Fourchon port director may not retire

It appears that Greater Lafourche Port Commission Executive Director Ted Falgout’s planned retirement after 28 years at the helm may be postponed.

The commission will decide Wednesday whether to approve a three-year contract extension and meet Falgout’s request for a salary hike at a special meeting in Galliano.

Citing his reasons for reconsidering his retirement, Falgout said, “Several members of the business community have asked me to reconsider [retiring], along with the fact that the state stands poised to receive significant monies from offshore royalty sharing and Port Fourchon should have a voice at that table.”

Another major enticement: Falgout is poised to receive a significant salary hike n almost 30 percent n bringing his annual monetary compensation to $156,288. His current salary is $120,994.

When other benefits n insurance, retirement and a car allowance n are factored in, Falgout’s current salary package is over $167,000 annually.

If commissioners approve the proposed deal, the port director’s proposed salary and benefits package would be worth $200,000 yearly.

In addressing commissioners at a recent meeting, Falgout said the increased salary figure was taken from the average salary paid to port directors in the United States last year.

The new deal would also include two percent raises annually for the remaining two years of the contract extension, which Falgout noted was in line with the average raises paid to U.S. port directors.

Technically, the Port Fourchon director’s contract expired at the end of 2006. However, commissioners approved a measure extending his current contract through Wednesday’s meeting date.

Commissioners Donald Vizier and Johnny Melancon had originally sought approval of the three-year deal at last week’s regular port commission meeting. The vote was postponed, however, after other commissioners raised questions about certain language in the contract.

Others wanted to final vote postponed so they could review document. Commissioner Perry Gislcair noted at Monday evening’s committee meeting that he had only received the revised contract that day and needed more time to study it.

Although Commission President Vizier initially balked at Gisclair’s request to delay the vote, the final OK was postponed until Jan. 17.

Doug Cheramie can be reached at doug@tri-parishtimes.com.