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Downtown merchant raises complaints about Main Street funding, weekend trash and a permitting dispute
Summary
A downtown merchant asked the council for clarity about funding for the Main Street program and other parish support for downtown events, described ongoing weekend trash problems and alleged permit-related retaliation by a parish employee after a safety-related gate access incident.
A downtown merchant told the Terrebonne Parish Council on Feb. 26 that merchants have received mixed signals about parish support for downtown events and said he has been doing weekend trash pickup personally because contracted coverage appears insufficient.
"There's no funding for Main Street program. I'd like to get an answer officially on what's going on with the funding for downtown Main Street program," said Tommy Gerisco, who identified himself as a downtown merchant at 309 Good Street, Houma. Gerisco asked the council to explain why musical entertainment paid for by the parish last year was not provided for some downtown events this year, and said merchants are frustrated by overflowing trash cans after weekend events.
Gerisco said he has been personally emptying trash cans on Saturdays and Sundays and asked whether the parish could contract janitorial services to cover weekends. He also raised a separate incident involving a business owner, identified in his remarks as Vijay Caro, in which a contractor’s truck parked near a storefront for a four-hour window and remained overnight. Gerisco said he let workers into a gated area for safety reasons, was later contacted by parish employees and then received threatening messages from others in response.
"I was denied and one employee said if it ends up on his desk, he will turn it down. I'm very frustrated with that," Gerisco said, describing what he called retaliation and saying he planned to work with his councilman, "Councilman Kevin," before pursuing other avenues.
The council allowed Gerisco additional time to speak under a motion to extend the public-comment period. Council members asked him to follow up with his council representative and staff to clarify permitting and services for downtown maintenance and events; no formal council policy change or funding decision was recorded at the meeting.
Ending Gerisco said he would take 30 days to work with his councilman on the matter. The council did not vote or direct staff to take specific contractual action during the Feb. 26 meeting.
