Council members press for explanation after administration moves to fill deputy CAO amid hiring‑freeze talk

St. Tammany Parish Council members asked for a public explanation Wednesday after the administration notified the council that it plans to fill a deputy chief administrative officer post in February.

Council Chair Miss Tanner raised the issue as a matter of public confidence, saying the parish “is in a financial crisis” and urging that appointments be justified before filling vacancies. Tanner estimated, as an approximate figure, that the immediate fiscal effect could be “$5,000 dollars to a general fund,” and said the council should be informed before such decisions are implemented.

The HR director told the council, “We have a soft hiring freeze in place, but we have been filling essential positions,” and confirmed a parish social‑media post encouraging applicants had not been cleared in advance by HR.

Several council members, including Mister Smith and Mister Phillips, said they wanted Parish President Cooper to explain why the deputy CAO role was being refilled now and to provide the administration’s rationale for the appointment. Legal counsel clarified that the council votes on director positions but does not vote on deputy‑director appointments.

Councilmembers said the question is not about the qualifications of the person named but about timing and transparency during tight fiscal conditions. The council voted to refer pulled agenda items for full‑council consideration and asked staff to provide additional clarity on recruitment notices and the extent of the hiring freeze.

Next steps: councilmembers requested direct explanation from Parish President Cooper and referred the matter for fuller consideration at the upcoming full‑council meeting.