Port director’s contract on hold

The Greater Lafourche Port Commission took no action Thursday at a special meeting called primarily to discuss the status of outgoing executive director Ted Falgout.

Falgout, who announced earlier in the year that he was stepping down from his post after more than 25 years of heading the port, noted at the meeting that he still intends to retire at the end of the year when his contract expires. However, he said he is willing to remain until the January meeting of the commission at which time the new commission is expected to begin a search for a new executive director.

The commission did not act on his invitation at last week’s meeting.

Two new commission members, Perry Gisclair and Jimmy Guidry, along with seven re-elected members, will take the oath of office in January. The new board will oversee the operations of Port Fourchon and the South Lafourche Leonard Miller Jr. Airport for the next six years.

A motion by commissioner Harry Cheramie to open the application process for a new executive director in December failed by a vote of 4-4. Voting for the motion were Cheramie, Jimmy “T-Jim” Lafont, Beau Martin and Harris “Chuckie” Cheramie Jr. Voting against the motion were Donald Vizier, Wilbert Collins, Johnny Melancon and Ervin “Vin” Bruce. Commissioner Larry Griffin was absent from the meeting.

“I think we should begin taking applications now so that when the new board is seated they can have all the information in front of them and be ready to move forward,” said commissioner Harris Cheramie. “If we wait, we will lose two months in the process.”

Board members Donald Vizier acknowledged Cheramie’s concerns but said the matter should wait until the new board is seated in January.

“It’s an important issue and I don’t think waiting two months is too much to ask,” Vizier said, noting that the new board members may have issues that should be considered in the matter.

Melancon also spoke in favor of waiting for the new board to handle the process. “We will be seating a new personnel committee also in January. We can still get this done by the end of March or April, he said.”

Melancon also proposed rewriting the job description for the position to more accurately define the powers and duties of the executive director of the commission.

The commission did agree to allow legal counsel to put together a draft package of documents for the search, including a newly worded job description along with possible salary ranges and any potential residency requirements for the position, among other details. The package is expected to be discussed at the board’s December meeting.