What’s going to happen to TEDA? Agency still clings to life

Voices that rose in protest mere months ago over the potential that Terrebonne Parish would abandon its economic development agency were silent last week as parish council members voted unanimously to accept Parish President Michel Claudet’s 2014 budget.

The board of the legislatively-created agency is now left the task of deciding its future course, minus the only funding it had, a percentage of the parish’s occupational license fees.

It no longer has a permanent executive director, and there are no immediate plans apparent for one to be hired. Donna Washington, who served as an assistant under departed CEO Steve Vassallo, has been filling that position in an interim capacity.

A key question for now is whether the agency will retain nearly $1 million in unspent money received through its fee-splitting arrangement with the parish, pursuant to a contract that expires in February and shall not be renewed.

TEDA’s attorney, James Dagate, has said the agency is under no legal obligation to return the money. If the board makes decisions based on that advice, then it may still have some life left in it, depending on whether board members desire a continued effort, and whether the parish’s legislative delegation wants to pull the plug on TEDA’s authorization for continued life, in Baton Rouge during the next session.

The board met yesterday after press time, so any hints – or specific actions – cannot yet be reported.

But board chairman Clarence Williams, interviewed several days before the meeting, gave strong indications that efforts are afoot to fashion some type of life support.

“All options will be explored,” said Williams, who gave indications that the board may seek an attorney general’s opinion, ostensibly to back up Dagate’s already-stated thought.

“The decision for TEDA to go forward or not is a board decision and everyone would probably represent that decision,” Williams said. “We shall see.”

The agency is currently looking at what severance plans it should make for employees, in the event that it folds up.

TEDA is down but, in Williams’ opinion, shouldn’t be counted out.

“I certainly think that TEDA can be a viable economic development enhancer,” Williams said.

For now, it appears that the agency will not be the parish’s economic development engine.

That task – according to Claudet’s budget – now rests with the parish’s Planning and Zoning department, which will hire at least three employees – or shuttle current employees from somewhere within parish government – to take on the role.