LaPlace real estate developer Joseph Scontrino III was appointed to the Port of South Louisiana's board of commissioners Thursday by the St. John the Baptist Parish Council. Scontrino, president and CEO of Landcraft LLC, was approved unanimously by the seven council members who attended a special meeting, although council members grumbled that they had little time to evaluate the...
LaPlace real estate developer Joseph Scontrino III was appointed to the Port of South Louisiana's board of commissioners Thursday by the St. John the Baptist Parish Council.
Scontrino, president and CEO of Landcraft LLC, was approved unanimously by the seven council members who attended a special meeting, although council members grumbled that they had little time to evaluate the two candidates for the job.
"I hate doing things on a rush," Councilman Larry Snyder said.
Council members Ranney Wilson and Cheryl Millet were absent from, the special meeting, which was called on Tuesday.
Parish President Natalie Robottom told council members they didn't have more time because required nominations from the industry groups did not arrive until earlier this week.
"I feel the same way that you do. I don't like to be pushed to the limit," Robottom said.
Had the council not acted, it would have lost the power to make the appointment to Gov. Bobby Jindal. Robottom said that she and Jindal had spoken and that he was ready to appoint Scontrino.
Scontrino was nominated by the Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association and the River Region Chamber of Commerce. St. John businessman Pat Sellars was nominated by the New Orleans and Baton Rouge Port Pilots Association.
"I know both of them, and I didn't see a problem with either one of them," Council Chairman Lucien Gauff III said. "But I think Mr. Scontrino, as a business person, does give us an opportunity to bring a lot of value to St. John Parish."
If confirmed by the state Senate, Scontrino will replace Rusty Gaudet, who did not seek a re-appointment to the commission.
The governor appoints four of the port's seven commissioners, while St. Charles, St. John the Baptist and St. James parish governments appoint one member each. Commissioners for all but one seat must be nominated by certain groups, most of them river-related industry associations. The governor has one appointment on the commission who must be a resident of one of the three parishes.
Robottom said that she has been assured that Edgard resident Louis Joseph, now the port commission chairman, will be re-appointed. Joseph has been nominated by the AFL-CIO.