BERARD RESIGNS

Published 8:00 am Friday, April 5, 2019

ST. MARTINVILLE — As of Thursday afternoon, the city of St. Martinville is operating without either a chief administrative officer or an accounting specialist to handle its day-to-day financial business.

Shedrick Berard, who had been appointed to the CAO position in November, turned in his letter of resignation to Mayor Melinda Mitchell moments before a special meeting of the city council where the CAO position was to be discussed. His resignation comes after multiple issues in the city administration, including botched payroll deposits, unpaid bills, misplaced grant deposits and, most recently, a weeks-long search for $18,000 in traffic ticket revenues.

Two councilmen, District 4 Councilman Juma Johnson and District 5 Councilman Edmond Joseph, were not in attendance.

After learning of Berard’s resignation, the council moved to advertise for the position immediately and to have the process vetted through its independent auditor. Mitchell grumbled at the motion.

“Why do you have a problem with following the recommendation from (independent auditor Burton) Kolder?” Mayor Pro Tem Craig Prosper asked. “You didn’t follow his recommendation last time, and that didn’t work out well.”

Berard had been hired against Kolder’s recommendation.

The special meeting had two items up for discussion. Along with the CAO debate, the council also talked about Mitchell’s enlistment of her former campaign transition manager, Janine Coleman, to “look over” the city’s financial records on a pro bono basis.

Coleman had appeared before the council in October, touting a consulting deal that would have cost the city between $60,000 and $165,000 to “fix all the problems I found during the transition,” Coleman said. The council rejected the proposal.

Coleman was back Thursday to argue whether the council had the right to approve or disapprove which people could be allowed access to the city’s accounts and records.

District 1 Councilman Mike Fuselier started the meeting with a statement talking about his 25 years of service to the city and decrying the state of disarray he sees in the current discourse and operation.

“Two weeks ago, I was literally on the verge of throwing in the towel. Quitting. Stepping down,” Fuselier said, drawing a response of catcalls and urges for him to go ahead and quit from the crowd. “But my wife brought me to my senses. She said, ‘You have been elected by the people of your district. You cannot quit on them.’ And she is right. I am not a quitter, never been one.”

He continued to express his resolve to solve the problems.

“I will do what it takes no matter who likes it or not, no matter how loud those who have caused this turmoil yell,” Fuselier concluded.

“If we are going to save our city from financial ruin, we must start today. I am ready to do that,” he said to strong applause.

Prosper began the discussion over Coleman’s being allowed to access the city’s financial records, expressing his concern over having any individual without the council’s knowledge or permission having that sort of access to social security numbers and account routing codes.

Coleman argued that the city’s special legislative charter does not specifically address volunteers, nor does the Lawrason Act. She also invoked a state attorney general’s opinion that said anyone having access to records had to be “authorized” to have that access, implying that Mitchell could authorize such access, even though the council has the authority of hiring or firing employees and vendors.

Prosper asked Mitchell what sort of security or limits were in place in city hall.

“When people come into the building, they are supposed to sign in,” Mitchell said. “Sometimes people come in, and I am not here, they don’t. But they are supposed to sign in.”

Prosper then detailed his concern that people were loitering in city hall, preventing employees from accomplishing their work.

“Visitors not on official business should be here for a short period of time,” Prosper said. “They shouldn’t be here for hours just to hang out.”

Coleman again took to the lectern to chastise the council, specifically Prosper, for not supporting Mitchell.

“The council should be here to help the mayor,” Coleman said.

Prosper argued that it was Mitchell, not the council, who was acting on her own.

“We should never come into a meeting without having an idea of what is on the agenda,” Prosper said. “She should let us know what she wants to do before we find out in a meeting.”

Coleman went on the attack, citing Prosper’s attacks on her consulting proposal.

“All of this publicity, thankfully none of my clients are in St. Martinville. It’s not even on the map,” she said.

But Coleman overstepped when she questioned Fuselier’s dedication to the city.

“You do not come in here and question my dedication to my city,” Fuselier fired back, obviously angered. “I have served here for 25 years to make St. Martinville a better place. How dare you come in here and say that.”

The council voted to have any volunteers who would be performing work in any city department come before the council before being allowed to work. The motion passed unanimously.

Shedrick Berard’s tenure as Chief Administrative Officer for St. Martinville came to an end Thursday with his resignation. Here is a look at his time serving in the position.

OCTOBER

• Chief Finance Officer Donna Lasseigne announces she is leaving city employment.

• The position is advertised. After a review, City Independent Auditor Burton Kolder makes a recommendation. That candidate declined the offer, leaving Berard as the only candidate. Kolder recommends reopening the search process. Mitchell refuses.

NOVEMBER

• Berard takes over as CAO. Lasseigne stays on to help during transition.

JANUARY

• Lasseigne says she cannot continue to assist and bows out.

FEBRUARY

• Accounting specialist Kim Duplechin goes in for an outpatient medical visit. She remains on medical leave through February and March.

MARCH

• Payroll checks for two separate payroll periods have issues, including some bounced checks and incorrect pay amounts.

• Council discusses issues with vendors complaining of unpaid bills.

• Monies for the DARE program and LACE traffic enforcement program are deposited, but not able to be located.

APRIL

• Berard resigns.