[StBernard] flooded truck<br>

[Westley Annis]

Westley,
 
you are correct about the division of authority in the Home Rule Charter-
however, that division is not and should not disrupt communication of
constituent concerns relayed by council members.  We are not talking about
issuing work orders, we are talking about the basic flow of information.  As
anyone who has attempted to navigate through the administrative maze knows,
that many calls go unanwered which is why council members are routinely
involved in turning in and tracking any resolutions.

Without turning this into a political debate- the restriction of contact
only serves to isolate the constituency from the attention they seek, from
whomever can give it to them- and right or wrong council members have been
largely more accessible and can reach government personnel easier (at least
prior to this) than the general public.

God Bless,
Craig

-----Original Message-----
Gaby,

I will answer this one.

Under the St. Bernard Home Rule Charter, the Council is suppose to deal with
legislative matters while the Parish President deals with executive matters.

As part of that separation, the Council is suppose to be hands off in
dealing with any administration offices and employees.  In strict terms, the
Council is not suppose to talk with any parish employee about any parish
business.  Period.

If you have a problem getting a building permit, it should be addressed to
the administration.  If you don't like the codes that need to be met for a
building permit, then you talk to your councilman.

Since the storm, I'm guessing Junior has been a little lax in that
separation of powers.  Now with the election coming up, he doesn't want to
give any undue perception of power to anyone else.

This is not something that is unique to St. Bernard Parish.  It is like this
in every parish that has a Home Rule Charter.

As an example, in Lafourche Parish, a resident asked their Councilman about
having garbage trucks start picking up on a newly developed street.  The
Councilman talked directly to the garbage company rather than going to the
administration.  By adding the new street, the Councilman could have set off
an increase in the parishes garbage contract.  Something that only the
Parish President can do, so long as she does not exceed the amount that the
entire Council had approved earlier.

Westley

-----Original Message-----

Huh?
Then why do we have council folks for each district? That's kinda political.
I guess it is ok to go directly to the president? 
In a message dated 08/04/07 22:03:27 Central Daylight Time,
westley at devacaps.com writes:

    
    I will pass it on, but there was a memo that just went out to all
employees
    stating that contact with council members is strictly prohibited so
as not
    confuse people about who can give direction to administrative
employees.  It
    appears that council members who go directly to a source or office
to ask
    for assistance with a constituent need is being outlawed by the
president

 
Gaby
In the Harry Potter books, there is no profanity, no adultery, no swearing,
no illegitimate babies, no people living together in sin. Evil is defeated,
good prevails. You are right. They are terrible books.