Ascension council sends charter changes to voters

• By DAVID J. MITCHELL
• Advocate River parishes bureau
• Published: Nov 6, 2009 - Page: 3B

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DONALDSONVILLE — The Ascension Parish Council adopted a raft of proposed amendments to the home rule charter Thursday, sending them on a path to the voters and the March 27 ballot.

Recommended by the Ascension Parish Home Rule Charter Commission earlier this year, the 28 amendments were adopted unanimously by the 11-member council with two exceptions.

A pay raise for the parish president and a change that would allow just summaries of proposed ordinances to be read at council meetings were adopted with 8-3 votes.

The other 26 amendments, which include some limits on the council’s power over personnel decisions and an end to its authority to exert budgetary controls on boards and commissions in favor of the parish’s chief financial officer, drew no public or council comment.

The council now can put the amendments on the ballot as one package or separately, Parish Attorney Lindsey Manda said.

But Parish Council Chair Pat Bell said after the special meeting that the council would put them on the ballot as one item that will need one vote.

Councilman George Valentine opposed the pay raise, which ties the minimum salary of the parish president to the sheriff’s wage scale, saying it would eliminate the accountability the council has in setting the president’s pay.

In comments later echoed by Councilman Oliver Joseph, Valentine said the state Legislature sets sheriffs’ salaries, so the amendment would open the door to allowing sheriffs’ lobbyists to set the parish president’s salary.

Milton Clouatre, who sat on the charter commission, said the Legislature does set sheriffs’ salaries, but with approval of the U.S. Supreme Court and with pay levels based on population.

Clouatre said sheriffs cannot just go to the Legislature “and ask for a raise and get it.”

Councilmen Joseph, Todd Lambert and Valentine opposed the salary change. All others supported it.

On the reading ordinances, Valentine again opposed the amendment, questioning who would determine what the summaries would say.

He added many residents watch council meetings on public access television. The entire ordinance is currently read.