RECESS MEETING OF DECEMBER 17, 2002

 

 

A Recess Meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Ocean Springs was called to order by Mayor Ainsworth at 6:00 p.m. on December 17, 2002, at City Hall in the City of Ocean Springs.  Present were Aldermen Jalanivich, Lloyd, McDonnell, Cody, Carvin and Dalgo, and City Clerk Adrienne Howell.  Alderman Gill and City Attorney Oscar Jordan were absent.

 

Alderman Cody gave the Invocation.

 

Mayor Ainsworth led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Consent Agenda

 

        City Clerk:

a)      Approve Minutes of Recess Meeting of November 19, 2002

b)      Accept Action Report

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

(Docket Summary)

        Fire Dept.:

d)      Accept Fire Report for November 2002

e)      Accept resignation of Firefighter Mickey Worzella, effective December 10, 2002, and authorize Fire Chief to begin process to fill vacancy:

(Worzella Resignation)

        City Engineer:

f)        Award bid for Evergreen Cemetery Retaining Wall to M & D Construction ($58,210.00):

(Cemetery Lot Bids)

g)      Award bid and all alternates for Davis Bayou Wastewater Improvements, CIAP Project No. MS 30.07 (Eagle Point, Eagle Nest, Quave) to Coastal Piping, Inc. ($249,737.40):

(Davis Bayou Bids)

        Public Works:

h)      Hire John Groue as Street Dept. Equipment Operator at Band 3/Step 5 ($10.21 hr.), contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment requirements:

(Groue Hire Letter)

i)        Pay invoice from Graham Construction Co., Inc. ($6,897.83) regarding sewer repairs on Holcomb Blvd./Mimosa Cove:

(Graham Invoice)

j)        Pay invoice from Graham Construction Co., Inc. ($977.50-retainage) regarding work performed on Lift Station #31:

(Graham Invoice)

k)      Pay invoice from Graham Construction Co., Inc. ($806.40-retainage) regarding work performed on Barbara Circle:

(Graham Invoice)

l)        Pay invoice from Graham Construction Co., Inc. ($2,174.40) regarding sewer repairs on Halstead Rd.:

(Graham Invoice)

m)    Pay invoice from Graham Construction Co., Inc. ($3,692.70) regarding sewer repairs on 116 Bryant due to Tropical Storm Isidore/Hurricane Lili:

(Graham Invoice)

n)      Pay invoice from Graham Construction Co., Inc. ($828.00) regarding sewer repairs Lift Station #88 due to Tropical Storm Isidore/Hurricane Lili:

(Graham Invoice)

o)      Pay invoice from Twin L Construction, Inc. ($514.50-retainage) regarding street and sidewalk repairs related to Tropical Storm Allison (FEMA):

(Twin L Invoice)

        Community Development & Planning:

p)      Accept Building Report for November 2002

q)      Allow City Planner to attend American Planning Association National Conference in Denver, CO, during week of March 29, 2003, prepay necessary registration fee and pay all other reasonable and actual expenses

r)       Accept Planning Commission’s recommendation to grant special use permit to Fred Lemon and Viet Le for operation of seafood market at 1113 Bienville Blvd.:

(Lemon/Viet Le Documents)

s)       Pay invoice no. 7 from Fletcher Construction Co., Inc. ($143,247.60) regarding Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center, upon receipt of funds from MDA:

(Fletcher Invoice)

t)        Pay invoice from New South Architects, PLLC ($4,108.04) regarding work related to Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center, upon receipt of CAP funds:

(New South Invoice)

u)      Pay final invoice from Eco-Systems, Inc. ($4,149.68) for environmental assessment regarding Finicky Pet Foods, Inc.:

(Eco-Systems Invoice)

v)      Approve Change Order No. 3 ($137,126.00) with Fletcher Construction Co., Inc. regarding demolition of stairway corridors of Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center:

(Mary C. O’Keefe/Fletcher Change Order)

w)    Authorize City Planner to contact Seal Insurance Co. for claim regarding Hidden Oaks Subdivision and authorize City Engineer and Public Works Director to take necessary corrective measures at the drainage structure:

(Hidden Oaks Letter)

        Risk Manager/HR Director:

x)      Hire Michelle Rushing as part-time Human Resource Clerk at Band 3/Step 1($9.33 hr.), contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment requirements:

(Rushing Hire Letter)

        City Attorney:

y)      Pay City Attorney’s bill for November 2002 ($4,462.50)

        Miscellaneous:

z)       Release $5,000.00 community promotion funds budgeted in FYE 2003 for Walter Anderson Museum of Art:

(WAMA Letter)

 

Item i was removed from the Consent Agenda for further consideration.

 

Motion by Dalgo, seconded by Cody, to approve the Consent Agenda, excluding item i.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

At this time discussion was held concerning item i of the Consent Agenda.  Alderman Jalanivich stated that he had removed item i because he wanted to abstain from its approval.

 

Motion by Dalgo, seconded by Cody, to approve item i of the Consent Agenda.

 

VOTING AYE Aldermen Lloyd, McDonnell, Cody, Carvin and Dalgo

VOTING NAY NONE

VOTING ABSTAINED Alderman Jalanivich

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Dalgo, to recess the Regular Session and convene as the full Zoning and Adjustment Board.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Members of the Review Section Committee present were Angela Sanders and Richard Schmidt.  Members Rhodes, Heddings and Dubaz were absent.

 

(Johnson Documents)

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Dalgo, to accept the recommendation of the Review Section Committee and grant a 20% front yard variance to Mark and Linda Johnson for construction of a new home at 3302 Mt. Vernon Court.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill and Members Rhodes, Heddings and Dubaz

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Dalgo, to adjourn as the full Zoning and Adjustment Board and resume the Regular Session.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to ratify the actions of the full Zoning and Adjustment Board.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Department Reports

 

City Clerk

 

(Depository Bids – Hancock 30%, Peoples 10%, SouthTrust 10%, Coast Com10%, M & M 20%, Bancorp South 20%)

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Cody, to award the bid for municipal depository for the period of January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2004 as recommended by the Mayor and City Clerk and to name Hancock Bank as the lead depository.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Dalgo, to go with Hancock Bank’s variable rate in their proposal.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Motion by Dalgo, seconded by Jalanivich, to approve the Order Establishing Policy and Procedure for Designation of City Depositories and Investment of Surplus Funds and spread it upon the minutes.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

The budget amendment was held over until the next meeting.

 

Fire Dept.

 

The Fire Chief announced that a demonstration of the new emergency call-down system, which replaces the old Civil Defense sirens, would be held at the Jackson County EOC tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. and invited the Mayor and Board to attend.

 

City Engineer

 

(2003 CAP Loan Letter – Hwy 90 Water & Sewer Improvements)

 

Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Jalanivich, to apply for a $500,000.00 CAP Loan for Hwy 90 water and sewer improvements and schedule the public hearing for January 21, 2003.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

The City Engineer reported that he and the City Attorney met with Kappa Development, who would be getting with the paving contractors regarding the Government St. crossovers.  Alderman Jalanivich commented that the paving should take place over the holidays while school was out.

 

Public Works

 

The Public Works Director submitted the following letter and recommended that the Mimosa Cove repairs be turned over to the City Attorney for resolution, and the Board concurred.

 

(Mimosa Cove Letter)

 

(Bids – Materials for Hwy 90 water line extension)

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to award the bid for materials for the water line extension down Hwy 90 to Hwy 57 to Central Pipe Supply, Inc. in the amount of $86,934.95.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Dr. LaGrone’s letter regarding easement landscaping was held over until the next meeting.

 

The Public Works Director reported that the sewer inspection company was coming in at 5:00 Thursday for a work session scheduled by the Mayor and that Brad Bradford would be present also.

 

Alderman Jalanivich stated that there was a need for traffic calming devices on Havard Rd.

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Dalgo, to proceed with procedures for a traffic study or whatever was necessary for traffic calming devices on Havard Rd., and that the City Planner provide the proposed locations for the devices.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Community Development and Planning

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Lloyd, to hold the supplement to the subdivision regulations over until the next meeting.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

The City Planner stated that he was awaiting feedback from the City Judge and City Prosecutor concerning the lot cleaning recommendations.  The matter was held over until the next meeting.

 

Alderman Dalgo asked if the City Planner had contact with developer Troy Vincent concerning the status of the bridge repairs.  The City Planner replied that the contractor, Tom Carroll, was scheduled to do the work and should have the issued resolved by the weekend; if not, the City would proceed.

 

Risk Manager/HR Director

 

The Risk Manager/HR Director reported that the Service Learning Program terminates tomorrow and that the class received first in state.  She added that the alarm for Fort Maurepas should be finished before Christmas, but that there was no web site yet and hoped to link the surveillance video to another site such as the Chamber’s or Alderman Dalgo’s.

 

Mayor

 

Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Jalanivich, that the Board pass a resolution supporting Trent Lott and his endeavors to become leader of the Senate, and ask him to continue on to try to overcome and continue to be a leader for the country.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Old Business

 

Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Cody, to remove Rev. Scott Lenoir’s request for community promotion funds from the agenda.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Temporary soccer and football field lights were removed from the agenda.

 

New Business

 

Kathy Scarborough, President of the Board for The Boys and Girls Club, gave a presentation on behalf of the Ocean Springs unit.  She told the Board that they had been in the facility at the old Montessori School for six months and were trying to get the necessary funding to purchase the building.  She asked for help with keeping the program going and asked that the Board add back $5,000.00 of the originally requested $10,000.00.  Alderman McDonnell asked that the Board do everything in its power to find the funding.  He added that he was proud of the organization and their finding a location that has the ability to grown as their needs grow, and felt it was a worthwhile investment.

 

Motion by Dalgo, seconded by McDonnell, to fund the additional $5,000.00 for the Boys and Girls Club from money appropriated for work in the different wards.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Cheri Hanemann requested better behavior from some of the Board members and the Historic Preservation Commission, and respect for Ward 2 residents.  She asked that the Board minimize spending on Fort Maurepas.  She also asked for Alderman Carvin’s resignation from office.

 

George Conwill of 203 Ashley Place asked Alderman Carvin to resign from office.  Alderman Carvin replied that he had no intention of taking a leave of absence or resigning.  Mr. Conwill asked the Mayor to represent Ward 4 or appoint another person in his place.

 

The purchase of land for Ocean Springs sports gym was held over until the next meeting.

 

The issues of restrooms at Little Children’s Park, Sunplex sewer force main, and plans for Harbor Master house were removed from the agenda.

 

The subdivision moratorium issue was held over until the next meeting.

 

Gloria Skillstead told the Board that she had blueprints for Fort Maurepas and wanted an architect to review them and give a cost estimate for its completion; Alderman Jalanivich offered to review the issue.  She stated that the estimated cost of materials for the blacksmith shop was $2,400.00.  She suggested the City utilize the fort for a temporary museum and work toward collecting artifacts from the 1600 period.  She reminded the Board that the original 1699 stone was in a museum in New Orleans and that it could be returned to the City when it has its own museum.  She wanted to start advertising bids to complete the fort.  She also asked about building insurance, which was being reviewed by the Risk Manager, and suggested the Fort be rented out if someone wanted to use it for appropriate purposes.  The Public Works Director was instructed to check on the lights out at the Seamen’s Memorial and Fort Maurepas and construction of the blacksmith shop.

 

(Fort Maurepas Mission Statement)

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to accept the mission statement for Fort Maurepas.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Fort Maurepas – March 23, 2003 was held over until the next meeting.

 

The kitchen at Community Center issue was removed from the agenda.

 

Audience Request

 

Frank McCathron of 2514 Havard Rd. asked Alderman Carvin to resign as soon as possible.

 

Britt Sandblom of Ward Ave. asked if Alderman Carvin was going to try to postpone his case again after county court.  He replied that he hoped not, that he hoped the matter would get resolved.

 

Jamie Sablich asked what his options were as a resident of Ward 4.  Mayor Ainsworth replied that if Mr. Sablich was uncomfortable speaking to Alderman Carvin, he could call him or Alderman Jalanivich.

 

George Conwill asked for a motion of public censure regarding Alderman Carvin.  Mayor Ainsworth replied that he did not know if they had the authority to do that.

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by McDonnell, 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

 

Alderman Jalanivich was not present during the Executive Session.

 

Motion by Dalgo, seconded by Lloyd, to go into Executive Session to discuss the White and Lyons lawsuits.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich and Gill

 

The City Clerk announced to the audience that the Board had elected to go into Executive Session to discuss the White and Lyons lawsuits.

 

The Executive Session began at 7:05 p.m. and ended at 7:10 p.m.

 

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

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by McDonnell, to hire Dogan, Wilkerson, Kinard, Smith and Edwards law firm to represent the City in the lawsuit brought against the City by White and Lyons.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by Dalgo, to implement raises for the City Clerk, City Planner, Asst. Fire Chief and HR Director according to the adopted budget and make the raises effective with the first paycheck in January 2003.

 

VOTING AYE Aldermen Jalanivich, Lloyd, Cody, Carvin and Dalgo

VOTING NAY Alderman McDonnell

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Dalgo, to adjourn.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________                        _____________________________

                     City Clerk                                                                      Mayor

 

 

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