Terrebonne economic authority dismisses CEO

Steve Vassallo, who has headed TEDA since 2011, had already submitted his resignation in September. The resignation was set to take effect Christmas Eve, but the board voted Monday to remove Vassallo effective 10 days after the vote.

The organization is embroiled in a fight to survive in its current form. Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet has proposed TEDA be largely defunded and economic development efforts be rolled into the parish administration. His recommendation is included in his budget proposal the Parish Council is to discuss next week.

Vassallo submitted his resignation shortly after Claudet’s proposal became public. He claims Claudet has a personal vendetta against him. Claudet has remained silent on his reasons.

The board discussed Vassallo’s future shortly after his resignation was tendered. Some members felt his resignation should be effective immediately, though the board chose to take no action until a special Monday meeting called by Chairman Clarence Williams.

Williams did not give specifics as to what prompted the meeting other than saying the move would show the board is flexible in its efforts to exist.

“We had to do more assessment,” Williams said of the board’s reluctance to remove Vassallo earlier.

Williams added that removing Vassallo isn’t throwing in the towel on the board’s efforts to keep the organization funded.