BOGALUSA CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2014
PRESIDING: CHARLES E. MIZELL, MAYOR
JERRY BAILEY, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
PRESEN T: PRESIDENT RITCHIE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND
COUNCILMAN O’REE
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE
ABSENT: COUNCILMAN HODGES
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Bogalusa City Council meeting will come to order. Invocation by Councilwoman Graham, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: Led the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Roll call.
PRESIDENT RITCHIE………………………HERE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS…………...HERE
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM……………..HERE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND……………...HERE
COUNCILMAN O’REE………………………HERE
COUNCILMAN HODGES……………………ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE……………..HERE
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Next we have the approval of the minutes held on April 15, 2014.
BY COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS: I move they be accepted as written.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Roll call.
PRESIDENT RITCHIE………………AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS…...AYE
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM……..AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND……...AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE………………AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES……………ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE……..AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT TO APPROVE THE MINUTES HELD ON APRIL 15, 2014).
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Next we have Introduction of Resolutions, Councilman Drummond.
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND:
A RESOLUTION whereas the Bogalusa City Council does hereby adopt the attached Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire which is a required part of the audit.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Anyone in the public wishing to speak for or against this resolution please step forward and state your name and address. Being none council discussion.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: There being none I make a motion we accept it.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Roll call.
PRESIDENT RITCHIE……………….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS…….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM……...AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND………AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE………………AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES……………ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE……..AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT THAT THE BOGALUSA CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY ADOPT THE ATTACHED LOUISIANA COMPLIANCE QUESTIONNAIRE WHICH IS A REQUIRED PART OF THE AUDIT).
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: Mr. President I would like to amend the agenda to introduce a resolution.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Roll call.
PRESIDENT RITCHIE……………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM……AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND…….AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE…………….AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES………….ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE…...AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO INTRODUCE A RESOLUTION).
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM:
A RESOLUTION authorizing the Purchase Department to request bids to purchase sand, gravel, red clay gravel, gas, diesel, and corrugated culverts.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Anyone in the public wishing to speak for or against this resolution please step forward. Being none council discussion.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: I move that we accept it.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Roll call.
PRESIDENT RITCHIE……………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM……AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND…….AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE…………….AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES………….ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE…...AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE DEPARTMENT TO REQUEST BIDS TO PURCHASE SAND, GRAVEL, RED CLAY GRAVEL, GAS, DIESEL, AND CORRUGATED CULVERTS).
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: The next three Ordinances dealing with sand, gravel, gas, diesel, culvert will be pulled at this time and will be introduced at a later date.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: At this time Mr. President could I add something to that?
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Sure.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: When bids are being introduced to the council:
Step one: You have to get your approval from the Council by means of a resolution to authorize what you are preparing to introduce to purchase.
Step two: Once this resolution has been approved by the Council at a Council meeting you must advertise for bids.
Step three: Once you get all bids a Bid Committee Meeting is called and the lowest bidder is presented. The Purchase Department is to inform the Secretary of the City Council who the lowest bidder is and have a contract available with the deadline which is Friday before the council meeting at twelve noon to put on the agenda as an ordinance to be introduced.
Step four: Once it has been introduced at a council meeting it will then be held over two weeks before it comes up for public hearing for approval.
This is for clarification to any employees or anyone that works amongst the city when you go to introduce something to the council. We don’t like to put something on our agenda that was done incorrectly. It was not introduced correctly these are the rules and I will make sure that everyone gets a copy of this tomorrow but these are the rules. This is your city charter and we are not fixing it for blow Joe at the last minute and you don’t know if it is an ordinance or a resolution if you don’t know, you better find out because we are not introducing it.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Thank you. Councilwoman Graham.
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor of the City of Bogalusa to enter into a contract with the low bidder for sand, gravel and red clay gravel.
THIS ORDINANCE WAS PULLED.
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor of the City of Bogalusa to enter into a contract with the low bidder for gas and diesel.
THIS ORDINANCE WAS PULLED.
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the mayor of the City of Bogalusa to enter into a contract with the low bidder for corrugated culverts.
THIS ORDINANCE WAS PULLED.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM:
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract by and between The Division of Administration, Office of Community Development and the City of Bogalusa for water system improvements.
This will be at our next meeting of public hearing and it’s the contract to work on our water system from a grant we got from the State.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Next we will move on to public hearing, Councilman O’Ree.
BY COUNCILMAN O’REE:
AN ORDINANCE adding and enacting electronic traffic enforcement, Section 18-70 through 78, inclusive, of the City of Bogalusa code of ordinances to provide for the enforcement of certain traffic violations by automated means and provide for civil penalties for those certain traffic violations enforced by automated means.
At this time we want to make a motion to table it.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: I seconded it. Roll call.
PRESIDENT RITCHIE………………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS……..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM……….AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND………..AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES……………..ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE………AYE
(MOTION CARRIED TO TABLE THIS ORDINANCE 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT
ADDING AND ENACTING ELECTRONIC TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, SECTION 18-70 THROUGH 78, INCLUSIVE, OF THE CITY OF BOGALUSA CODE OF ORDINANCES TO PROVIDE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS BY AUTOMATED MEANS AND PROVIDE FOR CIVIL PENALTIES FOR THOSE CERTAIN TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS ENFORCED BY AUTOMATIC MEANS).
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Why are we tabling it?
BY COUNCILMAN O’REE: I was informed that it wasn’t going to pass.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT RITCHIE: So if we table it that allows another council (interruption from intercom system). What I was saying that it being taken off the table not saying that any of us but to have it completely dead someone can come behind us and just pick it up. Well they can start over but they would have to do it themselves they can submit it off the table. I would like it dead completely but I will say yes but I’m just saying for the future I would like the subject completely dead rather than vote it on as tabled so it would be pulled off. It would be killed off with a lack of a seconded rather than vote on tabling it. That way some body else can do it. We already voted so we go ahead and table it. I just think it should be dead.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Next we have public participation, Steve LaCour.
BY STEVE LACOUR: 61095 Seal Road. I am a retired employee from the City of Bogalusa. I am here because I am worried about my retirement chips. Seen the Mayor on the TV a few weeks ago said something about our retirement rate being exalted. We were wondering the first question is the retirement fund in as bad of shape as the Mayor said it was? I mean is it going to be exalted?
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: We have procedures in place but it is yet realistically, I’m not going to lie to you and say it is not but it is under funded right now.
BY STEVE LACOUR: I understood it was twelve million. It was eleven million in 19 when Mack talked about it.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: It’s around twelve million yes but it was two million last year.
BY STEVE LACOUR: So one day is it going to play itself out and I won’t get a check anymore?
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: They called the Legislative Auditor in to explain it. I talked personally with Mr. Neilson it will be like something like Chicago go bankrupt. Which will be bad and I don’t know what will happen then. Hopefully it won’t come to that. This is ten years from now, this isn’t today it is ten years from now.
BY STEVE LACOUR: my next question is how long with what we have, do we have left?
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Ten years approximately.
BY STEVE LACOUR: Is that real or is that something to bid us over?
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: He told me personally that around ten years realistically but they have plans in place now to fund that so it wouldn’t go to a zero balance so we wouldn’t have to do that and they are on that road now.
BY STEVE LACOUR: I talked to his wife before I retired from the City and she gave me a list of things that the retirement fund was invested. Do we anybody think about that yet? The Mayor said nobody can retire any more and that don’t really give us any answers. I guess I’m sure the money that I invested what is going on that is it being still funded? Is it still turning over?
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: There’s not any investments that is not making any money now days. Interest rates are so low on everything not just here even in other towns. We are working on trying to write like the situation I’ve been working on it since I’ve been on the Council this time and last time. I know it should not be that way but we are working on it. We have issues and every time we turn around something else comes up it takes its place. We are working on it and we never want to see it go to pot.
BY STEVE LACOUR: now I also understand that three people on the retirement board and there is only one that is been on it does anyone know that is a fact?
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: I cannot answer that honestly.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: I was told that there are now two but I’m not positive or certain.
BY STEVE LACOUR: Is that something you can find out maybe at the next council meeting?
BY MAYOR MIZELL: I can tell you now that there are two on it and those two will appoint the other.
BY STEVE LACOUR: But it should have been three the whole time.
BY MAYOR MIZELL: It was suppose to be two and between those two they have to appoint another one. The Mayor has one appointed on it in their behalf.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: The employees appoint one and those two appoints another.
BY STEVE LACOUR: Now is there any way say it goes to the department will the state step in to help us?
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Realistically we hope that never happens but we’ve also learned not state nor city, should fund their own retirement system. It is messed up with our elders at this point and time but for the future I think that right now our retirees’ are safe for at least another ten years of what I understand. Like I said they are working diligently to increase the funding of that program each year. It is something that we founded on every year on our reported company.
BY STEVE LACOUR: The next question is I know we just had a lay off here and I knew the people that works for the city helps put funds out are they planning to hire them back any time soon to help with that?
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: The lay offs were clovered around people that were through attrition were going soon any way and then some of them were laid off I don’t know that is an employee issue.
BY STEVE LACOUR: You see that word attrition is what validates money from one end you loose money in our economy right? That is what I see is happening.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: It could be but not in this case no. Do you agree with me? I can’t answer you, I’m sugar coating it.
BY STEVE LACOUR: I appreciate it.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: I think I would ask for reassurance but I think that we are not loosing at this point in time on those people we lost. Some of those positions were created positions realistically. They weren’t all employees here not even here a year long.
BY STEVE LACOUR: When I came to work here there were 150 people here in public works. Then Medical Waste people came in they quit, retired or died or whatever. They never rehired them I guess it’s been falling ever since 1983. How many people in Bogalusa working out there? Now you got a situation where you have more people retiring than you have working.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: There is another point there too; you can’t have more employees than you can give a pay day each.
BY STEVE LACOUR: I understand.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: If you can’t pay them you can’t have them.
BY STEVE LACOUR: yes I know that is why I worry about my retirement.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: I would be like you if I was in the same situation I would be concerned too.
BY STEVE LACOUR: I’m definitely concerned, I would hate to go bankrupt just like everyone of these employees here who worked their whole life and did everything right and paid out as an American citizen and then have to go bankrupt.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: And we are trying our hardest for that to not happen.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Well I hope you do.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: There was a one time thing that the amount that it is the greater amount is when we had the layoff two or three years ago that a lot of people took early retirement they did their drop program they got on that so they took the level (everyone talking at same time) because it was used up but now it has been (inaudible) as we go along. We have three employees that will be retiring that will be drawing on this.
BY STEVE LACOUR: Are those people going to be replaced or will be (inaudible) again and be (inaudible) with less money going in and less money going out?