BOGALUSA CITY COUNCIL
REGULARMEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013
PRESIDING: JERRY BAILEY, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
DALE BRANCH, CITY ATTORNEY
PRESENT:COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND
COUNCILMAN O’REE
PRESIDENT PERRETTE
VICE-PRESIDENT RITCHIE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS
ABSENT:COUNCILMAN HODGES
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Bogalusa City Council meeting will come to order. Invocation by Councilman O’Ree,followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
BYCOUNCILMAN O’REE:Led the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM…………….HERE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND …………….HERE
COUNCILMAN O’REE ……………………..HERE
COUNCILMAN HODGES…………………..ABSENT
PRESIDENT PERRETTE……………………HERE
VICE-PRESIDENT RITCHIE………………HERE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS……………HERE
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Next on the agenda is the consent of calendar for the approval of the minutes of the regular meeting held on November 5, 2013.
BY COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS: I make a motion to accept them.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM…………..AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND………….. AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE…………………....AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES…………………ABSENT
PRESIDENT PERRETTE………………….AYE.
VICE-PRESIDENT RITCHIE……………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS………….AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT TO APPROVE MINUTES HELD FROM NOVEMBER 5, 2013).
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Next is the approval of the minutes of the Special meeting held on November 15, 2013.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: I move they be accepted as written
BY COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM…………..AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND…………..AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE…………………...AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES………………..ABSENT
PRESIDENT PERRETTE…………………AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT RITCHIE…………….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS…………AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE NOVEMBER 15, 2013 SPECIAL MEETING).
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Next we have Condemnations by the Honorable Judge Robert J. Black.
BY JUDGE BLACK: Thank you Madam President. We have about six properties for your consideration tonight.
Upon hearing testimony from the Building Inspector and the Fire Chief and hearing the Curator’s report, the following properties were condemned and given x number of days to come into compliance with the law.
Estate of
Shaundra R. Bridges
600 N. Border Drive.
(Councilwoman Williams made the motion, seconded by Councilman O’Reeto condemn said property and give the owners forty five days(45) in which to come into compliance with the law.
Motion carried 6-0 with one absent).
Estate of
Lucille Brumfield Brock
Eugene Brock
901 S. Dauphine
(Councilman O’Reemade the motion, seconded by Councilwoman Williams to condemn said
property and give the owners ten days (10) in which to come into compliance with the law. Motion carried 6-0 with one absent).
Estate of
Leon Burns
Tillis Burns
Carol D. Tyson Burns
1609 North Avenue
(Councilman O’Reemade the motion, seconded by Councilwoman Williams to condemn said
property and give the owners ten days (10) in which to come into compliance with the law.
Motion carried 6-0 with one absent).
Estate of
Ellen Ann Greely
1303 Dan Street
(Councilwoman Graham made the motion, seconded by Councilwoman Williams to condemn said property and give the owners ninety days (90) in which to come into compliance with the law.Motion carried 6-0 with one absent).
Estate of
Vera Smith Lundie Estate
904 S. Royal Street
(Councilman O’Ree made the motion, seconded by President Perrette to condemn said
property and give the owners ten days (10) in which to come into compliance with the law.
Motion carried 6-0 with one absent).
Estate of
Cleotha Martin, Jr.
645 Richmond Street
(Councilman O’Reemade the motion, seconded by Councilwoman Williamsto condemn said
property and give the owners sixty days (60) in which to come into compliance with the law.
Motion carried 6-0 with one absent).
BY JUDGE BLACK:Thank you very much.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Thank you Judge. Next we have Introduction of Ordinances, Councilman O’Ree.
BY COUNCILMAN O’REE:
AN ORDINANCE to amend City Code Section 21-1 Definitions to include Museums in the Definition of Institution.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Vice-President Ritchie.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT RITCHIE:
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with International Paper for the Tenant Improvements for Paper Storage Warehouse located at 215 Industrial Parkway Drive.
This is to go into the Industrial Park to give IP, International Paper extra storage room that they need.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: These will be up for public hearing at our regular meeting held on December 3, 2013. Next we have Public Hearing, Councilwoman Graham.
AN ORDINANCE to authorize the Mayor to acquire by the means provided for in the law a parcel of adjudicated property described as Lot 19 Block 11 L.A. Pierce revised (less R/W) East 30 feet of Lot 2, West 30 feet of South 10 feet of Lot 3, South 5 feet of Lot 5 Lots 9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16&17 and East 90 feet of Lot 22 Block 11 L.A. Pierce revised (less r/w for Hwy Lots 13-17 and 22 Blk, 11 L.A. Pierce Revised) S1/2 of Lot 3 Block 1 L.A. Pierce revised.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Anyone in the public wishing to speak for or against this ordinance please come to the microphone and state your name and address. Council discussion.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: This is to acquire these highways correct?
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: This is so that we can put that road through to Sullivan Drive for the Paper Mill. It is adjudicated property that has been adjudicated to the City already.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: It has. It is appropriate for a motion.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT RITCHIE: I make a motion we accept it.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM………………AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND……………….AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE……………………….AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES…………………….ABSENT
PRESIDENT PERRETTE…………………….AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT RITCHIE………………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS……………AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ACQUIRE BY THE MEANS PROVIDED FOR IN THE LAW A PARCEL OF ADJUDICATED PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS LOT 19 BLOCK 11 L.A. PIERCE REVISED (LESS R/W) EAST 30 FEET OF LOT 2, WEST 30 FEET OF SOUTH 10 FEET OF LOT 3, SOUTH 5 FEET OF LOT 5 LOTS 9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16, &17 AND EASDT 90 FEET OF LOT 22 BLOCK 11 L.A. PIERCE REVISED (LESS R/W FOR HWY LOTS 13-17 AND 22 BLL. 11 L.A. PIERCE REVISED) S1/2 OF LOT 3 BLOCK 1 L.A. PIERCE REVISED).
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Next is an ordinance introduced by the Finance Committee.
AN ORDINANCE to Revise the 2013 Budget.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE:Anyone in the public wishing to speak for or against this ordinance please come to the microphone and state your name and address. Council discussion.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM:There being none I move that we accept it.
BY COUNCILMAN O’REE: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM………………AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND……………….AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE………………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES……………………ABSENT
PRESIDENT PERRETTE……………………..AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT RITCHIE…………………AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS……………..AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT TO REVISE THE 2013 BUDGET).
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Councilman Drummond.
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND:
AN ORDINANCE requesting zoning change at 409 Plaza from A-2 Residential to A-3 Residential for the purchasing of the YWCA property.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Anyone in the public wishing to speak for or against this ordinance please come to the microphone and state your name and address.
BY JOHN GALLASPY:301 Louisiana Avenue. Please excuse my appearance, I had some work to do outside and the days are awfully short and I worked right up to the last minute. I’m here on behalf of both the YWCA and the Hospital. I’m on the board of the hospital. Ms. Sheridan really knows a thousand times more about the hospital than I do. As I’m sure you realize we’ve made an agreement with the board at the “Y” to purchase the property, the hospital has. The question has opposed to me ever so often is what is going to happen to the old building, it’s historic? Well it won’t qualify any more for the Historic Register. It partially burned about thirty years ago and was repaired nicely but it’s no longer in its posture or appearance that it had when it was built. It can’t qualify for the Historic Register. We have some very sincere hopes that we can salvage at least part of it for use for something which we hope can get in the City for a long time. Don’t ask me how they do it but you can cut a building up in four different pieces and you move them off the location, I have a big chain saw but I don’t think it will work on that but any way that is the only realistic oath for it to have some meaningful and continuing use of the building. It is going to have to be moved one way or the other. I’m rather confident, has anyone of you been over there lately? You almost have to park at the Post Office to get in for parking it is so crowded. We are hoping to get even more crowded in the next year and the near future. Ms. Sheridan can tell you a lot more than I can.
BY BEVERLY SHERIDAN: Thank you Mr. Gallaspy.15177 WP Stewart Road. We are looking forward to growth at the hospital. In fact our growth has already started our new ED Project. We are already turning n front of the hospital to be relocated and turned toward where the YWCA property is. Then of course the whole entire front of the hospital will become a construction site. We have waited a long time to see a larger ED and a new nice accessible front on the hospital and it’s here its happening. I speak on behalf of the hospital and ask you to support the zoning change so that we can precede with the board at the YWCA for the Bogalusa Community Medical Center our foundation to procure the property. We plan to work with the Board at the “Y” and to do everything we can with Mr. Gallaspy’s guidance to preserve what we can. Our intention is to remove the building and to shell that area for now for a place to park and have access to the hospital. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Thank you Ms. Beverly.
BY JOHN GALLASPY: (Inaudible away from the microphone).
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Thank you Mr. Gallaspy. Anyone else from the public wish to speak please come to the microphone and state your name and address.
BY TERRY “FOOTS” QUINN: 220 Beall Street, Little Buffalo not to far from the “Y”. I just have a couple of questions for Mr. Gallasy and hospital and so forth because as Mr. Gallaspy stated he hates to see a historic building go. We lost our theaters and probably a lot others. They are going to move the Coke Plant before long. Sounds reasonable that we can move at least that front part that is in fact I was lucky enough to be in there and we celebrated our seventy fifth anniversary of Bogalusa in that part of the building. Let hope we study that closely before it’s too long and one question Mr. Gallaspy about the historic register that it can’t be on. My understanding is historic register doesn’t do too much good anyway as far as protecting the structure. It really shocked me oh about a month ago I was in Laurel Mississippi I think it was Pine Hurst Hotel they had a big metal marker celebrating how great it was and so forth. The marker was put down as a historic marker. The next year it was torn down. Just be careful with this before it goes too far so we can get our ducks in a row. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Anyone else in the public wishing to speak please come to the microphone and state your name and address. Being none council discussion.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: I can attest that there are sections of the outer wall of the building are actually falling out around the building. You can look around and see the whole outside. It is really, really bad condition especially in the backend of it.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Anymore council discussion? Being none…
BY VICE-PRESIDENT RITCHIE: I make a motion we accept it.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM……….AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND………..AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES……………..ABSENT
PRESIDENT PERRETTE………………AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT RITCHIE………….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS………AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT REQUESTING ZONING CHANGE AT 409 PLAZA FROM A-2 RESIDENTIAL TO A-3 RESIDENTIAL FOR THE PURCHASING OF THE YWCA PROPERTY).
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE:
AN ORDINANCE supplementing and amending Ordinance No. 1685, Ordinance No. 1064 and Ordinance No. 1416 regarding compensation of the Mayor in keeping with the provisions of the City Charter not being effective during this administration.
Anyone in the public wish to speak for or against this ordinance please come to the microphone and state your name and address.
BY FATE FARRELL: 1931 Dewitt Place. I notice we come up here every meeting and we say equal justice for all. I looked at this paper work for this meeting tonight and I don’t see equal justice for all. I see raises for some but we are not asking for raises forpolice’s to protect and serve, we not asking for the firemen who protect us, we not asking for raises for public workers who get out there and keep this city going. I think it is time we come out of this circle just for some and not all. I’ve been watching this under previous administration, I fought it under that one and I’m still fighting it. For once I would like to see some equal justice for all in Bogalusa. Until ya’ll start doing that I will be saying I don’t like it. If you can’t give it to all leave it alone. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Thank you Mr. Farrell. Anyone else in the public wishing to speak on this ordinance come to the microphone, state your name and address.
BY CHARLES “BUBBA” McDANIELS: 62488 Hamp Piggott Road. Everybody in this room knows I have been a policeman for fifteen years. I’m not against everybody getting a raise, not against it at all. In 2008 our tax checks were taken away from us and on an average a policeman makes about $30,000 a year. Tax check was 3,000 minus taxes about 10% of our checks were cut. I don’t want a raise I want what was taken away back. I would like mine and everyone else in this room would like their check back. I’m not against anybody getting a raise but I want what was taken away back. That is all I have to say.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT RITCHIE: I wasn’t on the council when that was done Bubba and I appreciate that and I appreciate every job that ya’ll do and I can promise you I don’t know what it will take but I will work hard and this council will find out how we can get those tax checks back for you. I think you deserve it and I don’t know why it was taken from you to start with and I’m going to do what I can and I think everybody on this council will do what they can to get those taxes back to you or in some way try and help you. I don’t know why it was taken away. I’ve asked that question but I haven’t gotten a firm answer.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: There is a loop hole in the law and I can answer that easily. The administration thought that since we are in a deficit of the budget to make up with it with the sales tax checks. Which I said in the Finance meeting before that the sales tax checks was a supplement and it was 10% of their pay in which the Mayor would receive 10% more because the Mayor at this current time according to the charter receives all benefits because he is an employee. So he would get a bonus also or a sales tax in which the people voted to do before hand. Correct me if I am wrong Mr. Bailey, how many times have I been in your officepertaining to the sales tax checks? Every time you see me what do I say? I am not in favor, what do I say? I was not in favor of it before hand so we can all pull together but we are not the administrative part. The administration took it from you all. I feel like if you would have it back which the finance voted to be taken away too. I was on the council at that time and I voted no. Again if you look at it they made 3,000 in November and then they got another sales tax check too right before summer. No I’m sorry teachers. I’m sorry they got 3,000 right about Thanksgiving time. The Mayor got it and everybody across the board got it equal plus the 2% raise. I’m sorry it is not council discussion at this time it is your turn.
BY CHARLES “BUBBA” McDANIELS: I want to know who is against us getting our tax check back? If nobody is against us give it back to us and do an ordinance that it can’t be taken away again.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: The tax that pays that and where it is coming from is dedicated to employee’s salaries and that is where it goes. It was used to fill the gap in those. Now when you talk about low pay do you know when we are talking about the mayors pay on this one there are seven or nine employees in this city that makes more than the mayor does. Now tell me about that.
BY CHARLES “BUBBA” McDANIELS: Did they take the 10% away from the mayor?
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Yes, he doesn’t get his sales tax check anymore. You don’t get it he doesn’t get it.
BY CHARLES “BUBBA” McDANIELS: He never got it.
BY PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Yes he did, you are wrong on that Bubba.
BY CHARLES “BUBBA” McDANIELS: This mayor did?