[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish Council meeting now to discuss veto override

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish Council meeting now to discuss veto override
Posted by St. Bernard bureau November 20, 2007 10:00AM
The St. Bernard Parish Council is meeting this morning to consider
overriding a veto by Parish President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez of a council
measure aimed at monitoring the outgoing Rodriguez administration's
spending.


During a hastily-called special meeting Monday afternoon, the council
adopted an ordinance prohibiting Rodriguez's administration from spending
money on anything except employee salaries without first receiving council
approval.

Rodriguez lost his bid for re-election to the president's post over the
weekend. Some council members portrayed the ordinance as a routine measure
to ensure a smooth transition to the administration of Councilman Craig
Taffaro Jr., who beat Rodriguez for the presidency and takes office Jan. 8.
But other council members said they approved it because they are concerned
about the parish's finances.

The ordinance was approved 7-0.

Council Chairman Joey DiFatta said Tuesday morning that Rodriguez delivered
his veto to the council around 11 p.m. Monday. DiFatta said he called the
emergency meeting for 10 a.m. today because the council must respond within
12 hours to the veto.