At the Bogalusa Council meeting of June 6, 2017, Mayor Wendy Perrette addressed (beginning at 38:15 of part 2 of video of the meeting) an action taken by Councilwoman Gloria Kates that the Mayor described as not legal or ethical.
The issue revolved around lighting at the Coach Mike Harrington ball field that is adjacent to the Poplas Recreation Center. Kates sent an email on April 21st to the Parks and Recreation Director asking him to sign off on an attached service agreement for Entergy to install LED lighting. While agreeing that security lighting is needed at the ball field, the Mayor related that a review determined that LED lighting was inadequate for ball fields and is, in fact, uninsurable. This information was include in a May 16th staff meeting. Also, Police Chief Kendall Bullen had concerns and asked to discuss his concerns with Councilwoman Kates but she failed to meet with him. On May 24th, Entergy installed the lights on a work order approved by Councilwoman Kates.
Mayor Perrette related that, in addition to the lighting being both inadequate and uninsurable, Kates' action was neither legal or ethical when considering the division of responsibilities between the three branches of government as mandated by the State of Louisiana. Councilwoman Kates is part of the legislative branch and her actions intruded into responsibilities of the executive branch. Mayor Perrette further related that, after asking Kates to meet with her on May 26th regarding the matter, Kates refused to meet except in public and with her private attorney.
Kates described Mayor Perrette's remarks as an attack and as a fabrication (beginning at 1:01 of part 2 of video of the meeting).
Bogalusa Council 06062017 part 2 from Mt. Hermon Web-TV on Vimeo.
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