A move to require the St. Charles Parish president to notify the Parish Council when some professional service contracts are six months away from expiration drew resistance from some council members earlier this week. Councilman Paul Hogan's proposed ordinance would require the administration to notify the council when contracts for mosquito control, garbage collection and sewer sludge hauling...
A move to require the St. Charles Parish president to notify the Parish Council when some professional service contracts are six months away from expiration drew resistance from some council members earlier this week.
Paul HoganCouncilman Paul Hogan's proposed ordinance would require the administration to notify the council when contracts for mosquito control, garbage collection and sewer sludge hauling are within six months of expiring.
But several council members closely questioned Hogan on Monday about including the latter contract in the ordinance. The sludge hauling contract is held by N/C Materials, a company owned by Neal Clulee, a member of the parish's planning and zoning commission who is active in parish politics.
Clulee, a Luling resident, also is the parish's nominee for the parish's seat on the New Orleans Aviation Board.
The contract to haul away the residue from the parish's treatment plant cost the parish $103,000 last year, relatively small potatoes compared to the annual $1.6 million garbage contract with IESI or the $957,000 annual mosquito contract with Mosquito Control Inc.
"I'm kind of perplexed as to why sewer sludge is on this one," Council Chairman Larry Cochran said.
Hogan said the contract is among those that are essential to the residents' well-being, because failing to have a contract in place could impact residents directly.
Councilman Dennis Nuss asked why other contracts such as the ones for street light repair, weren't also included.
"It's just creating some confusion in the ones you picked," Nuss said.
"You can still go to work if your street lights are out," Hogan replied. "If you can't flush your toilet, you have a problem."
Hogan said the measure is important to give the council enough time to seek competitive proposals for services.
"If y'all don't want to know, vote this thing down," he said. "I want to know. I would think your constituents would want you to know and to address this thing when it comes up."
Hogan asked that the matter be tabled and sent to a committee for further review.
Hogan, Traci Fletcher, Terrell Wilson, Shelley Tastet and Wendy Benedetto voted to table the matter.
Council members Carolyn Schexnaydre, Cochran, Nuss, and Clayton "Snookie" Faucheux Jr. voted against tabling.
A committee meeting to consider the measure had not been set on Thursday.
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