Charter change fails

St. Mary Parish Council members refused for the second time proposals setting term limits and capping unexcused absences to three meetings.

The parish Charter Review Committee initially suggested the changes in 2008. The group was appointed by the council and charged with helping streamline government by reviewing the parish’s charter.

Councilman Glen Hidalgo reintroduced the proposals at last week’s parish council meeting, which flat-lined for a second time after a 6-3-2 vote.

Councilmen Gary Duhon, Ken Singleton, Albert Foulcard, the Rev. Craig Matthews, Charles Middleton and Steve Bierhorst voted against the measure. Councilmen Hildalgo, Kevin Voisin and David Hannagriff voted in favor. Logan Fromenthal and Chuck Walters were absent.

“There are many things broke [sic] in this parish,” Hidalgo said. “Too much is getting stagnant, and we need to get things moving with new ideas.

“I’m not saying anyone is doing a bad job,” he continued. “We just need to look at the bigger picture of this parish.”

However, Foulcard said the parish does have term limits – elections. “One way or another, the people decide every four years,” he said.

Hidalgo argued “special little interests” are impacting government. “Someone needs to stop it,” he said, suggesting term limits could be the tool to fix the problem.

“We’re term-limited every time we put our name in the hat to get elected,” council chairman Bierhorst countered.

The measure to limit unexcused absences from meetings – also authored by Hidalgo – would have resulted in lost pay.

“When someone is missing more than three meetings a year without good reason, it is abusive to taxpayers,” the councilman said. “It’s a ‘no’ vote on any roll call votes for the people you supposedly represent. No representation, that’s what it is.”

Under the charter, councilmen aren’t required to attend parish meetings. However, members of the parish’s 42 public boards – all volunteers – missing three committee meetings without reason can be removed.

“If we remove the people that aren’t getting paid, why not have accountability for those who are,” Hildago said. “I don’t understand why this can’t pass.”

Foulcard argued that if voters were unhappy, they could voice it with their vote.

“What we all have to understand here is that these two monthly meetings aren’t the only meetings about parish government,” said councilman Duhon, who has missed only three meetings since taking office nearly 8 years ago. “I get involved with things that on in this parish from one side to the other.”

“To be penalized because you happen to miss some meetings, well …,” he said. “I’m totally against this issue because you can be active and miss meetings.”

“I don’t think you can call what we receive as ‘getting paid,'” Matthews interjected. The council’s salary was set in 1984 and has remained unchanged. “However, it is part of our duty to be here at these parish council meetings.”

The move to cap unexcused absences failed in a 5-4-2 vote. Duhon, Foulcard, Bierhorst, Singleton and Middleton voted against; Matthews, Voisin, Hidalgo and Hannagriff voted in favor. Again, Walters and Fromenthal were absent.