It’s a Jungle out there, PRINCESS!
June 15, 2018
Lafourche Booking Log – June 18, 2018
June 19, 2018
Lafourche Community Action remains closed since Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle shut the office down last Wednesday, after he placed all four of the agency’s employees on administrative leave.
His reasoning? Parish Administrator Tommy Lasseigne said Cantrelle wants to know whether parish administration, the parish council, or the governing board of the agency, is in control of the operations of the office.
Meanwhile, Councilman Jerry Jones said none of the parish programs are available to the public, including the LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), because the office remains closed.
Lasseigne said the parish president is out of town and on vacation.
However, he said parish administration is waiting for a legal opinion, “and we should have it any day now.”
Lasseigne said Cantrelle closed the office because of issues, which he refused to discuss.
“They may be going back to work this week, we’re waiting to hear from the state,” Lasseigne said.
Jones however, said “that’s a bogus excuse.”
“What they’re trying to do is get the District Attorney involved to say the council can’t sign contracts. However, we have it in writing that the council is the appointing authority of the agency,” he said.
“Community Action is governed according to by-laws, because you’re dealing with federal dollars.”
“This is just another program where Jimmy wants to fire people, and take control,” Jones said.
