Eula Josephine Lagrange Larose
April 28, 2008
Adam "T-Dent" LaCoste
April 30, 2008
Citing a lack of public input on parish government spending over $10,000, St. Mary Parish Council-man Glen Hidalgo is seeking a change to the parish charter that would require officials to hold hearings before making big-ticket fiscal decisions.
Hidalgo proposed last week a committee be appointed to author the proposed change.
The change was prompted by a council job offer earlier this month to former State Rep. Jack Smith to serve as a state legislative liaison. The job would pay $50,000. Smith declined the offer.
“It’s OK to give a recreation department $2,000 or $3,000 here and there, but to offer this job position at $50,000 – to be paid for with public money, without the public’s input – it’s just wrong,” Hidalgo said. “Taxpayers include the elderly and many others who are on fixed incomes.”
The councilman criticized the charter, saying, “It’s time to look at bringing it up from 1983 to 2008 standards.”
The proposed committee would include a representative from each council district, he said.
The change was well received by the council. “This should have been done years ago,” said Councilman Logan Fromenthal.”
Councilman Albert Foulcard called the move “a great example of good government in action.”
Calling the idea “wise,” Councilman Craig Matthews cautioned others to choose committee members who “will be mindful of all decisions that will best represent the whole district and the parish, while not getting too bogged down in the public process.”
Any change to the St. Mary Parish home rule charter will require voter approval parishwide. Councilman Kevin Voisin urged any change be proposed quickly so the measure could be included on the Presidential Election ballot in the fall.
The deadline for items to be included on the November ballot is Sept. 18, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
According to Voisin, a charter change would have to be posted for at least 20 days to allow the public ample time to consider the measure.
In other business, St. Mary Parish Chief Administrative Office Henry “Bo” LaGrange said the parish has submitted a $148,000 grant to the State Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Division of Outdoor Recreation, for improvements to public parks in Centerville and Sorrell.
If the grant is awarded, the parish will have to provide $148,000 in matching funds, he said.
LaGrange also announced that the Federal Emergency Management Association will hold an open house May 6 to unveil preliminary parishwide flood maps.
The public meeting will be held from 2 to 8 p.m., at the Patterson Civic Center, 116 Cotton Road.
LaGrange said local officials and specialists will be on hand to answer questions and to provide additional information about the flood mapping process, the impact of new flood maps and the benefits and requirements of flood insurance.
According to FEMA, Flood Insurance Rate Maps delineate flood-risk zones and serve as an integral part of the National Flood Insurance Program, which plays a key role in defense against flood looses on an individual, community, state and national basis.
The new maps will replace the current maps, which FEMA has declared outdated.
St. Mary Parish Councilman Glen Hidalgo is proposing a change to the parish’s Home Rule Charter. * Photo by HOWARD CASTAY
