Mansey R. Billiot
June 21, 2011
Eugene Valentine Sr.
June 23, 2011Lafourche Parish Government and Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government maintain two of the state’s three most transparent websites, according to the Sunshine Review, a non-profit and national organization dedicated to state and local government transparency.
Both Lafourche and Terrebonne received an A+ grade as it pertains to government websites.
‘It shows that we’re one of the parishes in the state of Louisiana who worked hard to make their website more usable for our citizens and provide the information that they would probably need in order to make certain that their government was acting effectively, Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet said.
The Terrebonne Parish government website is maintained by Ben Smith, manager of the Information Technology division.
TPCG made available via its website its affiliation with lobbying groups and public contracts. The government entity also made the Sunshine Review aware that users could request public records from the website after it was deemed a C- earlier this year.
Brennan Matherne, the Lafourche Parish public information officer, is in command of the parish’s online presence. Lafourche was given a C- last year.
‘We have made some sweeping changes to our website in the last two years, and we continue to make changes and additions daily, Matherne said. ‘Ultimately, it is now easier for members of the public to find anything on our website, and that was our main goal.
Lafourche Parish recently added permit checklists, tax information, social media accessibility and a more-specific guide to requesting public records to its website.
The Sunshine Review searches online for information on a parish/county’s budget, meetings, elected officials, administrative officials, permits and zoning, audits, contracts, lobbying, public records and taxes. It designates each area with an X, which means no information was available, a half-filled circle, meaning partial information is available or a check mark.
Lafourche and Terrebonne received a check mark in each area.
‘Users can now more easily access information about their parish government, Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph said. ‘Our transparency has now been enhanced through technology.
The Sunshine Review awarded St. Charles Parish Government with the other perfect score. The three parish government agencies are now eligible for the 2012 ‘Sunshine Award.
