A special meeting Monday evening, August 29, proved to be difficult as the council failed to approve payment in the water project but did agree on how to spend some of its ARA (American Rescue Allocation) funds.
The council agreed to the hiring of Parker Cole’s firm CSRS to pursue grant funding through FEMA for $15,000. The monies will allow them to conduct a study for FEMA grant purposes, and if they are not chosen for the first round of distribution, CSRS will continue to the next round for no additional costs to the town.
The council took its proposed list for ARA funds line-by-line approving utilizing funds to pay the auditor, CSRS, Cleco, their attorney, employees hazardous pay, financial consultant and purchase signs from Bourque’s to welcome visitors to Oberlin. They also agreed to upgrade the community center and give the police department money to decale its vehicles. In the end, the council spent all ARA fund except 159.29.
The council discussed the balance of $38,836.19 owed to USDA for the water project including the interest, a possible court case and several other issues. Members wanted to know if paying the money would affect any future judicial disputes that may be filed in the case. They also mentioned the number of leaking pipes that were not repaired, the remaining change order, the original contract and the work done on the project. Rising costs in the project, unanswered questions and paperwork were discussed. The work allegedly done or not done on Mike Manuel Road still had not been answered.
David Vidrine, city attorney, believed from the documents he had reviewed, the town could still pursue the matter in court if warranted.
The motion died for a lack of a second to use ARA funds to pay this balance. “God help us all,” Mayor Wayne Smith said.
Councilman Bobby Thomas discussed the paperwork associated with fees charged to the town in regards to audit work. Thomas said Oberlin was charged more than what Thomas believed the bid for the work stated.
“Why disagree with everything that comes up,” Councilman Chris Davis asked Thomas.
Former Mayor Joseph “Moochie” Manuel asked to address the council. He said the town would be sued if they didn’t pay.
Charlotte Artis, city clerk, said she needed to call the state auditor if the council didn’t approve paying. The vote ended in a 2-to-2 tie, with Thomas and Romelzy Willis Jr. against it; Linda Bouldon abstaining and Davis and Ryan Daigle for it. Mayor Wayne Smith broke the tie in favor of paying the auditor with ARA funds. (The town has $319,922.30 on hand. The auditor is owed $28,650 leaving $291,272.30).
The council approved $35,000 for the community center leaving them with $227,622.30.
Daigle asked to pay the entire Cleco bill of $141,960 instead of just the suggested $110,280. This left the town with a balance of $114,312.30 in ARA funds.
The town gave $15,000 to CSRS.
When Thomas asked for $25,000 be given to the police department for decaling of the proposed new cars, it was not a popular subject. Davis wanted to know why the money was needed.
Erica L. Rex, a citizen, asked why the maintenance department wasn’t getting money. She wanted to know what the police would do for the money and what were they doing now.
Thomas said Congress allocated money for first responders during the pandemic. He was asked how many calls the department answered, and he said he didn’t know.
Davis said he was concerned with the previous $5 raise given by the previous administration to the police chief. He referred to LACE and no tickets being written and how the council gave the chief four cars when he said they needed them. He wanted to know what they were doing for eight hours and why weren’t they writing tickets.
Chief Grady Haynes said they were still driving the same old cars from 2009. He added he couldn’t discuss this because Davis wouldn’t understand. He also said it is illegal to write tickets and use it for budgeting.
Davis countered and asked the attorney if he was seeing tickets come through the courts and received a yes answer.
When members of the audience began questioning the operations of the police department, Rev. Wallace Bellard said there were rules for speaking and encouraged the mayor to use them to stop the bickering.
Willis asked why they were fighting over things that had already been approved and put into the budget.
The council also:
•Tabled giving Carl Capone permission to apply for LGAP (Local Government Assistance Program) and CWEF (Community Water Enrichment Fund) funding as per a request by Thomas.
•Adopted the procurement from Spencer Gauthier of Pan American Engineers LLC. Gauthier will be attempting to secure.
