Paul Governale named to chief administrative officer post

Paul Governale will be St. Mary Parish government’s new chief administrative officer.
The Parish Council voted unanimously Wednesday to confirm Parish President Sam Jones’ appointment of Governale, who has served as parish government’s finance director.
Governale takes the job as the parish government struggles to cover what is expected to be a $2.5 million shortfall in the 2024 budget.
Jones named Governale to be the interim CAO last month after Jean Paul Bourg resigned.
The parish charter, which effectively makes the parish presidency a part-time position, gives the CAO broad authority over the government’s day-to-day operations, including personnel matters.
Governale has worked for parish government for 18 years, a fact that figures in his compensation.
The council agreed to raise Governale’s salary by 6% now with the possibility of another 6% raise in three months.
Governale’s salary was not disclosed at the meeting. But because of his lengthy tenure, he had been making more than Bourg, who had seven years of service with the parish.
Jones said that even with the raise, the parish will come out $24,000 ahead because the new finance director will start at a lower salary.
When it was time for public comment, Woodrow Parker of Morgan City came to the lectern to ask how much Governale makes.
Councilman the Rev. Craig Mathews said rule protect the privacy of individual employees.
"His income, council member Mathews, is taxpayer money," Parker said.