REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2005 AT 9:00 A.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council Vice-President Palmer.

 

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

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. Councilman John C. Harris of Sunlight 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 confirm the agenda order for this meeting with an amendment to: add as R-13 ratification of terms of employment with Bourdeaux & Jones as City Attorney; add an executive session regarding personnel matters and economic development; remove R-6. 

 

 

            Vice-President Palmer advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following: a) removal of hazardous trees from municipal property; b) tractor.

 

 

            Next on the agenda was a presentation on the outdoor festival at Wechsler.  Since Mr. Jessie Brewster was not present this item was skipped.

 

 

            Vice-President Palmer called on Mayor Smith for his report.  He welcomed newly-elected Councilman John Harris.  He thanked the council and staff who worked on the inauguration events.  He commented on the July 4th pops concert and fireworks display, the fly-over by NAS Meridian and the 186th Guard.  e stated tat next week in New Orleans the 186th will present their case to not be closed.  He congratulated former Mayor I. A. Rosenbaum for being awarded the Montgomery Patriot’s Award.  The city has received and deposited lease payments for 40+ parking spaces in the parking garage in the amount of $247,717.00.  He said he looked forward to working with the city council this term and that the first six months would be extremely busy.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Perry duly seconded by Councilman Thomas and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated June 21, 2005.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13514       ORDER DECLARING EQUIPMENT SURPLUS AND NO

                                    LONGER NEEDED BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND

                                    AUTHORIZING SAID SURPLUS EQUIPMENT TO BE

                                    USED FOR PARTS

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13515       ORDER DECLARING VEHICLES SURPLUS AND NO

                                    LONGER NEEDED BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND

                                    AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SAID SURPLUS VEHICLES

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13516       ORDER APPOINTING JESSE E. PALMER, SR., AS

                                    PRESIDENT OF THE MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL         

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13517       ORDER APPOINTING GEORGE M THOMAS AS

                                    VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL

 

and, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13518       ORDER APPOINTING PAMELA MCINNIS

                                    AS CLERK OF COUNCIL

 

and, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5263                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES

                                    FOR A VOLUNTEER SERVING AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE CITY’S

                                    KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION TO REPRESENT THE

                                    CITY OF MERIDIAN AT THE KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL 2005

                                    MIDYEAR AFFILIATES FORUM IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

                                    ON JULY 26-30, 2005         

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5264                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE

                                    OF 24TH AVENUE BETWEEN E STREET AND D STREET FOR

                                    365 DAYS TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY DURING THE

                                    RENOVATION OF THE MOUNTAIN VIEW VILLAGE APARTMENTS

 

and, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

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

Nay: None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13519       ORDER RESCINDING ORDER NO. 13488 ENTITLED

                                    “IN THE MATTER OF: PURCHASE OF FIRE-TRAX

                                    SOFTWARE FROM ALLISON SYSTEMS, INC.,

                                    WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN IN THE AMOUNT OF

                                    $33,910.00”

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13520       ORDER AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF FIRE-TRAX

                                    SOFTWARE FROM DATA COLLECTION SPECIALISTS,

                                    INC., CONROE, TX, IN THE AMOUNT OF $37,012.00          

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13521       ORDER AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF LIFT FROM

                                    MOBILITY SYSTEMS, HATTIESBURG, MS, IN THE

                                    AMOUNT OF $19,000.00

 

and, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

 

ORDER #13522       ORDER AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF THERMAL CAMERAS

                                    FROM TUPELO FIRE EQUIPMENT, TUPELO, MS, IN THE

                                    AMOUNT OF $29,670.00

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13523       ORDER AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION

                                    OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING TO WAL-MART

                                    (SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR MERIDIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT)

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13524       ORDER AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION

                                    OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING TO SAM’S

                                    CLUB (SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR THE MERIDIAN FIRE

                                    DEPARTMENT)

 

and, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13525       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF VENDING

                                    SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ERIC WILLIS D/B/A

                                    DEPOT DOGS AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated June 30, 2005 in the amount of $2,029,481.05.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13526       ORDER RATIFYING THE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

                                    BETWEEN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND THE LAW

                                    FIRM OF BOURDEAUX & JONES, LLP    

 

and, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

            President Palmer called for citizen comments.  No one appeared.

 

 

            President Palmer called for council comments.  Councilman Harris thanked the City Council for their support and the voters in Ward 5.  He said he was happy to be there and that they have a good four years ahead of them working as a team.  Councilwoman Henson said she was pleased with the traffic lights at the intersection of 35th Avenue and 20th Street.  Council-woman Perry welcomed Councilman Harris.  She congratulated the new president and vice-president and said she appreciated the Clerk of Council and City Attorney.  She said there was an unfortunate fire the night before in Eastern Gardens.  Wechsler will hold an open air community festival on July 23rd.  President Palmer thanked the City Council for electing him president.  He said the police officers did a tremendous job of getting people in and out of Bonita Lakes on July 4th.  He asked Parks & Recreation Director Mark Naylor to get the names on the fields at Sykes Park.  Councilman Thomas asked Mr. Naylor when the awning at Crestwood would be put up.  Mr. Naylor said they should be finished some time this week.

 

 

            An executive session was requested regarding a personnel matter and economic development.  Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to close the meeting to determine whether to declare an executive session.  Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to declare an executive session in order to discuss a personnel matter and economic development.  The Council then went into executive session.  Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to go out of executive session.

 

 

            President Palmer called the meeting back to order.  No action was taken on the executive session.            

 

 

            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