REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, JULY 07, 2009 AT 9:00 A.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Perry.

 

Present:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. Matt Snowden, Associate Pastor of First Baptist Church and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the agenda for this meeting with an amendment to add as R-12 confirmation of appointment of the Chief Administrative Officer; add as R-13 ratification of terms of employment with Bill Ready, Sr.; delete R-7.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated June 16 and June 24, 2009.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5590                        RESOLUTION CALLING HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR

                                    NOT A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND IS IN SUCH A STATE OF UNCLEAN-

                                    LINESS AS TO BE A MENACE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY

                                    OF THE COMMUNITY (AUGUST 04, 2009 @ 9:15 A.M.)

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14591       ORDER DECLARING EQUIPMENT SURPLUS AND NO LONGER

                                    NEEDED BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND AUTHORIZING THE

                                    SALE OF SAID SURPLUS EQUIPMENT

 

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14592       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, CHERI M. BARRY, TO SIGN

                                    CHECKS, TO EXECUTE ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS AND TO TAKE

                                    ALL OTHER ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

                                    WHICH HAVE HERETOFORE BEEN AUTHORIZED FOR JOHN

                                    ROBERT SMITH, THE FORMER MAYOR

 

And, Councilman Smith seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5591                        RESOLUTION DECLARING THE INTENTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL

                                    OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI, TO AUTHORIZE AND APPROVE A LOAN

                                    ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN FROM THE MISSISSIPPI

                                    DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IN A MAXIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT

                                    TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($210,000)

                                    FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING AND INSTALLING ENERGY

                                    CONVERSION MEASURES TO PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND

                                    ECONOMIC GROWTH

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Smith offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Ordinance:

 

ORDIN. #4351         ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY’S ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 3966

                                    SO AS TO RECLASSIFY CERTAIN LANDS IN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

                                    FROM I-INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO R-2 TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL

                                    DISTRICT (VICINITY OF WEST SIDE OF 9TH AVENUE, NORTH OF “D”

                                    STREET) INCLUDING AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF

                                    THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Ordinance was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14593       ORDER ACCEPTING LOW BID FOR SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR THE

                                    PERIOD OF JUNE 26, 2009 THRU JUNE 25, 2010 AND AUTHORIZING

                                    SAID BID PRICE TO BE EXTENDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO (2)

                                    TWELVE MONTH PERIODS BY MUTUAL CONSENT FOR THE POLICE

                                    DEPARTMENT UNIFORMS FROM MID SOUTH UNIFORM & SUPPLY,

                                    JACKSON, MS AT THE ESTIMATED YEARLY COST OF $12,063.20.

 

And, Councilman Thomas seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Palmer offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5592                        RESOLUTION DECLARING CERTAIN MUNICIPALLY OWNED REAL

                                    PROPERTY TO BE SURPLUS AND NOT NEEDED FOR MUNICIPAL

                                    PURPOSES AND AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING SALE OF SAME

                                    (SOUTH ON 29TH AVENUE OVERPASS @BOTTOM ON THE LEFT &

                                    RIGHT)

 

And, Councilman Thomas seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5593                        RESOLUTION DECLARING CERTAIN MUNICIPALLY OWNED REAL

                                    PROPERTY TO BE SURPLUS AND NOT NEEDED FOR MUNICIPAL

                                    PURPOSES AND AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING SALE OF SAME

                                    (29TH AVENUE AND INTERCHANGE ROAD – VACANT LOT)

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14594       ORDER APPOINTING BOBBY R. SMITH AS PRESIDENT

                                    OF THE MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Smith offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14595       ORDER APPOINTING JESSE E. PALMER, SR. AS VICE-PRESIDENT

                                    OF THE MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL

 

And, Councilman Thomas seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Palmer offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14596       ORDER APPOINTING PAMELA MCINNIS AS CLERK OF COUNCIL

 

And, Councilman Smith seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated July 02, 2009 in the amount of $4,065,662.63.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14597       ORDER CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT BY THE MAYOR OF

                                    MARK MCDONALD AS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR

                                    THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14598       ORDER RATIFYING THE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT BETWEEN

                                    THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND BILL READY, SR.

           

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon aid Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            President Perry advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following: a) Bonita Lakes Dam #1 Rehab.  Public Works Director Monty Jackson appeared to go over the plans for the rehabilitation of the dam.

 

 

            Diann Chapman with the Census Bureau appeared to make a presentation on the 2010 census.  She is the Partnership Specialist with the Census Bureau and works out of the Dallas Regional Office.  She presented a resolution that she would like the city to adopt.  Her goal is to form a partnership with the city and establish a complete count committee of volunteers to reach out in the community by assuring the public that the census is important, safe and easy.  The 2000 Census showed a population of 39,968.  She believes this figure will be higher with the 2010 census. 

 

 

            President Perry called for the Mayor’s report.  Mayor Cheri Barry appeared and stated she looked forward to working with an awesome Council.  She has a transitional team, and an advisory school committee in place.  She stated she is looking forward to serving the community.  She advised that her appointment for Chief Administrative Officer is Mark McDonald and for City Attorney is Bill Ready, Sr.  Mr. McDonald appeared and stated he has an awesome task before him.  He has served for 31 years in the military.  Mr. Ready stated he looks forward to working with everyone and asked that when something is needed from him that he be given enough time to follow through.

 

 

            President Perry called for citizen comments.  No one appeared.

 

 

            President Perry called for Council comments.  Councilman Smith stated he was proud to be back and looked forward to working with the Mayor and Council.  He said there is a lot of stuff to do.  Councilman Palmer said it was good to be a part of history.  He said he was not satisfied with the number of voters who turned out for elections.  He also expressed his concern about the diversity of staff.  Councilman Thomas stated it has been a good month with a new Mayor, new Legislator and a new Council member.  State Games were great and brought a lot of people to Meridian.  There were several softball teams in Meridian the past weekend.  Everyone bragged on the facilities in the city.  He urged people to attend the Boys and Girls banquet.  Clerk of Council Pam McInnis thanked all those who assisted with the inauguration and reception.  Councilwoman Perry stated that two police personnel recently retired.  She expressed her appreciation for those who work hard to keep the city going.  She commented on the July 4th celebration.  Councilwoman Henson told Parks & Recreation Director Mark Naylor that the park was so clean Sunday after the events held.  She surprised Councilman Palmer with a gift, etc. for his 81st birthday on Wednesday.      

 

 

            There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned.  Sine die.

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,  

 

 

                                                                        Pam McInnis, Clerk of Council