Fire district board removed

A fire district board’s members were dismissed on vote of the St. Mary Parish Council Wednesday.
By resolution presented by Councilman Craig Mathews, the agenda item called for “action to declare that the appointments of all members of St. Mary Parish Fire Protection District II are rescinded and their offices are declared vacant effective immediately. Additionally, declare the positions shall be advertised immediately to fulfill the unexpired terms according to parish ordinances, regulations and procedures.”
The resolution also stipulates that parish Chief Administrative Officer Henry “Bo” LaGrange will assume responsibility of the district and its various interests.
“This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make in my term in office,” Mathews said. “I attended board meetings of this district and three or four other boards that are housed in the boundaries of (council) Dist. 1. Some of you know I’ve been very actively engaged in each of these political subdivisions.”
Mathews said he has made “numerous attempt” to help and guide the Dist. 11 board.
He cited his reasons as violations of the open meetings law, inability to properly manage their operating budget, to the extent of overspending repeatedly, and not giving proper oversight to the needs of the district.
Parish President David Hanagriff supported Mathews’ intentions. “It’s a big responsibility,” he said. “Operating a district like that.”
The resolution passed unanimously.
In other business:
—Dwayne Webb, of Baldwin, asked the council for a football program in Baldwin.
—Resolutions of respect were approved for Dr. Karen Hayes Ordoyne, Etienne “Doc” Kidder, former legislator John Siracusa and Rev. William Paul Ruskoski Jr.
—Kimberly Saucier was reappointed to the parish Planning and Zoning Commission.
—Ben A. Adams was reappointed to the Morgan City Port board.
—$4,200 was allocated to the Recreation Dist. 5 board.