Parish, city meetings on hold for now

The first round of monthly meetings of both St. Martin Parish and St. Martinville councils were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials are looking into finding a safe way to satisfy open meeting laws and home rule charter requirements during the current crisis.
Both the parish and St. Martinville councils normally meet during the first and third weeks of each month. But, according to Parish President Chester Cedars, only one meeting per month is actually required under the parish charter. Cedars told the Teche News a teleconference meeting will be held sometime during the month, most likely late next week.
He said that, after a period of adjustment, parish government is getting used to conducting business via electronic media. “Were getting pretty good at it now,” he commented.
“We are required to conduct the meetings,” he said, “but also to observe the safety guidelines for distancing and gathering size set out by the governor. If we can’t
meet safely in person we will do it electronically. The requirements of the open meetings laws can be satisfied by video conference and public comments can be received by email.”
Council Chairman Dean LeBlanc, in a Monday press release, said, “The agenda for the April 7 meeting did not reflect any essential business which cannot be postponed. The date, time and place of the rescheduled April meeting will be published in accordance with the Louisiana Open Meetings Law.”
Cedars said, “We’re putting things together for a single April meeting, so we will deal with the things that have to be handled now.
St. Martinville Mayor Melinda Mitchell told the Teche News that an April 6 statement from the Legislative Auditor’s Office appears to allow considerable leeway, including allowing the cancellation of meetings altogether for the month in an emergency such as the current one. “I need to consult the city attorney about that, though,” she cautioned.
Alternatively, the council can also opt for an electronic meeting or an in-person meeting if distancing and the 10-person rule is observed, Mitchell added.
Cedars said the parish is “up and running,” even though the offices are closed to the public. Permits are being issued and all necessary functions continue. “We have put good, solid measures in place. I think we are doing a pretty good job in general.”
“But,” Cedars said, “We are still not happy with some of the non-essential businesses in the parish that are staying open. There will be a time of reckoning for that. It’s still mostly up to the individual to provide for their own safety.
“We don’t want to impose measures that take people’s rights away,” he said, “but we are observing all the measures we think are appropriate. We’re in for a tough week, but as a government we are getting on with business.”
He added that he is going to his office at night when he needs to, to take care of work he can’t do from home.