Councilman changes open expression at meetings
May 9, 2018The people of Lafourche lose in this debate
May 9, 2018
Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove has chosen a new director for the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, which he says he is re-purposing with an eye toward turning a profit or at least breaking even on a project that has, through several administrations, proven to be a white elephant.
Last week he announced that the civic center’s director, Janel Ricca, is leaving her post.
Pending Parish Council approval, he plans on replacing Ricca with community volunteer and
businessman Dean Schouest.
“He is active in many things throughout Terrebonne Parish, recently he got an award for tourism,” Dove said. “I am looking for a promoter and I believe Dean can promote … I have decided to take the Civic Center in a more positive direction, an efficient, cleanly manicured Civic Center, with more promotion of bands and singers, both old and new, and an increase in the children’s programs, while keeping the traditional use of the facility.”
In the statement he released, Dove thanked Ricca for her past contributions.
But the current economic climate, Dove said, demands an attempt to make changes and somehow reverse a loss of more than $800,000 annually.
The change, Schouest said, was first discussed about a month ago, when he mentioned ideas for the Civic Center casually to some parish officials. The parish president’s office, he said, contacted him to ask if he was serious about the changes he said will work. An offer was made and Schouest agreed to let the process move forward.
Schouest has been active with organizing events like Relay for Life, and in that sense has experience finding and booking entertainment. He is hoping to bring volleyball tournaments to the center, and other related activities.
Ricca, who was informed that her services were no longer needed after returning from a vacation, according to friends, did not respond to a message left for comment.
Dove stressed that the change should not be considered reflective of her abilities, and he made a point of thanking her for past service.
