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Council discusses reinstating committees and ongoing blight/demolition challenges
Summary
Councilmember Lorraine proposed reinstating council committees to allow more detailed review of complex issues such as the sludge pipeline and demolitions; members also raised concerns about repeated demolition without post-demo maintenance and legal limitations from recent state law changes.
Councilmember Lorraine urged the reinstatement of council committees, saying committees would let members discuss contentious or complex items (he cited the sludge pipeline as an example) and allow department secretaries to support focused sessions prior to full council consideration. He said committees would avoid extended debate during full sessions and give members more influence over administrative actions.
Other councilmembers raised concerns about demolition and blight: they said the parish has been demolishing unsafe or burned structures but lacks reliable post-demolition maintenance or the ability to take title and maintain lots, leading to repeat blight. Staff and administration said recent state legislative changes alter adjudication processes and the parish will need to consult legal counsel and state representatives to navigate new procedures for addressing blight and property adjudication.
What to watch: Councilmember Lorraine said he would draft a committee system proposal for the next agenda; staff and legal advisors will need to develop an approach to address post-demolition maintenance and the parish's authority under recent state law changes.
