Parish Council puts charter changes on ballot -- but when?

By BILL DECKER
bdecker@daily-review.com
FRANKLIN — Despite a three-hour meeting, some of the major business on Wednesday’s St. Mary Parish Council agenda was put on hold. But the council passed an ordinance that could lead to the biggest changes of all.
The council unanimously approved an ordinance that will put a proposed amended home rule charter on an upcoming ballot for parish voters to decide.
The council also re-elected the two women who will preside at council meetings this year.
The council put off action on a controversial $500,000 allocation for water and drainage work in Bayou Vista and condemnation of the fire-damaged Plantation Inn hotel in Bayou Vista.
Charter vote
A year of work by an 11-member Charter Review Commission resulted in six major changes in the current parish governing document:
•The council would be reduced to eight members from 11 by eliminating the three at-large districts. The current charter limits the two council leadership positions to members elected from the at-large districts. All three at-large members are elected by voters parishwide.
•Compensation for the parish president and council members would be changed “to reflect current duties, with cost-of-living adjustments every four years.”
•Council members and the parish president would be limited to 1-1/2 consecutive terms.
•The chief administrative officer post would be eliminated, leaving the parish president as chief executive and administrative officer. This provision and the potential pay raise move the parish closer to having a full-time parish president, which advocates say is needed to make the parish competitive in endeavors such as economic development.
•Procedures for vacancies, meetings and publication of ordinances would be updated.
•Outdated, redundant or obsolete sections, including outdated ballot and district provisions, would be removed.
Kristi Prejeant Rink was instrumental in leaving charter revisions up to a commission, which meant that the council would be forbidden from changing the panel’s recommendations before submitting them to voters.
After Wednesday’s meeting, Rink expressed some concern about the result. She said voters would be required to vote up or down on the whole package of revisions.
“There may be one or two things you’re against,” Rink said.
It’s still not clear when the election will be. The ordinance requires the election to be on the first state-authorized election date at least 60 days after the ordinance is published.
Officials said they hope to schedule a charter revision election on a date when there will be other balloting in order to save money. They’re looking for legal advice on the matter.
The Secretary of State’s Office election calendar includes special legislative elections Feb. 7, March 14 and April 18; and party and municipal primary elections May 16, June 27, Nov. 3 and Dec. 12.
Also Wednesday:
•The council put off action on the request for $500,000 from the Wards 5 & 8 Sales Tax Fund for drainage and sewer system improvements in Bayou Vista.
The appropriation has been held up by debate over how the sales tax funds are used and accounted for.
Chad Ross of the Bayou Vista Drainage District asked the council to delay a decision until he can get updated estimates on proposed projects. The current estimates are nearly three years old.
•The council tabled a passage vote on the condemnation of the Plantation Inn. There has been no confirmation that the owners of the property have received the required notice.
Attempts to have the hotel torn down date back at least four years, but have been delayed by ownership changes and pledges that the hotel will be returned to safe condition.
The ordinance condemning the property says it is “in dilapidated and dangerous condition which endangers the public welfare.”
•The council voted to re-elect Gwen Hidalgo of Bayou Vista as council chairwoman and Rink as vice chairwoman. Hidalgo won 8-3 over Dean Adams of Morgan City. Rink was re-elected by a voice vote.
The charter limits leadership posts to the members who represent the three at-large districts.
Hidalgo remains one of the two women in St. Mary leadership roles at the parish or municipal level. The other is School Board President Alaina Black. Betty Hicks also chaired the Charter Review Commission.