By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

HAHNVILLE – The failure of a St. Charles Council measure that would have expanded the parish’s Library Board of Control from five members to seven apparently resulted in the resignation of one of the board’s members Monday night.

In a written statement to the parish council, Bayou Gauche resident Lynnette Bush tendered her resignation from the board effective immediately. She then left the council chambers without comment.

Bush’s resignation came right after the council voted 2-7 to reject an ordinance that would have added two members to the five member board and also would have set residency requirements and term limits for members. The measure’s lone yes votes came from its sponsors, Councilwoman-at-Large Carolyn Schexnaydre and District 4 Councilman Paul Hogan.

Hogan and Schexnaydre argued that the board, which only has five members, should have equal representation among the seven districts that divide the parish. The present board only has five members and two of the members reside in the same district. The ordinance would not have changed the existing make up of the board, but it would have ensured that each district has representation.

During a public hearing on the ordinance, Bush spoke in favor of expansion. She told the council that a larger board was needed in order to fit the needs of the growing St. Charles Parish community. Bush called the existing board out of date and in need of change and said that each district should have some representation.

District 7 Councilman Dennis Nuss, who has worked closely with the board in the past, said he believes the existing board works well as it is and there is no need to add more unnecessary members.

“We should leave it up to the board to make decisions that will best fit the parish’s needs,” Nuss said. “If we add members, each district will begin to force their needs onto the board.”

Part of Nuss’ argument was the recent groundbreaking of a new $8.4 million East Bank Regional Library in Destrehan, an area not represented on the existing board.

“I think this shows that the system works for the benefit of the people,” said Nuss.