Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, September 15, 2022 7:00 P.M.
Members Present At Roll Call : . Alderman Simeon Profit Alderman Wysinger Cleveland
Alderman Janice Fleming Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr.
The Town of Richwood met for a Regular Meeting on September 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 7:01 p.m.
II. Prayer- 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 (4) Aldermen present at roll call.
Present:
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Alderman Simeon Profit
Alderman Janice Fleming Alderman Wysinger Cleveland
V. Adoption of Agenda :
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to adopt the agenda as presented.
* Let the record reflect a vote was taken with the following results: (4) Votes Yes to adopt the agenda as presented.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Yes Alderman Simeon Profit Yes
Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VI. Adoption of August 18, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. to adopt the August 18, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes as presented.
* Let the record reflect a vote was taken with the following results All (4) Aldermen voted Yes to adopt the August 18, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes as presented.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Yes Alderman Simeon Profit Yes
Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VII. Adoption of Financial Reports
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. to adopt the Financial Reports as presented.
* Let the record reflect a vote was taken to Adopt the Financial Reports as presented with the following results: All (4) Aldermen present voted Yes to Adopt the Financial Reports as presented.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. Yes Alderman Simeon Profit Yes
Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VIII. Public comments as they relate to items on the agenda:
No comments Agenda proceeded
IX. Mayor s Dialogue:
Mayor Gerald Brown- advised the forum the State of Town Address and recognition of our community partners would take place on September 27, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at the Richwood Multi-Purpose Building.
Mayor Gerald Brown- advised the forum the 6th Annual Trunk or Treat event would take place on October 28, 2022 at the Richwood Multi-Purpose Center @ 6:00 p.m. and on October 29th we will be having our fall cleanup event
X. Discussion of Richwood Police Policy Manual:
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. stated this was an issue from last months meeting on August 18, 2022 and he had asked the Chief questions pertaining to using police vehicles for personal use and it was at the suggestion of the Chief that he review the ordinance pertaining to off duty security work, and I researched and found there is no ordinance, but I did find there is a revised statue that stated that can be done, but it does have some additional stipulations to it.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. advised he reviewed the statues and directed special attention to Revised Statue: R.S. 42:1123. Deals with some of the exceptions to using public assets for personal use.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr- read R.S 42:1123 and stated he wanted to make this part of the record.
* For the record: Exceptions for Public Property for Personal Use
(15) The use by a duly commissioned law enforcement officer of a publicly owned law enforcement vehicle in connection with the private employment of such law enforcement officer in providing traffic control or security services for a private employer when such use is approved by and in accordance with the policy of the law enforcement officer’s public employer, which policy shall be published in the official journal of the parish prior to becoming effective and shall provide for appropriate charges for the use of public vehicles for private employment.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. stated, the reason I examined this is because of a request for additional funds for fuel and before I approve of that I want to know how we are using our resources now before we start approving others.
XI. Discussion of Ordinance 2022-01:
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. stated, he did not vote for this and there were people which had questions; and of course I asked them to come to the meeting, however they are not here there is no sense in us discussing it.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- stated, Ordinance 2022-01 is concerning traffic tickets on the highway; my deepest concern on that is I voted for it, I voted for animated lighting, speed signs, I voted for the cameras on a red light or on-speed signs, not sitting in the woods with radar and sending tickets through the mail that was not my take on this ordinance, I would like to resend this ordinance, and Attorney Nolen I think you appeared in court about this, I m sure you have some information, from District Court # 7, and the ruling of Judge Alvin Sharp, I want to see your take on it Attorney Nolen.
Attorney Jay Nolen- advised the forum that his take on this is he was sent this one day before court, I could have gone in there and said, hey judge I want a continuance because there was one defendant that had not been served. I decided to dismiss it , if we go to court now we are in good shape the ordinances referred to were amended this summer and we do not need a permit. We did not pull up an arbitrary number that if they go over a certain speed, DOTD has a guidelines for the speed and how they are set.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. stated, before this is the Mayor sent was decided there was a speed analysis done and has an analysis been done now? I was out the other night, and someone passed me ..zoom, speeding I am wanting to know if this is being effective or are we just collecting funds?
Mayor Gerald Brown stated, we just started this August and have not had sufficient time to determine the impact.
XII. Resolution 2022-07 ( A resolution appointing Bruno & Tervalon LLP for the Town of Richwood FY: 2021-2022 Audit)
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated I sent you guys ( the Aldermen) an email about 3 weeks ago that came from the Legislative Auditors Office, we need to designate someone to perform our 21-22 Audit so that it won t be behind like the 20-21 Audit; but we cannot begin that until we designate someone to begin that, and then that information is submitted to the Legislative Auditors and they allow someone to begin that work, so I sent something to you guys asking if you want to go with these folks or do you have some other folks, and to please get that information in so that we can vent those folks out, but we need to select someone to perform that audit, so that they can begin that work.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. inquired, what s wrong with the RFP process Mayor?
Mayor Gerald Brown- commented, nothing is wrong with it, it takes time and time is not on our side at this time.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. stated, I would like to do some RFP s, that s my opinion .
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated, time is not on our side Mr. Reed.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- commented, I agree with you Reed.
Mayor Gerald Brown inquired, so you guys don t have any problem with us continuing to be late, and late and late.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- inquired what audit are we on?
Mayor Gerald Brown advised, we re working on 20-21 at this point. We can t get started on 21-22 because we need to designate somebody to do it.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- asked, did we already vote on that?
Mayor Gerald Brown replied, that was 20-21, the forum, again you are talking about a 30-to-40-day process, we are behind the gun right now.
Alderman Janice Fleming- inquired, what s wrong with Bruno? What s wrong? Time is of the essence we need to step on up and get this done, what s the problem?
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. stated, my problem is I want to see it done procedurally RFPs . are out there for a reason.
Mayor Gerald Brown commented, you don t have to do it that way, so we can t say that is procedurally, that is what you want to do.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. stated, then that would be my choice.
Mayor Gerald Brown- commented, again you are talking about a 30 45-day process we are behind the gun right now if we wait 30-45 days there is no way we are going to finish the audit on time.
Alderman Leola Keys -stated, you know the problem I have with Bruno? They are the auditors, and every time I look around they are sending me an evaluation, they are the one s doing the audit.
Mayor Gerald Brown commented, they have to do that.
Alderman Leola Keys stated, that is your opinion, why can t they leave me alone?
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated, they have to do that; Mr. Nolan, Me and Ms. Woods as well have to fill those out.
Alderman Leola Keys-stated, they need to do their job.
Mayor Gerald Brown stated, that is their job, they have to ask us those questions, they have to send us that questionnaire, that is part of their report, that is their job. I know it can be tedious, but it is only 7-8 questions, and some of them you don t have to answer because they do not apply; anyone doing an audit will ask us those questions.
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to adopt Resolution # 2022-07
* Let the record reflect a vote was taken on the Adoption of Resolution 2022-07 ( A resolution appointing Bruno & Tervalon LLP for the Town of Richwood FY: 2021-2022 Audit) as follows: 3 Votes No to Adopt and 2 Votes Yes to Adopt .
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. No Alderman Simeon Profit Yes
Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland No
Alderman Leola Keys No (Absolutely no)
XIII. Adoption of Ordinance 2022-04 ( an Ordinance adopting the Town s expenditures for the year beginning July1, 2022 thru June 30, 2023)
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated this item was tabled at the last meeting, and Mr. Cleveland had made a statement as to wanting to see how the last audit went before he pass the budget or a statement, however that is not how the budget is done they must complete the audit and then a statement is issued.
Mayor Gerald Brown- asked, what is that the Audit is going to say that s going to say yes or no on the budget.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- stated, its in the findings, is there something we need to correct, some insight what went on from last year are there some changes we need to make? That s my problem.
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to adopt Ordinance 2022-04.
XIV. Let the record reflect a vote was taken on the Adoption of Ordinance 2022-04 ( an Ordinance adopting the Town s expenditures for the year beginning July1, 2022 thru June 30, 2023) with the following results: 2 Yes Votes and 3 No Votes to adopt.
Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. No Alderman Simeon Profit Yes
Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland No
Alderman Leola Keys No
XV. SYM: Updates and discussion regarding donation request
** Presenter not present agenda proceeded
XVI. Adjournment
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Wilbert Reed Jr. to adjourn @ 7:52 P.M.
