Town of Independence
Regular Meeting
February 10, 2026
5:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER.
Roll call was read by Town Clerk, Julie Peterson.
Present was Larry Cardaronella, Gaye Guzzardo, Eric Costa, Joe Galofaro and Mike
Muscarello. Quorum was present.
Prayer was led by Larry Cardaronella.
Pledge was led by Gaye Guzzardo.
Public Input: None.
A motion was made by Eric Costa, seconded by Joe Galofaro to approve the minutes
from the January 13, 2026 Regular Meeting. Voting to approve was as follows:
YEAS: Larry Cardaronella, Gaye Guzzardo, Eric Costa, Joe Galofaro, Mike Mus-
carello.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion to approve minutes from January 13, 2026 Regular Meeting was passed
unanimously.
8. A motion was made by Eric Costa, seconded by Mike Muscarello to adopt the
financial statements-budget to actual for the time period of July 2025-December 2025.
Voting toapprove was as follows:
YEAS: Larry Cardaronella, Gaye Guzzardo, Eric Costa, Joe Galofaro, Mike
Muscarello.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion to adopt the financial statements – budget to actual for the time period of
July 2025 – December 2025 passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
. Ordinance #2026-1131 - Multi-Family Housing Development Require-
ments introduced at the January 13, 2026
Regular Meeting was discussed. A motion was made by Eric Costa,
seconded by Joe Galofaro to adopt the ordinance. Voting to approve was as
follows:
YEAS: Larry Cardaronella, Gaye Guzzardo, Eric Costa, Joe Galofaro,
Mike Muscarello.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion to adopt Ordinance #2026-1131 – Multi-Family Housing Development
Requirements passed unanimously
b. Ordinance #2026-1132 – Requiring Knox Box Installations on Certain
Commercial or Residential Structures introduced at the January
13, 2026 Regular Meeting was discussed. Aldermen Larry Card-
aonella suggested that the board table the proposed ordinance to the
next meeting to allow the board time to do some more research on the subject. A
motion was made by Eric Costa, seconded by Joe Galofaro to table
the proposed ordinance until the March 10, 2026 Regular Meet-
ing. Voting to table was as follows:
YEAS: Larry Cardaronella, Gaye Guzzardo, Eric Costa, Joe Galofaro, Mike
Muscarello.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion to table voting on Ordinance #2026-1132 – Requiring Knox Box Installa-
tions on Certain Commercial or Residential Structures passed
unanimously.
c. Ordinance #2026-1133 – Renaming portion of Martin Luther King Jr.
Street back to West 4th Street introduced at the January 13,
2026 Regular Meeting was discussed. Mayor Paine informed the
board that the ordinance still has some work that needs to be done. A motion
was made by Aldermen Larry Cardaronella, seconded by Eric Costa to table the
proposed ordinance until the March 10, 2026 Regular Meeting. Voting
to table was as follows:
YEAS: Larry Cardaronella, Gaye Guzzardo, Eric Costa, Joe Galofaro, Mike
Muscarello.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion to table voting on Ordinance #2026-1133 – Renaming portion of Martin
Luther King Jr. Street back to West 4th Street passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
a. A motion was made by Eric Costa, seconded by Joe Galofaro to re-appoint
Mary Spencer to the Independence Housing Authority Board of Commissioners to
serve a 2nd term expiring January 2031. Voting was as follows:
YEAS: Larry Cardaronella, Gaye Guzzardo, Eric Costa, Joe Galofaro, Mike
Muscarello.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion to re-appoint Mary Spencer to the Independence Housing Authority Board
of Commissioners for a 2nd term passed unanimously.
b. Mr. Otto Bonds was not able to attend the meeting. He stated he will reach
out at a later date to get put back on the agenda to discuss the Tangi Cubs Football
Program.
c. The occupational license for Down the Road Daiquiris located at 1073
West Railroad Ave was discussed. Business owner Bobbie Hamilton was present
and informed the board of her progress to date. A motion was made by Eric Costa,
seconded by Mike Muscarello to approve the occupational license pending all required
documents are turned into City Hall.
Voting was as follows:
YEAS: Larry Cardaronella, Gaye Guzzardo, Eric Costa, Joe Galofaro, Mike
Muscarello.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion to approve the Occupational License for Down the Road Daiquiris located
at 1073 West Railroad Ave pending paperwork was approved unanimously.
d. The 2026 Intergovernmental Service Agreement with Tangipahoa Parish
Animal Control was discussed. The fee for 2026 is $4911.00. A motion was made by
Eric Costa, seconded by Joe Galofaro to approve the contract with Tangipahoa Parish
Animal Control. Voting was as follows:
YEAS: Larry Cardaronella, Gaye Guzzardo, Eric Costa, Joe Galofaro, Mike
Muscarello.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion to approve the 2026 Intergovernmental Service Agreement with Tangipa-
hoa Parish Animal Control passed unanimously.
e. Mayor Paine gave the board an update on the progress of correcting the
Agreed Upon Procedures finding #2025-1 (Debt Service Policy). He informed the
board that town CPA Phil Hebert is working on creating this policy for the board to
review. The board will continue to receive updates each month until the policy is ready
to be adopted.
f. Mayor Paine gave the board an update on the Agreed Upon Procedures
finding #2025-2 (Approval of monthly budget to actual comparisons). This finding is
considered resolved as the board has received and approved financial reports for the
current fiscal year.
g. Mayor Paine asked the board for approval for a temporary mobile home
or camper to be allowed to be placed at 603 Cypress Street if the
property owners choose to rebuild their house that burned down
in January. He asked for a time frame of 6 months from the date that the mobile
home/camper is placed on the property. A motion was made by Larry Cardaronella,
seconded by Eric Costa to allow Steve and Shelia Anthony to place a temporary
mobile home or camper on their property if needed to rebuild their home.
Voting was as follows:
YEAS: Larry Cardaronella, Gaye Guzzardo, Eric Costa, Joe Galofaro,
Mike Muscarello.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion to approve homeowner to temporary place a mobile home/camper at 603
Cypress Street due to rebuilding after house fire passed unanimously.
h. Motion was made by Eric Costa, seconded by Mike Muscarello to go into
Executive session. Voting was as follows:
YEAS: Larry Cardaronella, Gaye Guzzardo, Eric Costa, Joe Galofaro, Mike
Muscarello.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion to go into executive session passed unanimously.
Motion was made by Eric Costa, seconded by Mike Muscarello to return to Regular
session. Voting was as follows:
YEAS: Larry Cardaronella, Gaye Guzzardo, Eric Costa, Joe Galofaro, Mike
Muscarello.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion to return to regular session passed unanimously.
No action was taken regarding EEOC claim filed by former Independence Police
Officer.
REMARKS:
Mayor Pro-Tem Larry Cardaronella: Thanked the Independence Fire Department for
their hard work fighting the recent house fire and saving the house next door.
Gaye Guzzardo: Thanked Donielle Bickford for her hard work decorating City Hall
for Mardi Gras. She stated that February included several other holidays including
Valentine’s Day and was also Black History Month. She thanked Mayor Paine for the
town having a clean audit.
Mike Muscarello: None
Eric Costa: Glad to see new business coming to town. Reminded everyone of the up-
coming shrimp fry held by the MDS dad’s club at the KC Hall on Friday, February 20th.
He stated that the Knights of Columbus will be doing fish fry’s during lent also.
Joe Galofaro: None
Mayor Paine: Thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. He informed the board
of a repair that was completed at the South Well by Maintenance Supervisor Peewee
that saved the town a lot of money. Mayor Paine informed everyone that the town is
in the process of having a water rate study done and Timmy Lemonie with Louisiana
Rural Water will be at a future meeting to discuss the results with the board.
Police: Chief Edwards stated that he has 3 open positions for Police Officers.
Fire: Absent.
Jim Paine, Mayor Julie Peterson, Town Clerk
Cost of notice: $164.33