[StBernard] St. Bernard council to hold hearing on proposed charter amendments

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard council to hold hearing on proposed charter amendments
Print Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Benjamin
Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune 
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on June 30, 2014 at 8:01 PM, updated June 30, 2014 at 8:07 PM

The St. Bernard Parish Council on Tuesday is scheduled to hold public
hearings on four proposed charter amendments that in part would give council
members more power over parish contracting, hiring council employees, and
appointments to boards.

A fourth amendment would change the working in a 2009 amendment to
explicitly state that council members can hold another elected public office
immediately following their tenure on the council. The current charter
wording as sparked some questions, causing Parish Council Chairman Guy
McInnis earlier this month to request an opinion from the state attorney
general's office on how to interrupt it.

Following the public hearings, the council then is scheduled to vote on
whether to send those charter amendments to the Nov. 4 ballot for parish
voters ultimately to decide their fate. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Tuesday in Council Chambers, 8201 W. Judge Perez Dr. in Chalmette.

One of the proposed amendments would require the council to approve
professional service contracts that are $25,000 or more by resolution.
Currently, the council approves the budget for projects and the
administration can name contractors without requiring council approval -
unless the budget needs to be amended.

Parish President Dave Peralta has said he is was "absolutely opposed to it,"
saying that president should have executive power not the council."

Another amendment would allow the council to appoint non-clerical staff in
addition to the clerical staff that they currently are allowed to appoint.

And then a third amendment likely would give the council more control over
board and commission appointments by changing the charter's current
procedures for the appointment, operation and duties of the appointment
review board.

In other matters, the council on Tuesday also is expected to vote on an
ordinance amendment that would require more parish fire stations to remain
open with more regular staffing. To reach more about that amendment, click
here.

To view the full council agenda for that 7 p.m. meeting, click here.

And view and download the four proposed charter amendments below:
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/06/st_bernard_council_to_hold_he
a.html