LMR-October_PROOF6

Director’s Viewpoint
Inside the LMA
September 2009 LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW Page 15
LMA Convention Recap
LMA presents service awards as tribute to 33 longtime elected municipal officials
ANSWERING THE CALL
BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mayor William D’Aquilla, St. Francisville, received a diamond service pin marking ten terms, or
40 years, of elected municipal service. Another ten-term recipient, Mayor Pro Tempore Edwin
Britt, Newellton, was unable to attend the ceremony. This year’s ceremony honored 33 munici-
September was ushered in by Hurricane Harvey, which
left a trail of destruction along the Gulf Coast of Texas
and southwest Louisiana. We commend the leadership of
municipal officials in southwest Louisiana for their tireless
work and for the service they provided to their citizens
as the storm made its way through Louisiana. Seeing
the images on television reminded us here at the LMA
of the
Ville Platte,
flooding
Mayor Pro
that
Tempore
inundated
Curtis Francisco,
Baton
Cottonport,
Rouge
Councilman
last
Jim
August
Holland, Oak
and Grove, dramatically and Alderwoman affected Susan Jeansonne, the Hessmer, lives received of several service pins LMA symbolizing and four
terms, or 16 years, of elected service. Not present were Council Member Jonathan Foster,
RMI employees. It also brought to mind the outpouring
Geyen, Lake Charles, Mayor George L. Grace, St. Gabriel, and former Mayor James H.
of assistance they received during that time, including the
generous died earlier contributions this year. from across the country donated
through a NLC GoFundMe account. LMA and RMI staff
members immediately went to work to pay it forward by
collecting a large amount of necessary supplies to send
to those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Louisiana and
Texas. As we continue our discussion of disaster recovery,
we chose to feature “Operation Give Back” as our cover
story for this month’s issue of the Review.
As Harvey recovery efforts were ramping up, the ferocious
and enormous Hurricane Irma struck the southwest
coast of Florida, before moving inland and wreaking
havoc through every major city in the state. As Irma was
approaching the Florida Keys, LaMATS Executive Director
Cliff Palmer loaded up his truck and drove to his home
in Tallahassee where he rode out the storm. Luckily, his
home and property sustained only minor damage. After
pal leaders from 21 municipalities with a combined total of 640 years of public service.
securing his home, Cliff dedicated many long hours to
assisting others in the area with cleanup and recovery.
We are proud of the generosity and perseverance of
the LMA staff who respond when help is needed. This
edition is dedicated to them and to all LMA officials, first
responders, and employees who worked tirelessly to
not only protect their residents, but to provide shelter
for those forced to leave their homes, be they Louisiana
citizens or otherwise.
In light of these natural disasters, debate over the
proposed reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP), which was set to expire on September
30, was indeed timely. Instead of crafting a long-term
From left, Councilman Joseph “Blackie” Landry, Addis, Councilman Russell “Rusty” Parrish,
solution
Addis, Councilwoman
for reauthorization,
Edith Williams, Logansport,
Congress,
Mayor William
as part
Jeanmard,
of
Ville
its
Platte,
aid
package for the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma,
Mayor Michael Chauffe, Grosse Tete, were given service award pins marking six terms, or 24
passed years, of a elected short-term service. Not present resolution were Councilman to extend David Adams, the Golden NFIP Meadow, until
Councilman John Hoagland, Many, Councilman I. D. Bostian, Many, Mayor Kenneth Freeman,
December Many, and Councilman 8. We Patrick continue Loftus, Stonewall. to monitor the progress of
NFIP reauthorization and are working closely with our
peers in the southern municipal leagues, the Coalition for
From left, Mayor Lavelle Brown, Oak Grove, Alderman Scott Kelly, Hessmer, Alderman Wayne
Bolton, Sibley, Mayor Pro Tempore Oscar S. Mellion, Plaquemine, Councilwoman Carol Alfred,
Amite, Mayor Lynn Bordelon, Hessmer, Alderman Robert P. Roy, Hessmer, Councilman Rodney
Rainwater, Sterlington. Honored posthumously was Alderman Brent Bencaz of Livingston, who
Councilman Ronald Kevin Gantt, Rosedale, Mayor Lawrence “Football” Badeaux, Rosedale, and
Sustainable Flood Insurance, and the
National League of Cities, to protect
municipal interests as this matter
moves forward.
October is a month replete with educational opportunities
in all facets of municipal government. The LMA staff has
From left, Councilman Arthur L. Perkins, Denham Springs, and Mayor Carroll P. Bourgeois, Addis,
been busy working with affiliate organizations to organize
received diamond service pins marking eight terms, or 32 years, of elected municipal service. Not present
their were retired annual Councilwoman meetings Clara Bass, and Newellton, conferences. and Councilman Clovis The J. Dardeau, Louisiana
Ville Platte.
City Attorneys Association will hold its annual Continuing
Legal Education Professional (CLE) conference Listings
in Baton Rouge on
October 21 and 22. I encourage all municipal attorneys
Call today to find out how you can take your place in this
to Professional attend this Listing informative Service seminar of the Louisiana focused Municipal on municipal Review
issues widely where consulted they by may Louisiana obtain municipal 8 hours officials CLE when credit. they need
The help. Louisiana Contact our Municipal Managing Clerks Editor, Association’s Tommy Darensbourg, annual (225)
conference 344-5001, editor@lma.org, and municipal for clerk more certification information. training will
be held in Baton Rouge on October 22-26. This is an
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LMR | October 2017 Page 3