Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
RECESS MEETING OF OCTOBER 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 October 20, 2009. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Ross, Gill, McDonnell, Cody, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan were present. Also present were City Clerk Shelly Ferguson and City Attorney John Edwards.
Alderman Cody led the invocation. The 2009-2010 Mayor’s Youth Council led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ms. Johnnie Bernhard introduced the members of the 2009-2010 Mayor’s Youth Council.
PROCLAMATIONS
The Mayor read a proclamation declaring the month of October, 2009 as Domestic Violence Prevention Month (Exhibit 4-a).
OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Melanie Allen, representative from the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center, presented a Business Plan for the Culinary Arts Café and representatives with Imperial Palace Resort and Spa, Mr. Stephen Morgan and Ms. Elaine Stevens, presented a check in the amount of $60,000.00 cash donation for the café.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize to release the budgeted funding of $23,500.00 to the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center and accept the Business Plan for the Culinary Arts Café (Exhibit 5-a).
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to accept the check in the amount of $60,000.00 from the Imperial Palace Resort and Spa for the Mary C. O’Keefe Culinary Arts Café.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Curtis Spiers presented the Interlocal Governmental Agreement for the Narcotics Task Force. Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to adopt the Resolution and Interlocal Governmental Agreement for the Narcotics Task Force (Exhibit 6-a).
Mr. Herb Moore requested the street closings for Trick or Treat Down the Street on Halloween on October 31, 2009. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize the street closings on Washington Avenue from Robinson Street to Porter Avenue and Government Street from Washington Avenue to Handy Avenue on October 31, 2009, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for Trick or Treat (Exhibit 6-b).
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. George Emile, Executive Vice President for Professional Firefighters of Mississippi, feels some of the firefighers are being discriminated against for promotions because of their involvement in these organizations and asked the Board to look into these issues and ask they be treated fairly.
Mr. Scharr announced the Ocean Springs Music Festival would be held on October 24th and 25th at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center and encouraged everyone to attend.
Ms. Jane Kuhn, 208 Wheaton Circle, asked the City to enforce the Ordinance that allows 3 dogs per yard and further stated her neighbor has six (6) dogs in their yard and complained of the dogs getting into her yard and barking.
Ms. Mary Marr Beckman, 209 Cove Avenue, thanked the Mayor and Board for tearing down the building at 810 Handy Avenue.
Mr. Stephen Moakler asked the City to organize activities for the older youth during Halloween such as carnivals and costume contests to prevent them from getting into mischief.
The Mayor announced the Fort Maurepas Park opening will be held on Saturday, October 24th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. along with fireworks.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of item (i).
Alderman Denyer pulled item (i) for discussion in Executive Session.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor:
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to approve items 9-a, b, c and d (Exhibit 9-a, b, c and d).
Police Department:
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill to authorize the closure of Front Beach Drive from Martin Avenue to Washington Avenue on Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for celebration festivities and allow alcohol consumption (Exhibit 9-f).
Public Works:
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize removal of Joe Tillson from probationary status to full-time status effective October 21, 2009 (Exhibit 9-g).
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize four (4) trucks be declared surplus and of no value to the City (Exhibit 9-h).
Community Development & Planning:
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer and seconded by Alderman McDonnell to adopt Ordinance No. 2009-19 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI, BEING ORDINANCE NO. 13-1976, AS AMENDED, BY PROVIDING FOR A LIMITED PROFESSIONAL OFFICE USE IN RESIDENTIAL ZONE AFTER PUBLIC HEARING (Exhibit 9-e). 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 Gill, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to authorize up to $1,000.00 from Ward 1 Capital Improvement Account for Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center booksale room/office.
Alderman McDonnell asked for clarification concerning which department who obtains the neighborhood watch signs. The Assistant Public Works Director stated they will place the signs when provided with the locations. Each Alderman should coordinate with Mr. Ken Wilson concerning the location of neighborhood watch signs and Mr. Wilson notifies the Public Works Department.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize up to $3,000.00 from Ward 2 Capital Improvement Account for landscaping on Magnolia Avenue on the East side in front of Taconi Elementary School.
Alderman McDonnell thanked Alderman Chic Cody for his participation in the Cruisin’ the Coast event along with City employees he coordinated with to make it a great success.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to appoint Alderman Chic Cody as site coordinator for the future Cruisin’ the Coast events.
Alderman Cody thanked the Public Works Department, Police Department, Fire Department and everyone for all their help during the Cruisin’ the Coast event in Ocean Springs.
Alderman Cody made an official request from the Alderman of Ward 3 to restrict throwing candy during the parades.
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor execute any and all necessary documents to apply for Pat Harrison Waterway grant for Hickory Circle.
Alderman Cody asked for status of street signs from Public Works Department.
Alderman Cody asked the Police Chief about speeding on Linda Circle.
Alderman Ross thanked the Mayor’s Youth Council for their participation in the community and congratulated them for being chosen to the Council.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor execute any and all necessary documents to apply for Pat Harrison Waterway grant for Monster Ditch #1 South.
Alderman Denyer thanked everyone for their hard work during the Cruisin’ the Coast event.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo 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 Cody and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss personnel in the Fire Department; potential litigation in Parks and Leisure Services Dept; potential litigation in Planning Department; potential litigation in Mayor’s office and potential litigation regarding annexation.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize promotion of Firefighter Mike Willis to the position of Lieutenant, $39,000.00 annual salary, effective October 2,1 2009, with a six-month probationary period (Exhibit 8-i).
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to proceed with the Musco Lighting permits.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to adjourn until 6:00 p.m. on November 3, 2009.
Meeting ended at 9:13 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor
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