|
Post by coolcajun on Aug 22, 2006 21:37:36 GMT -6
local government is a joke. did you hear the answers for the questions about the parish roads , which i thought was consolidated? well if they need roads, they might need to annex into the city limits. the other answer was they travel these roads so they need to help pay for them. another response was well we will do this tax for the city and do antoher one for the parish later and add them all together
well my question is are you gonna make judice, milton, ossun, and all of old HWY 726 annex into the city of lafayette. well that is one stupid comment. the city pd is short man power, so how will they handle all the police related calls to these citizens of the unincorporated parish.
the fire dept, with their rescue truck proved that this weekend, by taking 25 minutes responding to an emergency call in carencro.
|
|
|
Post by coolboy on Aug 22, 2006 22:10:59 GMT -6
Zoe, allow me to clarify my response, because I realize how it sounded. When I used the word "underpaid" I actually meant how much the LCG employees make compared to their counterparts in private industry. For example, there is a job as a cashier for LUS currently open on the LCG's website. The job pays $1,300 something a month. The cashier at my last job made nearly $2,000 doing the exact same work.
I do disagree with the raises. With all the hoopla he is creating for new taxes, for him to give raises at this time hurts the chances of those taxes being passed by the citizens. Joey should write a book titled, "How NOT to Act Like a Republican".
|
|
|
Post by abbd on Sept 3, 2006 7:36:45 GMT -6
Please remember that the salaries listed by the bird cage liner are ONLY the salaries WE are made to pay for these bozos. It doesn't account for the car allowences,health care premiums,expense accounts etc. etc. etc. Oh shoot don't forget we actually feed these pigs at the trough a coupla times a month also. Sure the dunce wants to give he, jabba and the rest of the circus a raise cuz it sure ain't coming outta his pocket is it? My God I believe dunce is outta his mind, how many taxes is he proposing to raise? Every article I read seems like dunce is asking for more money.
|
|
|
Post by zoe10850 on Sept 4, 2006 11:02:56 GMT -6
And Dr Authemont's salary does not include benefits, which amount to over $250,000 above salary. How does Raymond Blankstare justify a salary of over $118,000 whan he is in Baton Rouge daily ? And who do you suppose is paying for his gasoline to make those trips ? And no wonder jabba is cocky, he makes more than his boss.
How about the parish payrolls; judges, D.A. no true bill Harson, Sheriff, Clerk, and Assessors offices ? Where was city court and marshall's office in the "survey" ? And how about the bs from the airport commission ? Hiding salaries behind "homeland security" ? Is that a crock or what ? We should all be outraged.
|
|
|
Post by abbd on Sept 5, 2006 7:25:10 GMT -6
Heck Z, If I become any more outraged Im afraid my wife will have me committed to a mental institution. What a joke, remember, with all the government employees in lafayette,especiallly now with dunce giving them a big ole fat 4% raise(of our money,not joeys(wonder what kinda wages joey paid using his money to his pet shop boys)), that means lots and lots of yes votes for further tax increases( my God do voters realize that while joey is "poor mouthing" about not having enough money to fix roads or fix anything else, he's getting ready to spend TWO MILLION DOLLARS(of our money) giving every lcg employee a 4% raise? any one see the irony of this?). As dunce wittles away at the private sector with more and more government intrusion into our lives, we will find that we, the real wage earners will have less and less power. Of course you have some people around here who LOVE bigger government, and some of these same government expansionist refer to themselves as conservatives and are members of the (hehehehehe)republican steering committe.
|
|
|
Post by zoe10850 on Sept 5, 2006 11:36:02 GMT -6
I am not opposed to a raise of certain employees, however, I do not think a lot of the upper echelon people can justify a raise. Becky Fontenot Laluma making $85,000. Huval in the $90's, Trammel, our "traffic director" in upper $80's. Where could these people make that in the real world ? Point is, by surviving in a civil service environment long enough, as a manager, you will constantly get raises, steps, cola (cost of living adjustment) and will then retire based upon that. That is the hidden cost of these people. As for Joey D, he really has no clue as to how and why government functions, that is obvious. Ditto for Jabba. If sales tax is double what was budgeted, and the increase is anticipated to be temporary, why not use the money to fund infrastructure rather than salaries, which are a recurring expense ?
And why would raises be a flat 4% across the board ? The top people get a lot more money, most of imo is not justified by the quality of management we get. Really, Tony Trammel as traffic director; can you see where he has helped. Cameras at red lights ? the ultimate big brother. New thread ...
|
|
|
Post by RonS on Sept 5, 2006 16:47:15 GMT -6
Well "Z", you will find the "first man's " expenses as part of the State Police budget, as are the governor's helicopter trips. Homeland security and all you know.
And abbd, the people who love big govt generally are on the receiving end of some sort of job, benefit, business deal etc. You can be sure that employees at Durel's received minimum wage and no leave benefits or retirement package. it is amazing how when it costs you nothing, how easy it is to be generous. I did not realize Lafayette actually had anyone who dealt with traffic, it sure doesn't look like it.
|
|
|
Post by coolboy on Sept 6, 2006 5:12:23 GMT -6
I missed the vote last night on the one cent tax increase. The bird cage liner filled me in though. I had to die laughing. Every Republican voted FOR the tax increase to be voted on by the citizens, while every Democrat voted against. Lafayette must be in an alternate dimension.
As a side note, someone pointed out something I didn't think about: "Sketch" Williams was wholeheartedly against the other one cent tax for a new courthouse. However, he recently changed his tune and now supports it. This wouldn't have anything to do with the DA giving light charges to "Sketch's" misdeed? Lafayette politics at work ladies and gentlemen!
|
|
|
Post by Taureau on Sept 6, 2006 12:57:02 GMT -6
Anyone planning on going to the "town hall" meeting at the Hilton on Thursday evening? I plan on attending. I want to know where are the "conservative Republicans"?
Last night's LCG meeting; all the "Rino" voted for taxes and the Democrats voted against it. What has happened to the Republicans? You can't call these Democrats, "tax and spend liberals".
I may have to become an independent.
|
|
|
Post by zoe10850 on Sept 6, 2006 23:26:15 GMT -6
Why does the Parish Council meet at City Hall ? As a parish entity, should they go to the Parish Government building ?
And if an old Sears Roebuck building was good enough for a city hall, why wouldn't the K-Mart Building be good enough for a parish courthouse ? After all. K-Mart bought out Sears, and Parish Govt bought out city govt .
|
|
|
Post by str8up50 on Sept 7, 2006 8:01:46 GMT -6
VOTE NO!!!
Walter Comeaux/Durel have been in direct violation of state law, as per 15th JDC, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, and the La. State Supreme Court.
They, and the council, have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars in attempting to defeat the lawsuit that was filed by LPD/LFD employees. The bottom line, you stole from the state and you stole from your employees.
And the audacity for this administration to ask the public for more money, when you cant even fix an in house problem, is completely ridiculous.
|
|
|
Post by zoe10850 on Sept 7, 2006 9:50:34 GMT -6
Because there are no consequences. Why obey a law when violation costs you nothing. I thisk strong laws that would address loss of all retirement benefits, insurance benefit for life would straighten out a lot of officials mis-behavior. What did Comeaux retire on ? $80,000 per year ? Yet they opposed $10,000 for police and fire employees. What are all the attorney's making off this ?
|
|
|
Post by coolboy on Sept 29, 2006 8:39:21 GMT -6
Looks like LCG has approved the raises for all...including themselves. These guys are swiming in the money! I'm with Taureau...no voting for incumbents next election.
|
|
|
Post by Taureau on Sept 29, 2006 12:07:58 GMT -6
Coolboy, You are absolutely correct. We need to vote them all out. The council voted themselves and the parish employees a 4% pay raise and continue eating meals on our tax dollars. We must not be hurting for money with this going on. Vote them all out.
|
|
|
Post by coolboy on Sept 29, 2006 12:44:13 GMT -6
Taureau, I had to come back on this messageboard and complain some more. The audacity of these elected officials to take advantage of our dollars. Paying for these guys to go to Hawaii for conventions. They never come back with any fresh ideas, but a heckuva tan!
Not only am I not voting for incumbents, I am also not supporting any measure that this administration or duncil proposes! FTTH...I'm now against it! Money given to bring in a call center...I despise it! Taxes for roads...no way! Taxes for courthouse...they beter start playing the lottery! The people of Lafayette should call for a recall of our local government leaders. Start with Joey and work our way down. I even want the guy that cleans up the building recalled!
We have a bunch of children in government. Williams with his graffiti. Randy Menard tattling on him like a 1st grader, instead of the LCG filing a complaint as a group. Bruce Conque writing a note asking to keep Williams from "bullying" him around. Be a man, Bruce!
We have to do something ya'll. Things have gone way past embarrassing.
|
|
|
Post by zoe10850 on Sept 30, 2006 0:28:05 GMT -6
I am going to forward a copy of the Advertiser to the state Legislative Auditor, not that he, a former legislator will actually do his job, but I believe the mardi gras throws and meals are not legal, and maybe the Auditor will reprimand the city auditor for non-disclosure.
|
|
|
Post by guest on Sept 30, 2006 7:02:40 GMT -6
I think the throws are illegal. Just because the city puts something in the budget and it passes does not make it legal, though they seem to think so. As to the meals, questionable expense, but the fact that the council sits down at one time to eat, well that is not a "chance" meeting or a "chance" social gathering, it is planned, they receive notice, etc. That meeting is or should be public and advertised as such but our lame media and are "mr Recusal" DA do nothing. You know, the DA can act on his own accord, with out a complaint, but he reads the paper ( presumably) and knows what is going on, and does nothing.
That is why we have such a "runaway" government, they know that they can get away with anything, and NOBODY will do anything to challenge.
Well folks,
it is not only our right to challenge our officials, it is our responsibility!
But just you try with the bunch in office now. You are called names by those very officials we elect, "exposed" in the paper, have your motives questioned, etc., etc.
|
|
|
Post by abbd on Sept 30, 2006 9:18:07 GMT -6
It's really about time we rise up and do something about this local government we have here. Thes people feel "entitled" to spend OUR money any way they see fit. I am amazed at this admiinistration and the council. When we finally get fed up and vote every one of them out, then maybe our future elected officials will get the message that tax payer dollars are "sacred", and not to be squandered on anything these officials see fit. Enough is enough! We need to send a message to dunce that we don't need to be taxed anymore than we already are, heck looks like they waste quite a few tax dollars already. I'm tired of my money beings spent to literally "feed fat pigs at the trough".
|
|
|
Post by Taureau on Sept 30, 2006 13:29:36 GMT -6
I plan to send an e-mail to Mr. Durel and all of the LCG Council and voice my opinion about their 4% pay raise and eating at the trough. I would support a 4% pay increase to the actual "workers" of Lafayette Parish but not the administrators or the council members. They have nothing worthy of a pay increase.
Raises for LCG Administrators and Council should be voted on by the voters, not the council. It is the fox/hen house mentality.
|
|
|
Post by Marie on Sept 30, 2006 22:35:58 GMT -6
A paltry 4%. The Clerk of Court, Louis Perret, and tax Assessor, Conrad Comeaux, are seeking a $21,000 dollar raise next session, and that during an election year. That is over 20% increase. And neither one,IMO, does a very good job for the public. One runs a kingdom, the other a tax fleece machine. They deserve to be re-elected as much as Gov Blankstare, which is to say, not at all. That raise is as much as they pay some of their employees in a year. Is that immoral or what? And yes, I work for one of them, but cannot speak out, or I will be fired.
|
|