Georgia “Josephine” Hamilton
September 27, 2017
Slump? Yes. But hope remains: Officials optimistic that oil and gas can recover
September 27, 2017The latest battleground between Lafourche Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle and the parish council seems borne from a $1,000 check.
The check, which went to a Houma-based information technology company, was brought up at the Sept. 12 council meeting and sparked a series of petty barbs and accusations between Cantrelle and Council Member Jerry Jones. The council seems to be gearing up to further press the issue of the check at this week’s meeting with administration officials.
Jones asked Cantrelle about the check during the “questions for administration” portion of the last council meeting. Jones wanted to know what the $1,000 check to Complete Network Management was paying for when the parish has its own IT department. Cantrelle said the parish had to pay for services but did not know what the check was for in particular, saying he signed the check but it was one of many he signs for Lafourche each day.
Jones produced a copy of the check at the meeting, angering Cantrelle and setting off a period of crosstalk between the two. Each of them lobbed accusations at the other about snooping and ethics violations before Council Chairman Corey Perrillioux called the discussion to order. Jones accused Cantrelle of hiring CNM to go through a parish employee’s computer, an accusation Cantrelle answered with “So what?”
The parish president told Jones his requests for answers would be more effective once he began to cooperate with parish administration.
“When you start acting right, then you’re going to get somewhere. Everybody’s going to find out why you’re doing what you’re doing,” Cantrelle said.
Cantrelle alleged Jones’s actions were the council member’s attempt to distract from ethics violations he had committed, although he did not provide any details beyond the accusation. The two continued to verbally spar, with Jones insulting Cantrelle’s intelligence.
“Maybe you could tell me who’s the most dumbest parish president in Louisiana,” Jones said.
Cantrelle responded in kind to Jones, calling him the dumbest and most vindictive councilman in the state.
The issue of information security has been a consistent concern of the parish council and its staff. It has previously twice requested administration improve security at the legislative suite in the parish’s Thibodaux building after two separate cases where Lafourche District Attorney Cam Morvant’s office discovered tapes from the 2004 Home Rule Charter Commission were missing. Morvant was seeking the tapes so better context of the 2004 charter discussions could help him render a legal opinion for the parish.
On the morning of the Sept. 12 meeting, Council Member Luci Sposito requested Human Resources Director Emily Knight and IT Manager Gretchen Folse attend that night’s meeting to answer questions. However, they were not asked to speak on the CNM issue when Jones questioned Cantrelle. Sposito requested the two attend this week’s meeting if they were unavailable for the Sept. 12 meeting. •
