Two of the five applicants for the position of chief administrative officer for the city have received preliminary approval and been submitted to auditor Burton Kolder for his review. Both are certified public accountants.
Alexandra Alleman is a graduate of UL Lafayette who operates a private accounting practice. She was previously employed by the accounting firm Kolder, Champagne and Slaven.
Avis Gutekunst is an accounting graduate of LSU in Baton Rouge. She has worked in Baton Rouge for Wampold and Company and was an owner of Le Petit Paris cafe in St. Martinville.
Councilman Mike Fuselier told the Teche News that both seem to offer the experience and education needed for the job.
Other applicants for the job include Danielle Fontenette, who currently serves as manager of the St. Martinville’s Main Street program; Brian Taylor, who most recently worked for Liberty Tax in Lafayette; and Reginald Weary, who worked as a payroll specialist and accountant for the city of Patterson.
A special meeting will probably be called to consider Kolder’s opinion when it is submitted to the council, Fuselier said.
The new administrator will fill the position vacated when Shedrick Berard resigned last month. Berard held the office for five months after long-time administrator Donna Lasseigne retired in 2018.
