Move to mandate proposal requests delayed by parish

A proposed ordinance requiring the St. Mary Parish Council and all public bodies under its jurisdiction to seek requests for proposals for professional services was delayed by the council when it met in regular session Wednesday.
Delay on the vote to adopt was recommended by council attorney Eric Duplantis who said he thought the ordinance needed further research.
He added that state statute on the hiring of professional services does not require RFPs but excludes architects and engineers from any such parish ordinance. He also said he thought it may be wise to exclude attorneys.
“I think it would be better if I could look at it a little bit more and I think it would be better if we could take this slow,” Duplantis said of the ordinance introduced in May by Councilman Tim Tregle of Morgan City.
Local certified public accounts Alan Taylor, Tim Matte and Guy Pitts all addressed the council to express their opposition to the ordinance but said they would hold their comments until the next public hearing at the council’s July 8 meeting when a redrafted ordinance may be introduced.
Tregle, who’s previous attempt to enact a similar ordinance failed, said that when it was in place some 20 years ago it “did save money and it dropped the fees.”
In other business the council:
—Told Verdunville resident Mark Bogan that details on the payment of stipends to volunteer VA medical van drivers are being worked out and should be complete soon. The parish is working on the solution with financial commitment by the five municipalities in the parish, according to Chief administrative Officer Henry “Bo” LaGrange. The van provides veterans with transportation to medical appointments in New Orleans.
—Heard from LaGrange that the parish is in line to receive almost $305,000 from the BP spill settlement that would be used to fund projects in the parish’s Gulf Coast Restoration multiyear plan. Those plans include construction of fishing piers at Burns Point and at the Jessie Fontenot Memorial Boat Landing. Both projects would require a $104,000 match by the parish.
—Received a bid from Angelle & Donohue Oil and Gas Properties Inc. on a 64-acre oil and gas mineral lease situated in Sections 10, 11, 14 and 15, Township 15 South, Range 9 East. The council also passed a related resolution to begin negotiation on lease terms.
—Passed resolutions approving the call of an election on Oct. 24 by Consolidated Gravity Drainage District 1 to authorize renewal of its 8.11 mill property tax for 10 years; an agreement with Acadiane’ Renovations, LTD on rehab of the metal building at the Bayou Vista parish barn; recognizing the accomplishments of Noel Baker of Hanson Memorial High School for capturing the LHSAA Class 1A State Champion title in javelin throw and being named to the All District Softball Team and the Louisiana Sports Writers Association All State team centerfielder; and adopting the duplication of benefits policy on the Development Block Grant Disaster Relief Program.
—Approved financial transfer requests by Councilman Lionel “Butch” Metz to the Town of Baldwin in the amount of $25,000 to connect the emergency generator at civic center, and from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 & 10 three-tenths percent sales tax fund in the amount of $20,000 to the Baldwin Police Department for vehicle repair/purchase and $5,000 for the summer enrichment program
—Approved financial transfer requests by Councilman Glen Hidalgo from the Wards 5 and 8 three-tenths percent sales tax fund to Recreation District 3 in Bayou Vista in the amounts of $6,600 for tree removal, grinding stumps, pruning of trees and leveling of dirt on Southeast Boulevard, and $13,000 for new equipment at the spray park.
—Approved financial transfer requests by Councilman David Hanagriff from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 three-tenths percent sales tax fund in the amounts of $13,000 to Community Action Agency for the Verdunville/Centerville summer program; and $4,000 to the City of Franklin for Dixie Youth Baseball.
—Approved financial transfer requests by Councilman Charles “Butch” Middleton from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 three-tenths percent sales tax fund in the amounts of $1,000 each to the City of Franklin and the St. Joseph Community for summer programs.
—Appointed the Banner-Tribune as the official journal for July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016.
—Appointed Eva D. Rollins and Johnny Sutton to the Fire Protection District 11 board of directors; Wayne Cantrell Jr. to Gravity Sub-Drainage District 1 of Gravity Drainage District 2; Halsemo Pinho to Sewerage District 8; Jeffery LaGrange to the Wax Lake East Drainage District; Phelo Joe Keller to Sewerage District 5; Camille Punch to Waterworks District 6; Garland Guillotte to the Wards 5 and 8 Joint Sewer Commission; and Bob Harrison, Kim Walden, Nelson B. Cortez and Donald J. Domino to the St. Mary Parish Tourist Commission.