Two appointment changes proposed by Mayor Melinda Mitchell failed to garner a majority vote at the August 6 city council meeting.
Mitchell unsuccessfully sought to replace city attorney Allan Durand and to have freshman councilman Juma Johnson named mayor pro tem.
The vote in both instanes was 3-2 against, with council members Mike Fuselier, Craig Prosper and Dennis Paul Williams opposing the action, witch was favored by councilmen Johnson and Edmond Jones.
Mayor Mitchell wanted to hire New Iberia attorney Thailund Porter-Green to replace Durand. But Durand’s supporters cited his success in managing the city’s legal affairs and procuring advantageous contracts for city services during his seven years as adviser.
Mitchell said she favored “new blood” in the legal department.
Also declined was Mitchell’s request to have Johnson replace veteran councilman Craig Prosper as mayor pro tem. Mitchell said the appointment would be a good way for Johnson, who was elected in April and took the Dist. 4 seat on June 26, to gain experience.
Opponents felt that the Prosper should keep the position. Prosper, a building contractor and businessman, is a valuable resource in many city administrative matters, they maintained.
In other business, the council gave the mayor permission to sign a contract with Republic Services for city trash services if she chooses to do so. She was also approved to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with St. Martin Parish Govlernment allowing the parish to fund a $50,000 study for drainage work in the north part of town.
Also, a vote passed allowing the city to take advantage of an opt-out clause in the contract with the current electrical wholesale provider, CLECO Energy. The action will begin a new bidding process to insure that rates are the lowest currently available.
Prosper took the opportunity to point out that it has been 25 years since electric poles were replaced in the city, and 15 since tree trimming crews cleared the growth from around utility lines. “We are now in another hurricane season and we we need to start thinking proactively about this situation before we have problems,” he said.
Police Chief Ricky Martin was given approval for a $75 across-the-board increase in traffic fines. Martin said the increase will still leave St. Martinville with the lowest fines in the area. He said the increase is needed to remedy serious financial stress on the department.
Finally, Martin was also given approval for a 30-day test period of the
Local Agency Compen-
sated Enforcement (LACE) program. The program is designed to put off-duty police officers on the street, compensated by traffic enforcement fines.
Currently, there are
just two patrol officers on St. Martinville’s streets aty any given time. The LACE program, Martin said, will double that number.
