Monday’s meeting of the St. Martinville City Council was another three-hour marathon, but half of it was carried out without Mayor Melinda Mitchell and two council members.
As a contentious set of agenda items critical of Building and Zoning Director Shedrick Berard proceeded, the mayor became angry, banged the gavel hard and declared the meeting over. She gathered her papers and walked out, joined by Councilmen Edmond Joseph and Juma Johnson. But Mayor Pro Tempore Craig Prosper moved to the mayor’s seat and the meeting continued.
In response to shouts from the audience that there was no longer a quorum, city attorney Allan Durand responded that as long as the meeting began with a quorum, it could continue. The agenda required only the votes of the remaining members, Mike Fuselier and Dennis Paul Williams.
Fiancial Issues
Before that drama began, Chief Administrative Officer Avis Gutekunst was given permission to hire an experienced account specialist to handle accounts payable and other tasks. This action was opposed by Johnson and Joseph, who insisted that the position should be filled by promoting an existing employee.
Gutekunst said she needs a more experienced person who does not require retraining as she proceeds to put city accounts back in order. Former Assistant Police Chief Nary Smith shouted, “That’s your job!”
“I’m trying to do the work two people were doing before. I need help right now,” Gutekunst responded, adding that the employee in question said she does not even want to do some of the work the position requires.
Gutekunst went on to say that if fully qualified people are not put in these key positions, the city is at risk of a takeover by the state Legislative Auditor’s Office. “You are going to lose this city,” she warned. The hiring was approved three votes to two, with Johnson and Joseph objecting.
Check Signing
Mitchell balked at an item by Gutekunst to plan ahead for any instance in which the mayor is not available to sign checks when a payment must be made quickly.
“I should sign all checks,” Mitchell argued. The council, however, approved a motion by Prosper to allow two approved signers to issue checks if the mayor is unavailable for 24 hours or more.
Fuselier introduced agenda items that included a request to take action against Berard for a list of job performance problems. He read a long list of incidents of alleged poor performance he said had occurred over the past six months. “This is a continuing problem that is causing damage to this city,” Fuselier said. Berard demanded a copy of the list, presumably to give to his attorney.
It was at that time that the mayor adjourned the meeting and left, along with Johnson and Joseph.
Fuselier’s agenda items continued after Prosper took over, with requests to address ethics complaints against the mayor, including improper handling of disciplinary actions against employees without bringing it before the council, moving employees into jobs outside their departments, and city employees working at her home.
Durand advised that ethics complaints should be sent to the Louisiana Board of Ethics.
Suspension Reversed
A recent suspension without pay of Public Works Superintendent Brian Touchet was reversed, his salary repaid, and the disciplinary action removed from his record.
The suspension followed the latest of many incidents of alleged “disrespect” of Mitchell. The problem began when Public Works crews were working to clean up a burned house on private property.
As explained by contract Public Works Supervisor and former Public Works Superintendent “Boo” Champagne, the mistake occurred because a faulty list of neglected properties to be mowed and cleaned was given to him by Berard.
When a resident complained, Touchet met with the mayor. The incident of supposed disrespect, which is denied by Touchet, occurred and he was given the unpaid suspension.
The cleaning of the wrong lot, Champagne explained, happened because the Martin Luther King Street address on the list did not state North or South MLK. With no lot needing maintenance found on North MLK, and one clearly needing attention on the south end, the crew went to work there.
Champagne said he has repeatedly asked for an updated list, but Berard told him he is too busy and said Champagne should make the list himself.
