Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 4, 2008
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 March 4, 2008. Mayor Pro Tempore Weaver presiding, Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan were present. Also present was City Clerk Shelly Ferguson and City Attorney John Edwards. Mayor Moran was absent.
The Mayor Pro Tempore gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan, and unanimously carried to table Item 3-b and adopt the Addendum to the Agenda.
*Note: Mayor Moran arrived and assumed control of the meeting at this point.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill, and unanimously carried to authorize to hire Henry Furr to complete bid specifications for a small gateway sign at the Highway 90/57 intersection and to advertise for bids (estimated cost is $25,000.00).
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ms. Rebecca Winstead, research assistant with the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) in Gulfport, Mississippi, asked for permission to use ATVs on the beaches to look for stranded dolphins near the shoreline. Motion was made by Denyer, seconded by Hagan, and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to send a letter to the Jackson County Board of Supervisors supporting the use of ATVs and trucks on the beaches in the City of Ocean Springs.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of items (b) and (c) which were pulled by the Alderman Hagan, item (j) which was pulled by the Mayor, and item (r) which was pulled by Alderman Weaver.
Alderman Hagan pulled items 5-b and 5-c and asked to switch himself and Alderman Dalgo on the Selection Committees for Advertised Request for Proposals for Architect and Engineering Services related to the Public Safety Center and the Recreation Master Plan. Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to remove Alderman Hagan and Alderman Weaver and add Alderman Jerry Dalgo and Alderman McDonnell related to the Public Safety Center and to remove Alderman Dalgo and add Alderman Hagan to the Recreation Master Plan (Exhibit 5-b and 5-c).
The Mayor pulled item (j) at the request of the Police Chief and advised that the date of the Bay Rivers District Cubmobile Races be changed to May 10, 2008. Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan, and unanimously carried to authorize the request for Special Event Permit for Pack 271 Cub Scouts (Exhibit 5-j).
Alderman Weaver pulled item (r) and asked for clarification on the removal of protected trees located at 2501 Bienville Boulevard. Motion was made Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer, and unanimously carried to accept the tree committee report with the exception of 2501 Bienville Boulevard in which the Community Development Director is to work with the Developer to get the adequate amount of trees needed to be replaced by the Developer.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver and seconded by Alderman Hagan to authorize $1,000.00 sponsorship to the American Cancer Society Jackson County Relay for Life to promote the resources of the City. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Weaver, Denyer, Dalgo, and Hagan voting aye and Alderman Lloyd voting nay (Exhibit 6-a).
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan, and unanimously carried to adopt the Resolution of the City of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to support the distribution of ad valorem taxes to all those contributing to and supporting Chevron (Exhibit 6-b).
The Mayor gave an update on the Funding Summary for the Highway 90/Ocean Springs Road intersection project (Exhibit 6-c).
The Mayor gave an update on the Mayfest 2008 to be held on May 10, 2008. An organizational meeting is scheduled for March 11, 2008. (Exhibit 6-d).
The Mayor asked for consideration of submitting local and private bill to State Legislature to consider extending 2% food and beverage levy to all convenience stores and all grocery stores selling prepared foods as requested by Jamie Sablich, Sr. No action taken.
Human Resources/Risk
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the institution of the Employee Assistance Program through Mutual of Omaha for a period of one-year and evaluate the program after that time period (Exhibit 6-f).
Public Works
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize payment of emergency purchase order to Suncoast Infrastructure, Inc. in the amount of $24, 125.00 for emergency sewer main repairs (Exhibit 6-g).
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to draft a resolution to the Jackson County Board of Supervisors to request dredging at Iola Road basin and Oak Cove Condominium basin and to authorize the Mayor and City Attorney to coordinate with Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to prepare bid specifications for tree trimming on Washington Avenue, Porter Avenue, Jackson Avenue and the downtown area; to consult with the City Tree Arborist and to advertise bids.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the purchase of twelve (12) decorative street signs from the Ward 1 Capital Improvements Account.
Alderman Lloyd asked for an updated telephone list of all Department Heads and Assistant Department Heads.
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to authorize up to $12,000.00 to repair a 48” culvert on Levoyager Drive from the Ward 2 and Alderman at Large Capital Improvements Accounts.
The Mayor asked the Assistant Public Works Director to repair sidewalk at St. Alphonsus Church on Calhoun Street. The Assistant Public Works Director advised that the sidewalk has already been repaired.
Alderman Denyer asked the Executive Assistant to contact Mississippi Power Company concerning the replacement of the street light at Ashley Drive.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo and seconded by Alderman Gill to extend the participation in the $1.00 building permits program to the victims of Contractor’s fraud who are the owners of record prior to Hurricane Katrina to the satisfaction of the Building Department and to keep open the possibility of extending the process to other individuals recommended by the Building Department. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, Lloyd, McDonnell, Weaver, Denyer and Dalgo voting aye and Alderman Hagan voting nay.
Alderman Denyer stated that he appreciates the good job that the Building and Planning Departments are doing and stated that they are very thorough and informative.
The Mayor thanked everyone who attended Mrs. Ethelyn Conner’s birthday party and dedication of the historic garden in her honor at Marble Springs.
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 Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss a personnel issue in the Fire Department, the City, current litigation in Circuit Court in Jackson County, and potential land acquisition.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize the action of the Fire Chief to suspend employee without pay for one – 24 hour shift due to tardiness.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to recess until 6:00 p.m. on March 18, 2008.
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City Clerk Mayor
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