No more excessive absenteeism is the opinion of two Lafayette council members about board and commission members who miss consecutive days. On Tuesday, the councils are to vote on the proposal to remove such appointees.

LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- No more excessive absenteeism is the opinion of two Lafayette council members about board and commission members who miss consecutive days. On Tuesday, the councils are to vote on the proposal to remove such appointees.

The proposed ordinance in short form cracks down on board and commission members who fail to do what they signed up for. According to the ordinance, part of what they signed up for is to attend meetings.

City Councilman Andy Naquin explains the removal ordinance.  If approved, it will trigger when there are three consecutive meetings missed.  Plus, there will be room for discussion. 

"Illness in the family or something came up. We are going to have to take into consideration that there are outside forces they have to react to. There are some that just on the commission who are bored and just don't show," Naquin added.

Parish councilman A.B. Rubin talks of resume builders. Councilman Rubin says those are members who only want to be appointed to serve their purpose.

"When they get on there they don't want to do anything. They're a lame duck. They just want to say I'm on this board or I'm on this commission," Rubin explained.

In terms of concerns about the legality of "justified cause", councilman Rubin answers that.

"That's our cause. You're not coming to the meetings," Rubin explained.

Library advocate and co-founder of Lafayette Citizens Against Censorship, Lynette Mejia has been at the forefront of petitions to remove a board member for cause. 

Mejia has no problem with the proposed ordinance as long as it's not at will or the right to remove without reason.

"You have political differences or doctrinal differences on either side that could cause someone to be removed who did not deserve it," Mejia said.

Also, council members will be asked to consider an amendment calling for a list of the boards and commissions applicable to the ordinance. Some boards and commissions are state or self-regulate.

Latest Posts