Measures to standardize parish board times raised, voted down

Published 12:30 am Thursday, October 11, 2018

Five votes were taken and failed at Wednesday night’s Iberia Parish Council on an ordinance that would have established uniform times for all parish boards and commissions.

The ordinance in question would have required all parish boards and commissions to take place after 6 p.m. in order for the public to have a better opportunity to attend those meetings.

But several council members brought up problems with the law, and also mentioned the fact that the new requirement would prove problematic for boards that currently meet before 6 p.m.

“Some boards aren’t in favor of it,” Councilman Brian Napier said. “I’d like to throw out a substitute motion where we can give them a range.”

Napier’s first substitute motion changed the requirement from 6 p.m. to at least 3:30 p.m.

“I’m kind of good with Brian’s (motion),” Councilman Michael Landry said. “I’ve heard a lot of things from all the boards, but I do want to open it up so young people and other people can come and try to get on some of these boards. I couldn’t support 6 o’ clock, I really couldn’t.”

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Councilman Tommy Pollard said. “It’s been going on years before we even got here, and it’s been working fine.”

911 Director Prescott Marshall also commented, and said his board initially had a 2:30 p.m. meeting time two or three years ago, but switched it to 10 a.m. because not all members were able to attend. He added that the 911 board would abide by whatever decision was made.

Napier’s vote failed, however, with five voting for and six voting against.

Councilwoman Natalie Broussard then offered another substitute motion that would require every board and commission with the exception of the 911 board to have at least a 3:30 p.m. meeting time.

Councilman Warren Gachassin said the ordinance wouldn’t just be problematic for board members, but also legal counsel and engineers who attend the meetings. Some staff, engineers and legal counsel may even have to be paid comp time to stay later for those meetings he said.

“I think it’s going to end up costing the parish more,” Gachassin said.

Broussard’s substitute motion also failed, 3-8.

Broussard then offered another substitute motion to table the issue until all boards and commissions could be surveyed about how they would be affected by the time change. Iberia Parish Airport Director Pat Norris addressed the board to say the time change would be a problem for his board’s engineer, staff and legal counsel as well.

“I polled these members myself, to have another poll is really not necessary,” Councilman Eugene Olivier said.  “I always felt the board needs the power to decide when they want to give their board meetings.”

That motion failed 5-6.

Napier then took the final substitute motion, asking that all boards be required to have their meetings 3 p.m. at the earliest. That motion failed 4-7.

Finally, the final vote went back to the original motion of establishing a 6 p.m. requirement. Every council member but Napier voted against that proposal, meaning no change was ultimately made.