PORT ALLEN, LA (WAFB) -
A relatively quiet city council
meeting became anything but Wednesday night in Port Allen, when a proposal to
name department heads was introduced. An ordinance that Mayor Deedy Slaughter
immediately opposed.
"I have not given this council a
written recommendation to create, abolish, merge or consolidate any department
for the City of Port Allen," said Slaughter.
"The court ruling said our CFO
and CAO should be considered and are department heads and I think we should
have it by ordinance," said Councilman Hugh Riviere.
The struggle then boiled over
into the public in attendance.
"It looks like to me we are
trying to make this a publicly racial thing. She's a black woman mayor," said
Wendell Hightower.
Others denied claims of racism and
argued the issue was simply a matter following city bylaws.
"All of them are responsible for
answering to each and every one of us," said Rhonda Aucoin.
"Certain things do not have to go
through the council so this is where the struggle is coming and I just want the
citizens, the council, to respect me just as much as I respect you," said
Slaughter.
City attorney Victor Woods acted
as the moderator through most of the tense moments in the end offered a plea to
those in attendance.
"Let's just take a moment and
take a breath and let's all stop pointing fingers at one another and
let's just see what we can do to make this work," said Woods.
Copyright 2013 WAFB. All rights
reserved.
