TEDA board seeks ‘positive’ solution with parish

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A task force comprised of Terrebonne Economic Development Authority board members is moving ahead with plans for discussion with parish government officials aimed at retaining the agency’s contract.

Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet has eliminated payments to the agency, which was established by state statute, from his 2014 budget. A new economic development division, under his plan, would be established within the parish’s zoning department.

Claudet’s public statements regarding reasons for the change have been vague and took TEDA board members by surprise. 


But at a meeting last Tuesday, members of the task force charged with approaching Claudet and other parish officials agreed that their push for survival depends on a focus on what they can accomplish for the parish, rather than decoding the parish president’s reasons for defunding the agency.

Terrebonne Parish does not have the authority to disassemble TEDA, because it was created under state laws passed by the Legislature. But the parish gives the agency half of the occupational business license fees it receives, which makes up the bulk of TEDA’s funding. The agency’s share of the fees generally comes to around $600,000 annually.

“The discussion needs to be positive,” said TEDA board member Laynie Barrilleaux, vice president for academic affairs at Nicholls State University.


Barrilleaux was among board members who suggested creation of the task force group.

Houma attorney Louis “Bubba” Watkins, who has with TEDA chairman Clarence Williams already had a meeting with Claudet, said there was mention in that discussion of a list of things the agency has allegedly not accomplished.

A list, Watkins said, was never produced. But he called the attention of board members to a strategic plan for the agency developed by a contractor in 2008. 


“Some of the things in here we haven’t done, like developing wind farms,” Watkins said. “But there are a lot of things here that we are doing.”

Board members said their hope is to create a dialogue with Claudet, and to convince parish council members, who will give the yeas or nays on Claudet’s budget and its provisions, to support TEDA’s continued funding.

TEDA executive director Steve Vassallo tendered his resignation last month after learning of Claudet’s plans, announcing it at a parish council committee meeting.


The resignation becomes effective Dec. 24. Some board members have suggested that if Vassallo plans to leave he should be allowed to do so immediately, drawing pay through that date. But others said that since the resignation was not due to any performance problems he should continue to work for the agency if he desires to do so.

A date for a meeting with Claudet and other officials has not been set.