Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 18, 2022 7:00 P.M.
Members In Attendance: Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Alderman Janice Fleming Alderman Leola Keys Alderman Wysinger Cleveland
Absent: Alderman Simeon Profit
The Town of Richwood met for a Regular Meeting held April 18, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at the Richwood Multi-Purpose Center, 2710 Martin Luther King Drive, Richwood, Louisiana to consider the following business:
I. Meeting Called to Order by Mayor Gerald Brown at 7:04 p.m.
II. Prayer- was offered by Mayor Gerald Brown
III. Pledge of Allegiance – recited in unison
IV. Roll Call- Mayor Gerald Brown called roll with the following results:
• The record shall reflect (4) Aldermen present at roll call.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Leola Keys Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
V. Adoption of Agenda:
It was motioned by Alderman Wysinger Cleveland and seconded by Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. to amend the agenda to add Mrs. Veronica Lewis representing RCDA to the agenda, and specifically pertaining to make comments and answer questions relative to Mr. Perroyt Epting of Southern Youths Movement specifically pertaining to the donation request by Mr. Eptying for funding from the Town of Richwood as Item XI and bump the other issues after that down one.
• The record shall reflect all (4) Aldermen present voted yes to adopt the amended agenda.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Leola Keys Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VI. Adoption of March 17, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. – stated, he had a question on some minutes; there was a request made by the Board on some minutes, we asked for some minutes and those were not provided.
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated, we have not been able to locate those minutes, we were not in office at that time, and have not been able to locate those minutes.
It was moved by Alderman Wysinger Cleveland and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to adopt the March 17, 2022 Minutes.
• The record shall reflect a vote was taken to Adopt the March 17, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes with the following result: (3) No Votes and (1) Yes Vote to adopt .
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. No Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Leola Keys No Alderman Wysinger Cleveland No
Mayor Gerald Brown- inquired was there something amiss in the minutes or something out of order in the minutes?
Alderman Leola Keys- replied, they were not found, that is the out of order to me; until they are found they are out of order to me.
Mayor Gerald Brown- inquired, so not being able to locate those previous minutes makes these minutes out of order?
Alderman Leola Keys- stated, I’m just wondering how the Town gone operate? I know the minutes are your legal documents period; everybody knows that.
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated, some of them, we have Ordinances, Resolutions and Financial Statements as well; but some of them yes, we were not here on November 17, 2011. I don’t think it was our fault those minutes were not in the book, and I certainly don’t think it’s a situation that we don’t approve the minutes, whatever happened in the last meeting, it happened; and if those minutes accurately reflect what happened, those minutes must be approved.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- questioned, Mrs. Rainwater if she was the Town Clerk at that time?
Mrs. Rainwater- replied, yes I was.
VII. Adoption of Financial Reports
Mayor Gerald Brown- informed the Board, Mrs. Sims, the Fiscal Officer had an emergency and was unable to be at the meeting.
Mr. Wilbert Reed Jr. – stated, he had a question about the gasoline at Stewart’s; page 3, he was aware that gasoline had increased but he had questions about the amount of the $ 3600 paid.
Mayor Gerald Brown – stated, he would have to check what particular time frame those invoices covered, because the invoices may cover multiple billing cycles
It was motioned by Alderman Wysinger Cleveland and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to table the Financial Reports until the Fiscal Officer was present and questions about the gas charges could be answered.
• The record shall reflect a vote was taken on tabling the Financial Reports with the following results: (4) Votes Yes to Table the adoption of the Financial Reports.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Leola Keys Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VIII. Public comments as they relate to Items on the Agenda:
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- As the Public Attendee approached the podium stated the Public Attendee only had 3 minutes
Mr. Nathan Brown/ Public Attendee- addressed the forum and stated he wanted to address Item XIV. questioned why the Board voted down Ordinance 2022-01 ( an ordinance amending the Town of Richwood Code of ordinance to provide for the enforcement of certain traffic violation by automated means and why you are saying you are concerned about the safety of the Town.
Mr. Nathan Brown/ Public Attendee- stated, you as a Board is always stating that your main concern is the safety of the Town, but every time something comes up that would better the safety of the Town you are voting it down, that doesn’t make sense to me, why you vote down something that would bring better protection for the Town? This would better the safety of the Town and the officers, but you keep voting this down. If safety is your main concern and you have sworn to look out for the betterment of the Town and the safety of the Town, why are you constantly voting down something that is going to bring better protection for the Town and the Officers here, and why are we having to keep putting this back on the agenda? You can’t have safety as your main concern when you are constantly voting things down.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- stated, Mr. Brown first of all we asked for 24/7 policing right? That’s the number one statement, 24-hours, 7 days a week policing. When we get that will be our next action. .
Mr. Nathan Brown – questioned if the Town can afford 24-hour police at this time?
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland – indicated it was in the budget.
Mayor Gerald Brown- answered, we can if we make several adjustments. The budget does not allow for 24/7 . It allows for a certain number of officers.
IX. Mayor’s Dialogue:
Mayor Gerald Brown- addressed the forum and reminded everyone to go out and vote on April 30th that the Town has on the ballot is the Renewal of our tax, not a new tax, the renewal.
X. Presentation by Rural Holding Concerning rural HealthCare and Transportation
Mr. Tony Crawford (Presenter)- addressed the forum and introduced himself as the Vice-President of Rural Holdings Inc.
Mr. Crawford – introduced Dr. Arie Shaw M.D, and Mr. Larry Jones, president of Rural Holdings Inc., and Mr. Jones is the President of Rural Holdings INC.
Mr. Crawford- they toured the Town of Richwood sometime in February and realized Richwood does not have any medical facilities; we did an assessment and came up with a feasibility study. We realized we can help you guys with your Health Care facilities, and the way we do it we bring these facilities to the city at no cost to the city. We have a health plan, one of the largest health plans in the State of Louisiana.
Dr. Arie Shaw- a board certified Obstetrician-gynecologist, addressed the forum and advised her passion of providing healthcare is ultimately to provide primary healthcare and the primary care is the point of contact with the patient. Ultimately our goal is to provide education and access; (inaudible )
Mayor Gerald Brown – questioned what did we need to do to partnership? It was stated a letter of support would be needed for the Medical facility… (inaudible)
XI. Discussion regarding SYM donation request: Response by Mrs. Veronica Lewis
Mrs. Veronica Lewis- informed the Board that she would like to address the Summer Youth Program, that she had been contacted by Mr. Eptying with the Summer Youths Movement, in regard to the program he had implemented in such that the Town of Richwood, his organization and ours, RCDA partner together for improvements to the businesses and the park area. I told him I wasn’t quite sure of what he was asking me to do and whether or not it was appropriate to engage in such a partnership. I am here tonight to find out if you all in regard to his program and ours, if you would partner with us both in these programs for the community?
Mrs. Veronica Lewis- provided background information concerning RCDA and the Town of Richwood and indicated she would need additional information as to the nature of his request.
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated, he could not speak to the nature of his request to RCDA, but as far as the nature of the request to this body was for funding to the tune of $3000 to contribute towards his summer and football league activities; our attorney advised us that is a contribution that could in fact make, if he is willing to spell out specifically what those dollars would be used toward, to date I have not received an allocation of what those funds would be used for.
Mrs. Veronica Lewis- stated, he( Mr. Eptying) indicated upgrades to the building and park area.
XII. Discussion regarding SYM Donation Request
• Presenter not present
XIII. Discussion regarding the Request for Qualification for Engineering Services
Mayor Gerald Brown – advised the Board the presentation material was included in their packet for review; after reviewing be prepared to discuss this at the May Regular Meeting .
XIV. Adoption of Resolution 2022-04; A Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to sign and submit the required cooperative Endeavor agreement between the State of Louisiana and the Town of Richwood for the proposed Municipal Complex Planning and Construction ( Capital Outlay)
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated, advised for quiet some time the Town has wanted to build a town hall facility, we purchased the land at the corner of 165 South, that project has been in capital outlay for a number of years, we continued to be aggressive to get that project funded. We have received approval that the project itself will be funded with the State; because it is funded does not mean it is free, in Capital Outlay there is a 25% match with that item, which would be some around four-million dollars, 25% of that would be around a million dollars; we would most likely have to do some type of bond issue something of that nature. We are not to that point we are not close to that point, where we are is at the starting stages of it, this would allow us to see if this is something would like to look into ,seeing rather or not we would want to attempt to raise the capital for something like this.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- stated, he would like to see the information, he would like a copy for himself.
• This item was motioned by Alderman Janice Fleming to be voted, but due to lack of second motion died.
XV. Adoption of Ordinance 2022-01 ( An Ordinance Amending the Town of Richwood Code of Ordinances to provide for the enforcement of certain traffic violation by automated means and provides for Civil Penalties for certain traffic violation by automated means.)
Deputy Chief Madison- addressed forum and expressed the need for this system. Deputy Chief Madison there are a lot of citizens in favor of this program. Deputy Chief Madison went over the opportunities the Town of Richwood has had and did not seize those opportunities and other cities stepped in and did.
Deputy Chief Madison- reaffirmed with the forum this would be monies that would help the Town and the officers, but also the number of accidents caused do to speeding would be affected and increase public safety. This would also be positive publicity for the Town of Richwood, help the officers perform their jobs more efficiently.
If we do not take advantage of this someone else will, not doing this we will experience a loss of revenue; he is asking the Aldermen to give us the opportunity to use it and examine the results, at least give us the opportunity to try this program.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland stated a motion to just table this.
Alderman Janice Fleming- stated we have already tabled this before it is time to move on this.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- stated, let’s just try it then.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. – stated it should be tabled
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- asked, did you make a motion to table this Reed?
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. made a motion to table the subject and Alderman Wysinger Cleveland seconded to table the adoption of Ordinance 2022-01.
• The record shall reflect a vote was taken to table the Adoption of Ordinance 2022-01 with the following results: (4) Votes Yes to table Ordinance 2022-01.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Leola Keys Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
XVI. Presentation by Cedric Floyd from LA Data Center regarding redistricting
• Presenter not present
XVII. Adoption of Ordinance 2022-02 ( An Ordinance of Chapter 1 of the Code of Ordinance for the Town of Richwood with respect to the districting plan for the Town of Richwood
It was Motioned by Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. … But died due to lack of second.
XVIII. Adjournment : It was motioned by Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. and seconded by to adjourn meeting @ 9:11 p.m.
