A Recess Meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the
City of Ocean Springs was called to order by Mayor
Ainsworth at
Alderman Cody gave the Invocation.
Mayor Ainsworth led the Pledge of Allegiance.
At this time Gloria Skillestad requested that the Fort Maurepas Historical Commission and the Fort Maurepas Society be allowed to merge together to form a foundation. She said that the fort was not recognized as an historical site, but could be recognized as a museum, and therefore would be able to receive funding from private corporations and other sources.
Motion by Gill, seconded by Jalanivich, to allow the Fort Maurepas Historical Commission to merge with the Fort Maurepas Society to form a foundation.
At this time discussion was held regarding the motion. Alderman McDonnell wanted to see guidelines for the foundation in advance to insure they met City requirements. He also wanted to see their plans for the fort, what they expected of the City and what the City could expect from them.
Mrs. Skillestad said they could hire a professional at a cost of $5,000.00, plus fees and lodging, to prepare guidelines for a museum. Alderman Gill suggested the issues Alderman McDonnell raised could be ironed out after the foundation was formed and that a professional could be used to write the foundation’s documents so they would be able to obtain grants. Alderman McDonnell said he wanted to make sure their plan was in harmony with what the Board wanted to do and that it was affordable. He also wanted to know what the framework and operating structure of the foundation was going to be about.
Alderman Lloyd felt it was a poor investment from a business point of view and did not believe it would benefit the City. He felt the City had other more important needs such as infrastructure improvements and cultural needs.
Mrs. Skillestad said that the professional they ultimately wanted to hire would assist them in creating a non-profit membership foundation; preparing foundation goals and objectives; creating a long-range plan defining the foundation, site growth and development; developing a blueprint for establishing partnerships with the community organization; establishing management systems to guide site operations. She said she was told that corporations would not fund the commission as it was under a municipality, but that they would fund a foundation.
Alderman Carvin joined the meeting at this time.
The City Attorney suggested that because nothing had been submitted in writing, the Board was confusing immediate requirements with long-term objectives, projections, possibilities, management, ownership, grants, and funding. He felt the matter should take an orderly progression. He suggested if the Board had any objection against the merger of the two entities, that they express their objection now, and if not, that they approve it. Then, if the two entities are merged, they must develop a plan of what they want to do in writing and submit it to the Board. He said the plan must identify what the foundation hopes to accomplish, how they hope to accomplish it, what the cost will be, who they are going to use to accomplish it, and the benefits of obtaining the goal. He added that if the Board concurs after review, the process would go to the next step.
After much discussion on the issue, Mayor Ainsworth called for the question, said vote being as follows.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Cody, to
add Alderman Gill to the committee to meet with the
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
The issues concerning Hwy 90 East water and sewer extension and the cost estimate for Hastings Rd. repairs were held over until the next meeting.
(Invoices – Delgado, Acosta and Wallace PLLC; Solutions, Inc.; Joseph A. Lusteck & Associates)
Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by McDonnell, to pay the invoices from Delgado, Acosta and Wallace PLLC in the amount of $3,213.89, Solutions, Inc. in the total amount of $3,281.44, and Joseph A. Lusteck & Associates, Inc. in the amount of $9,728.50.
VOTING Aldermen Jalanivich, McDonnell, Cody and Carvin
VOTING NAY Aldermen Lloyd, Dalgo and Gill
Alderman Lloyd suggested the fees for Solutions, Inc. and Joseph A. Lusteck & Associates, Inc. could be renegotiated and the Board concurred. Mayor Ainsworth said he would get an update from the DMR concerning the recreation property permits and ask about the punch list of items they were waiting on and from whom.
Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to appoint Regina Hines to a 4-year term on the Museum Commission ending June 30, 2007 and to appoint Charles Emerson to a 1-year term on the Taxi Board expiring June 30, 2004.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
Alderman McDonnell reported that HOSA was ready to pay the $12,000.00 they had committed to the City for the Shearwater Bridge, but was waiting for an invoice from the City.
Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Cody, to invoice HOSA for the $12,000.00 pledged for the Shearwater Bridge project and send them a letter of appreciation for their contribution.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
(Shearwater Plaque Letter)
Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Cody, to authorize the Mayor to work with Batson & Brown Engineering to develop a reasonably sized plaque for the Shearwater Bridge with the recommended inscription.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
No one addressed the Mayor and Board of Aldermen at this time.
Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to go into Closed Session to determine the necessity for an Executive Session.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Carvin, to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel and the purchase of property.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
The Deputy City Clerk announced to the audience that the Board had elected to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel and the purchase of property.
The Executive Session began at 6:55 p.m. and ended at 7:20 p.m.
Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Dalgo, to resume the Regular Session.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Carvin, to recess until 6:00 p.m. on November 18, 2003.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
______________________________ _____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
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Date Date