In discussing a basis for possible changes to the parish’s existing home rule charter, the Ascension Parish Home Rule Charter Commission agreed Wednesday to review the current charter as well as a list of recommended changes made by a 2002 committee tasked to review the document.
During the group’s meeting in the Parish Council chambers in Gonzales, new chairman Milton Clouatre said that reviewing the documents would provide a foundation for the 13-member commission’s efforts to recommend changes be made to the parish’s form of government.
The commission was formed by the Parish Council and Parish President Tommy Martinez to review the document for any possible changes or additions.
The 2002 group, formed by a partnership between the parish and the Ascension Chamber of Commerce, made 12 recommendations to change the charter. However, the sitting council at that time did not adopt any of the changes.
The commission also agreed that each commissioner will speak to their respective Parish Council representative and the parish president about possible interviews before the commission.
Commissioner Teri Casso said she felt discussion with the council and president were needed to solve current problems with the charter.
“What is hamstringing them?” Casso asked. “We need to know what they’re interested in and what they feel needs changing or addition.”
Commissioner Kenneth Leary said that he was told by his councilman that the commission’s goal was to bring suggestions themselves and then present those ideas to the council. The council would then vote on which suggestions, if any, would go to a vote of the people for ratification.
Commissioner Robert Poche, who served on the original group that formed the charter in 1994, said he expected the councilmen and president to “give subject matter to review” in the case, if interviewed.
“Some issues we addressed then were pretty controversial and didn’t make it onto the charter,” Poche said. “We need to not only look at what’s in the charter that may need changing, but what didn’t make it into the charter that needs to be added.”
At the start of the meeting, commissioners present named Clouatre chairman and Poche vice chairman after former chairperson Donna Gaignard recently resigned from the commission. Clouatre had served as vice chairman of the committee prior to the nomination.
Gaignard’s resignation moved the total open positions on the commission to three. These openings will be filled by their respective Parish Council representatives before the group’s next meeting, scheduled for Aug. 6.
