6-f). The motion passed with a roll call vote as follows:
Alderman Weaver Voted Aye
Alderman Gill Voted Aye
Alderman McDonnell Voted Aye
Alderman Lloyd Voted Aye
Alderman Denyer Voted Aye
Alderman Dalgo Voted Aye
Alderman Hagan Absent
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer and seconded by Alderman Gill to adopt Ordinance No. 2009-02 AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE NO. 13-1976 REZONING PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED FROM C-1 TO R-4 and C-3 (Exhibit 6-g). The motion passed with a roll call vote as follows:
Alderman Weaver Voted Aye
Alderman Gill Voted Aye
Alderman McDonnell Voted Aye
Alderman Lloyd Voted Aye
Alderman Denyer Voted Aye
Alderman Dalgo Voted Aye
Alderman Hagan Absent
The Planning Director presented the Memorandum of Understanding – Mississippi Alternative Housing Program between the City of Ocean Springs and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Motion was made by Alderman Weaver and seconded by Alderman Dalgo to authorize the MEMA cottages currently in the City may be brought before the Board for individual consideration whether or not they can purchase them and keep them past the deadline and the applicant is either living in the structure as a primary residence or needs the structure past the MEMA deadline in order to complete the rebuilding of their home. Alderman Weaver withdraws her motion and Alderman Dalgo withdraws his second to the motion. The City Attorney will present another draft of the Memorandum of Understanding at the next meeting (Exhibit 6-h).
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize up to $500.00 from Ward 1 Capital Improvement Account for landscaping in Fort Bayou Estates Subdivision.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize the balance from his Ward 1 Capital Improvement Account for decorative street signs in Ward 1.
Alderman Lloyd presented a statute that states the city clerk must hold on to excess funds for the city if they exceed 10 percent over last year by placing excess monies in savings account and reduce millage the following year. He proposed that the state law be followed.
Alderman McDonnell asked the City Attorney to determine if County can do another reassessment based on property values not increasing; they are decreasing.
Alderman Denyer asked when paving would begin on East Beach Drive. The Mayor advised that the Contract is in place and paving will begin in February, 2009.
Alderman Denyer asked for an update on voter registration and ward lines on Conley Drive. The City Attorney advised he will give update at the next meeting.
Alderman Denyer stated there is $100,000.00 in tidelands grants that has not been committed to a project. He further stated that $35,000.00 could be used for paving and walkway from the Seaman’s Memorial to the pier leaving balance of $65,000.00. The balance can only be used for those projects previously committed. The Mayor will ask if monies can be held for contingencies in Fort Maurepas project.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Weaver 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 potential litigation in the Police Department; potential litigation regarding construction and personnel in the Planning Department.
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 Gill, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to pay Tony Gagliano all accrued leave that he has earned to date.
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize the City Attorney to settle a personnel claim brought by a former employee.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to adjourn until 6:00 p.m. on February 3, 2009.
Meeting ended at 10:10 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor
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