Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, December 15, 2022 7:00 P.M.
Members In Attendance: Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Alderman Simeon Profit Alderman Janice Fleming Alderman Leola Keys Alderman Wysinger Cleveland
The Town of Richwood met for a Regular Meeting held December 15, 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 7:03p.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 all (5) Aldermen present at roll call:
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Alderman Simeon Profit Alderman Janice Fleming Alderman Leola Keys Alderman Wysinger Cleveland
V. Adoption of Agenda:
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to adopt the December 15, 2022 Regular Meeting Agenda.
* The record shall reflect all (5) Aldermen present voted yes to adopt the December 15, 2022 Regular Meeting Agenda as follows:
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Yes Alderman Simeon Profit Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Leola Keys Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VI. Adoption of November 17, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes
Alderman Leola Keys- stated, she had a question on page 6 pertaining to a motion where (3) Aldermen voted in favor to pay Cliff Thomas.
Alderman Keys inquired if Mr. Thomas had been done?
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated, No he has not.
Alderman Leola Keys- stated, alright, my next concern is that he should be paid, unless we want to be in contempt of court. It was said we did have an opinion and that s what s holding things up. From the Attorney General office Mr. Thomas received two court rulings; that being said the Attorney General s office would not interfere; on page 1 there the Attorney General s office would not render an opinion, so we don t need an opinion from the Attorney General s office all we need to do is pay Mr. Thomas. and I am asking the Board to move forward and pay him at least by December 23rd, and I am making a suggestion to the Board that Mr. Thomas be paid immediately, at least by December 23rd, I m talking to the Board.
Alderman Leola Keys- inquired of Mr. Thomas if he had his ruling with him? We have a ruling on it Board.
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated, I don t think there is a ruling on what is in question, what is in question is rather not the judgement has expired.
Alderman Leola Keys- stated, you can be in contempt of court that s all I got to say. You can be in contempt of court and I m not going to be in contempt of court.
Mayor Gerald Brown- discussed with the Board where a prior Mayor disbursed funds to himself and several employees and was advised by the Town s Attorney not to do so, but he did it and he was charged with malfeasance in office.
* A discussion ensued as to the validity of waiting for an Attorney General s report.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- addressed the forum and questioned why Foster Construction had been paid?
Mayor Gerald Brown indicated to the Board that Foster Construction had accepted a settlement that is the reason they had been paid, and he was not aware that Mr. Thomas had indicated he wanted to settle.
Mr. Cliff Thomas- stated, he would like to settle; he would like to settle for $1 Dollar less that his award amount.
It was motioned by Alderman Wysinger Cleveland and was seconded by Alderman Leola Keys that Mr. Thomas submit a settlement amount to be reviewed by the Board for $1 Dollar off his settlement amount with the stipulation being tomorrow.
* The record shall reflect a vote was taken with the following results: (3) Yes Votes, (1) No Vote and (1) Abstain.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Yes Alderman Simeon Profit No Alderman Janice Fleming Abstain Alderman Leola Keys Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
It was motioned by Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. but failed for a lack of second.
VII. Adoption of Financial Reports:
Alderman Wilbert Reed stated he need some clarification and questioned who is Trigger Staffing and a payment disbursed to them.
Mayor Gerald Brown- advised the Trigger Staffing was the company previously manning the cameras for August and September at that time, but are no longer doing so the payment you saw last month was for what they did in August and this one is for September.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. inquired if they were taking a break or just gone?
Mayor Gerald Brown- advised, that No, we discontinued services , and we are now with a company that provided approximately a 50% discounted rate.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. questioned, the disbursement to Emergent Enforcement
Mayor Gerald Brown advised that is the new company manning the cameras.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. questioned if we were through paying Bruno?
Mayor Gerald Brown- confirmed, their was an additional payment due to the auditor.
Alderman Leola Keys- questioned, if the 81 turkeys purchased used town funds?
Mayor Gerald Brown- advised no funds from the Town were used, all funds came from Community Partner sponsors.
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to adopt the Monthly Financial Report.
* The record shall reflect a vote was taken to Adopt the Monthly Financial Reports with the following results: (2) Yes Votes and (3) No Votes
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. No Alderman Simeon Profit Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Leola Keys No Alderman Wysinger Cleveland No
Mayor Gerald Brown- inquired of the Board could provide an indication what those No votes were for, if there was something they needed to look back at or adjust?
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. stated, not at this time.
VIII. Public Comments as they relate to the Agenda
Mr. Jessie Wheeler – stated, someone has come into his yard two times and stolen items, and he wants the police department to patrol the area.
Mayor Gerald Brown- asked if he had reported the incidents to the Police Department?
Mr. Jessie Wheeler stated, no he has not reported the incidents.
Mayor Gerald Brown- requested Mr. Wheeler fill out a report with the Police Department so they could look into the stated incident.
Mrs. Valarie Wilson ( resident)- inquired of the split shown for funds collected on camera tickets.
Mayor Gerald Brown- advised Mrs. Wilson the funds being paid is not being withdrawn from Town funds, but rather is a portion of the citation fees collected.
IX. Mayor s Dialogue-
Mayor Gerald Brown- informed the forum of the Christmas Parade that will take place on December 17th and recognized the employees for the decorations.
Mayor Gerald Brown- advised the forum there would also be a toy giveaway and night of fun for the children after the parade, and invited the Board to participate in the parade and the night of fun.
X. Kevin Robinson: Permission to place a 2000 Mobile home to 2815 Washington Road
* The record shall reflect that a vote was taken to allow Kevin Robinson to place a 2000 Mobile home to 2815 Washington Road.
XI. Adoption of Ordinance 2022-04 An ordinance adopting the Town s expenditures for the year beginning July 1, 2022 thru June 30, 2023
Alderman Janice Fleming addressed the forum and advised the Board we cannot do anything without a Budget, we should have gotten this Budget passed, how many months ago? You want to pay Mr. Thomas his money, but don t want to pass the budget?
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to adopt Ordinance 2022-04 ( An ordinance adopting the Town s expenditures for the year beginning July1, 2022 thru June 30, 2023.
A passionate exchange occurred
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. motioned to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Leola Keys seconded the motion to adjourn.
XII. Adoption of Ordinance 2022-05( An ordinance amending 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 violations enforced by automated means, and otherwise providing with respect thereto
XIII. Adoption of Ordinance 2022-06; An ordinance regarding the Town s Districting Plan
* Items # XII and XIII were not discussed due to adjournment
XIV. Adjournment
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. motioned to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Leola Keys seconded the motion to adjourn.
Meeting adjourned @ 8:08 p.m.
