VINTON, LA

August 15, 2006

 

                The Mayor and Council of the Town of Vinton, Louisiana, met in regular session at the regular meeting place of said Mayor and Council, in the Town Hall, Vinton, Louisiana, at 6:00 p.m. on the 15th day of August, 2006, with the following members present:

 

                                                                                David T. Riggins, Mayor

                                                                                Karen Douglass, Council Member

                                                                                William “BB” Loyd, Council Member

                                                                                Kevin Merchant, Mayor-Pro-Tem

                                                                                Kenneth O. Stinson, Council Member

                                                                                Edward J. Vice, Council Member

 

                                ABSENT:                               None

 

                                ALSO PRESENT:                 Andre’ Buisson, Town Attorney

                                                                                Phillip Abshire, Town Accountant

                                                                                                                                                               

The following Reports were submitted:

 

                                Total Payroll for July, 2006                                                             $    115,352.06    

                                Total Receipts for July, 2006                                                         $3,908,995.74

                                Total Disbursements for July, 2006                                              $3,974,283.81

                                Total Bills for July, 2006                                                                 $3,437,389.57

 

 

 

David T. Riggins, Mayor called the meeting to order.  Chaplin Tatum led in prayer,

 and there followed the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

                                It was moved by Council Member Merchant that the minutes of prior meeting/s, copies of

 which were mailed to each Council Member, be approved as written.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Stinson and carried.

 

                                Mary Vice, City Clerk gave the administration report for the month.

 

                                Bills for the month of July, 2006, were approved and payment authorized upon a

motion by Council Member Merchant, seconded by Council Member Loyd and carried.

 

                                It was moved by Council Member Loyd to amend the agenda to hear an item regarding Relay for Life.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Merchant and carried.

 

                                Jojo Mounfils informed the governing authority of this year’s activities for the Vinton Relay for Life Campaign.

 

                                Mayor Riggins updated the governing authority on pending grants and projects.

 

                                Mayor Riggins reported that the Town of Vinton received Honorable Mention in LMA’s 2005 Community Achievement Award competition for our Skateboard Park Project.

 

                                Mayor Riggins presented the 2007 proposed budget to the governing authority.

 

                                It was moved by Council Member Douglass to advertise the following Public Notice one (1) time in the Official Journal and to hold a Public Hearing on the proposed 2007 budget at the next regular council meeting.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Stinson and carried.

 

  PUBLIC NOTICE

BUDGET HEARING

TOWN OF VINTON, LOUISIANA

 

                   The proposed budget for the year October 1, 2006, thru September 30, 2007, of the Town of Vinton, Louisiana, has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Louisiana Local Government Budget Act and is available for public inspection at the office of the Mayor, Town of Vinton, Louisiana from 7:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Thursday and 8:00 A.M. to Noon on Friday (except holidays).  A public hearing on the Proposed Budget is scheduled for:

 

Tuesday, September 19, 2006, at

6:00 P.M. – City Hall

 

PUBLIC NOTICE:

OPERATING BUDGET SUMMARY

 

Following is a summary of the proposed budget for the year October 1, 2006 thru September 30, 2007:

 

ESTIMATED BEGINNING FUND BALANCE                  $9,290,223

 

TOTAL REVENUES                                                              $5,535,314

 

TOTAL EXPENDITURES                                                     ($5,283,522)

                       

                        TRANSFERS AND LOANS                                                 ($708,441)

 

                                ESTIMATED ENDING FUND BALANCE                         $8,833,574

 

            The proposed operating budget for the year ending September 30, 2007, which is available at City Hall, provides further details.

 

                                Mayor Riggins presented the 2006 Budget Amendments to the governing authority.

 

                                After discussion, it was moved by Council Member Douglass to adopt the 2006 Budget Amendments as presented.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Loyd and carried.

 

                                Council Members Douglass and Stinson discussed increasing permit fees and water and sewer rates.

 

                                After discussion, it was moved by Council Member Stinson to authorize the attorney to draft an Ordinance for introduction at the next regular meeting to increase water rates $5.00/month and sewer rates $5.00/month, also to lower the qualifying income amount for the Elderly Assistance Program so more Senior Citizens will qualify for the assistance program.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Douglass and carried.

 

                                After a lengthy discussion on increasing permit fees, the Mayor appointed Council Members Vice and Merchant to a committee to study and recommend new permit fees to the governing authority.

 

                                Attorney Buisson read the proposed Parking Ordinance Amendment aloud.

 

                                It was moved by Council Member Loyd to recess the regular meeting for a Public Hearing on the proposed Ordinance.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Douglass and carried.

 

                                Several comments were made from the Council and public in support of this amendment to the Parking Ordinance.

 

                                There being no further input from the public, it was moved by Council Member Stinson to re-convene the regular meeting.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Loyd and carried.

 

                                It was moved by Council Member Douglass to adopt the following Ordinance.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Merchant and the vote cast thereon was as follows:

 

                                                                YEAS:  Council Members Douglass, Loyd, Merchant, Stinson and Vice

 

                                                                NAYS:  None

 

                                                          ABSENT:  None

 

ORDINANCE ______

 

AN ORDINANCE to amend Section 16-34(b) of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Vinton, Louisiana, to prohibit parking, stopping or standing in the 1300 block of Horridge Street except in single designated parking space.

 

               BE IT ORDAINED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF VINTON, LOUISIANA, in regular session convened, with a quorum present and voting that Section 16-34(b) of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Vinton is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

Section 16-34  Parking, Stopping or Standing on Streets

 

(b)       It shall be unlawful for any vehicle to be parked, to be stopped or to be left standing in the 1300 block of Horridge Street except in a single designated parking space.  Obstruction of any portion of the street right of way or of vehicles legally parked, or use of more than a single parking space by any vehicle is prohibited.

 

                    APPROVED AND ADOPTED at Vinton, Louisiana, on this the 15th day of August, 2006.

                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                ________________________________

                                                                                                                Mary O. Vice, Town Clerk

 

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the fore-                                                                                                                                     The foregoing Ordinance is hereby

going Ordinance has been presented                                                                                                                                 approved and returned to

to the Mayor this16th day of                                                                                                                                                     the Town Clerk this 16th  day of

August, 2006.                                                                                                                                                                                      August, 2006.

 

_____________________________                                                                                                                   ____________________________

              Town Clerk                                                                                                                                                                                                        Mayor

 

 

                                Ricky Fox, Chief of Police gave the monthly Police Department report.

 

                                It was moved by Council Member Stinson to recess the regular meeting for an Executive Session regarding police personnel.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Loyd and carried.

 

                                It was moved by Council Member Stinson that the regular meeting be re-convened.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Douglass and carried.

 

                                Mayor Riggins announced that the executive session was held regarding police personnel and asked the Chief for his recommendation regarding the issue.

 

                                It was the recommendation of Chief Fox that Lt. Arthur Phillips employment with the Vinton Police Department be terminated.

 

                                Council Member Douglass stated that she could not support termination but did feel that disciplinary action was necessary.

 

                                It was moved by Council Member Douglass that Lt. Arthur Phillips be reprimanded and suspended for seven (7) days without pay and put on 6 months probation.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Merchant and the vote cast thereon was as follows:

 

                                                YEAS:  Council Members Douglass, Loyd, Merchant, Stinson and Vice

 

                                                NAYS:  None

 

                                           ABSENT:  None

 

                                In the absence of Terry Vice, Director of Public Works a written report was submitted for the Public Works and Electrical Department monthly reports. 

 

                                In the absence of Jerry Merchant, Fire Chief no Fire or Civil Defense reports were presented.

 

                                There being no further business to come before the Governing Authority, it was moved by Council Member Douglass that the meeting be adjourned.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Loyd and carried.

                                                                                                                ______________________________

                                                                                                                                David T. Riggins, Mayor

ATTEST:

___________________________

Mary O’Quinn Vice, Clerk