Rule change should ease ‘conflict’ votes

Thanks to a new state law passed this year, board members of the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority can recuse themselves from voting on matters in which they have a conflict of interest, said attorney James Dagate at a TEDA board meeting held last week.

Board members formerly had to resign their seats if faced with a conflict of interest.

The resignation requirement, which does not apply to elected officials, had drawn complaints from some TEDA board members.

Discussing another piece of state legislation, Dagate said the new financial disclosure law for public officials passed earlier this year requires TEDA board members to name businesses in which they have more than a 10 percent interest.

Members must also indicate whether they receive money from state agencies or gaming interests, among other requirements.

No information must be reported until May 15, 2009.

Former TEDA board president Mark Folse resigned following the implementation of the disclosure law, which took effect July 1.

The TEDA board also approved a measure authorizing members of its executive committee to meet with representatives of the South Louisiana Economic Council to discuss Terrebonne Parish’s membership in the group.

The council, headquartered at Nicholls State University, is a private, nonprofit organization formed in 1984 to promote business development in Terrebonne, St. Mary, Lafourche and Assumption parishes. The parishes pay the council $25,000 a year for membership, although Terrebonne does not contribute to the group, said TEDA board interim president Darrin Guidry.

TEDA CEO Mike Ferdinand said the administration of former Terrebonne Parish President Barry Bonvillain halted Terrebonne’s participation in SLEC because the parish was not satisfied with the services provided by the group.

SLEC receives federal and state grant funds.

TEDA, chartered by the state in 2005, is a parish government agency receiving its revenue from occupational license taxes in Terrebonne Parish.

The agency, which also receives state grant funds, promotes business development only within Terrebonne.

After the meeting, board members and other parish leaders listened to a talk given by Atlanta economic development consultant Jay Garner, president of Competitive Strategies Group.

Garner discussed factors influencing companies’ decisions to locate in particular areas.

The upshot is companies mean business. They don’t want to be wined and dined or receive publicity about their visit. Companies are interested because they feel they can make a profit at a certain location and are looking for any way to eliminate communities from consideration.

Garner asked the attendees to point out what factors may be impeding business growth in Terrebonne Parish. Among the responses: lack of an industrial park, the state’s corrupt image, underutilization of the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, no canal connecting Port Fourchon with the Port of Terrebonne, a lack of rail lines, traffic, insufficient affordable housing, underutilization of TEDA’s services by business, beautification (litter), lack of skilled workers and poor flood control infrastructure.