St. Mary Parish Council to debate Home Rule Charter changes

St. Mary Parish residents will have only one opportunity to voice their opinions about four proposed parish charter changes, at a June 9 public hearing.

The parish council will hear public comments on the changes – including extending pay raises and term limits on the parish president and council seats – at 5:45 p.m., on the fifth floor of the Franklin Courthouse.

Any changes to the language will be decided at the June 9 meeting. Voters will have a final say when the items appear on the fall ballot, either in October or November.

Among the charter adjustments under consideration are raising the monthly salaries of councilmen from $450 to $800, or $9,600 yearly. At-large members’ pay would increase from $800 to $1,150 monthly for a total of $13,800 annually. The parish president would see a larger increase – from $1,000 to $3,000 monthly, or $36,000 annually, for the part-time post.

The council is comprised of 11 seats, three of which are at-large positions.

Voters will also be asked to consider term limits for St. Mary Parish Council seats.

Under the proposed change, council members would be barred from serving in any council seat for more than two consecutive terms. The change is designed to prevent members from representing a council district for eight years, then seeking an additional term in an at-large seat.

The final change would allow the administration to dock a parish council member’s pay should he miss more than three regular monthly council meetings without providing a valid excuse to the parish president. The pay would be cut in half indefinitely, according to the proposed change.

The last time St. Mary Parish voters approved changing the charter was in 1983, according to incumbent councilman Glen Hidalgo, who wants the changes to be included on a November ballot.

The measures have received mixed reviews from sitting council members.

Kevin Voisin, who opposes the changes, said some of the changes – term limits, for instance – already exist. “If someone doesn’t like you or if you’re not doing a good job, trust me, at the end of four years, you will be voted off,” he said.

The proposed pay hike for council members, however, is gaining support.

Councilman Craig Matthews was quick to throw his support behind the salary adjustments, call the current dollar amount paid to parish leaders “absurd and antiquated.”

“I don’t think there is one person in the parish who would disagree with that,” he said.

Councilman Gary Duhon agreed, saying, “There are a lot of great people who would love to run for a council seat and even more qualified people for the job of parish president, but they can’t afford it. Who can work for $12,000 a year in this day?” he asked. “We have to put this parish in a position so that we can have good leadership.”