DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / January 12, 2000

CONVENT – A hard and rain-filled night gave way to clear skies Monday as St. James Parish citizens gathered for the inauguration of their parishofficials.

At 10:30 a.m. the Rev. Mario Rizzuto held mass at St. Michael Church forthose gathered to begin the day under the eyes of God.

Rizzuto instructed the elected officials to “regain their (constituents) courage” when times are unclear and answers are difficult.

“I pray that you will have courage and wisdom to love the people you serve,” said Rizzuto.

An hour later the group gathered in front of the Convent Courthouse.

Sheriff Willy Martin Jr., master of ceremonies, began by offering thepodium to the Rev. Frank Uter of St. Joseph Catholic Church for theinvocation.

As the American flag was raised by members of the 5852 and 4245 chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the crowd of citizens and officials pledged their allegiance and sang the national anthem.

Judge John Peytavin swore in the incumbent Parish President Dale J.

Hymel Jr. and the councilmen. Hymel, incumbent councilmen Elwyn Bocz, District 1; Timothy Roussel, District 2; Ralph A. Patin Jr., District 4; Elton Aubert, District 6; andJimmy Brazan, District 7, as well as newly-elected councilmen Wilson Malbrough Jr., District 3, and James Mitchell, District 5, swore to upholdthe laws of the constitution and the state in their guidance of St. JamesParish.

After the solemn confirmation of their offices, Hymel rose to speak of the coming term and the goals the council would strive for.

“Today begins a whole new chapter in the history of St. James Parish,maybe even a whole new book,” Hymel said. He remarked that the councilwas poised and eager to meet the challenges that would come in the next century.

The evolution of St. James Parish was a key point for Hymel, who said thecouncil “must immediately be prepared to steer the growth of the parish.”He listed Geographical Information Systems, land zoning, repairs of roads and highways, residential sewage, availability of government office space and accurate census reports as being subjects that needed to be addressed by the council in order to best govern the expanding parish.

He also welcomed and, more importantly, invited citizens of St. James togive their input and share their opinions so the council would be better directed toward the parish’s needs.

As most of the crowd moved off to a jambalaya lunch under blue and white tents, the council and a few others proceeded into the courthouse to conduct the first meeting of the new year.

The meeting ran smoothly. Elton Aubert was voted unanimously aschairman of the council. Also unanimously, Wilson Marlbrough was chosenas vice-chairman and Gerard Schexnayder was voted to keep his position as secretary.

Hymel’s choices for directors were ratified. Gerald Falgoust returns asdirector of emergency preparedness, A. J. Laiche resumes his position asdirector of finance and Jody Chenier continues as director of operations.

Dianne Brathwaite takes over as director of human resources, as Earl White has retired from the position.

Old business ended with the vote to begin a lien on payment toward contractor F. G. Sullivan Jr. Marlbrough brought to attention that the roadwork the contractor had completed may not have been finished satisfactorily. Further action will be determined after inspection of thework in question.

New business included whether or not to support Kaiser Aluminum’s efforts in obtaining an environmental permit for reconstruction. Boczspoke up fervently, weighing the positive and negative side of Kaiser and its history.

“When I look down that fence (dividing the pros and cons) I see a lot more positives than I do negatives,” said Bocz.

Hymel said the permit, if approved, would grant Kaiser to build a more up to date and environmentally safe plant. He said Kaiser quoted that causticemissions would be reduced 56 percent due to advanced technology.

With the needs of the unemployed workers on their minds, the council unanimously voted to support Kaiser in it’s application for the environmental permit.

The meeting ended with the councilmen’s remarks. The officials thankedtheir families, friends and supporters for their aid in both their work and in their daily lives. They expressed their excitement for the work ahead ofthem in the new year.

The Inauguration ended with friends and family sitting down to lunch under a bright blue afternoon sky.

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