Minutes

Public Hearing/Regular Scheduled Meeting

January 9, 2023

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen met in a Public Hearing/Regular Scheduled Meeting with the following members present: Mayor Maurice Harris, Alderwoman Veronica Hill, Alderwoman Edna Mitchel, Alderman Jerome Martin, Alderman Carriere and Alderman Bessix. Also present was Town Attorney Gerard Morgan. CPA Jacob Waguespack was absent.

ROLL CALL: Mayor Harris opened the Meeting with a Roll Call, and Pledge was led by Katie Watson.

A Motion was made by Alderman Martin to open the Public Hearing, motion seconded by Alderwoman Mitchel and unanimously approved by the Board

AUDIENCE COMMENTS: Audience member questioned the newspaper listing. It was noted that the Ordinance was not posted on our Website

No other comments relating to the Ordinance to increase traffic fines.

A motion was made by Alderman Martin to close the Public Hearing, motion was seconded by Alderman Carriere and unanimously approved by the Board.

AUDIENCE COMMENTS: It was discussed that a homeowner’s drive and yard is holding a lot of water from each rain. He is requesting catch basins be installed. This matter will be looked into.

Another member of the audience requested dirt be put in another low spot.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Harris announced that the Martin L. King March is scheduled for Saturday, January 14, 2023.

Mayor Harris informed everyone that the Town will once again host the Mardi Gras Parade and he has asked for everyone’s assistance. The theme has not been decided and is being discussed. As decided, there will be no fees for floats, however the Waivers will need to be signed. We will once again feed the Police Officers and the Fire Department volunteers. Parade is scheduled for 1:00 P.M.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion was made by Alderwoman Hill to approve the minutes of the December 9, 2022 meeting and the Special Meeting of December 29, 2022. Motion was seconded by Alderman Martin and unanimously approved by the Board.

NEW BUSINESS: Mayor Harris made his appointments of Committee Chairs as follows:

Utilities – John Carriere – Streets, Roads & Drainage – Gillis Martin – Buildings & Grounds – Edna Mitchel – Finances – Bonnie Hill – Personnel – Justin Bessix

Mayor Harris appointed Ms. Veronica Hill as Mayor Pro-tempore, Public Works Director is Lee Butler, Town Attorney is Gerard Morgan, Primary Engineer LaTerre, secondary Engineer PEC.

The Resolution to approve our Financial Institutions as Guaranty Bank, Regions Bank and Lamp was made by a motion from Alderman Martin, motion seconded by Alderwoman Hill and unanimously approved by the Board.

OLD BUSINESS: Jacob Waguespack, CPA was absent however November financials were presented to the Board by Alderwoman Hill.

A motion was made by Alderman Carriere, seconded by Alderman Martin and unanimously approved by the Board to adopt the Ordinance to increase the traffic fines.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned with a motion by Alderman Martin, seconded by Alderman Carriere and unanimously approved by the Board