[StBernard] St. Bernard council introduces Old Arabi building penalties, discusses water disconnection protocols

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard council introduces Old Arabi building penalties, discusses water
disconnection protocols
Print Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Benjamin
Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune 

The St. Bernard Parish Council on Tuesday evening introduced a proposal to
penalize contractors for beginning construction in Old Arabi without proper
permits. The council also said an agreement is in the works to give
residents better notice when their water service is scheduled to be
discontinued.

The council introduced an ordinance that would subject contractors to a $200
fine if they begin work in Old Arabi "on a building, structure, electrical,
gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits."

That proposal, expected to be voted for final passage at the April 15
council meeting, states that "emergency work shall not be subject to the
penalty when filed the next working day" and that "homeowners shall not be
subject to the penalty for repair work performed on their residence."

"We have a number of people who just start work," said Councilman Ray Lauga,
who represents Arabi. "I need to have something with a little bit more meat
to have people want to do the right thing and get the permit ahead of time."

In other matters, Councilman Richie Lewis, said the parish's public works
director, Hillary Nunez, recently agreed to place notices on residents'
bills indicating if and when their water and sewerage service might be
discontinued. The notice would also give residents a specific date when that
disconnection would occur.

Lewis had proposed an ordinance on the Tuesday agenda that would have
required the water and sewer departments to give 24 hours' notice to
residents before any disconnection of services. But in light of the
agreement to put a notice in customers' bills, Lewis said his ordinance no
longer appeared to be necessary. The council did not vote on the matter.