A Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Ocean Springs was called to order by Mayor Ainsworth at 7:00 p.m. on May 2, 2000, at City Hall in the City of Ocean Springs. Present were Aldermen Jalanivich, Garrard, McDonnell, Cody, Cosper and Denyer, City Attorney Oscar Jordan and City Clerk Adrienne Howell. Alderman Gill was absent.

Alderman Cody gave the Invocation.

Mayor Ainsworth led the Pledge of Allegiance.

At this time Dr. Jay Grimes, on behalf of the University of Southern Mississippi and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, presented a plaque to Deputy Police Chief George Mulvaney for the Police Department’s support and service to the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory over the years.

The next item taken up for consideration was the Consent Agenda:

Approve Minutes of Recess Meeting of April 18, 2000

Accept Police Report for March 2000

Accept resignation of Police Chief Mike Ezell, effective May 3, 2000, and begin process to fill the vacancy:

(Ezell Resignation)

Allow Det. Ricky Jones to attend Scientific Crime Investigations workshop in Monroe, LA, on May 15-17, 2000, and prepay the $200.00 tuition and pay all other reasonable and actual expenses

Accept Volunteer Fire Reports for March and April, 2000

Accept Fire Chief’s recommendation to promote Fire Fighters Terry Webb, Nate Wilson and Randall Rogers to Lieutenant and place them on Band 5/Step 3 ($26,340.00) of the salary scale:

(Fire Promotion Letter)

Accept Fire Chief’s recommendation to hire Matthew K. Welford as Fire Fighter, contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment requirements, and place him on Band 4/Step 1 ($20,940.00) of the salary scale and place him on 12 months probation:

(Welford Hire Letter)

Accept City Clerk’s recommendation to adopt Resolution Voiding 1997 Tax Sale of Parcel No. 05106733.000 and refund to the purchaser the amount paid at said sale:

(Tax Resolution)

Accept City Clerk’s recommendation to adopt the Budget Amendment for FYE 2000 regarding Davis Bayou dredging and authorize her to publish the public notice as required:

(Budget Amendment)

Allow Payroll Clerk Nancy Humes to attend the PERS’ Benefits Management Training in Philadelphia, MS, on July 10-11, 2000, and pay all reasonable and actual expenses

Accept City Engineer’s recommendation to approve Pay Request No. 2 ($141,745.02) from B&B Utility Contractors for Highway 90 and Wal-Mart Drive Traffic Signal Installation, CDBG #98-282-ED-IF01:

(B & B Invoice)

Accept City Engineer’s recommendation to approve Application for Payment No. 6 in the amount of $36,818.00 ($36,585.00 to Kappa Development & General Contracting, Inc. and $233.00 to Engineering Testing Services, Inc.) for federal participating work associated with the Government St. Improvements Project, STP-9064(4)/49-9064-00-004-10, and to issue payment within 3 days after receipt of funds from the State:

(Kappa Invoice)

Accept City Engineer’s recommendation to approve Application for Payment No. 7 in the amount of $49,619.00 ($49,607.00 to Kappa Development & General Contracting, Inc. and $11.75 to Engineering Testing Service, Inc.) for federal participating work associated with the Government St. Improvements Project, STP-9064(4)/49-9064-00-004-10, and to issue payment within 3 days after receipt of funds from the State:

(Kappa Invoice)

Accept City Engineer’s recommendation to approve Pay Request No. 2 ($23,594.83) from T.C.B. Construction Co., Inc. regarding Colmer/Stennis/Eastland Drainage Improvements:

(TCB Invoice)

Accept Public Works Director’s recommendation to pay the bill from the USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service ($10,819.93) representing 25% of construction cost on Morris Noble and Inner Harbor Bridge, Contract No. 50-4423-0-7270:

(USDA Invoice)

Accept Public Works Director’s recommendation to accept resignations from Street Dept. Laborers Ronald Saujon, Jr., effective April 17, 2000, and Abraham Baggett, effective April 18, 2000, and allow him to hire replacements to fill the vacancies:

(Saujon & Baggett Resignations)

Accept City Attorney’s recommendation to pay the two invoices from Joseph Q. White, Jr., Attorney At Law, in the total amount of $425.00 for easement searches:

(White Invoices)

Accept Action Report

Pay Docket of Claims and spread docket summary upon the Minutes:

(Docket Summary)

Items a and f were removed from the Consent Agenda for further consideration.

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Garrard, to approve the Consent Agenda, excluding items a and f.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

After some discussion regarding item a of the Consent Agenda, the following correction was made to the Minutes of the Recess Meeting of April 18, 2000:

Minute Book 28, Page 187 – The first motion was seconded by Denyer.

Motion by Garrard, seconded by Cody, to accept the Minutes of the Recess Meeting of April 18, 2000, as corrected.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

(Tritel Communications, Inc. – Police Monopole (Tower) Lease Agreement)

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by McDonnell, to accept the City Attorney’s recommendation to approve the Police Monopole (Tower) Lease Agreement with Tritel Communication, Inc. and authorize the Mayor to execute it in the general form as presented.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Cody, to appoint George Mulvaney as Interim Police Chief at the current Police Chief salary rate until such time as a new Police Chief is hired.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Garrard, to direct the Civil Service Commission to begin the process to advertise for the position of Police Chief within 30 days.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Motion by Denyer, seconded by Cody, to allow the interim Police Chief the privilege of looking for an interim Deputy Police Chief with the guidance of the Civil Service Commission and to report back to the Board with a recommendation.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Denyer, to send a letter to former Police Chief Mike Ezell from the Board of Aldermen thanking him for the job he did as Police Chief for the City of Ocean Springs.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

(Memo - Sale of Surplus Turnout Gear)

Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Cody, to accept the Fire Chief’s recommendation to declare the turnout gear used by Fire Fighter Jolene Hammons as surplus and of no value to the City, and allow it to be sold at the reduced rate of $533.50 to the Jackson County Fire District.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Item f of the Consent Agenda was brought up for discussion at this time.

Motion by Garrard, seconded by Jalanivich, to go into Closed Session to determine the necessity for an Executive Session.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Motion by Garrard, seconded by Cody, to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters in the Fire Department.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by McDonnell, to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters in all departments.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Jalanivich, to go into Executive Session to discuss a potential matter of litigation regarding annexation.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

The City Clerk announced to the audience that the Board had elected to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters in the Fire Department, personnel matters in all departments, and a matter of potential litigation regarding annexation.

After approximately 1 hour the Executive Session ended and the following motion was made:

Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to resume the Regular Session.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Jalanivich, to approve item f of the Consent Agenda.

VOTING AYE Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell, Cody, Cosper and Denyer

VOTING NAY Alderman Garrard

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Cody, to direct the Civil Service Commission to begin the process to advertise for the position of Captain in the Fire Department.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

At this time City Auditor Mark Toups presented the Audit Report for FYE 1999.

Motion by Cody, seconded by Garrard, to accept the audit report for FYE 1999 as presented.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Motion by Denyer, seconded by Cody, that the Mayor send a letter to the City Clerk’s department signed by all of the aldermen commending them on the excellent audit report received.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

(CDBG Resolutions – Sewer to Eagle Point)

Motion by Cody, seconded by McDonnell, to authorize the City Clerk to advertise for bids for the Government Street Landscaping Project upon receipt of the necessary specifications.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Cody, that the City Engineer, with input from the Public Works Director, prepare a cost estimate for a 6’ sidewalk, set back from the road, extending from the Middle School on Hanshaw Rd. to Magnolia Bayou Elementary.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

(Twin L Construction Invoices for Sidewalk/Street Panel Restoration)

Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Jalanivich, to accept the Public Works Director’s recommendation to pay the three invoices from Twin L Construction, Inc. in the total amount of $46,457.83 for city-wide sidewalk and street panel restoration.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

(Graham Construction Invoice- Colmer/Stennis/Eastland)

Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to accept the Public Works Director’s recommendation to pay the invoice from Graham Construction Co., Inc. in the net amount of $9,954.00 for sewer line repairs on Colmer, Stennis and Eastland Blvd.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

(Water Meter/Transponders Purchase)

Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to accept the Public Works Director’s recommendation to approve the purchase of water meters and remote transponders from Central Pipe Supply, Inc. as the sole source vendor in the total amount of $76,259.88.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by McDonnell, that the City Engineer work with the Public Works Director to design an anchor for the new Crooked Feather statue, as well as something to anchor the feather to the Indian’s head.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

Mary Terry thanked the Mayor and Board of Aldermen for the funds provided to the 1699 Historical Committee for the annual Landing of d’Iberville, and also thanked the Public Works, Police and Fire Departments for their assistance during the event.

Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Cody, to recess until 7:00 p.m. on May 16, 2000.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

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City Clerk Mayor

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