City Council

MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM 112 W. ALABAMA AVE. VIVIAN, LOUISIANA MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 6:00 PM CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Festavan called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. INVOCATION - Alderman Raymond Williams 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 Denise Alexander, Michael Guthrie, Raymond Williams, and Angela Channell; absent was James Martin. Following Roll Call the Town Clerk verified that a quorum was present. Also present were other elected officials and/or staff members: Ronnie Festavan - Mayor, Ryan Nelson - Chief of Police, Kellie Morris - Town Clerk, and Douglas Dominick - Town Attorney. APPROVE AGENDA - Motion to approve the Agenda was made by Raymond Williams and seconded by Denise Alexander; all approved. 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS - There were none. 2. 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 Michael Guthrie, second by Angela Channell; all approved. 3 & 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Motion to approve the minutes of the August 10th Regular meeting (Agenda item #3) AND the August 26th Special Called meeting (Agenda item #4) in globo, together as a unit, was made by Angela Channell, second by Raymond Williams; all approved. 5. PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE # 746 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATES FOR THE 2020 TAX YEAR IN AND FOR THE TOWN OF VIVIAN. Mayor Festavan opened the public hearing for comments FOR or AGAINST the Ordinance; none were made. He then declared the public hearing closed. 6. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE FINAL ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE # 746 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - SEE Page 1 of 4 AGENDA ITEM # 5. Motion to adopt Ordinance # 746 of 2020 of the Town of Vivian, Louisiana was made by Denise Alexander, second by Raymond Williams; all approved. 7. PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE # 747 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - AN ORDINANCE TO RE-ZONE THE PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ‘OLD VIVIAN FIRE STATION’, LOCATED AT 212 S. PINE ST., FROM PUBLIC/SEMI-PUBLIC TO B-3 CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. Mayor Festavan opened the public hearing for comments FOR or AGAINST the Ordinance; none were made. He then declared the public hearing closed. 8. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE FINAL ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE # 747 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - SEE AGENDA ITEM # 7. Motion to adopt Ordinance # 747 of 2020 of the Town of Vivian, Louisiana was made by Raymond Williams, second by Angela Channell; all approved. 9. PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE # 748 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE TOWN OF VIVIAN’S ADMINISTRATIVE COURT FOR ADJUDICATION OF BLIGHTED PROPERTY, ABANDONED PROPERTY, AND VIOLATIONS OF SUCH TOWN ORDINANCES ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC HEALTH; GRASS, WEEDS AND WILD GROWTH; LITTER; HOUSING AND PROPERTY STANDARDS; AND JUNK, WRECKED AND ABANDONED PROPERTY INCLUDING REGULATIONS AND PENATLIES ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLATIONS. Mayor Festavan opened the public hearing for comments FOR or AGAINST the Ordinance; none were made. He then declared the public hearing closed. 10. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE FINAL ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE # 748 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - SEE AGENDA ITEM # 9. Motion to adopt Ordinance # 748 of 2020 of the Town of Vivian, Louisiana was made by Denise Alexander, second by Raymond Williams; all approved. 11. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER (inadvertently listed as RECONSIDER on the Agenda) THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION # 11 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND SUBMIT THE 2021-2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT, DIVISION OF AVIATION FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT THE VIVIAN AIRPORT. Motion to adopt Resolution # 11 of 2020 of the Town of Vivian, Louisiana was made by Denise Alexander, second by Raymond Williams; all approved. Page 2 of 4 12. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER (inadvertently listed as RECONSIDER on the Agenda) THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION # 12 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - A RESOLUTION DECLARING UNSOLD SURPLUS PROPERTY AS SALVAGE AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SELL, TRANSFER AND/OR DISPOSE OF. Motion to adopt Resolution # 12 of 2020 of the Town of Vivian, Louisiana was made by Angela Channell, second by Michael Guthrie; all approved. 13. THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN WILL CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION # 13 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE LOUISIANA COMPLIANCE QUESTIONNAIRE AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND EXECUTE THE LOUISIANA COMPLIANCE QUESTIONNAIRE. (This questionnaire is a required part of the financial audit of State and Local Government agencies.) Motion to adopt Resolution # 13 of 2020 of the Town of Vivian, Louisiana was made by Denise Alexander, second by Raymond Williams; all approved. 14. THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN WILL CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION # 14 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING RONNIE FESTAVAN, MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO EXECUTE THE FEDERAL FUNDING CERTIFICATION AND AGREEMENT TO HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFY ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN AND TO OTHERWISE PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO. Motion to adopt Resolution # 14 of 2020 of the Town of Vivian, Louisiana was made by Denise Alexander, second by Angela Channell; all approved. 15. HIRING OF CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE MAYOR’S RECOMMENDATION TO HIRE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUAL FOR THE TOWN OF VIVIAN: Adrian Hopkins - Part-time Code Enforcement Officer - $12.00 per hour Motion to approve Mayor Festavan’s recommendation to hire was made by Denise Alexander, second by Raymond Williams; all approved. 16. HIRING OF POLICE OFFICER - THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE CHIEF OF POLICE’S RECOMMENDATION TO HIRE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUAL FOR THE VIVIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT: William Cody Conly - Part-time Police Officer - $11.00 per hour Motion to approve Chief of Police Nelson’s recommendation to hire (and commission) was made by Michael Guthrie, second by Raymond Williams; all approved. Page 3 of 4 ZONING/CONDEMNATION REPORT - Zoning/Condemnation Officer Bobby Smith presented reports on the following properties: 1) 507 N. Hickory St., 2) 314 Penrod St., 3) 108 W. Atlanta St., 4) 325 W. Arkansas Ave., 5) 311 Camp Rd., 6) 415 W. Kentucky Ave. and 7) 203 Doolittle St. Officer Smith then recommended to the Council that Zoning Case # 494, adjudicated property located at 317 W. Atlanta St., be condemned. Motion to approve Officer Smith’s recommendation to proceed with condemnation proceedings at 317 W. Atlanta St. was made by Denise Alexander, second by Raymond Williams; all approved. CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT - Code Enforcement Officer Adrian Hopkins gave a report on tall grass located on the south side of the Hotel and near Sonic on Highway 1 also. All property located on Highway 1, Pine Street, has been taken care of and he is now beginning to move into areas off of the Highway, Pine Street. He also reported that he spoke with an area Pastor and assistant to help the elderly, those 85 and up, and/or single parents with code enforcement needs. MAYOR’S REPORT - Mayor Festavan gave a report on the following topics: 1) talks have been held with Peggy Parker of Allen’s Electric regarding the EPIC boat plant facilities that appear to be promising, 2) a local contracting company received the dirt contract for the O’Reilly Auto Parts job that is beginning at the former Outlaw Bar-B-Q location, 3) the Monterey Hills renovation project is still on go, 4) the annual audit will be held the week of November 16, 5) Completion of the Hwy. 170 sewer extension, 6) completion and upcoming final walk-through on the sewer manhole and lift station project, 7) new hangar rentals at the airport, 8) paving of alleys in town, 9) demolition on the two houses previously approved by the Council soon will begin soon, and 10) the closing of the sale of the Old Fire Station is complete. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY BOARD OF ALDERMEN - 1) Alderman Denise Alexander stated that she had spoken to Mrs. Lou Ann Dodge about her plans for the Old Fire Station and property for parking there. 2) Alderman Michael Guthrie asked about the re-opening of the Railroad Museum and was told that the Town would be providing some funds for continued restructuring and that the projected date for re-opening is Redbud 2021. ADJOURN - Motion to adjourn was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by Angela Channell; all approved. Meeting adjourned at 6:46 p.m. ______________________________________ Ronnie Festavan, Mayor ______________________________________ September 28, 2020 Kellie Morris, Town Clerk Page 4 of 4