LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / July 26, 2000

HAHNVILLE – The St. Charles Parish Council on Monday approved a rezoningapplication for a small office park on the north side of Airline Drive near New Sarpy.

Opponents called it the first step in destroying the wetlands.

Developer J. Michael Dixon said the area in question, a 550-by-280-footsite across from Cospolich Office Park, was a former landfill which has not fit the definition of wetlands since 1985.

Planning and Zoning Director Bob Lambert said the area was indeed a landfill more than 20 years ago and called the site “technical wetlands that serve no wetlands purpose.”Lambert added the site is “one of the few places you can go and not abut a residential use.”The application to change the zoning from wetlands to light industrial was approved by an 8-0 vote, with Councilman Brian Fabre absent.

Also at the regular parish council meeting the panel tabled a proposed ordinance to cut an agreed-upon pay raise for justices of the peace and constables until the 14 officials can properly report their activities.

In April, the parish council approved a 20 percent pay raise for the officials, in accordance to state law, but as Councilman Lance Marino said, he was looking to “put the matter behind us” and move ahead to settle the long-standing dispute.

Councilman G. “Ram” Ramchandran commented of Marino’s plan: “What weare doing is in clear violation of the law.” He added, “This simplisticapproach will put the parish as a laughing-stock across the state.”Thelma Schexnaydre of Luling also opposed the proposed reporting form offered by Marino and said it should be more in keeping with reporting the officials’ activities according to their state-mandated duties.

Among those duties, she added, is for justices of the peace and constables to file annual reports with the legislative auditor, something not now enforced.

Council Member Dee Abadie moved to table the matter until further legal research could be completed. This was approved in a 5-3 vote, withMarino, Terry Authement and April Black in opposition.

In other activity, with time ticking away, the parish council voted down hiring a consultant to help them find a suitable replacement for Council Secretary Joan Becnel.

Becnel, who has worked for the parish government for 25 years, has completed 20 years as council secretary and will retire as of Oct. 1. Shegave notice in March.

Ramchandran commented, “Mr. Laque didn’t go through all this in pickinghis department heads.”Angela Todaro of Workforce Alliance Inc. was proposed to be hired for$9,200 to develop the screening process by which Becnel’s successor would be selected. Councilmen Desmond Hilaire and April Black objectedto the price. Abadie said time was of the essence, and added, “We’vewasted so much time already.”The vote on the ordinance to hire Todaro was voted down in a 4-4 vote, with Ramchandran, Black, Hilaire and Abadie voting no.

Finally, the parish council voted to submit an application for funds from the State Capitol Outlay Fund which, if received, would be directed at land acquisition and development of a parish fairgrounds and civic center site.

Authement said such a center would not necessarily support itself financially but would be a boon to the surrounding parish economy. Hepointed out the recently-opened Alario Center in Westwego which is now hosting Olympics preliminaries.

The resolution passed in a 7-1 vote, with Barry Minnich voting no.

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