CITY OF HARAHAN LEGALS

Harahan City Officials

Mayor
Tina Miceli
Councilmen
Timothy Baudier
Susan Benton
Dana Huete
Craig Johnston
Carrie Wheeler
Chief of Police
Tim Walker
Justice of the Peace
Kevin J. Centanni
City of Harahan
6437 Jefferson Hwy.
Harahan, LA 70123
(504) 737-6383
Harahan Police
6441 Jefferson Hwy.
Harahan, LA 70123
(504) 737-9763
MINUTES
City of Harahan
6437 Jefferson Highway
Mayor and Harahan City Council
Special Meeting November 9, 2015
The Mayor and Council met on the above date for a Special Meeting at 5:30 pm.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Following the pledge of allegiance, the Mayor call the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Miceli, Councilmen Baudier, Benton, Huete, Johnston &
Wheeler. Police Chief Tim Walker, Judy Johnson representing the City Clerk,
Robert Heinz, Finance Director.
Absent: Fire Chief Todd St. Cyr
MAYORS COMMENTS
Mayor Miceli announced that the Jambalaya Cookoff/Car Show has been
postponed to Nov. 21 which is also election day. The event is from 12-6 pm.
She also announced the St. Rita Pecan Fest this weekend and a luncheon for
the Senior Center to be held at the gym on Nov. 22nd for approximately 300
guest. She stated that City Hall will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11 for Veterans
Day and that the Fire Dept. will be receiving grant money for fire detectors and
asked the citizens to contact the Fire Department about them. She stated that
the Oct. 29th meeting with the Legislative Auditors Advisory Board is on the
Citys Web page and that all prior meetings of the Council will be on the website
also. She congratulated Robert Heinz for a proposed reduction of the deficit by
45.5% and stated that the city spent $64,785 less than expected and collected
$34,000 more than expected for this time of the year. She is expecting to recoup
at least $200-$250,000 between grants, FEMA & taxes. She extended special
thanks to Charlene Maddie for spearheading the campaign with the rest of the
city employees to restore some order to City Hall and properly file documents.
She announced that the ditches along Hickory are being cleaned by the state and
thanked Chief Walker for safeguarding the city during Halloween.
ADDRESS THE COUNCIL
Dennis Saucier, Franklin Ave. addressed the council about the sewerage backup
during the recent rain storms. He asked if the city was going to pay for the
damages or would they have to file a class action lawsuit.
Mayor Miceli said there is a meeting scheduled on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 4 pm to
deal with the problem and asked Mr. Saucier to come.
Councilman Wheeler objected to the agenda containing the approval of minutes,
communications, resolutions and budget ordinances. She stated this meeting
was only supposed to be about the budget. They waived notice about the budget
meeting.
Councilman Baudier stated that nothing should have been added to the agenda
because when he tried to add the insurance ordinance to a special meeting and
was not allowed and had to go without insurance.
A motion was offered by Councilman Baudier and seconded by Councilman
Wheeler to amend the agenda by removing everything except budget discussion.
Council Discussion:
Councilman Wheeler stated there cannot be anything else on the agenda because
they called for a Budget meeting. She wants to be transparent and asked why set
the agenda or call for a meeting if the mayor can change the agenda.
Councilman Huete said that the Mayor stated that only item can be on the agenda
of a special meeting.
Mayor Miceli asked that the find the quote because she does not recall saying
that state law says that adding to the agenda must be by unanimous vote for a
special meeting. She further stated that she is hoping to find common ground but
the council keeps scheduling and cancelling special meeting.
Councilman Johnston stated that no ordinance could be adopted tonight because
they failed at the last meeting for lack of a second. He said they should be up for
first reading tonight.
Councilman Baudier stated the Mayor is creating toxic politics by talking out of
both sides of her mouth.
The Mayor called for a vote on the motion, it was as follows:
YEAS: Baudier, Benton, Huete, Johnston & Wheeler
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION PASSES
Mayor Miceli asked Robert Heinz, Finance Director to come to the podium to
explain the proposed amendment to the budget.
Mr. Heinz asked them to follow along with him but Councilman Baudier, Benton
and Huete did not have their budgets that he sent them. The clerk made copies
and the meeting resumed.
Councilman Huete asked why the court fines were so low. She asked Chief
Walker to explain.
Chief Walker said he was short of deputies because 4 had left.
Councilman Huete asked if the majority of tickets were still going to Jefferson
Parish Court instead of Harahan.
Chief Walker said no, most are coming to Harahan but any state charges were
going to Jefferson Parish Court.
Councilman Huete suggested that cameras be installed in neighborhoods to
catch the speeders.
Chief Walker said the citizens were against it because they are the ones doing
the speeding.
Councilman Johnston objected to the use of the BP monies to pay down the
deficit. He says the city needs that money for capital projects.
Mr. Heinz said that there is approximately $1 million is the capital projects fund

and the sewer fund has $100,000 plus.

Councilman Wheeler would like a complete, separate account for the BP money
so they could see what its being spent upon.
Mr. Heinz said that had the previous administration used the capital project fund
money to transfer to the general fund the deficit would have been less. He feels
Councilman Wheeler said that the BP money should go into capital now and wait
until the end of the year to transfer it to the deficit.
Mr. Heinz said that the BP money has its own line item.
Councilman Wheeler accepted Mr. Heinzs explanation, but still wants a
separate account.
Mayor Miceli said that because of using good governmental accounting practices
the city had spent $65,000 less than expected and brought in approximately
$34,000 more revenues than expected. She explained that if the council is set on
following the same path as the previous administration, nothing will change and
nothing will get better.
Councilman Baudier stated that if Mr. Mosca had moved the Capital Project
Fund to the General Fund there would be no deficit its really a ghost deficit.
Mr. Heinz said thats not true he stated that the $1 million surplus left by Mayor
Johnston had been spent during the following 4 years and along with another
$1.2 million causing the $2.2 million deficit. Recording it correctly would have
been better but there would still be a deficit.
Mayor Miceli agreed that the city needs to reassess each past year in order to
upgrade to a better way, to be prudent and to reduce the deficit and prepare for
emergencies. Working together we can do both.
Councilman Baudier said that he takes that as a slap that the deficit is a result of
poor accounting, it wasnt because we really had a deficit. We had emergencies
such as sink holes and hurricanes which caused them to spend more. He thinks
this is just political games being played.
Mr. Heinz
Mayor Miceli said to look at the numbers in the budget and learn from them,
work together and pay attention to the way things are done.
Councilman Baudier said he agrees but this was only a public way to use the
past against them.
Mayor Miceli said this is the publics money and it should be dealt with publicly.
Councilman Johnston said that we should move on.
Mayor Miceli asked if anyone would like to receive the legislative auditors
email to ask them any question.
Councilman Huete said she was surprised that emails about the budget sent to
the council were also sent to the Legislative Auditor.
Mayor Miceli said the Legislative Auditor requested to be kept in the loop to
know whats happening in the city. They warned the city to solve our ongoing
problems. They asked for CDs of the meetings.
Councilman Huete said that she wont be alarmed again if she sees that the
Auditors have been copied.
Mayor Miceli said she asked for additional input from the council in regards to
the budget, but nothing was forthcoming. She said they need to work together to
solve the problems of the city.
Mayor Miceli brought up the apartment problem there are 4 apartments with
multiple problems.
During the tape change, an audience member questioned the deficit vs. debt.
Mr. Heinz went on to explain the difference and the realities of governmental
accounting. Cash is a separate item.
Councilman Baudier said that the Mayor explained it best - deficit is not debt.
Councilman Heute asked about the grants.
Mr. Heinz said we dont budget the grant money because the grantors dont want
us to budget for it because they dont want that money being used to supplant
other monies in the budget. A grant is basically a wash the money is dedicated
to a certain purpose.
Mr. Heinz explained the expenses. The bank service charges were questioned.
He explained that there were several fees included in that line item including a
fee for direct deposit of employees checks and credit card fees, and the number
of transactions affect the rate too.
The insurance line item was questioned. Mr. Heinz explained that this was the
liability policies on the buildings and city vehicles.
Mayor Miceli asked about the surety bond items which we are mandated by law
to have.
Mr. Heinz said that will be in next years budget.
Councilman Huete said this is only for liability not health.
Mr. Heinz said yes.
Councilman Huete asked about the Incode module for tax collections.
Mr. Heinz said that without the Incode maintenance agreement they charge $250
an hour.
Mayor Miceli said the tax coding cost $8,000, she said the city could save money
by using alternate ways to collect taxes.
Councilman Huete said they need to know what Newell Normand would charge
us.
Mr. Heinz said he quoted us $2 a parcel with $1,300 for uploading the tax rolls.
Councilman Huete said we should just piggyback on Jefferson Parish because
they are selling our property its already happening. The Parish is getting their
part, what do we have to do to get our part of the taxes.
Mayor Miceli said that was the basis for the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement
with the Sheriffs Office to collect our taxes. We could decrease costs, increase
revenue and have more accuracy.
Councilman Baudier asked if the council could hire an attorney with the $8,000
line item so he could hire an attorney to handle some of our legal problems like
the ABO permit that is being held up.
Councilman Johnston also asked about the City Attorney line item.
Mr. Heinz addressed the question and explained several more line items, he said
that he looks at the budget as a whole and makes adjustments at the end. He
explained that his job has changed since he was hired because he is doing the job
of 3 other people who left the city.
Councilman Huete questioned that his salary is on two line items.
Councilman Wheeler said that his salary was raised without council approval. If
you can do that what good is a line item budget.
Mr. Heinz said they are allowed to move money between line items provided
they dont overspend.
Councilman Wheeler said the original budget gave him a salary and now that it
is changed, you want us to fix it now.
Councilman Johnston stated that the council does not have to approve his
proposed amended budget.
Mayor Miceli said it is a common practice to have fluctuations between line
items.
Councilman Baudier said they were called out because they wanted to increase
their salaries with insurance.
Councilman Huete said that Mr. Heinz could have a $20,000 increase but the
council was begrudged to get insurance.
Councilman Johnston said they can put anything on the proposed amendment
but the council doesnt have to adopt it.
Mr. Heinz stated that election costs was now a separate line item and he will
check for next years costs.
Councilman Huete questioned the health insurance costs. She said we were
supposed to save a ton of money.
Mr. Heinz said that not all the information was in at the time the budget was
adopted and that was the cause of the increase. The cost depended on which plan
the employee selects.
Councilman Wheeler questioned the travel expense line item in General

Government which was overspent.

Mayor Miceli said that when she took office, they discovered that the software
the city uses, Incode had multiple problems. Options were: trainers could come
to us but they could not come to the city for months or they could go to them for
training. A delay would have caused us to lose needed money.
Councilman Baudier asked for a run on what the expenses for this trip were.
Mayor Miceli said she went to Washington, DC to meet with Senators Vitter &
Cassidy and Representative Scalise.
Councilman Johnston said the trip could have waited the two weeks that was
left until recess.
Mayor Miceli said that the congress was in appropriation meetings and that
helped get us monies for Pump to the River.
Councilman Johnston stated that office supplies and printing should be
combined.
Mr. Heinz agreed.
Mr. Heinz explained that the electric costs were being split between City Hall
and Police since they are on the same meter.
The Mayor declared a recess for a tape change.
The Mayor called the meeting back to order.
Mr. Heinz continued on with his explanations of line items. He thanked the
Police and Fire Dept. along with all departments for staying on budget.
Councilman Huete questioned the figures of the health insurance.
Mr. Heinz said that in June when the city changed plans he had no previous
numbers to go by and an estimate was made but people leaving and being hired
and also the type of plans they selected were all variables. He said he met with
Chief Walker and Chief St. Cyr to discuss the numbers for their departments
and they were satisfied with his figures. He worked with Chief St. Cyr and
the organization holding the note on the fire truck and they worked out their
differences and the last payment will be paid by the end of the year.
Mr. Heinz said that several line items were broken out from old line items in
order to get a better handle on spending.
Councilman Johnston said he spoke to Chief St. Cyr and he was okay with these
figures and the cuts but he wanted to make sure that next year some of the cuts
will be restored.
Mr. Heinz continued on with his explanations of line items. He thanked the
Police and Fire Dept. along with all departments for staying on budget.
For the Maintenance Dept., Mr. Heinz met with Mr. Lauricella and adjusted the
budget accordingly.
Mayor Miceli praised Mr. Heinzs expertise in dealing with the departments to
accomplish budget amendments that will make the line items more pertinent to
show the departments spending.
Mr. Heinz continued with the Recreation Dept. budget and explained what
amendments he made. He next explained the Sr. Center budget amendments.
Councilman Johnston asked about the regulatory department.
Mr. Heinz stated that since the number of employees has decreased, there are a
number of decreases in their line items for salaries, insurance, gas, etc.
Councilman Wheeler asked if the latest new employees salary was in this
amendment because the line item is still being reduced by $22,000.
Mr. Heinz replied yes and that the reduction of approximately $36,000 was due
to the reduction in manpower and lower gasoline bills.
He next explained the court line items.
Councilman Johnston asked about the added line items and Mr. Heinz said it was
important not to hide expenses by grouping them together.
Mr. Heinz explained all the sinking funds line items nothing has changed. He
explained the line items for the sewerage dept.
Councilman Johnston asked about the $4 million that was borrowed.
Mr. Heinz said that the budget has nothing to do with the $4 million- it will be
a liability because we have to pay that loan back. The infrastructure that will be
improved will be an added asset and will be capitalized in the future.
Councilman Johnston said that this will give them enough information to get
some ideas together for the amended budget they need to adopt.
Mr. Heinz said that he feels really good about the citys financials.
A motion was made by Councilman Johnston and seconded by Councilman
Wheeler to have a special meeting on Monday, Nov. 16th at 5:30 pm to meet with
the department heads and discuss the 2016 budget.
The Mayor called for the vote, it was as follows:
YEAS: Baudier, Benton, Huete, Johnston, Wheeler
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION PASSES
Mayor Miceli asked Mr. Lauricella to post the meeting on the marquee outside
City Hall and asked the Councilman to think about annual pay raises for the
employees and possibly for the Councilman by tying their raises to a fixed index.
Special Meeting 2015 budget ordinances up for first reading.
Regular Meeting 2015 Budget ordinances for adoption with the 2016 budget
for first reading. Resolutions also on the regular meeting.
Mayor Miceli asked the council about options for the tax sale asked them to
email her.
ADDRESS THE COUNCIL
Michael Amedeo, Cressione St. asked about the process of picking streets to be
fixed.
Mayor Miceli said there are assessments that come into play and that some
streets will be fixed by the state or the contractor due to damage from Pump to
the River. She said that if you have a street to report then you can report it on
the citys website. She said that visits to the website have increased by 1,000 and
they are still improving it.
Mr. Amedeo said he would like to see more people get involved.
Mayor Miceli said she is hopeful that will happen and that people are watching
the meeting on tv.
Mae Jean Cazenave, Oak Ave. said she has been recognized in Winn Dixie and
Elmwood Fitness Center and at Breaux Mart as the person who spoke at the
Council meeting. These people were not aware of the condition of the city. She
said most people want a change from the past. She said the people are watching.
Robert Johnson, Riverside Dr. reported that the agenda for the October meeting
and for this meeting was not advertised in The Advocate. He said that the
advertisements were wrong.
ADJOURN
A motion to adjourn was offered by Councilman Baudier and seconded by
Councilman Wheeler to adjourn at 8:41 p.m.
YEAS: Baudier, Benton, Huete, Johnston, Wheeler
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
A. The following matter involving pending litigation may be considered
(Court, Case, Number, Parties):
1. Phillip Canella vs. Arch Ins. Co., City of Harahan, Todd A. St. Cyr, and
Allstate Ins. Co.; 24th JDC, Case 744-961, Div. I.
2. Suzanne K. Scalise vs. City of Harahan LA, Anne Gordon, Louise Slayden,
Ronald Gordon, Gail Gordon; 24th JDC, Case 744-986, Div. O.
3. City of Harahan, et al, v. BP Exploration & Production, Inc., et al.
U.S.D.C., Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 2:13-cv-01397
B. The following matter involving prospective litigation for which formal
written
demand has been made may be considered.
C. The following matters involving discussion of the character, professional
competance, or physical or mental health of:
Name