Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
REGULAR MEETING OF JULY 7, 2009
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 July 7, 2009. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Cody, Ross, 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.
The Presentation was postponed until later in the meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to reappoint Matthew Mestayer as City Judge for a one year term to expire June 30, 2010.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to reappoint Wilkinson, Williams, Kinard, Smith and Edwards, PLLC as City Attorney for a one year term to expire June 30, 2010.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to reappoint Culumber, Fletcher, Harvey & Associates as City Auditor for a one year term to expire June 30, 2010.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to appoint Kim Prentice as Civil Defense Director for a one year term to expire June 30, 2010.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to appoint Alderman James Hagan as Mayor Pro Tempore for a one year term to expire June 30, 2010.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to reappoint George Murphy as City Judge Pro Tempore/City Prosecuting Attorney Pro Tempore for a one year term to expire June 30, 2010.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to reappoint Daryl Dryden as City Prosecuting Attorney for a one year term to expire June 30, 2010.
Motion was made by Alderman Cody and seconded by Alderman Ross to authorize the City Engineers to proceed with design to prepare bid specifications for the East Beach Walkway to include Halstead from Brumbaugh to East Beach, south side of East Beach to Holcomb, east side of Holcomb to Blvd. up to Davidson with an additive alternate for design on a linear foot basis pending upon the budget. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Cody, Ross, Denyer and Dalgo voting aye and Alderman Hagan voting nay (Exhibit 4-b).
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Jamie Sablich asked who will be responsible to keep sand off of the walking path on East Beach; can the 3-way stop sign be removed on East Beach and will the walking path be slanted to keep water from standing on it. He stated his concern about number of police officers issuing tickets in the City and feels we will run people away from the City.
Mr. Daniel Baumgartner, spoke on behalf of his mother, Christine Edmonds at 9309 Meadowview Circle, requested an extension to allow the FEMA trailer to remain on her property in order for Ms. Edmond’s to purchase the trailer while her Katrina damaged home is rebuilt.
Ms. Pat Streigle, 617 East Beach Drive, asked if the money was approved to allow the City to purchase the right of ways to build the walking path and asked what the width of the walking path on East Beach will be. The Mayor advised the width is 6 feet.
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to amend the agenda to include the issue of the FEMA trailer on 9309 Meadowview Circle under Aldermen’s Forum after Public Comments.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to authorize a 6-month extension to allow FEMA trailer to remain on the property of 9309 Meadowview Circle pending the removal of 2 vehicles and a boat hull by July 14, 2009.
PRESENTATION
Mr. Barry Dreyfus presented Ms. Deetra Louis with the $1,000.00 Tommy Dreyfus Community Service Award and Youth Council Scholarship for her work with the Mayor’s Youth Council including the Triple Threat Subcommittee for addressing the state’s high teen pregnancy rate through community awareness programs and the establishment of a mentoring program for 8th grade girls at Ocean Springs Middle School, and volunteering at numerous city events.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of items (j) which was pulled by the Mayor and item (q) which was pulled by Alderman Hagan.
The Mayor pulled item (j) and asked that this item be discussed in Executive Session.
Alderman Hagan pulled item (q) for clarification. The City Engineer explained the change order is to modify the well capacity in Part 1 of the Contract Documents to 400 GPM; change the turbine pump to a submersible pump and adjust substantial completion certificate and beginning of warranty period to June 1, 2009. Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute Change Order No. 2A (Exhibit 6-q).
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to amend the cost of the change order from $7,925.00 to $8,812.00 to revise bead board soffits to tongue and groove material to match adjacent material as instructed by architect Dennis Cowart for Fort Maurepas Park (Exhibit 4-a).
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor:
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to re-nominate James Hagan to the Jackson County Emergency Communications District Board of Commissioners (911-Board) (Exhibit 7-a).
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell and seconded by Alderman Gill to proceed with the splash pad at Fort Maurepas Park as recommended. Motion carried with Alderman Gill, McDonnell, Cody, Ross, Denyer and Hagan voting aye and Alderman Dalgo voting nay (Exhibit 7-b).
The Mayor presented a thank you letter from Mississippi Power Company for the City’s support and participation in the Renew Our Rivers clean up event (Exhibit 7-c).
Parks and Leisure Services:
The Parks and Leisure Services Director explained the fireworks show scheduled for the 4th of July was cancelled and postponed until a later date due to the tubes getting wet as a result of the thunderstorm that moved through the area earlier in the afternoon.
Police Department:
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to authorize the City Engineer to determine the City’s right of way on Government Street and Desoto Street.
City Attorney:
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer and seconded by Alderman Cody to adopt Ordinance No. 2009-17 An Ordinance to Close and Vacate an Unopened and Unimproved Right of Way (Exhibit 7-d). 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 Aye
Alderman Hagan Voting Aye
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the transfer of $1,136.00 to the Fire Department from Ward 6 Capital Improvement Account for HAM radio equipment (Exhibit 8-a).
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize up to $1,500.00 from Ward 1 Capital Improvement Account to Fort Bayou Civic Association for landscaping.
Mr. Brad Bradford with the Jackson County Utility Authority is scheduled to make a presentation to the Board on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.
The Mississippi Insurance Department will hold a meeting at the Imperial Palace on July 16th and 17th to discuss the National Flood Insurance Program, state run wind pool, and commercial risk management. Alderman Gill asked that a City representative attend this meeting.
Alderman McDonnell stated he was told by Mr. Marty Wagoner that the organizational plan and traffic plan in place for the 4th of July on East Beach Drive was best he had ever seen and hopes the City will continue that plan in the future.
Alderman McDonnell asked to meet with Mr. Ken Wilson with the Ocean Springs Reserves to implement a Neighborhood Watch program in several neighborhoods.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the City Clerk to adjust Alderman Denyer’s salary to the amount determined by Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System.
Alderman Denyer stated Mr. Jerry Monroe contacted him regarding a flashing sign he wished to donate to the City. The Public Works Director will follow up with Mr. Monroe.
Alderman Dalgo asked the Police Chief for clarification on the number of patrolmen and tickets written from traffic coming off the bridge. The Police Chief advised in order to receive certain grants; the Police Department is mandated certain days and weekends to work.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to waive the rental fees for the Ocean Springs Civic Center for the Officer Stephen Bond Benefit Yard Sale to be held on Saturday, July 11th.
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 McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss personnel in the Parks and Leisure Services Department; personnel in Police Department and potential litigation.
The City Attorney, John Edwards, exited executive session and announced there would be discussion on personnel in the City Clerk’s office.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Cody to accept the Police Chief’s recommendation to authorize an hourly rate increase to $12.97 for Mandy Lizana due to realignment of records personnel and more job responsibility (Exhibit 9-b).
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to recess until 6:00 p.m. on July 21, 2009.
Meeting ended at 8:39 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor
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