City Council

MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM 112 W. ALABAMA AVE. VIVIAN, LOUISIANA MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2020 6:00 PM CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Festavan called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. INVOCATION – Alderman Michael Guthrie opened the meeting in prayer. PLEDGE – Mayor Festavan led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL - VERIFICATION OF QUORUM – Board of Aldermen present for Roll Call were James Martin, Denise Alexander, Michael Guthrie, Raymond Williams and Angela Channell. Following Roll Call the Town Clerk verified that a quorum was present. Also present were other elected officials/staff members: Ronnie Festavan - Mayor, Kellie Morris - Town Clerk, Annette Lewis - Environmental Services Coordinator and Douglas Dominick - Town Attorney. APPROVE AGENDA – Motion to approve Agenda as presented was made by Raymond Williams, second by Denise Alexander; all approved. 1. SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS – Mrs. Annie Cherry, North Caddo Magnet HIGH School Principal, made the following announcements; 1) Christmas at North Caddo was a great success, 2) The North Caddo ‘A’ Celebration was a great event and she was appreciative of all of the help that they had with it, 3) upcoming testing, 4) the Poetry Contest and Literary Rally, and 5) they would be hosting the upcoming Unity Breakfast there on campus. She also introduced the January Students of the Month; 9th grader Dakota Roberts, 10th grader Landon Owens, 11th grader Shadaviyuna Brooks and 12th grader Meredith Thomas. Mrs. Kathy Garner, North Caddo ELEMENTARY-MIDDLE School Curriculum Coordinator was present to announce that 1) the 2nd nine- weeks Honor Assembly would be later in the week when the A-B Honor Page 1 of 4 Roll, Straight A and Perfect Attendance students would be recognized and 2) students would be going out for lunch with the Principal(s). She then introduced the January Students of the Month; 3rd grader Camorah Brown and 6th grader Mariah Jackson. 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS – The following individual made public comments: Mr. Jesse Drucker of 14635 Old Atlanta Rd., Vivian, was present to speak in support of Agenda Item # 9, reconsideration of issuing a zoning variance. 3. MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT – Financial report including budget- to-actual comparisons was presented by Mayor Festavan. Following the report and discussion, motion to accept as presented was made by James Martin, second by Michael Guthrie; all approved. 4. PRESENTATION OF 2018-19 AUDIT – Mr. Travis Morehart of Cook & Morehart Certified Public Accountants, Shreveport, Louisiana was present to present the results of the Audit to the Council. There being no questions and/or comments from the Council upon conclusion of the presentation the motion to accept the results of the Audit as prepared and presented was made by Denise Alexander, second by James Martin; all approved. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Motion to accept and approve the minutes for the December 9, 2019 regular meeting as presented was made by Raymond Williams, second by Michael Guthrie; all approved. 6. PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE # 730 OF 2019 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AN ORDINANCE ADOPTED ON JUNE 14, 1977, AS AMENDED BY ORDINANCE ADOPTED ON JANUARY 10, 2005, LEVYING A TAX OF ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT (½%) UPON THE SALE AT RETAIL, THE LEASE OR RENTAL, THE CONSUMPTION AND STORAGE FOR USE OR CONSUMPTION OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY AND ON SALES OF SERVICES, AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER RELATED MATTERS – Mayor Festavan opened the public hearing for comments FOR or AGAINST the Ordinance; none were made. He then declared the public hearing closed. 7. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE FINAL ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE # 730 OF 2019 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, Page 2 of 4 LOUISIANA - SEE AGENDA ITEM # 6 – Motion to adopt Ordinance # 730 of 2019 of the Town of Vivian, Louisiana was made by Denise Alexander, second by Raymond Williams; all approved. 8. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION # 1 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - A RESOLUTION TO AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT SECTION 8, HOLIDAY PAY, OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK – Motion to adopt Resolution # 1 of 2020 of the Town of Vivian, Louisiana was made by Denise Alexander, second by Angela Channell; all approved. 9. ZONING VARIANCE HEARING - THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL RECONSIDER ISSUING A ZONING VARIANCE; To allow a mobile home/homes to be placed at the following address: 14635 Old Atlanta Rd., Case # 462 – Following discussion a motion was made to issue a variance to Case # 462, 14635 Old Atlanta Rd., by Denise Alexander, second by Michael Guthrie; all approved. 10. ADDRESS CORRECTION FOR RECORD - DECEMBER 9, 2019 COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA; Item # 14, Zoning Variance Hearing, Case # 489, 218 N. Pecan St. – A zoning variance was granted for a mobile home to be placed at 218 N. Pecan St., at the December 9, 2019 Council Meeting. However, the correct address should be 219 N. Pecan St. and correction is needed for the record. Motion was made to correct the address for the record by Angela Channell, second by James Martin; all approved. ZONING/CONDEMNATION REPORT – Zoning/Condemnation Officer Bobby Smith was not present at the meeting but sent a written report with updates that were presented at the meeting. The following cases/addresses were included in the report; 1) Case # 487 - 302 N. Cypress St., 2) Case # 488 - 9364 Hosston Rd., 3) Case # 476 - 328 E. Oklahoma Ave., 4) Case # 478 - 316 E. Arkansas Ave., and 5) Case # 485 - 120 Camp Vivian Rd. CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT – No report given. MAYOR’S REPORT – The Mayor’s report included the following topics: 1) The list for the surplus sale which is scheduled for the spring is growing, 2) the Howell property located at 917 S. Pine St., and 3) Louisiana Rural Page 3 of 4 Water Association and their input on the increase of water rates. Town Attorney, Doug Dominick also made mention during the Mayor’s Report that there would be a hearing in February on the final condemnation of the home located at 202 W. Mississippi Ave. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY BOARD OF ALDERMEN – 1) Alderman Michael Guthrie thanked the Mayor for getting speed limit signs on Williamson Way and asked about the possibility of more lighting on the street. 2) Alderman Raymond Williams reported on the Black History Festival and dates of the following activities; Pageant on January 25, Gospel Night on February 1, Unity Breakfast on February 8 and the Parade on February 15. ADJOURN – Motion to adjourn was made by Raymond Williams, second by Michael Guthrie; all approved. Meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. Ronnie Festavan, Mayor _________________________________________ January 20, 2020 Kellie Morris, Town Clerk Page 4 of 4