Parish Council to discuss Home Rule Charter change

The St. Landry Parish Council voted to discuss changes to the home rule charter that has been in effect since 2004.
The Council’s Public Works Committee approved a motion by Councilman Jerry Red to bring the home rule charter discussion to the full Council.
Red said many people think the councilmen have powers similar to those of the former police jury system.
“We are the council. We are the legislative side of government and the parish president is to make sure work gets done,” Red said.
Council members must “go through the chain of command” to get something done, he said. “Sometimes things linger on for two or three months and don’t get taken care of.”
Red proposed that the council ratify the parish president’s appointments for one year periods rather than for four years.
Other action at Wednesday’s committee meetings included the following.
Fire District 3 is requested to present its finances and have a representative explain its operations at a council meeting.
The appointment terms to Hospital District 2, Opelousas General, is to be determined.
Applicants for boards and commission may have to present additional information to the council if the full board approves. The information includes family ties to parish government employees, criminal background check and bankruptcies.
Councilwoman Pam Gautreau made the proposal for the additional information.
“We have some people serving on some boards that have extremely questionable backgrounds and some criminal backgrounds,” she said “And they are in charge of some of the taxpayers’ money, a lot in fact.”
The next Council meeting is Oct. 21.