Monica vetoes face council’s challenge

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 23, 2001

AMY SZPARA

LAPLACE – Two ordinances which have caused a good deal of contention among St. John the Baptist Parish Council members, administration and other officials were shot down by Parish President Nickie Monica Friday when he vetoed the resolutions. The council was due to vote last night on whether to override or sustain the vetoes. The first matter involved a resolution introduced by Councilman Allen St. Pierre to build a mechanical wastewater treatment plant to treat domestic waste in Reserve was approved by the council at a May 8 meeting in Edgard in a 6-3 vote. The construction of the plant would cost an estimated $3.5 million. The other option to relieve some of the burden of the current waste water plants was to revamp an oxidation pond in Reserve which would cost around $1.5 million. The pond, which has been out of use for many years after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency closed it because of improper sanitation, could be restored and used as a short-term solution to the problem. According to Monica, preparations had already been made to restore that pond before the council voted to build the plant. Monica sent the sewer plant resolution back to the council without his signature of approval Friday because he felt that it “failed to provide the critical planning for the future needs of our parish.” According to Monica, regionalizing makes the most sense financially and will be better in ensuring a long-term solution. The resolution, he said, could deplete available cash for sewer repair, maintenance and emergencies. The parish already has four small facilities. Monica asked the council to work with him to find a better solution to the problem. The second ordinance, requiring all bidders and contractors for the parish to hand-deliver bids and remain present for the opening of bids, was proposed by Councilwoman Melissa Faucheux at the May 8 meeting. In a 5-4 vote, the ordinance passed. Monica also vetoed that ordinance, as he said it would “practically stifle St. John the Baptist Parish’s ability to attract high-quality bids at the most attractive price possible.” Monica added the parish has no authority to take an action that would go against the public bid law, which he said such an ordinance would do. Monica asked the council to sustain his vetoes, and a council meeting was scheduled for Tuesday night, where the vetoes were expected to be addressed at that meeting.