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With their power of local recreation districts affirmed through a state attorney general’s opinion, Terrebonne Parish Council members are moving slowly, along with Parish President Gordon Dove’s administration, toward addressing issues arising from how some are operated.
“Slowly” is the operative word for parents of youngsters who use recreation district facilities, or have in the past.
There is evidence, however, that one agency — Louisiana Ethics Administration — is taking a look at complaints it received.
The Ethics Board does not announce its investigations unless and until a finding of wrongdoing is made.
But The Times has confirmed that a letter was received by District 2-3 concerning one of its employees. The letter, board secretary Sonja Labat said, can only be released with the permission of field manager Darrel Karpinski. A reference to the letter is also contained in the minutes of the Recreation District 2-3 board.
Karpinski was accused last year of pocketing fees some travel teams paid to use District 2-3 fields for practice. District 2-3 board members said they permitted the practice, as it was seen as a way of compensating Karpinski for time he spent opening and closing those fields. The arrangement was unique among Terrebonne recreation districts, which usually take in practice fees for fields or gyms as revenue, if they charge anything at all.
If the ethics board finds reason to believe wrong-doing took place, it would file charges.
A different authority, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, has made clear through his office that the Parish of Terrebonne has power over its recreation districts, a question that came up when an ordinance was proposed that allows the council to take on and to fire at will members of recreation boards.
Terrebonne has 11 such boards, which levy taxes for recreation facilities which they build and maintain. The parish, an opinion issued by Landry’s office maintains, also has the power to set the number of members on its recreation boards.
“A parish governing authority may remove the members of entities who the parish governing authority is empowered to appoint,” states the opinion.
Discussion of recreation districts drew interest last year because of questions about progress being made — or not made — on Terrebonne’s regional sports center, a project nearly a decade in the making and the product of a partnership between the parish itself and Recreation District 2-3.
The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce weighed in heavily on recreation district issues, suggesting that the parish’s current approach does not meet current community needs.
Officials of rec districts, particularly those in bayou communities, have noted that their sites and services are consistent with the needs and desires of the specific communities where they are located. They oppose a more centralized approach.
Parish President Gordon Dove has convened a board made up of recreation board members or chairs. Its next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday Mar. 27, at the Montegut Recreation Center.
