Terrebonne council OKs pay hike

Terrebonne Parish Council members chose a new leader to guide them through a new year, in a squeaker vote that saw a relative newcomer to government best a veteran member of boards and commissions.

Beryl Amedee, who took office in 2012, was chosen over Danny Babin, after two votes taken by the body last week.

Raises for council members and the parish president were also passed, although the new salary schedule will not take effect this term.

Michel Claudet, who will be term-limited out and thus is not eligible for re-election, shall not benefit from the parish president raise.

Amedee, a Houma entrepreneur, said she welcomes the opportunity to lead as chair, a job that will see her selecting council members to serve on certain community boards as needed.

“I want to uphold the professionalism, the decorum, that our council is currently known for,” said Amedee, noting that she will preside over one of the most culturally and politically diverse councils in recent years.

There are four Democrats, four Republicans, and one member with no party affiliation. Amedee and other council members say that political as well as ethnic, gender, cultural and economic diversity means the body will take a broad approach to problem solving in Terrebonne.

Initially, council member Christa Duplantis had sought the post, along with Danny Babin. But Duplantis withdrew, paving the way for Amedee’s name to enter the fray.

Babin, a seafood processor, had held a variety of civic and business leadership roles, including president of the Vandebilt Catholic High school board, chairman of Louisiana’s Shrimp Task Force and member of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission as well as other industry organizations.

Like Amedee, he also served on the parish’s Planning and Zoning Commission. Babin’s tenure was for eight years. He served as chairman for four years.

“Naturally, I am disappointed,” Babin said. “I felt I was more than qualified … I have no problem with Beryl being the council chairwoman, and I think she will do a fine job.”

Arlanda Williams, John Navy and Greg Hood voted for Amedee, who voted for herself.

Babin voted for himself with members Russell Hornsby, Pete Lambert and Dirk Guidry joining.

On two ballots, Duplantis abstained, but on a third vote she chose Amedee, breaking what had been a deadlock.

Amedee said she was not disappointed by the votes that went to Babin, as some of those commitments were made before she ended up as a chair candidate.

“I love the diversity that we have and that for a year we have been able to all work together so well,” she said, acknowledging that there is a bloc division on the council. But she attributes that to conflicts over personalities rather than specific issues or philosophies.

Babin said he does not see conflict so much as disagreements that might be normal with such an elected body.

The votes for raises were split 6-3, with Guidry, Navy, Amedee, Hood, Babin and Williams in favor. Duplantis, Lambert and Hornsby were opposed.

The vote raises the parish president salary from $75,782 to a number decided by a formula, beginning in 2016. The formula will set the salary at an average of those paid to the sheriff, clerk of court and assessor, adjusted annually.

Council salaries were raised from $12,660 to $17,064, except for the chairperson. That salary will go up from $14,244 to $19,200.