Village of Atlanta Board of Aldermen Regular Meeting - March 23, 2015

Here's the audio from yesterday's Atlanta Board of Aldermen meeting:

Village of Atlanta Board of Aldermen Meeting - September 5, 2013

Tonight's meeting failed due to lack of a quorum. Mayor Janet L. Finklea and Alderman Randall T. Hayes were present.

Village of Atlanta Board of Aldermen Minutes - August 1, 2013

VILLAGE OF ATLANTA

REGULAR MEETING

August 1, 2013

The regular meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the Village of Atlanta was held at the Atlanta Town Hall on August 1, 2013. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Janet L. Finklea at 6:10 p.m. Those present in addition to the Mayor were Alderman Angela Hanson and Alderman Randall T. Hayes. Alderman Deborah Whittington was absent.

On motion by Alderman Hayes, seconded by Alderman Hanson, the Board voted to adopt the minutes from the July 11, 2013, meeting.

The Mayor provided an update on road-related grants the Village expects to receive later in the year from the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant Program.

Alderman Hanson moved to adopt a millage rate of 5.999 mills for 2013. Alderman Hayes seconded so discussion could proceed, but said he supported eliminating the municipal property tax. Alderman Hanson voted in favor of adopting the 5.999 millage rate, Alderman Hayes voted against, and the Mayor broke the tie by voting in favor. The resolution adopting the 5.999 millage rate passed.

On motion by Alderman Hayes, seconded by Alderman Hanson, the Board voted to adjourn at 7:40 p.m.

_________________________
Randall T. Hayes, Alderman/Secretary

Village of Atlanta Board of Aldermen Minutes - July 11, 2013

VILLAGE OF ATLANTA

REGULAR MEETING

July 11, 2013

The regular meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the Village of Atlanta was held at the Atlanta Town Hall on July 11, 2013. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Janet L. Finklea at 6:05 p.m. Those present in addition to the Mayor were Alderman Angela Hanson, Alderman Randall T. Hayes, and Chief of Police Gerry Lummus. Alderman Deborah Whittington was absent.

Announcements & Comments:

The Board discussed improvements to be made later this year to Collier Street and Teal Street. The Board also discussed the possibility that some non-residents of the Village have been registered to vote in municipal elections.

Alderman Hanson read the Treasurer’s Report for the previous month which showed an ending balance of $55,278.26 as of June 30, 2013.

Business:

On motion by Alderman Hayes, seconded by Alderman Hanson, the Board voted to adopt the minutes from the May 2, 2013, meeting.

A resolution was discussed to comply with regulations of the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant (LCDBG) Program to designate individuals to sign and receive requests for funds; to designate an official depositary to hold LCDBG funds; to designate an individual to certify correctness of signatures; to adopt required plans, procedures, and policies; to appoint Alderman Hayes as the Anti-Displacement Coordinator, the Equal Employment Officer, the Citizen Complaint Officer, and the Labor Compliance Officer - LCDBG Administrator; and to authorize the Mayor to sign all documents pertaining to the LCDBG Program. On motion by Alderman Hanson, seconded by Alderman Hayes, the Board voted to adopt the resolution.

On motion by Alderman Hayes, seconded by Alderman Hanson, the Board voted to allow Chief Lummus to have routine maintenance, such as oil changes, done to the Village’s police car without having to get the Board’s prior approval for each act of routine maintenance.

On motion by Alderman Hanson, seconded by Alderman Hayes, the Board voted to adjourn at 7:40 p.m.

_________________________
Randall T. Hayes, Alderman/Secretary

Village of Atlanta's Financial Statement for 2012

The Village of Atlanta's financial statement for the 2012 fiscal year has been posted on the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's website.

Village of Atlanta Board of Aldermen Meeting - June 6, 2013

Tonight's meeting failed due to lack of a quorum. Mayor Janet L. Finklea and Alderman Randall T. Hayes were present.

Village of Atlanta Board of Aldermen Minutes - May 2, 2013

VILLAGE OF ATLANTA

REGULAR MEETING

May 2, 2013

The regular meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the Village of Atlanta was held at the Atlanta Town Hall on May 2, 2013. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Janet L. Finklea at 6:10 p.m. Those present in addition to the Mayor were Aldermen Angela Hanson, Randall T. Hayes, and Deborah Whittington.

Announcements & Comments:

Alderman Hanson reported that the Village had inquired into acquiring an outdoor enclosed bulletin board to be installed in front of the Town Hall and to be used by the Village for posting public notices. Those present discussed the materials with which the bulletin board should be constructed, its dimensions, and ways to minimize its cost.

Alderman Hayes reported that the Village had created a Facebook group to facilitate discussion of community events and issues. The URL is facebook.com/groups/villageofatlanta.

Alderman Whittington presented a U.S. flag from the Fire Department to be flown in front of the Town Hall.

Business:

On motion by Alderman Hanson, seconded by Alderman Hayes, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the minutes from the April 11, 2013, meeting.

On motion by Alderman Hayes, seconded by Alderman Whittington, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the minutes from the March 7, 2013, meeting.

On motion by Alderman Hanson, seconded by Alderman Hayes, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:46 p.m.

_________________________
Randall T. Hayes, Alderman/Secretary

Village of Atlanta Board of Aldermen Minutes - April 11, 2013

VILLAGE OF ATLANTA

REGULAR MEETING

April 11, 2013

The regular meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the Village of Atlanta was held at the Atlanta Town Hall on April 11, 2013. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Janet L. Finklea at 5:50 p.m. Those present in addition to the Mayor were Alderman Angela Hanson, Alderman Randall T. Hayes, and Chief of Police Gerry Lummus. Alderman Deborah Whittington was absent.

Announcements & Comments:

Mayor Finklea presented the Board and the other residents present with information about the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant (LCDBG) Program and about the Village’s Citizen Participation Plan relative to the LCDBG Program.

Business:

On motion by Alderman Hanson, seconded by Alderman Hayes, the Board voted to adopt the Citizen Participation Plan/Citizen Complaint Procedure relative to the LCDBG Program.

On motion by Alderman Hanson, seconded by Alderman Hayes, the Board voted to designate Alderman Hayes as Citizen Complaint Officer for the purpose of receiving complaints about the Village’s administration of the LCDBG Program.

On motion by Alderman Hayes, seconded by Alderman Hanson, the Board voted to inquire about purchasing an outdoor enclosed bulletin board to be installed in front of the Town Hall and to be used by the Village for posting public notices.

On motion by Alderman Hayes, seconded by Alderman Hanson, the Board voted to adjourn at 6:47 p.m.

_________________________
Randall T. Hayes, Alderman/Secretary

Village of Atlanta Board of Aldermen Minutes - March 7, 2013

VILLAGE OF ATLANTA

REGULAR MEETING

March 7, 2013

The regular meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the Village of Atlanta was held at the Atlanta Town Hall, 176 Collier Street, Atlanta, Louisiana, on March 7, 2013. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Janet L. Finklea at 6:23 p.m. Those present in addition to the Mayor were Aldermen Angela Hanson, Randall T. Hayes, and Deborah Whittington.

Announcements & Comments:

The Board discussed the need to fill the vacant office of Village Clerk. Mayor Finklea asked Alderman Hayes if he would take that office. Alderman Hayes said he would be willing to serve as both Alderman and Clerk if he could legally do so, but was concerned that holding both offices simultaneously would violate state law. The Mayor said she thought that holding both offices would be legal since the Clerk position was unpaid, but would try to verify that with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office. Alderman Hayes suggested hiring a Clerk, rather than having an elected official simultaneously hold that office. The Mayor said that the Village did not have the money to hire a Clerk. Alderman Hayes said he would not take the Clerk position until the legality of holding both offices was verified, but that he could perform some of the Clerk’s duties until that office was filled, either by someone else or himself. He said that, for example, the Mayor had the power to appoint someone other than the Clerk for the purpose of taking minutes of Board meetings. The Mayor appointed Alderman Hayes for that purpose and the Board confirmed.

Alderman Hayes distributed packets of information about Louisiana’s Open Meetings Law and said it was important that the Board come into compliance.

Alderman Hayes said he would like to see the Village repeal its ban on alcohol sales within the municipality. He said he did not think government should make those decisions for people. Mayor Finklea said that repealing the ban would require a referendum of the voters of the Village. She said that the Village did not have the money for a special election. Alderman Hayes said that he did not want to cause a special election due to the expense, but that he would make an appropriate motion at some later date when any resulting referendum could coincide with a regularly scheduled election.

The Board discussed the Village’s practice of contributing funds to help defray the costs associated with trips made by Atlanta High School students to state or national competitions. Aldermen Hanson and Whittington said that they supported continuing the practice because it helped the students and was good for the community. Alderman Hayes said that he also supported helping the students, but that the money should be raised through private contributions rather than through allocations of municipal funds. He said he opposed using taxpayer dollars for what was, in effect, a charitable contribution. He said in the future the municipal officers should make personal contributions or otherwise participate in private fundraising efforts instead of contributing municipal funds for that purpose.

Business:

Mayor Finklea asked the Board to consider declaring certain pieces of equipment surplus and to consider selling that equipment through Lasyone Auctions.

On motion by Alderman Whittington, seconded by Alderman Hanson, the Board voted unanimously to declare the following equipment surplus: a 1998 Dodge sedan police car, a road grader, and a small dump truck.

On motion by Alderman Hayes, seconded by Alderman Hanson, the Board voted unanimously to sell the above described pieces of equipment through Lasyone Auctions.

On motion by Alderman Hayes, seconded by Alderman Hanson, the Board voted unanimously to allow the Louisiana DOTD to do maintenance such as mowing along the sides of Main Street/Hwy 34 within the Village.

Mayor Finklea said that Winn Correctional Center had asked about using prison inmates to pick up trash along Main Street/Hwy 34 within the Village. Alderman Hayes said he was inclined to vote yes on the question, but would not do so without knowing what sorts of crimes the prisoners had committed. He said he was concerned about the safety of Village residents. Alderman Whittington said that the prisoners were all carefully screened before they were made trustees. Alderman Hanson said she would rather have prisoners pick up the trash than have to hire someone to do it.

On motion by Alderman Hanson, seconded by Alderman Whittington, the Board voted to allow Winn Correctional Center to use prison inmates to pick up trash along Main Street/Hwy 34 within the Village. Aldermen Hanson and Whittington voted yea. Alderman Hayes abstained. Alderman Hayes requested that Village residents be notified in advance of the days on which inmates would be working in the Village.

On motion by Alderman Hayes, seconded by Alderman Hanson, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:42 p.m.

_________________________
Randall T. Hayes, Alderman/Secretary