LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- The Lafayette Parish Council voted against the mayor-president's proposal to staff a local parish office of homeland security and emergency preparedness at its Tuesday meeting.
Two council members explained their reasons for voting "no."
The parish council voted against an ordinance to create two positions: a director and an emergency preparedness officer.
Parish District 3 Councilman Ken Stansberry said he's finding it difficult to follow the numbers.
"I guess it's saying three months. It's saying five months. I'm a little confused. It's hard to make good decisions without having good data," Stansberry said.
Parish District 4 Councilman John Guilbeau stressed the importance of the parish having well-organized operations to protect lives and properties.
"However, I'm concerned that we're rushing our planning and the implementation," Guilbeau said. "I've made that clear two weeks ago. My position is that I'm very supportive of the EOP. I have no problems with it."
Mayor-President Monique Boulet reminded the council other parishes are operating with a larger staff than what she has proposed.
"Orleans (Parish has) 24, Saint Tammany five, Lafayette we're asking for two, Caddo three, and Calcasieu eight and a half people," Boulet said.
Chief of Staff Christina Dayries told the parish council LCG is going to re-submit the ordinance.
"With a funding amendment that will fund the months of September and October, it will be a reduced amount," Dayries said. "It will show the council the salary for the director and will only be used while they are employed."
Dayries says the vote was disappointing, but they haven't given up.
"We do want Lafayette emergency management to be a leader in this state so we're working towards that," she said. "Getting a new director in that position and staff person will be the first step to getting us up to par with national standards."
The ordinance will be re-submitted to the council Aug. 6, with a final vote about two weeks later.
