Council puts TEDA status on hold

Members of the Terrebonne Parish Council will wait 30 days to determine the future of a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority.

Although the council did not mention the policy, which has come up for renewal, during their regular public meeting last Wednesday, Council Chairman Clayton Voisin said it was discussed during their Monday committee meeting.

“It’s been put on hold. Ms. [Arlanda] Williams had a motion to continue the contract with TEDA for 30 days. In that time, we will meet with TEDA and get some information,” Voisin said. He declined to offer details on the situation.

A renewed CEA would keep TEDA operating as the parish’s major economic development authority. Failure to renew the agreement could result in the halting of funds, loss of staff jobs and stall operation of multiple projects.

“Sometimes there is a disconnect with the [parish] council, TEDA chairman Don Hingle said at the TEDA Board of Commissioners meeting last Tuesday.

The disconnect is reportedly related to the handling of former TEDA CEO Mike Ferninand’s removal from office and not having a permanent CEO in place at the time of renewal.

At about the same time that Ferdinand was fired, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a claim against TEDA on an unnamed workplace related issue. Hingle would neither confirm nor deny that the case had to do with Ferdinand’s termination. At the same time, TEDA board members gave approval to spending $15,000 on an insurance deductable to help defend their organization in the EEOC case.

Neither TEDA board members nor parish council members have said anything to confirm if the EEOC claim and Ferdinand’s dismissal have anything to do with a hold placed on renewing the CEA.

“We want to reconnect with the council, with the parish president and with the community. We want to re-educate the community on our purpose,” Hingle said.

South Central Industrial Association Executive Director Jane Arnette had been named to the role of interim CEO for TEDA on a volunteer basis. Her term will expire at the end of February.