Shreveport Focus SB/The Inquisitor
June 19, 2026
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MINUTES
REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
VIVIAN TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM
112 W. ALABAMA AVE.
VIVIAN, LOUISIANA
MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2026
6:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Festavan called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
INVOCATION - Alderman Robert Green, Jr. opened the meeting in prayer.
PLEDGE - Mayor Festavan led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL / VERIFICATION OF QUORUM - Board of Aldermen present for Roll Call were James Martin, Raymond Williams, and Robert Green, Jr.; absent were Denise Alexander and Samuel Hodge. Following Roll Call the Town Clerk verified that a quorum was present. Also present were other elected officials and/or staff members: Police Chief Ryan Nelson, Town Clerk Kellie Morris, and Town Attorney Douglas Dominick.
APPROVE AGENDA - Motion to approve the Agenda as presented was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by James Martin; all present approved.
1. PUBLIC COMMENTS -
Amy LaSorda was present to voice her concerns about ATV’s, trespassers, homeless individuals, trash on her property, rat infestations, drug activity and the fact that her neighborhood needs to be cleaned up;
Jay Paulette was present to voice his concerns about trash & brush, and old grocery carts in his neighborhood;
Joey Paulette was present to voice his concerns about illegal 4-wheelers, Police Protection and sewer issues at the home located at 605 E. Louisiana Ave.
2. MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT - Financial report including budget-to-actual comparisons was presented by Mayor Festavan. Following the report and discussion, a motion to accept as presented was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by James Martin; all present approved.
Mayor Festavan also stated that according to the Town’s Consultant, Ms. Veronica Brown, that there was nothing new to report; that the bank reconciliations are current and the due-to/due-from accounts are being monitored.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Motion to approve the Minutes for the May 11, 2026 Regular Town Council Meeting and the June 2, 2026 Special Called Town Council Meeting in globo, as a unit, was made by James Martin, seconded by Raymond Williams; all present approved.
4. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE # 812 OF 2026 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - AN ORDINANCE FOR THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, TOWN OF VIVIAN, TO AMEND ORDINANCE # 793 OF 2023 AND/OR SECTION 14-2 COLLECTION RATES CHAPTER 14 - SOLID WASTE.
There will be a Public Hearing prior to the adoption of Ordinance # 812 at the Special Called Town Council Meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at the Vivian Town Hall, located at 112 W. Alabama Ave. in Vivian, Louisiana.
Motion to introduce Ordinance # 812 of 2026 was made by Raymond Wiliams, seconded by James Martin; all present approved.
5. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION # 11 OF 2026 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA, TO ENTER INTO AND EXECUTE A CLIENT SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH UTILITY ASSOCIATES FOR THE PROVISION OF BODY WORN CAMERAS FOR THE TOWN OF VIVIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT, TOGETHER WITH RELATED SOFTWARE AND SERVICES; AND OTHERWISE PROVIDING WITH RESPECT THERETO.
Motion to adopt Resolution # 11 of 2026 was made by Raymond Wiliams, seconded by James Martin; all present approved.
6. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE SELECTION AND CONFIRMATION OF THE
INQUISITOR AS THE TOWN’S OFFICIAL JOURNAL - for the period July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Motion to select and confirm The Inquisitor as the Town’s Official Journal was made by Raymond Wiliams, seconded by James Martin; all present approved.
7. CHANGE OF STATUS OF POLICE PERSONNEL - THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE CHIEF OF POLICE’S RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE THE STATUS / CLASSIFICATION OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS:
Police Chief Ryan Nelson spoke about each individual and his reason(s) for the recommendation(s). After his comments, the following action(s) were taken to approve his recommendation for each:
Jarvis Edwards - Part-time to Full-time Patrolman - Hire date, June 29, 2022. Motion to approve the recommendation was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by James Martin; all present approved.
Jeremiah Martin - Part-time to Full-time Patrolman - Hire date, November 10, 2025. Motion to approve the recommendation was made by Robert Green, Jr., seconded by Raymond Williams; all present approved.
Vicki Carter - Part-time Dispatcher to Part-time Police Communication Sargeant - Hire date, August 14, 2023. Motion to approve the recommendation was made by Robert Green, Jr., seconded by Raymond Williams; all present approved.
Mark Fargerson - Part-time Dispatcher to Lieutenant & Part-time Executive Assistant to Chief - Hire date, October 11, 2021. Motion to approve the recommendation was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by James Martin; all present approved.
v ZONING & CONDEMNATION MATTERS - Officer Bobby Smith
A. ZONING/CONDEMNATION REPORT -
308 W. Moore St. - Robert Kovacs, owner, of Bossier City was present to report on continued progress made. Following questions, answers and discussion Officer Smith recommended that Mr. Kovacs be given one more month. Motion to continue this matter at the July 13, 2026 Regular Town Council Meeting was made by Robert Green, Jr., seconded by Raymond Williams; all present approved.
106 Kansas Ave. - No one was present on this matter. Officer Smith reported that he had been in communication with the owner/owner representative, and that continued work was being done to clear the property. Following his report, he recommended that this matter be given on more month. Motion to continue this matter at the July 13, 2026 Regular Town Council Meeting was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by James Martin; all present approved.
202 Penrod St. - Officer Smith informed the Council that he had unintentionally listed an incorrect address for this property and that the correct address should be 202 SUEMONT St. Following his comment motion was made by Raymond Williams to remove 202 Penrod St. and use the correct address of 202 SUEMONT St. for this property. Motion was then seconded by James Martin with all present approving.
Officer Smith then reported that he had made an effort to contact the owner of the property at 202 SUEMONT St. but had not been unsuccessful, therefore requesting a continuation of this matter. Following his request motion was made to continue this matter at the July 13, 2026 Regular Town Council Meeting by Raymond Williams, seconded by James Martin; all present approved.
v CODE ENFORCEMENT MATTERS - Officer Johnnie Hough
CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT - Officer Hough gave the following written and oral report: 12 (twelve) properties; 12 (twelve) new cases opened, 6 (six) cases closed, and 0 (zero) cases were set to be heard in Environmental Court in June. A property on E. Oklahoma Ave. was also discussed.
8. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL ADOPT RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR AGENDA ITEM # 9 -
Motion to adopt the Rules of Procedure as presented for Agenda item # 9 was made by Robert Green, Jr., seconded by Raymond Williams; all present approved.
9. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE CHIEF OF POLICE’S RECOMMENDATION AND DISCUSS THE PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND / OR ALLEGATIONS REGARDING MISCONDUCT OF AN EMPLOYEE OF THE VIVIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT. (Pursuant to LA R.S.42:17 when discussing the character or professional competence allegations of misconduct the Board of Alderman may go into EXECUTIVE SESSION.)
Motion was made to go into Executive Session for discussion of Agenda item # 9 by Robert Green, Jr., seconded by James Martin; all present approved. The room was then cleared of attendees. Present during Executive Session were Aldermen Martin, Williams and Green, Jr., Mayor Festavan, Chief Nelson, Town Clerk Morris and Attorney Dominick; the Police Department employee was not present and had no representatives present.
Chief Nelson spoke on the Agenda item # 9 during Executive Session. Following questions, answers and discussion motion to come out of Executive Session was made by Robert Greem Jr., seconded by James Martin; all present approved.
Motion to reconvene and return to Regular Session was made by James Martin, seconded by Raymond Williams; all present approved.
Upon return to Regular Session motion was made by Robert Green, Jr. to support Police Chief Nelson’s recommendation. The motion was then seconded by Raymond Williams with all present approving.
MAYOR’S REPORT - Mayor Festavan reported on 1) the Juneteenth Holiday for employees on Friday, June 19th), 2) the LMA District Meeting on Tuesday, June 23rd, 3) the Millage renewal election on Saturday, June 27th, 4) the Special Called Town Council Meeting on Tuesday, June 30th, and 5) the new population count of 3,086.
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY BOARD OF ALDERMEN - There were none.
ADJOURN - Motion to adjourn was made by Robert Green, Jr., seconded by Raymond Wiliams; all present approved. Meeting was adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
Kellie Morris, Town Clerk Ronnie Festavan, Mayor
June 15, 2026