JOCKEYING FOR POSITION CONTINUES WITH AREA RECREATION

Terrebonne Parish has narrowed its local recreation reform efforts on Recreation District No. 11.

As of press time, the Terrebonne Parish Council Policy, Procedure and Legal Committee was set to consider introducing an ordinance that would establish Terrebonne’s strict fiscal oversight of Rec. 11. If approved by the committee, the ordinance would be up for public hearing and council approval at the Sept. 13 meeting. Other recreation district boards, wary of the ordinance’s overreach, are expected to put up resistance to the measure.

The ordinance proposed at Monday’s committee meeting was part of a larger ordinance Council Member John Navy introduced at the Aug. 9 council meeting. That ordinance, which included language giving the parish council authority to remove recreation board members with or without cause, was met by fierce opposition from rec board members before Navy pulled the ordinance. At the meeting, Assistant Parish Attorney Michelle Neil informed the council that state law already grants parish council’s the ability to remove board members without cause.

This week’s proposed ordinance removes the “with or without cause” removal language and solely focuses on Rec. 11, which has been particularly maligned for mismanagement by council members. The recreation district was found in the past to have given out contracts without full board approval and let contractors use parish equipment in their maintenance work. The proposed ordinance would require Rec. 11 to comply with

Louisiana bid, public works, public records and open meetings laws, which it is already required to do. However, it would also give Terrebonne Parish wide oversight powers, including the requirement of annual financial statement and budget submissions from the Rec. 11 board. Rec. 11 would only be allowed to adopt a proposed budget after council approval, with Parish President Gordon Dove having line item veto or reduction powers.

The Rec. 11 board would also be required to obtain written approval from Terrebonne Parish Chief Financial Officer Kandace Mauldin for any expenditures or payroll payments. Mauldin, or any auditor designated by the parish, would have the authority to conduct an audit of the recreation district at any time. The ordinance would give Mauldin the ability to impose fees or charge Rec. 11 for any costs associated with the expanded fiscal oversight.

While the ordinance focuses on Rec. 11, it would also give the council authority to add or remove other recreation districts as needed. Recreation District No. 10 Chairman Lloyd Poiencot said the council already has all the oversight powers it needs and recreation districts already turn in monthly financial reports. Poeincot said the additional regulations are about control rather than oversight.

“We can’t, every time we want to spend a dollar, go run up there and ask them if we could spend it,” Poeincot said.

The PPL Committee is also considering discussion and possible action related to the entire Rec. 11 board. At the last council meeting, Navy proposed dissolving the entire Rec. 11 board and appointing new members but could not do so as the topic was not on the agenda. Rec. 11 Chairman Randy Galliano said his district has addressed its past problems as they’ve popped up and is beginning to turn a corner. He said he would step down if the council requested his resignation, but thinks a dissolving of the board would be detrimental to the parish’s goals of an improved Rec. 11.

“I think they’re making a mistake if they do it. I think they’re finally in a position to get things right there, and if they dissolve it they may be starting all over with more problems,” Galliano said.