[StBernard] MINUTES OF OPERATIONS BRIEFING - April 21

[Westley Annis]

MINUTES OF OPERATIONS BRIEFING
Friday, April 21, 2006, 8:00 a.m.

Craig Taffaro, Councilman District D, presiding.
Present:  29

Emergency Operations:  Darlene Zoerner
1.  Reported Ingargiola's father-in-law passed away, going to Canada for
services.

Community Development:  Michael Hunnicutt.  Not present.
Public Works and Water and Sewer:  Chris Merkl
1.  Debris update: Curry stated URG was adding crews to Zones 5 (Buccaneer
Villa), 10 (Paris Road/St. Bernard Highway) and 20 (Lexington Place).  Goal
of 25,000 cubic yards per day will probably not occur until after demolition
begins.  
2. Hoffmeister inquired about debris pick up in the extended footprint area.
Negri stated EPA was presently negotiating areas in the expanded footprint
for debris pick up.  Taffaro stated to Negri as the EPA representative, to
convey the message that EPA was approaching the same level of frustration
failure that the trailer program was at and the same level of
disappointment. Curry stated that FEMA needs a letter/documentation from
EPA/DEQ stating there is no oil contamination in debris and is okay to
remove.  
3.  Merkl stated that people were dumping construction debris illegally in
the Murphy footprint and has asked for that to be reported immediately.

Recovery:  David Dysart
1.  Pre-staging supplies for next hurricane season, expecting four trailers
of water and MRE's, cots, wash kits/daily essentials in con-ex boxes 20x20,
need a place to store them.

Public Assistance: 
Residential:  Craig Taffaro
1.  Trailer update: Fluor continues to hold to the statement they will be
finished shortly.  They have noted that there could be an issue when
demolition starts it could hold up their trailer process.  Curry stated that
he has been meeting regarding OSHA's requirements if a house is to be
demolished and the residents have trailers on the property whether the
resident must move out or whether the trailer must be removed.  
2.  Taffaro stated that as a parish from the beginning that trailer
sites/egg sites are intended for parish residents only.  He inquired to
Marion if FEMA planned to place non-St. Bernard residents in the parks.
Marion answered that she would speak with Tom and report back.

Business:  Charles Ponstein
1.  New businesses:  * Chalmette Hardware, 200 block of E. Judge Perez
Drive, open 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday - Saturday. * The Wherehouse, 1351 E. St.
Bernard Highway, restaurant and grill, seats about 90 people, kitchen will
not be ready for about two weeks, hours are 10 a.m. - midnight Sunday -
Thursday, and 10 a.m. - 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Private Non-Profit:  Judy Hoffmeister
1.  Camp Katrina has new items, open 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Volunteers:  Gidget McDougall
1.  Friends of the National Park Service will be touring the Chalmette
Battlefield.
2.  Gentilly Charrette is looking at our Katrina Cottage with idea to set up
some on a tract of land there.
3.  Working with the International Home Builders
4.  Disaster tours continue scheduled 90 people for Saturday's tour.


Agriculture/Wildlife and Fisheries:  Ricky Melerine.  Not present.
Lake Borgne Basin Levee District:  Bob Turner.  Not present.
Medical:  Dr. Bertucci
1.  Taffaro stated that Oshner Hospital is updating their computers and will
be sending us about 50 computers if any department is in need of additional
computer equipment notify him.
2.  Patients seen per day: 70-90 people consistently.  The clinic is
experiencing a flow problem and they are working on that.
3.  The new medical facility was dedicated yesterday and expressed
appreciation for all those in attendance.
4.  Equipment is not put together.
5.  Meeting with LRA, trying to do tele conferences with surrounding
parishes.
6.  Trying to pick up damaged casket at Merrit cemetery but could not bring
the boom machine in the cemetery, will cost an additional $1,200 for other
machinery to go into baseball field to reach casket.  

EMS:  Janie Fuller.  Not present.
Public Safety:  Sheriff's Office & Military.  Not present.
Fire Department:  Not present.
CDC and DEQ:  Not present.

EPA:  Beverly Negri
1.  Invited Council to meeting at 1 p.m. Sunday at OLPS gym and EPA will
explain all the work they are doing toward recovery in the Parish.

Murphy Oil Spill update:  Jim Wallwork
1.  Homes cleaned to date: 1,335 exteriors, 333 interiors, 68 yards scrapped
and 269,000 cubic yards of debris have been cleared.
2.  Reported a person dropped off 4-5 truck loads of debris in central area
of the footprint and he reported that Murphy will not pick up that debris
and has notified the Sheriff's Office who declined to assist in the matter.
Taffaro asked for the information.  Merkl stated that the matter was being
pursued.

Parish Government:  Danny Menesses
1.  Reported that Taffaro will handle the Operation Briefing meetings due to
the fact that he has accepted a job in the private sector and will be
leaving St. Bernard Parish Government.  His last day will be Friday, April
28.  He stated he will not be abandoning the parish, he will be available
for the transition and he has faith in his directors.  He stated that things
have been tuff but he did the $31m of accounting and wishes everyone the
best of luck.  Taffaro stated that Danny was one of the good guys and this
will be a tuff thing for St. Bernard Parish to adjust to.  Taffaro believes
there are a number of good people on staff who will step up and fill the
position.  Taffaro stated that the CAO was in an incredible position getting
an ignorance amount of pressure from the president and the council.  He
stated that Danny was a genuine person who cares deeply about St. Bernard
Parish and served the parish for all the right reasons.  He stated that
Danny would be missed, wished him well and thanked him for the time.  Paysse
stated that he worked with Danny for twelve years and he was a man of
impeccable character and wished him well. Menesses stated that contrary to
rumors he was not going to work for FEMA, or any contractors or any
politicians.  

Council:  Lynn Dean.  Not present.
Parks and Recreation:  John Metzler, Jr.  Not present.
Finance:  Geremie Loupe.  Not present.
Personnel:  Kevin Clark. Not present.
Insurance:  Mike Wiltz.  Not present.

General Information:
Next meeting scheduled for Monday, April 24, 2006 at 8 a.m.