President Kenny Matassa inherited a 403-man personnel roster from his predecessor, with a total payroll of $17,437,530 according to records produced by Ascension Parish Government on February 10, 2016. Matassa had been on the job 34 days, having already gotten rid of former lead engineer Bob Horner in a personnel move to belie the monumental […]
A Timeline of Incompetence: Parish has failed to address drainage/flooding since 2016 disaster
06/10/2019 by
On August 10, 2016 several dozen Ascension residents gathered at Frank’s Restaurant in Prairieville to discuss a possible recall of President Kenny Matassa (he would be indicted for bribery seven months later). As meeting attendees filtered into the parking lot that Wednesday evening they were greeted by a gathering storm, the leading edge of a […]
Why Stormwater Management matters: Oak Grove Townhouses
05/15/2019 by
Almost an afterthought, Ascension’s Infrastructure Division Director introduced new Stormwater Program Manager Malcolm Say (spelled phonetically) during April’s meeting of the Council Utilities meeting. The new manager had this to say about the state of affairs: My general assessment of the state of the union in terms of waterways in the parish is, we have a […]
Local legend lauded as baseball pioneer: Mike Mohler
09/20/2018 by
Three decades have elapsed since he toed the slab at what would become Johnny Ambeau Park, the lanky lefty who baffled batsmen with a nasty hook making a sneaky-fast fastball appear even faster. Mike Mohler’s baseball legacy, secure in the hearts of all who witnessed the early days, continues to grow. Mohler, one of the […]
Measure to place Parish Manager government on ballot rejected
07/19/2018 by
Moments ago Ascension’s Parish Council, by a 7-3 vote, rejected a proposal to amend the Home Rule Charter which would have eliminated the parish presidency in favor of Parish Manager governance. Three votes to in favor of the amendment were cast by Chairman Bill Dawson, Councilwoman Teri Casso, and Councilman Aaron Lawler. All three of […]
No monarchy for Ascension Parish; No nominating committee for parish manager
06/05/2018 by
It was a terrible idea while it lasted, a “figurehead” president of Ascension Parish with ceremonial duties likened to the British monarchy by The Advocate’s op-ed page. Fortunately, A Better Ascension’s (ABA) ploy to dupe qualified electors into believing they would retain the vote for Ascension’s chief executive was dispensed with in one day (excluding the weekend). ABA now proposing […]
ABA now proposing a $76,800 “ceremonial” Parish President (and a Parish Manager)
05/31/2018 by
As the Ascension Home Rule Charter Revision Committee convened on Wednesday A Better Ascension (ABA) had added wholly new language to its proposal, retaining the parish presidency but divesting the president’s “administrative” authority. Committee member Rodney Hernandez played postman midway through the meeting, delivering the new verbiage unseen by his colleagues (except for one?) Oddly enough, six members […]
Taking a bite out of the ABA Elephant: Part IV (Parish Manager powers taken from the Council)
05/20/2018 by
With A Better Ascension again scheduled to take center stage at Monday’s Home Rule Charter Revision Committee meeting we continue to take a bite out of the ABA elephant. NOTE: For comparison’s sake ABA’s proposal will appear in red text. Where corresponding language to ABA’s proposal exists in Ascension’s current Home Rule Charter exists, it will be included in italics. ABA’s […]
Taking a bite out of the ABA Elephant: Part II (selecting a Parish Manager)
05/12/2018 by
With A Better Ascension scheduled to take center stage at Monday’s Home Rule Charter Revision Committee meeting we continue to take a bite out of the ABA elephant. Its method of appointing, or anointing, a parish manager in lieu of an elected parish president will be difficult to digest for a few members of the governing authority […]
Taking a bite out of the ABA Elephant: Part I
05/07/2018 by
NOTE: Analyzing/comparing all changes to Ascension’s Home Rule Charter proposed by A Better Ascension (ABA) requires multiple meetings of the Home Rule Charter Revision Committee. Likewise, examining those changes cannot be accomplished in a single piece. We endeavor to compare the current charter with ABA’s beginning with this offering. For comparison’s sake ABA’s proposal will appear in […]
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