By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — St. John the Baptist Parish is without a top administrative official after the announcement was made this week Randy S. Vincent tendered his resignation as chief administrative officer.

Baileigh Rebowe, parish public information officer, announced the resignation “effective October 28, 2014, to pursue other professional opportunities.”

The CAO position, as described by Parish President Natalie Robottom, is a “very, very general (but) huge position because that person oversees all of the departments.”

Robottom said it is a critical position and is important to fill, adding she hopes to have someone appointed to the position within the next two weeks.

She added the CAO acts as parish president in her absence.

“It was a little bit of a surprise,” Robottom said of the resignation, adding parish administrators have been in discussions about restructuring certain departments within the parish.

The finance department is one parish department that will undergo changes, Robottom said, after a recently released clean audit recommended the parish review the staffing levels and the capabilities of current software.

Robottom said with re-structuring talks in the works, Vincent’s resignation “seemed sudden.”

“It’s important to have staffing in place, especially as we roll out the $14 million in housing programs,” Robottom said.

“We wish him the best and thank him for his service here.”

Robottom appointed Vincent to CAO in May 2013. He had formerly served as the parish’s chief financial officer.

Robottom said Vincent’s resignation was not tied to any particular parish issue.

“It absolutely has nothing to do with the ameba investigation,” Robottom said.