Regular Council Meeting
City of Tallulah
January 12, 2023
A regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council was held on Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 5:30 P.M. in the Council Room of Tallulah City Hall.
Mayor Charles M. Finlayson called the meeting to order, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and allowed for a moment of silent prayer.
A roll call of Council Members is listed as follows:
Scott Present
Houston Present
Harris Present
Day Present
Wells Present
Mayor Finlayson opened the meeting for public comment regarding any items on the agenda, but there was none.
Motion and second to approve minutes of the December 8, 2022 meeting were made by Councilmembers Scott and Day respectively and carried unanimously.
Councilmember Wells moved for approval of an occupational license submitted by Ms. Rebecca Curtis, “Real Deal Taxes, LLC”. Councilmember Day seconded, and motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Scott motioned for approval of An Ordinance De-Annexing and Reducing the Corporate Limits of the City of Tallulah, Louisiana Pursuant to R.S. 33:171 Et Sq., and the Ascent of the Property Owners and Included within the Corporate Limits, Said Properties Being Within the Existing Boundaries of the City of Tallulah, Louisiana and Repealing All Ordinances in Conflict Herewith. Councilmember Houston seconded, and a roll call is listed as follows:
Scott Yea
Houston Yea
Harris Nay
Day Nay
Wells Nay
Motion did not carry.
Mayor Finlayson announced his appointment of Mr. James A. Martin as the City’s representative on the Vicksburg-Tallulah Regional Airport Board and asked for approval of the Council. Motion and second to that effect were made by Councilmembers Houston and Day respectively and a roll-call is shown in the following:
Scott Yea
Houston Yea
Harris Yea
Day Yea
Wells Nay
Motion carried.
Motion and second to enter Executive Session were made by Councilmembers Houston and Day respectively and carried unanimously. In Executive Session, the topic of discussion was the case, Derrick Young vs City of Tallulah.
Motion to adjourn Executive Session and re-enter Regular Session was made by Councilmember Harris, seconded by Councilmember Houston, and carried unanimously. Mayor Finlayson stated that City Attorney David Doughty was to proceed with the negotiated settlement as agreed upon by the City Council.
Councilmember Wells made comments regarding the lack of a grievance procedure by the
City. He expressed the need for such a policy for employees to present grievances to the Council if a need was felt to exist. However, Mayor stated that the City’s governing statute puts him over employee hiring and firing and that any grievance would be between him and the employee. However, Councilmember Wells called for placing a motion on the table allowing a grievance policy to be reviewed for worthwhile value to the City.
Subsequent motion to examine the practicality for developing a grievance policy for the City was made by Councilmember Harris, seconded by Councilmember Houston, and a roll-call vote is shown in the following:
Scott Nay
Houston Yea
Harris Yea
Day Yea
Wells Yea
Motion carried.
In the public comments segment, several issues were raised concerning for example, lighting problems in the city, and a serious issue with flooding at Star Lodge Apartments.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned on motion and second of Councilmembers Houston and Day respectively which carried unanimously.
Attest:
Gerald L. Odom, City Clerk
Charles M. Finlayson
