Julia Boquet
July 28, 2018
NICHOLLS IS THE PICK OF THE LITTER
July 28, 2018
Knowing the Lafourche Parish Council would address the firing of Parish Community Action Director Freddia Ruffin-Roberson at their July 24 meeting in Matthews, Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle in advance, issued a letter to agency Board President Rev. Richmond Boyd, defending the firing, and expressing his wishes to help Boyd continue operating the office.
The letter, dated July 19, opens with Cantrelle writing that he is working to deal with internal personnel problems and other issues within the community action agency.
“My highest priority is to assure the delivery of services to the elderly and neediest citizens in our community. I trust that you and the board are committed to joining in that worthy mission,” he said.
Then he calls on Boyd to promote cooperation and inclusion of the board in the necessary processes. He recalls how he tried to contact Boyd by phone to arrange a meeting early last week, but those attempts failed because Boyd never returned his calls.
Last week, Boyd informed the Houma Times that he has no plans to call a meeting until the local and state district attorney or their representatives issue an opinion as to whether the parish administration or the council, are in charge of the community action agency.
Cantrelle asks Boyd in the letter to realize, that a, “one-sided effort will not serve the needs of the very people you have promised to help.”
Then Cantrelle begins to defend his actions, writing that his office requested an opinion from the district attorney months ago, an still has received nothing.
“Now it (the opinion request) has been handed off to the Attorney General. More months, and perhaps nothing. The pressing matters at hand cannot wait,” he wrote.
He informs Boyd to check with the attorney general’s website, where he will find this statement: “Opinions of the Attorney General are advisory only; they do not have force and effect of the law.”
As such, he admits to having informed himself on “what appear to be the relevant and applicable laws, ordinances and correct language.”
“I have acted in good faith and in accordance with those rules, and in compliance with my duties expressed in the Lafourche Parish Home Rule Charter. I will continue to do so in the best interests of the people of Lafourche Parish,” Cantrelle writes.
“We need to take the practical interests out of the situation and devote our efforts to providing services to those in need,” he said.
He ends his letter by calling on Boyd to open the lines of communication and engage with him in a joint and cooperative effort to resolve the issues within the community action agency, and to call a board meeting.
Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle fired Lafourche Community Action Director Freddia Ruffin-Roberson on July 9, the parish council, Boyd an others question whether he could do so.
They are also still questioning why.
Lafourche Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle penned a letter, urging Rev. Richmond Boyd to continue operating Lafourche Community Action.
