What is Meant by ” WE” in Lafourche Parish?
FACTS:
The Lafourche Parish District Attorney addressed the Lafourche Parish Council on several issues at the June 27, 2006 Parish council meeting. Referring to the parish charter and parish ordinances, Mr. Morvant stated that once a violation is brought to his attention, he(Morvant)will not put his head in the sand. Once he finds out about it, he will do something about it. He strongly urged the council to follow their ordinance. Mr. Morvant spoke of serious criminal sanctions being in the charter for violation of articles. Mr. Morvant spoke of violating the open meetings law and article-3, section-2 of the parish charter under “prohibitions”. One specific prohibition is a mandatory duty for members of the council not to interfere directly or indirectly, not to give orders or directives to officers, departments heads, employees or independent contractors of the parish. Mr. Morvant illustrated a point by asking a question and answering the question. If I (council member) see an engineer or architect on the sidewalk, can I ask him about the project? NO, that is interfering. Mr. Morvant stated the definition of interfering according to Black’s law dictionary as being “to check with”. Mr. Morvant also stated “if you don’t work with me, all bets are off”.
OPINIONS:
According to Webster dictionary, the definition of “we” is used of a group that includes the speaker or writer.
On July 25,2006, during the last five minutes of the broadcasting of “Talk On The Bayou”,hosted by Captain Kirk, a caller asked a question about a drainage project in Councilman Brent Callais district. Naturally, Capt. Kirk couldn’t answer the man’s question, but Councilman Brent Callais just happened to drop in to the KLRZ radio sound booth in time to answer the question with what sounded like a prepared statement (damage control?).
The following are some of the statements made by Councilman Callais on public radio. WE got the money for the project. Drainage district number one (a public board ) hired ( contract ) J. W. P., Inc. to do the engineering work. Plans were completed in June and during the “review process”, “my-self” ( speaker-Brent Callais), Ray Cheramie and a bunch of other guys ( quorum of members of drainage district number one board?, Engineers?)………..pointed out that there were structures on the ground that weren’t picked up by the engineer. So WE met with the Engineer on Monday, it was a week yesterday (July 17, 2006-violation of article 3, section 2 of the charter?), WE walked the entire subdivision and John (engineer) has “refinished it” (project plans revised to a councilman’s directive?) and will have it to US (us includes speaker Brent Callais) by the end of this week.
The contents of the public display of boasting by this elected official was reported to the D.A.. It has now been brought to the attention of my friend the DA. It is my opinion that the DA was addressing all nine council members when he stated, “once it comes to my attention, I am not going to put my head in the sand, once I find out about it, I will do something about it”. My question to my friend the DA is WHAT will you do?
Visit with us as we observe the WORDS or ACTIONS of our elected leaders. When will the media take their heads out of the sand when it comes to this administration?
