Article Image Alt Text

Councilman Eugene Foulcard, Legal Counsel Russel Cremaldi and Mayor Raymond Harris Jr.

City council mulls action on oyster plant complaints

Tuesday’s meeting of Franklin’s City Council, centered around civil stewardship, and the community’s galvanization toward the common goals of health, safety and the public trust.
City Attorney Russel Cremaldi addressed a long standing public nuisance accusation concerning Ameripure Processing Company and the odor surrounding its Franklin facility.
“What we’ve got is, we’ve got a situation where the lease with Ameripure prohibits any activity being conducted on the premises that would constitute a nuisance,” Cremaldi said. “Well we’ve certainly heard from a neighboring landowner of numerous activities that would constitute a nuisance.”
Cremaldi went on to say that as the landowner, or “lessor,” it was up to the mayoral administration to decide whether or not they felt it in the best interest of the city to demand Ameripure, the “lessee,” take action to resolve the nuisances that have them in violation of their lease with the city. However, Cremaldi also stated that he thought it best to ask the city council to weigh in on the matter.
Mayor Raymond Harris said he thought Ameripure should receive a letter of action from City Hall, and he was met with agreement from the other members of the council.
Also Tuesday, Mayor Protempore Lester Levine called to action the community at large concerning the safety of citizens and their property.
“We are having events going on in the parks and in the recreation center, and it has been a year since we talked about ‘If you see something, say something,’” Levine said, “and now we are to the point where people come outside, and their car glass has been burst, the city’s lights from the parks are being shot out, and it is beginning to get to the point where it is aggravating.”
Levine gave an account of being at his home, across from a sporting event, and witnessing a suspect attempting to break the window of an automobile that was parked at the sporting event.
Levine said he “politely” tapped his own window to get the attention of the would-be glass breaker, and once he was sure he had thwarted the crime, sought the assistance of the security detail patrolling the sporting event, to report the suspicious activity to the police.
“I could have sat in my house and said nothing,” Levine said, “but I don’t think I could have lived with myself, seeing somebody out there busting somebody’s car glass.
“That’s what’s getting me. We’re out here seeing these things taking place, and we’re not calling the police department, we’re not telling people what’s going on, and all that’s done is to call and talk about us up here (councilmembers).
“Grab a phone, call the police department, and say, ‘This is what I see.’ You don’t have to give your name. Just, when you see it, say something.”
Levine gave a second account of being at an event where vandalism took place, and said he approached a bystander who claimed to be sitting in view of the site of the crime, for five hours. Levine said, “You mean you’ve been sitting here for five hours and you say you’ve seen nothing?! That makes me think that you were in on it!
“That’s what we’re dealing with, people. Just seeing something and not saying anything isn’t good enough.”
The council was in agreement that Levine’s comments were of merit, and reiterated his concerns.
Councilman Eugene Foulcard spoke of his wife’s involvement in a social media crime watch group, and attested to its seeming effectiveness; and Councilman Chuck Autin reminded citizens to lock their vehicles, and to stow valuables within, out of sight.
In other business, Teche Action Clinic’s Tobacco Free Initiative was discussed, albeit in the absence of the initiative’s champion, Dr. Gary Wiltz.
It was decided by the council, to discuss in private, the measures, means and lengths to which they were prepared to go concerning the particulars of a city campus tobacco ban, and to retain such a decision, until a future meeting.

ST. MARY NOW

Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874

Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255