Residents ired by recreation board

With each passing week, residents are becoming less patient with the District 11 Recreation Board. Two Terrebonne residents, fed up with poor public relations and a slow-grinding work ethic, decided to take action by addressing a higher level of government.

As a result of statements made by Houma residents Charles Bass and Lawrence Thibodeaux, given at the Nov. 9 regular Terrebonne Parish Council meeting, Councilwomen Arlanda Williams of District 2 and Christine Duplantis of District 5 pledged to investigate the board’s conduct.

“This needs to be looked into because the way the board is handling things right now is wrong,” said Bass.

The Houma man said he addressed the board on the current parking situation at Dumas Park two weeks ago, explaining that visitors are parking on the tennis courts because of a lack of available lot space. Prior to that meeting, he requested that a fence be constructed, if not around the perimeter of the park, then along the backside separating the grounds from his neighborhood.

“To some others and me it’s not only allowing people into the subdivision, it’s making the neighborhood unsafe for the kids,” he said.

Bass admitted that there has been a dispute over the fence for a number of years, which he felt has affected the board’s attitude toward him when he red-flagged the parking issue.

“I urge all of you to listen to that tape. The way (the board) talks to people, it’s bad,” said Bass.

One particular recreation board member’s domicile has caused some concern; Bass claimed that he is not a permanent resident at his listed home address. Bass tried said he to contact the member at his home via mail and letters were returned.

“When I asked the [recreation] board about their policy for parking on the park, they said they didn’t have one. So now I am asking you, who sets the standards for the board and what is the policy,” Bass asked the parish council.

According to Councilman Pete Lambert, entities like the District 11 Recreational Board are difficult to police because members do not have to be homeowners. Because they are able to merely rent within the district, they can reside in another location out of the district and still serve on the board.

Parish Attorney Courtney Alcock explained that only the board could ask the member to resign because the council appointed him. Council members do have the option to make a recommendation of action, she said.

“I will meet with that board to see what’s going on and try to go back as far as I can to see what actually happened. I am going to back you on the parking and the fence and the situation with (the board member), I will do my best to get to the bottom of it,” said Williams.

Thibodeaux has addressed the council previously on the prolonged closure of the Williams Park walking track, which was named the Glen F. Pope Memorial Park in August. Many people utilized the half-mile track for walking or running. Some residents have been ignoring the barricade and continue to walk along the track, Thibodeaux said.

“I need that track like you need food everyday,” he said.

Duplantis said that the council approved $50,000 for track repairs two weeks ago, but claimed the money wasn’t enough to fix the facility properly.

“I had a dream for the track, but I think that they will just be patching it up so they can remove the barricades, “she said. “In a few years it will have to be repaired again.”

Backing Williams, Duplantis said she plans to attend the next board meeting; the council has not been able to attend Recreation District 11 meetings in the past because they fell on the same Wednesday the council assembles. However, the board recently moved its meeting to Thursdays.

Because her district falls under the District 11 Recreation Board, Duplantis said she hears complaints, is tired of it, and plans to do something about it.

“We let these boards spend millage money and we do get invoices on what is spent,” she said. “But, we have no clue as to what is going on with employees. Things are happening and I don’t like it and I am disappointed. I am disappointed with the way government is allowing certain boards to spend taxpayer’s dollars.”

Alvin Tillman, district 1 councilman, suggested that the council review the tape before taking action.

“If there is an issue, I would gladly back Ms. Williams at the board meeting, but let’s listen to the tapes first,” he said.