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Council splits on interim CFO pay; debate on contract renewal ends with two-year La Louisianne agreement
Summary
Council members voted 3–2 to set interim CFO pay at $30.59/hr and, after a substitute motion failed, approved a two-year renewal with La Louisianne; both items drew clear dissenting votes.
St. Martinville city council members split along a five-member vote on two personnel and contracting items during the Oct. 21 meeting.
On the appointment of Accounting Specialist Kathryn Bujard as interim chief financial officer to replace Avis Gutekunst, Councilman Jonas Fontenette offered a substitute motion fixing the rate at $30.59 per hour (up from $19.39/hr). The substitute passed with Fontenette, Janise Anthony and Flo Chatman voting yes and Mike Fuselier and Carol Frederick voting no. The minutes record the substitute as the operative motion establishing the interim pay rate.
Separately, the council debated the term of a contract renewal with La Louisianne, which includes writing and grant-administration services. Councilman Mike Fuselier proposed a one-year renewal as a substitute; his motion received support from Councilwoman Carol Frederick but failed when Fontenette, Anthony and Chatman voted against it. The council then approved Councilwoman Chatman’s original motion to renew La Louisianne’s contract for two years, with the same three members voting in favor and Fuselier and Frederick opposed.
The minutes record the positions and vote tallies but contain no direct verbal quotes for the debate. The outcomes are procedural votes recorded in the official minutes and show a clear 3–2 majority in favor of the two contested items (interim pay as set by the substitute and a two-year contract renewal). The council did not record amendments to either motion beyond the substitute motions noted.
What this means: The interim CFO pay decision takes immediate administrative effect; the two-year renewal obligates the city to a longer contract term for grant-writing and administration services, subject to the terms negotiated in the contract. Those opposed recorded concerns in the roll-call votes but specific dissenting arguments are not verbatim in the minutes.
Next steps: Finance and administration staff will implement the interim CFO appointment and update payroll records; the administration will execute the two-year renewal contract and update the contract management schedule as required.
Reported attendance: Mayor Jason Willis presided; the roll call in the minutes lists five council members in attendance and no absences.
