A Regular 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 April 6, 2004, at City Hall in the City of Ocean Springs. Present were Aldermen Lloyd, Cody, Carvin and Dalgo, City Attorney Oscar Jordan and Deputy City Clerk Diane Northrop. Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill were absent.
Alderman Cody gave the Invocation.
Boy Scout Andrew Brennon from Troop 271 was present earning his Communications Merit Badge and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Ainsworth presented the following proclamation to Cullen Letort of the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse and proclaimed the month of April 2004 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of Ocean Springs.
(Proclamation)
City Clerk:
a) Approve Minutes of Recess Meeting of March 16, 2004
b) Pay Docket of Claims and spread docket summary upon the Minutes:
(Docket Summary
c) Accept Action Report
d) Adopt Budget Amendment for FYE 2004 as presented and authorize publication of all items that exceed 10% of the original adopted budget:
(Budget Amendment)
Police Dept.:
e) Accept Police Reserve Report for Year End 2003
f) Accept Police Reserve Report for January/February 2004
g) Hire Wendy K. Bailey as Dispatcher ($21,283 yr./$10.23 hr.) with 6 months probation; Thomas A. Simmons as Patrolman ($23,000 yr.) with 1 year probation; and Jimmie L. Wilson as Patrolman 3rd Class ($25,000 yr.) with on year probation, all effective April 14, 2004:
(Bailey/Simmons/Wilson Hire Letter)
Fire Dept.:
h) Accept Fire Report for February 2004
i) Allow Fire Chief/Civil Defense Director to attend MS Civil Defense Emergency Management Agency Annual Conference in Gulfport on June 6-9, 2004 and pay $40.00 registration fee
j) Allow Deputy Fire Chief to attend 67th Annual Mississippi Fire Chief’s Conference in Gulfport on June 10-12, 2004 and pay $40.00 conference fee
k) Authorize Fire Dept. to apply for Assistance to Firefighters Grant through Dept. of Homeland Security’s Office of Domestic Preparedness for purchase of 800MHz-truck radio at estimated cost of $138,446.00 (reimbursable, 90/10 match):
(Grant Application Memo)
City Engineer:
l) Approve Pay Request No. 8 from Caldwell Tank ($27,972.00) regarding Contract A – New Elevated Water Tank, DWI-280035-02, and release payment upon receipt of DWSIRLF loan funds:
(Caldwell Invoice)
Public Works:
m) Allow Pubic Works employees to obtain necessary training and commercial drivers licenses for required employees:
(Commercial Drivers License Memo)
n) Allow Asst. Water Supervisor Gerald Groue and water employee Johnny Groue to attend water operators course at Mississippi State University on May 24-28, 2004, prepay registration fee and pay all other reasonable and actual expenses
o) Accept recommendation dated March 31, 2004 with regard to improper subdivision on Ocean Springs Rd. (agreement and hold harmless, promissory note, quitclaim deeds, etc.) and Paul C. Monroe, W. Edward Trehern, Tony’s Store, and Bienville Gardens, LLC:
(Agreement, etc.)
p) Pay bill from Dogan & Wilkinson, PLLC ($598.50) for legal services regarding improper subdivision on Ocean Springs Rd.:
(Dogan, Wilkinson, Edwards Invoice)
Community Development & Planning:
q) Adopt Resolution Assessing Lot Cleaning Cost ($125.00) to Lot 67 Deana Rd. Subdivision, Phase III (602 Rhonda Lane):
(Lot Cleaning Assessment Resolution)
r) Hire Dessa Marie Langley as Building Clerk ($20,000 yr.), effective April 12, 2004, and place her on 6 months probation:
(Langley Hire Letter)
s) Allow City Planner and Asst. City Planner to attend 2004 Mississippi Historic Preservation Conference in Hattiesburg on April 22-23, 2004, prepay registration fee ($60.00 each) and pay all other reasonable and actual expenses
t) Approve refund of $50.00 lot split application fee to Judith Lea:
(Lea Refund)
u) Approve refund of $1,469.50 building permit fee and impact fees totaling $775.50 (plus interest, if required) to Kip D. Howze for Lot 28 Maurepas Landing:
(Howze Refund)
v) Accept recommendation of Planning Commission and staff report regarding amendment to Ocean Springs Land Company lot split for property north of Hwy 90, approximately 200 east of Deena St.:
(Ocean Springs Land Co. Lot Split Documents)
w) Allow City Attorney, Mayor and necessary department heads to negotiate contract with Cellular South for location of telephone equipment and antennas at Pine Dr. water tank and present contract to Board for approval:
(Cellular South Memo)
Miscellaneous:
x) Accept $500.00 donation from Friendship Civic Club for purchase of items at Civic Center and Senior Citizens Center:
(Donation Letter)
y) Release $20,000.00 in community promotion funds to Walter Anderson Museum of Art for advertising the opportunities, possibilities and resources of the City of Ocean Springs:
(WAMA Letter)
z) Pay invoice from consultant John V. Quarstein ($1,101.99) for travel expenses from March 13-17, 2004 regarding Fort Maurepas:
(Quarstein Travel Invoice)
Items w, y and z were removed from the Consent Agenda for further consideration.
Motion by Cody, seconded by Carvin, to approve the Consent Agenda, excluding items w, y and z.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
At this time discussion was held regard item z of the Consent Agenda. Alderman Lloyd said that he did not remember authorizing travel expenses for Fort Maurepas consultant John Quarstein and wanted to review the matter further.
Motion by Cody, seconded by Dalgo, to table item z of the Consent Agenda until the next meeting.
VOTING AYE Aldermen Cody, Carvin and Dalgo
VOTING NAY Alderman Lloyd
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
Fire Dept.
The Fire Chief said that he wanted to explore locating a fixed generator at the Middle School, which is currently a secondary emergency shelter. He noted that the Vancleave shelter is currently the primary shelter for Ocean Springs.
At this time discussion was held regarding item w of the Consent Agenda. Alderman Lloyd asked how many water towers the City had with telecommunications towers on them. City Attorney replied that there were two, the tower by the Police Station and the tower behind City Hall. Although the cellular companies were paying rental fees to locate their equipment on the city’s water towers, Mr. Lloyd was interested in the possibility of negotiating a contract with them to supply cellular phone service to the city in exchange for the lease.
Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Carvin, to approve item w of the Consent Agenda.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
Motion by Cody, seconded by Lloyd, to table the issue regarding Carl Hamilton’s appeal of the Tree Committee’s decision at Lot 71 Maurepas Landing until the next meeting.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
The revised rental center guidelines for the Civic Center and Community Center were tabled until the next meeting.
Motion by Cody, seconded by Dalgo, that the Purchasing Agent solicit two quotes for the trimming, fertilizing, etc. of the necessary trees on Washington Ave.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
Motion by Cody, seconded by Carvin, that the Purchasing Agent solicit two quotes for trimming and fertilizing the necessary trees on Bechtel Blvd.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
The issue of County seawall maintenance was held over until the next meeting.
The Mayor and City Engineer reported that they would have a recommendation at the next meeting to proceed with hiring an appraiser for the Hwy 90 east water and sewer extension easements.
(Cemetery Committee Report)
Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Carvin, to accept the recommendations of the Cemetery Committee as outlined in their letter dated April 6, 2004.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
Henry Furr’s appeal regarding the America’s Thrift Store sign was referred to the Zoning and Adjustment Board.
Mayor Ainsworth reported that Reid Belton had requested his item be removed from the agenda.
The issue of Sports Complex was held over until the next meeting.
(Street Lighting – Monticello Woods)
Motion by Cody, seconded by Carvin, to authorize the Mayor to contact Singing River EPA to activate the streetlights in Monticello Woods Subdivision and make sure they are located in the right position because the subdivision is only 50% built-out.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
Alderman Dalgo asked that the Bienville Place street sign project be removed from the agenda as two acceptable quotes had been received and the project could now move forward.
(Bienville Quotes)
Henry Furr, president of the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce, invited the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to their annual banquet on April 13, 2004.
Sonja Cowart asked that the Board develop a process by which public notification is given when building demolition occurs within the city. She specifically addressed the demolition of the French Bakery building. She said that she was asked by Aldermen Jalanivich and McDonnell to request that the Board review the demolition process. She commented that a person is required to go through more process with removal of a protected tree than with removal of a building. She added that other communities within a close proximity have processes by which the public is notified in advance of demolitions.
Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Cody, to task the City Planner and Historic Preservation Commission to review the demolition process of other local cities and report back to the Board with a recommendation.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
Architect Carl Germany said he had provided the Board with a letter from a structural engineer, Alan Young, concerning the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center. Mr. Germany said that he had read an article in the Mississippi Press following the Board’s work session stating that there was a problem with the building. He questioned why, as architect, no one had contacted him to attend the work session. He said that as a result of that article, he had a structural engineer, as well as the building official, city planner, and lighting and electrical contractors review the facility, and that he and the structural engineer had determined that it was not an unsafe installation. He added that if the Board wanted to hang 500 or 800 lb. lights, that All South was a good electrical contractor who could do a little additional work on it that would support up to 4,000 lbs. He asked the Board to keep in mind that the recommendations and comments made to them were made by a sales person trying to sell them a package of goods. He reminded the Board that he had submitted a proposal for lighting last year that was never acted upon. He told the Board that he had some drawings and a packet of information for them concerning lighting and asked that the Board contact him before hanging anything on the structure. Mayor Ainsworth advised Mr. Germany that no one from the City at that work session had said anything about the building being unsafe to him.
Alderman Cody mentioned a memo received from the City Attorney recommending that the city might gain insight into some problems with termination of employees, equipping the city with fire extinguishers, and CPR training.
Motion by Cody, seconded by Dalgo, that the Fire Chief obtain a cost estimate for equipping the city’s emergency and public works vehicles with fire extinguishers and report back to the Board with a recommendation.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
Motion by Cody, seconded by Dalgo, that the Fire Chief coordinate with the other department heads and prepare a program to train all city employees in CPR.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
Alderman Cody wanted to set up a committee to do exit interviews with all employees that retire or resign instead of the department head. He wanted the Mayor and Board to come back with a suggestion. Alderman Lloyd asked if the Civil Service Commission should be involved.
Motion by Cody, seconded by Lloyd, that the Mayor report back with a recommendation for a committee to perform exit interviews with employees leaving the employ of the city.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
At this time item y of the Consent Agenda was taken up for consideration.
Motion by Carvin, seconded by Cody, to approve item y of the Consent Agenda.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
Motion by Cody, seconded by Carvin, to recess until 6:00 p.m. on April 20, 2004.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell and Gill
______________________________ _____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
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