LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / November 8, 2000

HAHNVILLE – Robert Lambert was confirmed Monday as Planning and Zoning Director, and Robel Howard was likewise confirmed as Community Services Director for St. Charles Parish.Both were serving as interim directors since Parish President Albert Laque took office in January.

“He didn’t come to me seeking the position,” Laque said of Lambert. “Ithought he had the skills and background for the job.”He continued that though Lambert did not complete his college degree, “he has more degree credits than anybody up here.”Basically, Laque concluded, Lambert was hired for his management skills to take over a department with a reputation for less-than-cordial public service. “He’s demonstrated his ability to do the job and do it well,” he said.The confirmation was nearly shot down by the St. Charles Parish Council,however. With three members absent, a split vote and the requirement forsix votes, or two-thirds, to confirm, Lambert apparently lost.

In the first vote Councilmen Lance Marino, Desmond Hilaire, Terry Authement and Brian Fabre voted in favor and Dee Abadie and Barry Minnich voted no.

Moments later, though, Councilman Clayton “Snookie” Faucheux, nursing a head cold, walked in and Minnich moved to allow a re-vote on the confirmation. Faucheux supported Lambert and the new planning directorwas confirmed.

Marino, though supporting Lambert, told Laque he felt “manipulated” by Laque and added he felt the council was shown disrespect “by not presenting his people in a timely basis.”Then, Marino continued, Laque “held back until we forced the issue.”Marino and Abadie earlier tried an ordinance to force Laque to either submit his appointees or allow the council to name department heads.

That ordinance was quickly shot down as being against the charter sections regarding separation of powers between the parish president and parish council.

After the confirmation, Lambert admitted he was sweating the vote, aware he did not have support of the full council.

He said he took over a department with a reputation for a “callous attitude” and helped turn that around. “The department by its very nature iscontroversial,” he said, but Laque supporters who expected a free ride under the new administration have been surprised at Lambert’s strict enforcement of zoning regulations.

“What we try to do different is show them how to do what they want within the law,” Lambert said. “I know we can’t please everyone, but I know we putforth a good effort for everybody.”Howard was approved in a 6-1 vote, with Abadie voting against confirmation.

In Howard’s case, Laque said it was an “oversight” to not include him in earlier confirmations.

Annual salaries for the two directors are $41,999 for Howard and $47,999 for Lambert, according to the parish’s personnel director, Sandy Zimmer.

In other matters, the parish council approved amendments to the proposed annual consolidated operating and capital budget for 2001.

Another budget hearing, open to public comment, is set Thursday at 6 p.m. inthe parish courthouse.

Earlier budget hearings conducted by council chairman Terry Authement were judged to be improperly held as the hearings did not allow for public comment throughout.

Two more hearings were tentatively set, scheduled for Thursday and for Nov. 13 if necessary, to fulfill the public hearing requirement.The approved amendments include the deletion of all passenger vehicles from the entire budget, a savings of $132,500 from the General Fund and $140,290 from the Special Revenue Fund.

Also, the council travel budget was cut by $7,000. Authement removed$7,000 from his budget for a laptop computer, printer, digital camera, file cabinet, desk and other office supplies. Minnich cut $9,300 from his budgetfor most of the same items.

Councilman G. “Ram” Ramchandran slashed $19,265 from his budget,including phone and postals, travel and office equipment. He was laterpersuaded to replace $1,165 to his budget for certain basic items to function as a councilman.

Other amendments included adding $98,000 to road beautification efforts in Hahnville, for a total of $241,500.

The program management contract for wastewater projects was also slashed by $200,000, and funds for an unfilled purchasing officer position were also cut by $54,074.

Total amendment effects were $452,424 added to the General Fund and $356,556 cut from the Special Revenue Funds.

The full budget is expected to come up for a vote at the Nov. 20 parishcouncil meeting.

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