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Post by abbd on Jun 26, 2006 11:45:03 GMT -6
Dorothy, for the local fishwrap to cover or actually un-cover issues like that, the paper would have to hire some reporters. As of now I think all this daily paper employees are to be considered "repeaters". All these folks do is repeat something that someone tells them, and the really sad thing is sometimes what they are "told" isn't always quite kosher... So, sad to say, what we read ain't always news, it's just something some "connected"(politician, sychophant or government hanger on) person wants us to read.
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percy
Full Member
Posts: 101
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Post by percy on Jul 8, 2006 8:08:46 GMT -6
There is an interesting article published in the Advertiser a couple of days ago about the Clerk putting extra cash to work. Apparently, the Clerk does not understand his own budget as he states "We're blessed with budget surpluses that we can reinvest in our offices." According the article, “budgeted new expenses total $471,000.” The entirety of the expenses outlined in the article, new computers, new software, merit-based pay raises for employees, are in fact, BUDGETED items. The new expenses mentioned the article have nothing to do with “budget surpluses” which are monies left over after all budgeted expenses are accounted for. According to his own budget document, there is a BUDGET SURPLUS of OVER SEVEN MILLION TWO-HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($7,284.453.00). If in fact "budgeted surpluses" were reinvested in his office, there would be little surplus i.e Fund balance/retained earnings in the budget document, most certainly not seven million and change. =+=+=+=+=+ Article published Jul 6, 2006 Office puts extra cash to work Kayla Gagnet kgagnet@theadvertiser.com A successful oil well in Lafayette Parish, a boom in the housing market and the collapse of New Orleans' court system after Hurricane Katrina all have combined to provide a revenue windfall for the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court's office. For the fiscal year that began July 1, the extra money will be used for merit-based pay raises and new computer equipment and software. The budgeted new expenses total $471,000. Clerk of Court Louis Perret said that within days after Katrina hit last year, New Orleans lawyers desperately were filing a range of court paperwork and lawsuits in Lafayette. Each court document filed carries its own filing fee. The increased activity continued during several weeks while New Orleans' courts remained inaccessible. When an oil and gas exploration company drilled a successful well off Verot School Road last year, the company had to use the clerk's land records to research hundreds of properties for possible oil and gas leases. Those leases then have to be recorded with the clerk's office, and both actions involve filing or copying fees. Perret said because the well was in a populated area with more property subdivisions, the company had to research far more properties and record far more leases. "So it's a boom for a parish when you have a successful oil well, but it's an even bigger boom for a parish when you have an oil well hit in a subdivided area," Perret said. The clerk's office also records mortgages and has benefited from the growing housing market, leading more people to refinance their adjusted rate mortgages to lock in interest rates before they increase, Perret said. The new mortgage also has to be recorded for a fee. Perret said he's looking forward to using the cash infusion for a long-awaited upgrade to the criminal filing system. New software for the civil filing system was installed earlier this year, allowing for more user-friendly searches of court records and Internet-based document searching. A similar system for the criminal records is in the works, Perret said. It requires new computer equipment costing $100,000 and supporting software for $200,000, according to budget documents. "It's an advent of technology that'll bring us to the next level," Perret said. "We're blessed with budget surpluses that we can reinvest in our offices." In addition, Clerk of Court employees will get merit-based pay raises, somewhere in the range of 5 percent, Perret said. www.acadiananow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/BUSINESS/607060321&SearchID=73249928307622
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Post by zoe10850 on Jul 9, 2006 13:37:02 GMT -6
"Blessed with surpluses" ? How come everything is in the works, but nothing ever seems to be complete ? Is Durel the Clerk also ?
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Post by ronnief on Jul 10, 2006 21:02:08 GMT -6
A $7 million dollar surplus, and this guy needed a Katrina generated "cash surplus" to fund improvements ? Are the computers gold plated or is his cousin in the software business? "It's an advent of technology that will bring us to the next level" - since when is software technology ? It is written to specification, and does the job you ask it to do.
Lawyers were desperate to file suits even though the Governor declared suspension of prescription on suits due to the disaster? Either this person has no clue of legal process or is just trying to get his name out in a positive fashion.
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Post by zoe10850 on Jul 29, 2006 13:13:49 GMT -6
I was just told that the tax assessor and the clerk of court are seeking a much deserved raise of $21,500 per year in the next session (Debbie Hudnall, clerk of court - East Feleciana Parish). Let's see, a rate hike on top of a large surplus this year, a huge raise next year. My but I am impressed.
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quest
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by quest on Aug 12, 2006 6:36:45 GMT -6
The little genie at the court house tells me that certain people are allowed to spend copious amounts of time, while on the public clock, tending to charitable activities that the clerk favors. Not only employees of the clerk, but some office “resources” as well. While it is admirable for the public sector to support charities, and there is a time and place for it, it is unconscionable for the clerk to allow, permit and even encourage the activities of the employees that are “on the clock.” Employees of the clerk of court are suppose to serve the public and the Court and are not the exclusive personal servants of the elected clerk do with as he sees fit.
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quest
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by quest on Aug 12, 2006 6:46:40 GMT -6
And what's up with the clerk of court employees?
I was in the office all week and they seem to be the most unhappiest bunch of people that I have ever had to encounter.
I remember when I had to visit the court house and clerk's office when that old man was the clerk. I can't remember his name, but he and his employees were always so cheerful and helpful.
It was like a breath of fresh air going into that office then. They were actually happy to see you and glad to help you.
Now, it is like dragon breath.
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Post by abbd on Aug 12, 2006 8:19:19 GMT -6
Q, God knows there are many charitible organizations in this community that do lots of good, and it's admirable when people donate THEIR time and THEIR money, however no elected official no matter how good their intentions are have a right to "donate" tax payer money to these groups. Sounds harsh BUT let's think about where the money the politician donates comes from. Tax payer dollars are collected basically in my opinion "at the point of a gun"(it ain't "his or her money, it's our money). We have no choice in wether we pay these taxes or not, and no politician has a right to use this money on anything but doing what they were elected to do. This entire consolidated government is totally out of control, we need to "take back our government". My two cents worth on a touchy feely situation."Mr.(or mrs.) politicain, "it ain't your money to give".
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quest
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by quest on Aug 12, 2006 9:15:34 GMT -6
I agree, abbd. A privately owned company, well the owner can tell the employees, “I want you to go and do such and such, it is my wife’s favorite charity and they need help to do such and such.”
A public office with public employees whose salaries are paid for with public monies is quite a different matter.
And please do not think that I am questioning the worthiness of the charities, I am not.
I just do not think that it proper or even legal for public employees to be "encouraged" or allowed to work charitable events on public time.
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Post by zoe10850 on Aug 12, 2006 22:43:45 GMT -6
Would that charity involve a family member ?
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Post by zoe10850 on Aug 12, 2006 23:50:33 GMT -6
BTW, his name was OC "Dan" Guilliot, or Mr Dan as most called him. A classical southern gentleman, loved the old seersucker suits.
Was definitely not a RINO like the present fellow.
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Post by Mary on Aug 31, 2006 13:11:30 GMT -6
A friend of mine who has worked for the Clerk of Court office for about twenty years was essentially fired because he commented that the office was run poorly. He was suspended without pay prior to that because of that comment. I personally have met this Clerk and though my previous opinion was that he was a chauvinistic pig, I now know that he is not fit to hold public office. I think it is a very sad day when public employees are not allowed simple freedom of speech. I mean really, what are you afraid of, that the world might find out that you are incompetent ? I am appalled that any public servant would exercise such control over the employees. No wonder I hear the comments I do about the parish officials. I guess I would be fired, but I would have to speak out, after all , public employees are not paid with the elected officials money, and how well, or how bad an office is run should be known to the public, and who better than the people who work there ?
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Post by TBEAR on Sept 1, 2006 3:14:29 GMT -6
Mary thats why you have so many officials getting away with stuff.
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Post by RonS on Sept 1, 2006 17:26:57 GMT -6
Fired because he commented on the way the office was being run ? Omigod, he should have been shot! How dare someone who works in the public sector have an opinion of their own. Is that not why Randy Hundley is in the position he is in now ? Maybe the Clerk should go get a real job, because if you work in the public sector, you must learn to accept opinions contrary to your own. Methinks the Clerk should attend some anger management courses. He is running off people trained to do a job with our money, not his. If he wants to mistreat people, let him go start a company, and see how long you last operating like that. Not for long. Jerk!
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quest
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by quest on Sept 2, 2006 8:16:38 GMT -6
The (former) employee in question should have known better than to speak up.
Every employee of the clerk has to sign a gag order stating among other things that they will never say anything bad about the clerk, his family or the office.
No sign gag order, no work for the clerk.
Say anything that the clerk does not like and you are "terminated for cause" and escorted out of the office by Deputy Sheriffs.
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Post by zoe10850 on Sept 4, 2006 10:37:07 GMT -6
"Seig Heil" !!
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quest
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by quest on Sept 29, 2006 5:33:08 GMT -6
" It’s my kingdom and I will run it the way I want ! , ”
the clerk was overheard to say to an employee recently.
Such arrogance. Such abuse.
It is typical of today’s elected officials who have no experience or background in the office they hold but only got elected because they were in the right place at the right time or simply conned an un-informed electorate.
Such arrogance and abuse should only be rewarded by an informed electorate showing those officials the true meaning of term limits!
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Post by voltar on Oct 10, 2006 14:12:32 GMT -6
You Know, Kingdoms are only as good as the Kings that rule them.
If you have any business at the Clerk's Office (I do on a daily basis) you know this, the castle walls are starting to crumble. I don't think he will be able to find anyone to help rebuild them. He has force out most of the people that had the knowledge he needed, and his new crew is make mistakes left and right. The employees with the Insitutional knowledged needed not to make those mistake will not help him, or because of his arrogance he just refuses there help. Sounds like that is a well organized unit to me.
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Post by LisaS on Oct 10, 2006 16:16:30 GMT -6
As soon as an elected official bites the hand that feeds him, it is time for him to go. I endorse an officials right to administer his office in his own management style, however, that official must remember the money to pay those employees and operate the office was taken from his constituents, and usually not voluntarily. The office is yours' on loan, you do not own it, the taxpayers do. The employees are not required to lick your boots, merely to do the job they were hired to do. They do not have to campaign for you, or even like you, although they will if treated decently. I personally know several of the 20+ year employees who have been run off or fired by the incumbent because they may have criticized the office, or operational issues, or some even came to work too early. If the workers lasted 20 years, chances are they knew their job much better than their boss. This is in fact a service office. We as taxpayers should consider this at election time.
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Post by zoe10850 on Nov 2, 2006 1:02:35 GMT -6
"As elected officials, we plan to be responsible stewards" says LJ Perret, Clerk of Court. Page 1, Advertiser.
This comes from a person who announced that he has over 7 million dollars in surplus funds, gives long time employees $30 per month raises, has run off employees for coming to work too early, has just raised his fees by a substantial amount, and is seeking a salary increase of over $21,000 per year next year on top of his current $100,000. More money than Sheriff, Judges, or DA. Yes, a conservative Republican.
Tommy Duplantier threatens to sue if the tax passes and funds are used on other buildings beside the courthouse. Nice Tommy. And who pays for that suit ?
The final insult; Thomas Guilbeau, Attorney and DEMOCRAT, is opposed to tax. Mike Skinner, candidate for DA and former head of Democratic party in La, friend of Perret's endorses the tax. A lot of irony here.
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