REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 3, 2004

 

 

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 February 3, 2004, at City Hall in the City of Ocean Springs.  Present were Aldermen Jalanivich, Lloyd, McDonnell, Cody, Carvin, Dalgo and Gill, City Attorney Oscar Jordan and Deputy City Clerk Diane Northrop.

 

Alderman Cody gave the Invocation.

 

Boy Scout Zack Harris from Troop 271 led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Scouts Zack Harris and Chris Blevens were present to earn the Citizenship in the Community merit badge.

 

Consent Agenda

 

        City Clerk:

a)      Approve Minutes of Recess Meeting of January 20, 2004

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

(Docket Summary)

c)      Accept Action Report

        Police Dept.:

d)      Authorize City Clerk to advertise for bids for a Patrol Boat for the Police Dept.:

(Patrol Boat Memo)

        Fire Dept.:

e)      Place Firefighters Kevin L. Sharpe and Daniel M. Hutchens on full-time employment status effective February 7, 2004 and February 24, 2004, respectively:

(Sharpe/Hutchens probation)

f)        Allow Firefighter Kevin Sharpe to attend Center for Domestic Preparedness Instructor Training Course in Anniston, AL on February 8-14, 2004 and pay meal cost

g)      Allow Lt. Mathew Bigelow to attend Chief Officer Training Curriculum on the dates requested and pay all reasonable and actual expenses

        City Engineer:

h)      Pay invoice from SCI, Inc. ($10,610.04) regarding Hanley Road Intersection Improvements, MSA Project No. 98-064.34:

(SCI Invoice)

        Public Works:

i)        Place Matt Burrell on full-time employment status as Asst. Supervisor in Sewer Dept. and increase hourly rate from $12.55 to $12.93, effective February 12, 2004:

(Burrell probation)

        Community Development & Planning:

j)        Accept Building Report for 2003

k)      Accept list of individuals for Redistricting Committee and spread list upon minutes:

(Redistricting Committee)

l)        Approve revised fees for Building Dept. and authorize City Attorney to draft the necessary documents for formal approval:

(Building Dept. Permit Fees)

m)    Authorize City Attorney to contact Jackson County for revision of interlocal agreement for entrance signage in amount of $49,500.00 or for new agreement for additional amount of $20,000.00:

(Additional Signage Memo)

        Miscellaneous:

n)      Pay bill from D. Neil Harris ($360.00) for professional services rendered as City Judge Pro Tem on January 14, 2004:

(Harris Invoice)

o)      Release 2nd quarter community promotion funding ($6,250.00) and Main Street community promotion funding ($7,500.00) to Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce for advertising and bringing into favorable notice the opportunities, possibilities and resources of the City of Ocean Springs:

(Chamber/Main Street Funding)

 

Items f, h and l were removed from the Consent Agenda for further consideration.

 

Motion by Carvin, seconded by Gill, to approve the Consent Agenda, excluding items f, h and l.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

Department Reports

 

City Clerk

 

The FYE 2004 Budget Amendments were held over until the next meeting.

 

Fire Dept.

 

At this time item f of the Consent Agenda was taken up for consideration.

 

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

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

City Engineer

 

The City Engineer reported that the contract for cleaning the 4-acre site for the proposed emergency management and public safety facility was out for quotes.  He also reported that the specs for removal of the 2 water tanks were nearly complete.  He added that he hoped to have a recommendation on the Lakeview Subdivision drainage problem by next meeting.

 

Public Works

 

At this time discussion was held regarding item h of the Consent Agenda.  Alderman Jalanivich asked that the City send a letter of appreciation to SCI, Inc. for the work they accomplished on the Hanley Rd. Intersection Improvements Project.

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Carvin, to approve item h of the Consent Agenda and send SCI, Inc. a letter of appreciation for the good job they did.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

The Public Works Director asked to change Colby Kennedy’s resignation date from February 6, 2004, to February 20, 2004, to allow time to train a replacement.

 

Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Gill, to make the resignation date of Public Works Data Clerk Colby Kennedy effective February 20, 2004, instead of February 6, 2004.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

In order to get a replacement as soon as possible, the Public Works Director asked for permission to contact the Board about his selection for the Data Clerk position and notify the candidate that they would be officially hired on February 17, 2004.

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Carvin, to allow the Public Works Director to notify the selected candidate for the Data Clerk position that they will be officially hired on February 17, 2004.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

Community Development & Planning

 

(Fletcher Invoice)

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Lloyd, to pay the invoice from Fletcher Construction Co., Inc. in the amount of $10,900.00 for crawlspace vents at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

At this time consideration was given to item l of the Consent Agenda.  Alderman Jalanivich asked that the City Planner look into strengthening the ordinance assessing penalties for work being done without the proper permits.

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Gill, to approve item l of the Consent Agenda.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

The City Planner reported that the parking study for the downtown area should be ready by the next meeting.  He also reported that there was not a lot of need at this time for developing measurable criteria for traffic calming devices until funding for the devices was budgeted.

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by McDonnell, to reappoint Jim Williams to a five-year term on the Tree Committee ending January 19, 2009.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

Mayor

 

(Water Office Supervisor Position)

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by Lloyd, to authorize the Interim City Clerk to begin the process to fill the position of Water Office Supervisor and to post the position in-house with a salary range of $13.44 - $15.40 per hour.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

(Cemetery Committee Report)

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by Gill, to accept the Cemetery Committee’s recommendation to convey lots B3102-A, B3103-A, B3104-A, B3105-A and B3106-A in lieu of Mathew Russell’s five gravesites and authorize the Mayor and Interim Clerk to execute the appropriate deed.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

(Bolton/Lack Invoice)

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by Gill, to pay the invoice from Walter T. Bolton and William V. Lack for architectural services regarding the New Emergency Management and Public Safety Complex.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by Carvin, to allow two employees and any Board member to attend the Mississippi Urban Forestry and Arboricultural Conference in Philadelphia, MS, on February 17-19, 2004, and to prepay the registration fee and pay all other reasonable and actual expenses.

 

VOTING AYE Aldermen Jalanivich, Cody, Carvin and Gill

VOTING NAY Aldermen Lloyd, McDonnell and Dalgo

 

Mayor Ainsworth reported that Eagle Scout Austin Wells had proposed a community signboard project in the area of the caboose and asked for the Board’s consent for the project.  Austin presented as sketch of the signboard and the Board concurred.

 

(Signboard Sketch)

 

Alderman McDonnell addressed the need for landscaping around the caboose area.  He told the Board that Michael Hale had developed a rough sketch and cost estimate for the landscaping and felt it was a great chance to incorporate Austin’s project with the landscaping plan.

 

(Landscaping Plan)

 

Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Cody, to approve $3,100.00 from Ward 2 capital project funds for landscaping, plant materials, and all of the labor for the caboose area, including a tie back to the water aspect to allow for year-around maintenance, and to request the Public Works Director and Mr. Hale to review the possibility of furnishing electrical service to the site and report back to the Board with any additional costs.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

At this time Mayor Ainsworth recognized another scout, Nick Eubanks, who had joined the meeting.

 

Sonny Nelson of the Ocean Springs High School Theatre Arts Booster Club presented the following letter and announced that the Ocean Springs High School Drama Dept. had won the state competition in theatre and would be representing the City of Ocean Springs and State of Mississippi in the regional competition in Chattanooga, TN.  He requested financial assistance from the City in the form of community promotion funds.

 

(Booster Letter)

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by McDonnell, to provide $3,000.00 in community promotion funds to the Ocean Springs High School Theatre Arts Booster Club for advertising and bringing into favorable notice the opportunities, possibilities and resources of the City of Ocean Springs.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

Old Business

 

At this time discussion was held regarding the proposed Hwy 90 East water and sewer extension project.  The Public Works Director reported that he needed to confer with the Mayor regarding easements.  Mayor Ainsworth said that he would schedule a meeting with him and include the City Engineer and City Attorney.

 

Alderman Cody said that the had met with the City Engineer about the ditches on Holcomb Blvd. and Alice St. and asked that the Public Works Director meet with him on site to review the drainage issues.

 

Motion by Gill, seconded by Carvin, to remove Hwy 90 lighting from the agenda.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

New Business

 

(Ocean Springs Park Commission – Fireworks Display Funding Request – 4th of July)

 

The Parks Director was present and explained that the fireworks display would be held at the end of the community pier off of Martin Ave.  Members of the Board raised the issue of safety and the Park Director was asked to work closely with the Fire Dept. with regard to the event.

 

Motion by Gill, seconded by Cody, to provide $2,000.00 in community promotion funds to the Ocean Springs Park Commission for promoting and advertising the City of Ocean Springs at their 4th of July fireworks show, contingent upon approval of the event by the Fire Chief, Police Chief, City Attorney and Risk Manager.

 

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

VOTING NAY Aldermen Lloyd and McDonnell

 

The appointment to the Ocean Springs School Board of Trustees was held over until the next meeting.

 

Audience Request

 

No one from the audience addressed the Mayor and Board of Aldermen at this time.

 

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

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Carvin, to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel in the Public Works Dept. and litigation.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

 

The Deputy City Clerk announced that the Board had elected to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel in the Public Works Dept. and litigation.

 

The Executive Session began at 6:55 p.m. and ended at 8:35 p.m.

 

Alderman Dalgo left the meeting at 8:20 p.m.

 

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

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Dalgo

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to approve our annexation counsel’s recommendation regarding the pending appeal of Ocean Springs’ 2002 annexation, and since the proposed incorporation has been dismissed, to authorize Mr. Wallace to dismiss Ocean Springs’ appeal which is pending before the Mississippi Supreme Court.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Dalgo

 

Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to recess until 6:00 p.m. on February 17, 2004.

 

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Dalgo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________                        _____________________________

                     City Clerk                                                                      Mayor

 

 

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                        Date                                                                              Date